Time to go

Heading out Saturday

All my bags are packed
I'm SOOOOO ready to go
Im sittin here by my com pu-TOR
I hate to type a post that says goodbye
But the dawn is breakin
Its early morn
The truck is waitin
My man will be blowin its horn
Already Im soooooo ready
I could die

So com ment and leave a smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
promise that you won't for get-- bout meeee
Cause Im leavin in my A va lanche
Dont know when Ill be back again (I wish)
Oh gals, I hate to go(that is a fib) :)

...............
Evry place I go, Ill think of you
Evry song I sing, Ill sing for you (what a hoot)
When I come back, Ill bet you'll be wai-ting

So com ment and leave a smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
promise that you won't...... for get bout meeee
Cause Im leavin in my A va lanche
Dont know when Ill be back again (I wish)
Oh gals, I hate to go(that is a fib) :)

Oh baaaaaaaabe, I hate to go........................... ;)

Can' t you just tell my heart is giddy with excitement?
I am going to the MOUNTAINS!!!!!!
Dear God I want some snow on those mountains. Maybe He could have his ^^j^^'s
fly some in.
But, even if He does not answer this southern girls prayer with a YES! I will still be praising Him as I fly down those mountain paths on my 4 wheeler! I'll have the wind in my hair--unless it is to cold then I will have a hate on---and I will be praiseing my God for the mountains He made just for me. Cuse He did ya know. He loves me that much. :)
So I will be going back to see and listen to the wind mill--awesome experience.

I will be praying that my man does not get us lost. Although I am sure that new GPS he got for Christmas will come in handy.

Yes, he already knows how to read a map. Which is a good thing since I am map challenged.

By faith I am packing some heavy duty cold weather clothes because God promised to give me the desires of my heart. (Just hope they are His desires at this time too. Because you know I don't want to get something that is not for my good) ;)Can we at least pray that I get some temps so that it is necessary for me to wear more clothes than the above picture?
This was from this past summer
Yes, I know, not every one does well with the wind blown effect.

So that is it for me.
Like Moses--I'm going up to the top of the mountain and I will be speaking to God while I am there. I'll let you know if I see a burning bush. How cool would that be?
You guys behave.
And I will be praying for you as God brings you to mind.
I will not forget to pray about the needs in your lives.
Love ya'll.
See ya toward the end of next week.
I'll bee back!
(that was supposed to sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger) ;)

Who KNEW? Where is the elevator?

An Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move

apart and then slide back together again.  The boy asked, "What is this Father?" 

The father (never having seen an elevator)   responded, 

"Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know   what it is." 

 While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a  

 wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened, 

  and the lady rolled between them into a small room.  The walls closed, and the 

boy and his father watched the small numbers above the   walls light up sequentially. 

They continued to watch until it reached the last number, and then the numbers

 began to light in the reverse order.  Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 

24-year-old blond stepped out.  The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman,

 said quietly to his son...   "Go get your mother."

I'm sorry--I just had to post that. :) Who knew loosing weight could be so easy?
As soon as I find it I will send out directions.

Mind blowing

First...if you get a chance watch Beth Moore on LIFE TODAY...today. It may also be called the James and Betty Robinson program or show.
She is on every Wednesday teaching.
Need a good WORD?
An exciting, truthful word?
A mind blowing, knock your socks off word?
HOLD ON!
A WORD is on it way!



I wanted to share this devotional this morning because parts of it opened my eyes in a new way to some old truths. This truth would flip the world upside down if it truly sinks into our spirits as TRUTH.
Meditate on these truths today! See if they don't put a bounce in your step!

Greater Works Shall You Do
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
01-30-2008

"Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22)

Jesus did all of His miracles as a man, not as God. Let that sink in. This is a profound truth that has major implications for you and me. It changes everything.

Pastor Bill Johnson writes: "Jesus could not heal the sick. Neither could He deliver the tormented from demons or raise the dead. To believe otherwise is to ignore what Jesus said about Himself, and more importantly, to miss the purpose of His self-imposed restriction to live as a man.

Jesus said of Himself: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does (John 5:19-20)." In the Greek language the word 'nothing' has a unique meaning -- it means NOTHING. Just like it does in English! He had NO supernatural capabilities whatsoever!

While He is 100 percent God, He chose to live with the same limitations that man would face once He was redeemed. He made that point over and over again. Jesus became the model for all who would embrace the invitation to invade the impossible in His name. He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship to God... not as God.

If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. But if He did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle. Recapturing this simple truth changes everything... and makes possible a full restoration of the ministry of Jesus in His Church. "[1]

Jesus said you and I will do even greater works than He did. "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12-13)

The question for each of us is, "How dependent and obedient to the Holy Spirit are we so we can experience this same power?"

Does that make your spirit man jump? It should! Good goobly goo (my excitement expression) that makes my blood pressure spike. And in a good way! GREATER THINGS \o/!

What have we been missing out on? What has the world been missing out on because the body of Christ is lost in the haze of this world? Girls, it is time for us to rise up! We don't have to wait on our men. Yes, lets pray for them. But when we stand before God-He is going to hold us accountable just for the relationship that we had with Him and what we did for Him. We are His hands and His feet.

Is Jesus moving?

A pointless post

Do you ever just wonder how you are going to get it all done?

Wondering how old your children should be
before you let them share in the chores?

For you women who have traveling husbands.

For you men who have traveling wives.

For those of you who have children who feel they must sleep in the bed with you
because the need to feel you near.




Need a quick nap?


The new cure for the common cold?

Officespam

Locked away.............no more!

A few years ago a very good friend of my stepped off into the dark.
She knew the truth and had walked with me in it.
But one day the things that she had held at bay--swallowed her whole. I knew that she was dealing with these issues the best she could--but she could not seem to give them to God and get beyond them.
What I thought would be a little while walking in the dark--- became years.
I hurt for her. I was angry with her. I missed her.

I wrote this for her.

Into The Light

When we say hello there's no greeting with arms
No touching of cheeks
There's no bonding in depth
For the Spirit is weak
- - - -
Alone behind bars
Locked away by the past
Unable to free yourself
From regrets and satans traps
- - - -
Your jailer is tenacious
His goal to impose
The most horrendous restrictions
No lone human could appose
- - - -
For the key to your cell
Look into the Light
It holds the key to free passage
Please look out of the dark
And into the Light
- - - -
Come walk with me into the light
He'll plant roses and vines
round those bars in your life
He'll turn your dungeon of death
Into His garden of Light


During those years my friend was locked away--I fought for her. Time was spent in prayer and fasting. Many times I felt as if my heart was being crushed-so weighed down by the life she was living. Then one day God told me to stop speaking to her.
He had told me this many times before I finally listened.
You see her hurt had turned to bitterness and then deep rebellion.
Her heart was so hard. I was the only soft spot left in her life.
God needed to bring her to the end of her self.
Why am I sharing this with you?
Because some comment reading this weekend brought this event in my life to mind.
This weekend my heart was crushed as I read the things women were writing on the latest posts by Beth Moore. She asked women to anonymously tell her the things that kept them bound.
Yes, I posted something. And as I read the responses of my sisters--
my heart wept for them.
These are the same women I blog with--go to church with. They are the body.
And the body is broken and hurting.
When emotional pain is not put in the hands of our healer--it turns to anger.
And anger not dissolved my the tender mercies of our Father---- turns to depression.

Several months ago my friend came back to God. :)
God knew that I would need her to help me through a very black time in my life.
We need each other. We can help each other. But there has got to be some honesty.
Some willingness to share where we really are in life.
God has given us a great place here. We can share who we are and what we are going through with women who will pray for us. Who will love us right where we are.
NONE of us have been through anything new under the sun. I know that you may not be able to share the nitty gritty on your blog because of certain people in your life that may read. But find a woman who you feel safe with and let her love you. Let her share the love of God with you.

God needs a healthy body. God wants to make you healthy.
If you are hurting--I am sorry.
I will pray--I will love-----I promise.

MeMe Monday

This post took all day to get done. Lot's of errands and a doctor appointment in the in between. If you take the time to read this--Bless you heart.

This is going to be chock full of goodness and I may not get it done before blogger decides to have its planned outage. We shall see.(I didn't)
Melanie over at Livin' With Me has decided that Monday would be a good day to take care of bloggy business. That involves Meme and giving away awards.
Today I have two Meme to take care of and a few awards --we will see how many I get to. First, is the MeMe from Bunny Girl over at The Prodigal Daughter. It is the six thing Meme. I have done this before and because of the fact that I am not an incredibly fascinating person I will try and come up with six things about myself.

"The Rules for this Meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website."

1. I have had a story line for a book in my head since I was about 12. It involves a mysterious emerald which is probably why I have a thing about emeralds to this day.

2. The first dish I learned how to make was Meat Sauce and Spaghetti. I think I was around 9.
I used to love pretending I was Julia Childs while I was doing this.

3. I love to teach children's church. But when I feel the H.S start to speack through me and I start to get excited--my face and neck get red. It is not that I am nervous. I think it has something to do with the fact that I am excited that God is speaking through me.
I have actually just come out and told the kids not to worry about my neck and face getting red--I promised them my head was not about to explode. :)
Honestly I said that in front of the church. What was I thinking????

4. I love coffee and would rather spend the money to try a different type than spend the money to have my nails or feet done. Don't worry I just take care of both of the latter myself. A girl has got to take care of the important things too. :)

5. I love the smell of leaves burning during the fall--it reminds me of my grandfather and how he used to rake up the leaves and burn them. That is probably part of why I love having a fireplace right now.

6. I can not stand the feel of raw hamburger, chicken or bacon on my hands. And if it gets under my nails--it majorly grosses me out. Like do you totally get what I am sayin dahlin?

And so now my six are......drum roll please............which ever six would like to grace us with info about them selves. Go on I know you are thinking it........phew! I know tags can be rough.

One more. This one is one of those linky things. It is from Melanie over at Livin With Me. The is called ABCDE

Rule #1

Copy all the links below and replace a single link under the appropriate alphabet. If your domain name, or even the title of your blog, starts with an ” A,” you’d replace the link under that alphabet and put the replaced link at the bottom. Also, don’t forget to credit the tagger, or where you got the list from, at the end of the list with a full URL of the post so that a pingback gets generated.

1. A. acowboyswife.com
2. B. bloggingcents.com
3. C. caffeine-overload.com
4. D. delusionsofgrandeur.com
5. E. enjoyingtheride-jenn.blogspot.com
6. F. forumfinder.net
7. G. gotic-peach.net
8. H. happykeg.com
9. I. ipentimento.com
10. J. julianarw.blogspot.com
11. K. kabalyero.com
12. L. livinwithme.com
13. M. mlizcochico.blogspot.com
14. N. notjustmama.net
15. O. originalmx5.net
16. P. patrickdevivo.com
17. Q. qweddings.com
18. R. rantingsofawoman.blogspot.com
19. S. shirleysdelight.com
20. T. thinking-outloud.com
21. U. utada-online.net
22. V. valmg.com
23. W. wickedbabylon.com
24. X. xaviermedia.com
25. Y. yimto.com
26. Z. zbudapest.com

Replaced link:

Rule #1

Copy all the links below and replace a single link under the appropriate alphabet. If your domain name, or even the title of your blog, starts with an ” A,” you’d replace the link under that alphabet and put the replaced link at the bottom. Also, don’t forget to credit the tagger, or where you got the list from, at the end of the list with a full URL of the post so that a pingback gets generated.

1. A. acowboyswife.com
2. B. bloggingcents.com
3. C. caffeine-overload.com
4. D. delusionsofgrandeur.com
5. E. enjoyingtheride-jenn.blogspot.com
6. F. forumfinder.net
7. G. gotic-peach.net
8. H. happykeg.com
9. I. ipentimento.com
10. J. julianarw.blogspot.com
11. K. kabalyero.com
12. L. livinwithme.com
13. M. mlizcochico.blogspot.com
14. N. notjustmama.net
15. O. originalmx5.net
16. P. patrickdevivo.com
17. Q. qweddings.com
18. R. rantingsofawoman.blogspot.com
19. S. Sit With Me Awhile
20. T. thinking-outloud.com
21. U. utada-online.net
22. V. valmg.com
23. W. wickedbabylon.com
24. X. xaviermedia.com
25. Y. yimto.com
26. Z. zbudapest.com

Replaced link:shirleysdelight.com
Previous tagger: http://mlizcochico.blogspot.com/2008/01/abcde-link.html

Rule #2

You now have to “tag” at least five people and encourage them to participate so that this thing spreads like a virus. Remember, though, that not everyone’s into these kinds of things, so don’t be upset if they don’t participate. Just simply replace your tag. Remember to tag blogs only and no pornographic ones as we do want to keep the integrity as a blogging community. TIP: Tag your frequent EntreCard droppers via its messaging system.

Previous tagger: http://livinwithme.com/?p=89

Rule #2

You now have to “tag” at least five people and encourage them to participate so that this thing spreads like a virus. Remember, though, that not everyone’s into these kinds of things, so don’t be upset if they don’t participate. Just simply replace your tag. Remember to tag blogs only and no pornographic ones as we do want to keep the integrity as a blogging community. TIP: Tag your frequent EntreCard droppers via its messaging system.

So if you want to participate- and it is not hard- here are my names.
The Samaritan Woman, Free To Fly, Shore Stories, Shorty Bears Place, and Mary's Writing Nook
Take it if you want girls.

Melanie was also sweet to give me an award. Thank ya girl! It is the You Make My Day Award.

Don't you just love all the love passing around? You guys who leave comments-this is for you!! You make my day!

The two above come from my sweet friend Denise over at ShortyBears Place. She really encourages my heart daily. And maybe one day I will get to meet her and hug her neck.
If we are sister we will always be friends. That is because we will be spending eternity together. Please help yourself to the above awards.
The next awards come from a beautiful new friend that I have really come to enjoy. She also encourages my heart. Her blogs name is Free To Fly and if you have not discovered her posts on The Year Of Romance--you really should check it out. And then maybe join us.
These go to all my girls. If I come to your blog it is surely love able. And that means I think YOU ROCK!
That is a whole lot of love being sent around blogdom-- and I can tell you that I certainly love it. And you know what God does too! I think it makes Him smile.

And last one of my girls gave me a little something that meant a whole lot to me.
I look up to this woman. Not as one on a pedestal-but just as one who has walked a path a little ahead of me at times. Her name is Karen of Karen's Ramblings and she has taught me a lot about myself by telling me about herself. She and I share some things in common spiritually.
This was created by her but I don't know if it is meant to be passed on.
But I thank her for it.I want to pass this on to two women who encourage my heart spiritually.
Denise of The Samaritan Woman and Maria of Free To Fly.
I am going to enjoy getting to know you women. You make me think--and I like that.
So PLEASE stick around. I enjoy the give and take.

This has only taken all day to get done. :)
If you made it to the bottom--BLESS YOUR HEART! If that doesn't prove you are lovable I don't know what does.

A Puzzle Solved

The following post was posted back in April.
Shore Stories reminded me of it yesterday and I thought you might enjoy reading it on this beautiful Friday. I love this post and on the last post I did I also posted a few of my other favorites. Have a great day.
Remember to spend some sweet time with God--He loves you so.
And of course I do too!

As some of you know we are living in a *camper while we are waiting to rebuild our house that we tore down in December. How is 24/7 camping? Not bad. You would be amazed what you can do without when you need to. Honestly the only thing I miss is my 15 minute showers. Why? Because now the hot water only last 6 minutes, so ya got to get it done and get it out. I've got a washer and dryer and my refrigerator in a shed that my husband built-yes, I have a handy man. It even has cable and a sofa bed in it. Now I know you are probably having horrible visions in your mind but it was either this way of life or $1,200 to 1,700 a month for rent.
To me that would be like throwing my new wood floors or a professional oven down the drain. And girl, I do so want a professional oven in my new house. Guess I have a little of the chef in me still.
About a week ago I was out doing laundry and Julia was in the camper watching something on T.V. when all of a sudden she came taring into the shed in a panic. She informed us that there was a high pitch noise going off in the camper and that it had even scared our 14 year old, deaf Boston Terrier. Now if you have ever been in a larger travel camper you notice that they have you fully set up with all kinds of alarms, should something malfunction. There is of course the fire alarm and the carbon monoxide alarm and an alarm for a propane leak.
By the time I got to the camper there was no alarm going off. She showed me which one had been flashing and it was the one for the propane. Now I am a little concerned--I can see the morning headlines, "Family found dead in camper because of a propane leak". Or better yet we survive, but we provide a fourth of July bonfire for our neighborhood several months to early.
Trying to appear calm I tell her that maybe it was just testing itself and if there is a problem it will go off again. The light on it is now green saying everything is fine. Strange?
So two days pass and it is about 3:00 in the morning and I am startled awake by the sound of a loud (did I say loud?) excruciating, piercing alarm going off. YES, once again the propane alarm is going off. Hubby, who is like our Dog Rusty(no he is not 14-just half deaf) is not alarmed because the high pitch is almost to high for him to hear. Don't ask me to explain that. From what I understand when you have problems with you hearing-- some levels of sound go first. Ans yes, evidently my voice is in that range. And, no I don't even have a high pitch squealing voice. Any hoo, I digress. So I go taring across the floor almost tripping over Rusty and start trying to get the alarm to go off. Someone told me once that a spider walking across theirs set it off. So I pulled it out from the wall and blew on it and it stopped. Once again we have a green light. So, I waited a minute to see if it would go off again, and nope still have green.
Most people would probably not have gone back to bed but I thanked God for the safety of my family and Rusty and went back to bed.
As you can imagine I tried to rack my brain as to what could be setting it off. Maybe the electricity flickered and it was resetting itself, maybe the spider thing--who knows. I just prayed that whatever was setting it off would stop or we would figure it out.
The next day I was sweeping the floor. Rusty is lying on the floor all spread eagle, in the way of course. The problem with a deaf, did I mention blind, 14 year old dog is that you are not going to get him to move quickly and no amount of talking to him is going to get him to move either. So as gently as I could I bent down and laid my hand on his head, to nudge him awake, just about the time he felt the need to release a little ---hmmmm----stomach pressure. I popped back up, overcome by the immediate need for some fresh air and then it happened. Yep, the propane alarm started going off.
Now we have known for a while that our old dogs digestion was enough to set off a feeling of complete revulsion or disgust in our family and yes , sometimes in a poor unknowing guest. But, the dealer failed to tell us that when it comes to the propane alarm, BEWARE THE DOG!
Mystery solved!

And now you know the rest of the story!In sweet memory of our dog Rusty

*We are no longer living in the camper.

The oldies but goodies! I promise

I have been tagged by Do You Weary Like I Do . I thought that this would be a good time for those of ya'll who have nothing to do(HA!) to find out a little more about me. Because I know you were secretly dying for me to dig back in my begining post and pull forward some good stuff.......... Eons passing.......I think I have found some good things for your reading pleasure.
This is the info on the MeMe.

This meme is designed to make some of those old posts readily available to those who may be new to your blog, or even those who are regulars, just not from the start. Anyhoo, here are the rules:

Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:
Link 1 must be about family.My Heart-intense post about our son.
Or This is why I act the way I do(not intense)
Link 2 must be about friends.--Sun Sun and Fish 2
Link 3 must be about yourself.------I wish you'd hush
Link 4 must be about something you love(d).-Old Storm Damage Form Katrina

Link 5 can be anything you choose.--A Puzzle Solved--I guarantee you will love this.
Read the post above to find out what the sign is about!

Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least TWO of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better. Readers - don’t forget to read the archive posts and leave comments!

I'm going to give ya'll a little break and not tag anyone. I don't have my post put into categories so this was interesting hunting. I DO hope you will take the time to read.-Especially the last post. But they all tell you a little more about me. If you decide to do this--let me know. I will come and read.

Why I blog

A year ago yesterday-- I started blogging. I had been through a rough year and a half after the Katrina storm and some very rough family issues and I needed communication with people. We had torn down our storm damaged home and we were at the time living in a trailer on our property. We were planning to rebuild.
Because of where God was taking me I was no longer teaching womens group or children's church and I had no out put ---and I needed that.

So, my little brother said that he thought I would enjoy blogging because I sounded like
"I had something to say". Then Beth Moore started a blog and I started one
so that I could leave comments.
I found CWO and began going to different blogs to see what this was all about.
There were blogs that were about people trying to loose weight, blogs that were a social zone, blogs about family, the variety was huge.
I settled in on a few and I think today I still blog with some of those. One has been with me since I think my 3 post. I love her heart and share her battle. D--love ya girl. :)
I have had to adjust over the year. Sometimes I would get all caught up in trying to get readers. That is really not for me. Not that there is anything wrong with that--it is just not why I blog. If I am reading too many post it takes away from home time and God time and then I start to feel guilty.I don't really search blogdom any more for other blogs to read. I meet people here and there and if there is a connection--I add them to my list of subscribes. I really want to be able to read a post. Kind of like looking someone in the eye when they are talking to you--giving them your full attention. Blogging is about relationship for me.
Most of the women that I have met are sisters in Christ. I listen with my spirit to what they write. I ask God to show me what they need and how I can pray for them. Yes, I am probably a little more serious in nature and personality about blogging than some. That is not what they blog for and it is good that this blogging things meets all of our needs.
There are many I have come to love. I hurt when they hurt and I rejoice as I see that their eyes are open to the things of God. If someone asks me to pray--I do.
I think that is probably why I start to feel so close to them.
Sometimes people drift off-- and it's a little sad. Yes, I miss them. Not because I am loosing a reader but because I have come to love them.
Kind of like when someone you have grown close to moves away. I talked to another blogger about this about a week ago and she reminded me that God may have just brought them into my life for a short period. I understand.
I know that some just blog for fun. I think it is fun too.
But during this year I have also come to feel very strongly for women that I will never meet till we walk those streets of gold. I pray for you and enjoy encouraging you in this walk we are walking together.
SO--that is why I blog. (I know you were just dying to know) It is all about relationship for me.

Thank you for spending this year with me.
And for your reading enjoyment-
Below is my first post.
You will notice that I have gotten a little more talkative. ;)

I spent the morning out in the world. It amazes me that each day so many of us go out among the world and have any energy left to face our families. I spent the morning in court. Faces of so many filled with anger , sadness, despair. Voices raised when things did not go their way. It was not long before I felt the knot tightening in the pit of my stomach.
As I felt the tidal wave of humanity start to knock me over --I cried out. I did not want to be there. It was not my fault. "God help me!" And with the most amazing clarity I heard Him say "Relax, this is not about you." Immediately - my insides relaxed. Grace is amazing that way. Thank you for peace that passes understanding.

Looking better every day!!!! (happy dance)

All the morning rush of activities were over and the house was getting quiet again. She could not ignore the longing that had been building in her heart any longer.
That deep longing that led her to curl up in a comfy spot and sit with Him awhile.
Her thoughts were jumping-there was so much she wanted to share with Him.
So much she knew she wanted to discuss with Him.
So she grabbed her things and her coffee and settled in to her comfy spot. Looking over she saw the He of course was already there- and as always, smiling His welcome. She loved the look of love in His eyes-it brought something to her heart that she could never really put into words.
Coffee in hand she began to tell Him about the things she had been thinking about. How in reading His word her heart was pondering so many different ideas. And then she began to tell Him about her concerns about her family both at home and church. He was quiet as she unloaded all that was on her mind. He would nod here and there. And she noticed His smile while out loud she reminded herself of the truths He had shared with her in the past. Sometimes she asked a question and then answered it herself.
After a long while she sat back and took a sip of her coffee that was getting cold.
She took a deep breath and as she began to get up-- she said,"Thanks so much for meeting with me this morning. I enjoyed our time so much.
But now it is time to get started with my day.
Love ya".
As she turned to go, coffee in hand she felt His hand on her arm. Looking over her shoulder she saw Him pointing to the chair she had just vacated.
"But God, we have finished our time. I need to go and take care of this, and you remember how I needed to go and do that. I have so much to get done.
I have got to go do the things You wanted me to do".
And yet, still He pointed her toward her chair.
And so....... she sat.
Just as she was about to begin her talking again--He raised a hand of silence.
"Now-- it is time for you to listen. Your mind is full of many things. Things that are good.
Things that are coming from a pure heart. But, these must come from a heart that is filled with my peace. That will only come when you sit and take time to be still in my presence. Our time should not be filled with only your words. If that is the only voice you hear during our time-- then your day will truly be filled with you. You are to take ME out into the world. That will only take place when you have heard My voice and received My peace.
Now.........you sit and rest, while I share my heart and my desires with you".
As she sat there --she became aware that time seemed to stop. Here muscles began to relax. Her heart beat slowed down and she began to breathe in His sweet pure spirit.
She heard His words. They sank deep into her soul. She felt satisfied and content.
When He stopped talking she reached over to take His hand-laying her cheek on it she breathed in the sweetness of Him. And from a filled heart she said---"I love you LORD, thank You for bringing me back".
------------------------------
The following is from my morning devotional by Oswald Chambers.
It is the material that God used to spark the above little scenario in my mind.
Enjoy!

Transformed By Beholding

"We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...."(2Corthians 3:18)

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exibit is this completely unveiled openess before God, which allows that person's life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone had been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord's own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it--something good, but not what is best.

Hoopla Linky Love

First--please don't miss the post below. It is something that will be fun and represent us!
Please go over and see Denise(Samaritan Woman) at SEW THE WORD.
You might just win a t-shirt!!!!!
And she needs some ideas!
Now....

I don't know if I did it right--I really should study a little more to show myself to be computer savvy, but................:) So I do hope I did this right.

Andrea high-fived me for a really easy hoopla called Linky Love.

“This link loving in 2008 came from Not Much More Than This.
I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)

It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially! The benefits of Viral Linking:

- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
- Increase your Google PageRank fast
- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
- Build your community
- Make new friends!

Now, add/tag 5 of your friends blogs…
The Strategist Notebook Link Addiction Ardour of the Heart When Life Becomes a Book The Malaysian Life Yogatta.com What goes under the sun Roshidan’s Cyber Station Sasha says Arts of Physics And the legend lives My View, My Life A Simple Life What Women REALLY Think Not Much More Than This Jayedee Jenn Beth Christie Marla Cailin Simone FlipFlopMom Katrina Gill’s Jottings Work of a Poet WakelaModern Day GoddessLivin With Me A Simple Life Verb Random Thoughts I’m Running to Win Two Regina’s Family Seasons Lifesong The Laughs Will Go On Military MomTheVasquez3Brik-See-UsAnd Then There Were Four Common Mom Kentucky Woman Sit With Me Awhile The World: Through The Eyes Of Me Living With Me Shore Stories Riding Free With Deb Overflow Of A Forgiven Soul A Brooke In A Forest you're next...

The last five are my tags. We shall be forever linked in linky love. Not really sure what that is but it sounds a little-well, you know that word that rhymes with linky. Here's to thanking God that it is not because wellllllllllll, we just don't want those things going on in our area of blogdom. Sorry, feeling a tad silly this morn.

T-shirt contest !!!!! calling all you artistic girls

Alright here is the scoop. My girl Denise over at Samaritan Woman has a special talent. And she wants to put that special talent to use for us blogging people. She actually has a whole other blog called Sew The Word and this is where you need to go to help us out. That is right- US! She is going to- with our help- come up with a t-shirt for us.
And yes, I guess the men too.
SEW....... here are the details......... I know that was pretty sad ;)

From Denise----

I have wanted to do this for a while and Sharon over at Sit With Me A While (yes, that is me) has encouraged me to jump in there and do it sooooooooooooo here is the deal...

.........I do graphic design and screen print and I want to design a tee shirt for the all the ladies here in the blog world.. I want you ladies out there and men if they are around to submit the caption of the shirt.......... Now I have a little shirt at the top of this post and it is just to get your juices flowing...... A Caption ..... Like Blogger Buddies--- Ladies of the Blog--- Friends of Cyber..... ok you get the idea... There are some very very clever ladies out there and I know that one of you can come up with something sooooooooo special. After we close the contest I will post all the ideas and we will vote on them.........

.... The clever lady that submits the winning caption will win a free shirt... Then the shirts will be on sale on my blog and I promise that they will be at a very good price..... I want all the ladies and men to have a shirt....... How much fun is this going to be....

The shirts will not be limited to one color but to several colors that will suit the design..... I will use heavy weight cotton Tee's and I will find some V neck Tee's for the ladies that do not like the conventional Tee...... I have been screen printing since 1988 and I will do quality work...

..........I am going to show some of my work on the side bar so that you can see that I can do a good job with this project..

but I need your help...... come up with a very catchy caption and I will design the shirt ...... I will keep this open till 12 noon on Valentine's Day.. that will give us pleanty of time to get the word out .............. Put on your thinking cap..............

So go, run, type fast summer will be here soon and we can all use a t-shirt!

The Year Of Romance--January

The Year Of Romance

Good morning--I hope all are staying warm. We have been enjoying some cold temperatures, but--it is nice and toasty inside. Why? Drumroll please......drumrolll....drumroll......Because we have chosen to use a little nifty tool called--- our heater.
And now let's hear the collective....... Duh!!!!!!!!!
I know I am being silly but I had to come up with some type of intro for this post.
I have decided to join with Free To Fly as she encourages us in blogdom to pull out those tools needed to keep the romance in our marriage nice and toasty.
If you are interested in joining us as we work at making our marriages a haven for romance please go on over to her site and check out the goals for these once a month posts.

Years ago I stopped reading romance novels because they were a set up for failure for my man.
Why do I say that? Because these books gave me a false illusion of what real love and romance were all about. It is not about some tall, dark, rich man whisking you away on his jet to some far away island for a meal prepared by his special chef-and then you spend a night in unwed passion. How do you think God felt about me filling my mind with that unwed part. Not to mention the fact that I was eavesdropping on someone elses romance.
It set my mind and emotions for a downfall even if I knew
that the romance in the book was fictional.
How do our husbands ever live up to that?
They can not live up to some fictional ghost that lingers in our minds after we read all those books. So God had me stop reading those books in order that He could teach me how to keep my heart fires burning for my husband while living in reality.

Keith has learned so much about romancing me in the past several years. You can ask those around me--he has turned into a keeper. :)
But...... that is after at least 12 years when there was little or none in the romance category.
Romance is what happens before the s*x. It is what causes my mind to linger on my husband favorably during the day. So when he walks in the door after work I am actually glad to see him and I want to spend time with him. Romance is the same for him.
He does a lot to bring out that desire in me.
Like last night--he came home just to bring me a load of firewood. He was not planning on coming home last night because he was staying at the farm to hunt. Around 7:00 there was a knock on the glass patio door, and when I moved the curtain--I found my man with a load of firewood. He knew I was out of wood and how much it thrills my heart to have a fire going on a cold night --so he drove 45 minutes just to bring me some. And then he turned around and went back to the farm last night.
Now that makes my heart feel just a tad sweet toward him. :)
He put me before himself--that is romance for me.
And so now my mind will start to think of things that will make him feel as special.
I think that is really what romance is all about. Making our spouse feel special. Making them feel like they are more important than anything else.
There are several things that are not X rated that I know I can do to make Keith feel special. A particular meal, what I wear to bed, or just even spending time sitting in the bathroom talking to him while he is taking a bath. You know what else speaks romance to him?
When I come to bed and I don't bring anyone else with me.
Shocked? Don't be.
My mind is constantly going. Mulling over this and that. There are many times when I come to bed and I am thinking about what needs to be done or some person and a problem.
Keith has even asked me at times who is in bed with us. :)
Simply clearing my mind and coming to bed--that can be romance.
He gets all my attention--and he loves that.
Bottom line--what types of seeds are you planting in your marriage?
You will get out what you put in.
It may take a while. But together with Free To Fly,
I am going to plant some good seeds this year.
Remember if you would like to join us in thinking about the romance in our marriage and what we can do to keep the home fires burning go on over to Free To Fly and join us.
It is only once a month--what have you got to loose?
It is time to turn the heat up!

A little of this and a little of that

Yes, it seems I have a lot to post today--so hold on.

First, my girl Mary at Mary's Writing Nook is having a very sweet valentines give away.

Yes, the above box is what we will win! She says it is filled with goodies!
She is holding this little drawing in celebration of her 200th post!
So go on over and put your name in the draw. Introduce yourself to Mary and tell her where you came from. No, I don't get anything special--just the joy of knowing that she is getting to know some of the girls that I hold special. Yes, I am silly emotional that way.
I am not a social butterfly--I am all about relationship.
Ya'll are special to me.


And last but not least my girl Denise over at ShortyBears Place blessed me again!!!
I will pass this on to three people.
MelanieJoy--because she is learning to love with God's love. A love that is strong and healthy.
Mother's Pride--because she just touch my heart today when she thought of me.
Free To Fly-because she is going to be sharing with us all how to share the love in our marriage.

Thank you ladies for spreading the love!

Radio waves--stay tuned in

In the past
I have thought often of God speaking to His body through waves like the ones that a radio picks up. There is music and words floating through the air all the time--but we don't hear them unless we have a device that has the ability to receive them.
Our radios and stereo's are really such incredible things.

I have noticed lately that the message from God for His people is all about testing. It has been the strongest message in my life at this moment. I had a friend call me about a Christian program she was watching that was all about testing. Another friend called me and she was being touched by the story of Joseph and the testing and refining he went through.
I have gotten two morning devotions in the email this week on testing and refining.
Then this morning my devotion from Mr Oswald Chambers was on what to do
during the darkness of testing.
TESTING!!!!
It is all over the place.
But...... just like the fact- that you will never hear music coming out of your radio unless you turn it on---YOU WILL NOT HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD unless you tune in.
He is speaking. \o/!!!! The silence in my life lasted for so long. But the truth is ---He has never stopped. He has a message for His people.
It is for the entire body.
If you have the Holy Spirit living in you--you have a receiver.
There are things you can do to make sure that you are strongly tuned in to hear the message.
Make sure you are straight with God. Yes, make sure there is no sin blocking the air waves.
Hide His word in your heart. Then you will be able to recognize when you hear His voice.

Here is the devotion I got this morning. He who has a receiver--let him hear.

The Purpose of Crucibles
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
01-19-2008

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. - Proverbs 17:3

This proverb describes one of God's strangest mysteries. It is a description of God's formula to refine the human heart in order to bring out its finest qualities. The significant leaders who make the greatest mark for the Kingdom had to experience their own crucible and fire. Without it, the dross can never be removed from the human heart. Without it, the encumbrances weigh us down. God understands the human heart. He understands that for us to become all that He hopes for us, there are seasons of fire. Joseph went through many tests. Succeeding in the test qualified him for greater responsibility. The greater the use in the Kingdom the greater the crucible to prepare the right foundation. Some of God's greatest crucibles are found in the workplace where we live every day: the employee who betrays our trust, the client who refuses to pay, the vendor who falls short of our expectations.

Each of these is a test from God to find out how we will respond. What tests are being brought your way today? His grace has been provided that we might pass the tests that He brings before us. Should we fail, we need not fear. His grace is sufficient for this as well. Ask God for the grace to walk with Him in whatever tests He has placed before you this day. He is able to accomplish what He wants for you.

Pretty cool?
God is telling His people what He is up to.
I think that is amazing.
WE ARE HARING THE VOICE OF GOD!
That means that what we are going through
does not have to be because we have sin in our lives.
It could be that He is getting His people ready for their mission!

The mind and it's tunes

This is the post I removed the other day. I want you to know that God backed up this lesson at least three times during a 24 hour period.
I was in a period of intense testing/preparation time.
It has to do with my purpose in life.
I was reminded the other day of the story of David before he became king. He went through times of intense training and suffering--for seemingly no reason. After all God was the one who had called him out to become the next king. And, he had never done anything wrong to King Saul, yet-- King Saul hated him. The purpose in David-well it just rubbed King Saul raw with anger. And nothing David did made a difference. Remember the times David could have killed Saul and gotten the whole thing over with? But, I believe that besides then having blood on his hands--he would have also forgone the training that God was providing through this time of intense testing and trial.

I do have an issue with people having any type of problem with me.
I would be willing to do almost anything just to make things right. Sometimes with my gifting it is necessary to spur someone on--but hurting someone for meanness sake--THIS IS NEVER ALLOWED. Sometimes nothing you do seem to make things right---in the past that would have led to months of obsessing.
Somethings happened at church--pretty funny, but this has been God's biggest training ground for me--and it just ticked me off. I had one of those "what the heck" moments. It was really ridiculous.
Someone got upset with me because I was going through a hard time late last year and I did not share this with them--thus ,I must not trust them. Sounds really silly doesn't it? But you have to understand that as our women's group leader my goal is to bring a unity among the women. Working on creating a safe place for people to trust each other and for many---a place they can learn to love for the first time. I don't want anyone to feel like they have been pushed to the outside. And I do realize that the above person just has some things they need to work through.
But with my personality--this situation usually flips a switch
and then my thoughts are on the run.
I am pretty sure that David had a very sensitive heart. I am sure he waffled between being hurt by Saul's actions and wanting just to close himself off and harbor his anger and bitterness at life's unfairness.
But he did not.
There were a few more elements and people who were added to this test in my life. Some of it involved blogging. But as you will find out later in this terribly long post (sorry) God revealed to me that I was in a testing period. And my being willing to do the right thing even when I did not feel like it proved that I have been learning.
I have tried to be pretty honest here. I have had problems with situations with people in the past along the same lines as above.
There is a reason for this. Something in my future is going to require that I use the lessons learned in these tests. Maybe instead of thinking "what the heck is wrong with me that I keep having to go through the same things over and over again"--maybe we should ask God why these periods of testing are so important. He may reveal the reason now or we may just have to wait for the future to have one of those ahaaa! moments.
So with out further to do--here is the post.
Ya'll are so patient with me--thank you!


Longing

After the parades passed by
And the dusk of evening draws nigh
All sound of cheering fades
Will I find Your spirits stayed?

Or will it linger most
In the unsuspecting host
Refusing to be found
By those merely snooping round?

On each and every day
My heart goes out to play
Sometimes filled with joy
As a newly discovered toy.

Still other days filled with pain
Touched by memories stain.
Will it ever end?
Will our spirits never blend?

From eternities One
Torn by Adam from the Son
I struggle every day
To repair a bridge broken away.

Can I believe the Word?
When at the cross I heard
The work was forever done
And now the transformation has begun.

I struggle with memories produced at will
Conditions left by sins disease and thrill.
And so I pray along the road someday
I will look to find old memories wiped away. S.B.


Today I realized that in the last week my mind has been under attack. It is an old battle.
Something happens that strikes the first cord to that old familiar tune-and before I know it.... I am singing along.
Today while fixing soup for tonights dinner--singing an old tune in my head--it hit me.
I had no reason to be thinking as I was thinking.
And...thank you Jesus... my mind did not have to stay in this zone.
This little tune in my mind--- in the past, could have played on for weeks. Weeks of remembering --"all the other times". This time it was just a week. :)
Improvement!
No one likes having someone upset with them or mad at them. Or have people in their lives who are more willing to turn their backs rather than working things out--but it happens. Nobody likes it. And if you have my personality type,
you just want to SCREAM--can't we all just get along?????
One day it will happen!

Until then, His Spirit is transforming me.
I am becoming more like His Son- Body, Soul and Spirit.
And I will fight the one who jumps for joy every time unity is crushed.
The parade passed by and....yes, the Spirit stayed!

God and the Spider

Mom sent this to me and I thought is was really worthy of passing on.

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and
the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his
direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.
As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw
close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah, he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to
forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most
surprising ways. And remember, with God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection.

I won!, I won!, I won!!!!!!

I was reading an article today (yes, just this afternoon) in a magazine called Ministry Today.
The article was titled--Slim City Toledo, Ohio. It was all about how a pastor with the help of a pro is transforming his church--and his city--one pound at a time.
Now do you know why I decided this would be a great article to read?
Yes, those 7 pounds lingering from Thanksgiving and Christmas need to say goodbye.
Their program has been so successful that the Mayor of the city has asked about the program and if they would be interested in sharing it at some of the local YMCAs
and in small groups open to the city. They have even had other cities call to see if they could get a hold of the program and materials.

So I thought I might get the materials to see if it might help me. I was planning on going to get the book they used. The name of the book?
Perfect Weight by Jordan Rubin.
I have heard of Jordan Rubin, I think he wrote a book called The Makers Diet.
Anyway, when I got home from running my errands today I got on the computer to check my emails----- and low and behold----
I had won a book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And what was the name of the book?
How cool is that?
Jessie over at Overflow of a Forgiven Soul had a little contest and I WON!
How cool is God? So I take that as a sign that He wants me to read this.
I will let you know what treasures I find.

Thank YOU Jessie!!!!!!

A Single Stroke--amazing

All Done with a Single Stroke of the Pen Copyrighted 1884, by the Publishers, Knowles & Maxim

I found this on a web site called Office Spam.
Pretty cool.
You can click on the picture to make it larger and see the details.

Liquid Love

Last night while hormones were kicking I posted a post in frustration. I should have left it in draft. I removed it but then I thought some of you may have got it in your in box. Sorry!
Just dealing with some frustrations with people. Not necessarily those in blogdom.
Again--sorry!


This morning while searching the word I ended up in my favorite book--Ephesians.
Chapter 3 seemed to have some truths, nuggets worth digging for.
I have a need for more of God's love to be shed through me.
Love that goes beyond understanding.
Love that looks beyond the circumstances to the one who needs to be loved.
Love that binds my heart to an individual even when their actions are less than honorable.
Love that is so deep that when you feel you must surely have no more to give- that loves rises from a source so deep that the well is never in danger of running dry.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

All the fullness of God--who would not want that?
I want that.
I want to look at an individual who seems unloveable and I want to experience the love that surpasses knowledge. Love that comes from a deep pure source. A love that comes bubbling up from a source that is so powerful that it cannot be contained.
A love that flows over situations and individuals and leaves them feeling strangely changed.

I don't know if this is making any sense.
But while doing a section of my Beth Moore devotion this morning she asked, "If someone were to really look inside, what evidence of God's work would they see in you?".
It made me think. And then go ..YIKES!

Would they see a well of love that was deep and pure
or something shallow and a little cloudy?

Dear God fill our hearts with a love that is deep, pure and long lasting.
A love that never passes away. Let us blow their minds.

Ten years younger--I'll take it!

Today was my check up at the ortho after having received my retainer--which I was told to wear 24/7 and I did.
I was not too excited about going this morning because of events yesterday.
And those events would involve going for the second time to get my lip waxed--yes, I know I whined about it before-- and yes, it hurt again this time. I went straight home afterwards and thought I hurt a tad more and was a lot more red.
Keith said he thought so tis morning but yesterday he was just too sweet to say anything. Last night before I went to bed it was still red in spots and so I got some aloe to put on it.
And yes, when I got up this morning it was still red.
Such a lovely thing to have happen right before you were going to have people right in your face looking into the space right below my red upper mustache area.
So...... I covered up the best possible with makeup and went to my appointment.
Feeling a tad on the U-G-l-eee side, I tried to look normal as people were asking me to smile so they could see the condition of my teeth. All the while thinking they are thinking --WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO HER LIP?!
Lying there in my chair-- wishing they would hurry so that I could just go home and hide-- the woman next to me decided she wanted to strike up a conversation. Normally, I would not have minded, but I did want to save her the trauma of having to look at my lip.
But, that was not possible without being rude so I smiled nicely and began to answer her questions about my brace wearing experience. There were comments of course on my expensive smile and then I mentioned that I had waited a little later in life to get braces.
And then the question!!!!!!............ How old are you----about 33?
I waited to see if she would follow this up by some comment like ---No, just kidding--45?
I raised my eyebrows and smiled sweetly and said--Really? No, I am 43.
Her response--Eyebrow raise--REALLY?
Me showing off my pearly whites----REALLY!

Can ya'll tell that made my day?
I needed that.
So today even with my red upper mustache area-
I'm feeling mighty good for my age.
And I will joy in the compliment!Guess it is a good thing I did not wear my disguise this morning.
Look what I would have missed out on.

And ya'll ------we have church tonight!!!!!!!!!
Help me Jesus!
And yes, I have to go--I am making dinner.

Have you ever been alone with God?

This is part of my devotion from the other morning. I read Oswald Chambers and I love the way he does not beat around the bush. I do love that in a person.
He has a deep insight into the word. The first year I read from My Utmost For His Highest--I felt real dumb. I spent a massive amount of time reading and rereading . And then the second year was better and the third.........you get the idea.

"When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples" (Mark 4:34) Our solitude with Him. Jesus doesn't take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work--so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don't even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage? We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I'm so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until
He gets us alone.
Oswald Chambers

See what I mean? He does not beat around the bush.
Not every day hits me like this one. But this one lingers.
There is so much fluff in life. So much that can keep me busy looking out.
Dear God...take me aside.

Take Me Aside

Take me aside oh LORD
Show me the things that linger undiscovered
By my heart pron to wander
Things so warped and defiled that they stop Your living life
Take my hand and guide me to those areas never missed by You

And when my eyes fill with tears
And my soul is resigned to live within
Draw me near to Your dear side
Hold me close in your Spirits tide
And in Your will let me abide
S.B.

Catch up

Today has been really busy and I am so tired-and it is just MONDAY!
But... I am not complaining because the onset of the tiredness was because of a
blessing from God.
I was up till 1:oo in the morning today sharing and listening to a little lost sheep
who is coming home.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I may share more about this later. You girls who have been with me awhile--the little lost sheep was my girl Noha. When she left I did a silent scream/dance and gave God a great big
HIGH FIVE.
Yes, I think I saw a great big grin on His face.
It has been a long hard six months.
He was working.--

I spent the day running with Paw Paw.
We went to the kidney doctor first. His kidney function has dropped from 20% two months ago to 16%. That was a pretty big drop. The doctor said it could have just been an unusual drop but they will check it again in two weeks. They are giving him a shot every two weeks to see if they can't keep the kidney function a little longer.
The blessing from God today is the fact that the procedure he had just a month and a half ago to get him ready for dialysis--it is ready already. The procedure was to take 3 to 6 months to prepare the vein --but God is working on His own schedule. Thank you Jesus!
The doctor was surprised.
He is also surprised that Paw Paw is not showing more evidence of the cancer that is in the blood and bone marrow. But God is working and in control. I just don't want Paw Paw to be in pain.
After going to get his shot we came home--both of us were pooped.
He took a nap and I got ready for dinner and did some laundry.
I am sooooo tired.

So I did not get to get around much today. Sorry.
I'll check ya'll out tomorrow.
Love you guys.

Silence and Oberservation-Ops! Observation

A young woman wrote, "I often yearn to be a writer but after reading books like yours, I feel that all the important things have already been said!''

They have indeed been said, and long before I said them. If a thing is true it is not new, but the truth needs to be said again and again, freshly for each generation. I have often been introduced to some seventeenth-or eighteenth-century writer by a nineteenth-century writer. If I quote what I learn from the ancients, a twentieth-century reader is sometimes helped when he would not by himself have found Crashaw's poem or St. Francis' prayer or St. Paul's Love chapter.

What of the twenty-first century? Which of the young people I know are now laying the groundwork for being the writers or artists or, as I like to think of any who show truth in any form, the prophets for my grandchildren's grandchildren?

I wrote to the young woman:

Don't give up that yearning. During these busy years while you take care of small children and give yourself to being a godly wife and mother, lay the firm footing on which good writing must be built. Read great books if you have time to read anything at all. Get rid of the junk that comes in the mail, eschew all magazines and newspapers if your reading time is limited, and by "hearing" the really great authors, learn the sound and cadence of good English.

There are two other things required of "prophets." Observation ("What do you see?" Ezekiel and John were asked) and silence. ("The word of the Lord came to me.") Obviously we (I, at least, and most others, I suppose) are not anything like the biblical prophets. Ours is a different assignment. But we are charged with the responsibility of telling the truth, and I don't see how this can possibly be done without opening our eyes to see and our ears to hear. There must, there simply must, be time and space allowed for silence and for solitude if what we see and hear is to be "processed."

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of Wind, Sand, and Stars, said in a conversation with Anne Morrow Lindbergh, "The great of the earth are those who leave silence and solitude around themselves, their work and their life, and let it ripen of its own accord."

Elisabeth Elliot

Me now---A one time I had a desire to write a book. Something that would change the way someone has always thought and pave the way to FREEDOM. But in the last year or so that has changed. I do want to be a tool used by God to open the eyes of this world to Truth. But I have really become aware that there is no new truth under the sun.

There are so many out there now with books, seminars and plans---all proclaiming to be the ones with the answers. And although sometimes there is something in the mass that really hits me--nothing has set me totally free from this worlds ties. I still labor on.

I love the last quote above by Antoine de Saint-Exupery . "The great of the earth are those who leave silence and solitude around themselves, their work and their life, and let it ripen of its own accord." How profound is that? Ours is not to convince. Ours is just to put the TRUTH out there and then back off so that in the silence, the truth has time to sink in and take root. This world is so noisy. So full of noise pollution. I believe that I have missed out on much truth because it was coming at me at such a fast and furious rate and so loudly to boot, that I just ducked my heart to avoid being beaten to death by it.

And then one day, out of the silence I hear His voice. It is so sweet and pure. So clear and simple. No five step plan. No offering or money that needs to be given. Just simple surrender to Peace and the quiet of His Spirit. The place for me where TRUTH takes root.

Signing Mercy Said No

Thank you Holly for showing me this.

It is AWESOME!

Hold on the crying child will leave. ;)

I'm mellllllllltiiiiiiing

Denise over at Shortybears forwards the best devotions to me each morning.
Each day when I get up I know they will be there. And usually they hit the spot.
Kind of like my morning coffee--this mornings flavor?-- Creme Brulee. Yes, it was good.

I thought this went a little along with my post from yesterday and it was short so I thought I would include it--ya know--in case you have a little extra time. ;)
I would give credit where credit is due--but I don't know where this originated.
Well we do know it came from God!

MASTER

“Master, Master”. . . .

“Who is this? He commands even

the winds and the water,

and they obey him.”

Luke 8:24–25

FROM THE FATHER'S HEART
My child, you will never be at peace until you submit to My authority. My commands are not burdensome, and neither are they unreasonable. Have you not learned that with one word I can send demons fleeing and dispense angel beings to carry out My wishes? Relinquish your misplaced control, no matter what your circumstances. You are not the captain of your fate.
(How comforting is that?) I am.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE
Lord, I hear Your quiet whispers as You comfort my heart and calm my fears. With a simple “Peace, be still!” a thousand raging thoughts(Be still my thoughts) obey Your voice. Gently, You set my sails toward land. I praise You, master of my life.

SIMPLE TRUTH

When God is in control, He puts our fears on hold.
( I would have said He dissolves or melts our fears. Perfect love cast out fear.)

It is all in your mind--well, it is!

I had my son come and stand in the kitchen with his arms held out horizontal to his body.
I then asked him to resist as I tried to push down on his arms.
He is about 6'2 and 200 pounds (muscle not fat) so you can imagine that it was pretty easy for him to resist me. I am not weakling by the way. (Just had to put that into the equation)
Anyhoo-he had no problem resisting me of course.
Ha! Ha!
Then I asked him to repeat three times out loud--"I am not good enough!"
Yes, he looked at me like I was a tad crazy. Then I once again asked him to hold out his arms and try to resist this 5'6 ---lb Mom.
(you didn't really think I would put my weight here did you?)
He could NOT!
Now once again I asked him to repeat -"I am good enough!"--three times out loud.
Again arms spread eagle and try to resist me.
He could do it again. I wish you could have seen the look on his face.
Of course he thought that was pretty cool.
His expression amidst his deep huh(laugh), huh (laugh)was--What the heck!
He wanted to know how I had done it.

So...... of course I had to do a little Mom talk.
"See what power you have over your body and mind? If you speak positive, good things-- your body responds in a positive way. If you tell yourself out loud that you are a failure and you can't get anything right--that is what you will get."

These are the events that led to the above exercise.

I have been thinking about what has been going on in my mind lately. Then this morning I turned on the morning news show and they had a doctor on talking about a book she had written. She used the example that I tried with Michael. So it does work.
I may try it for children's church sometime.

And there was also a devotional that I got this morning that talked about what we think about. It seemed to be the thought of the morning.
We should be thinking of things that are pure and lovely and of good report.
That includes thoughts about ourself.
There are some changes I need to make this year. Changes that are not going to happen without the help of the Holy Spirit and ME.
But, I have to be willing to open my mouth and speak them out loud.
I always go back to the verse--Faith comes by HEARING and hearing by the word of God.
So when I look into the mirror and speak out loud--
You are wonderfully created by God and He loves you. By His power at work in you there is nothing that you can't do. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are beautiful and you will be healthy this year on the inside and out.

That word of faith goes out of my mouth into my ears and down into my heart.
It is truth-- so a seed has been planted and God promises that His seeds do not come back void.
Pretty cool?

Of course you can use this for whatever you need it for.
But you must open your mouth and speak the truth. YOU AND I need to HEAR it!
Our bodies will respond.
And when you and I start to get those negative thoughts in our minds--- we need to respond(yes, I give you permission to talk back to yourself) out loud with the TRUTH.
Tell your negative fearful thoughts to talk to the hand.
But make sure that your hand tells those lying thoughts just where they have to go.

We can do this!
We are more than conqueors through Jesus who strengthens us.

Blogaholic -Inspiring -Sisters

Don't you just love the little guy below?
Melanie from Livin' With Me passed it on last night. And if I figured out how to do the button you can click on him and go to her sight to find out more about him and her sweet hubby who made him for us.
Melanie would be honored for us all to wear him on our blogs. So if you would like please grab Him and "wear" him proudly. He is for those of us who "get" blogging.

This next award was given to me by sweet Denise over at Shortybears. Thank you girl.
You know you inspire me too.
I am going to pass this on to you girls that I have blogged with. Feel free to grab it and then
pass the love on. That really is what awards are--just signs of our love.

And I would like to take a moment to remind those of you
who have come since Jenny created my sweet button--- that you are welcome to grab the Sisters by Blood button and pass it on.
Here is the original post for the button and what the button stands for-
Sisters by BloodIt is really not an award--just a sign of the unity under which we stand.

Failures or Experienced?

I got this by email today and just thought it was good.
I loved the line that says that failing does not make us failures--just experienced.
What experience I have! :)

Failure That Leads to Godliness
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
01-05-2008

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.... - 1 Samuel 22:2

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive?" I am the next king of Israel. Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him. Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army -- and an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" (see 1 Chron. 11:10).

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, a farmer, and a doctor.

The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom -- if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

Reaching Out With His Hands

I recently read something on the subject of "respecter of persons".

It kind of made me start thinking. Thinking about myself and if I am like my Maker.

Deuteronomy 10:17 (New International Version)

17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

He is not partial and no respecter of persons. We read in Genesis that we were made in His image. After His likeness. Does it have to do with the way He looks? Does it have to do with the fact that He is an eternal being? Does it mean that I have His emotional makeup?

I guess I would say that it has a little bit to do with all of the above. I do know that He LOVES--He is love. When I come to Him in salvation the "umbilical cord" that was cut by sin-it is reconnected. The flow is resumed.
What flows from Him to me? All that He is-------------- If I allow it. What would stop the flow? Sin. How would people know if a believer is being controlled by sin and cut off from the free flow of love from God?

A disconnect takes place. What does that look like? Here is an example from my life.
I love very deeply. I have a very sensitive heart/spirit. Mom used to say this about me when I was little. A few years ago my sister was going through a rough time. While spending time with my sister one day she spent time telling me what she was going through. I listened--I am sure I offered advice(hopefully not like Job's friends ;) and then it was time to leave.
Standing on the front porch she looked at me and told me something I don't think I will ever forget. She said--- "Sharon, I can always tell where you are in your relationship with God. When
you are close to Him--you really care about what is going on in my life".
That statement kind of hurt. Why? Because that meant that there were actually times when she knew that I did not really care. I could not connect with my emotions.
That is rough--but it is true.
Think about it. When you are close in your relationship with God--even when you are overwhelmed--you care when someone is hurting. You are able to take your eyes off yourself and what struggles you are going through and you are able to share the love of God with them. Share His heart with them. And usually it makes your burden a little lighter for awhile.
Like a deep breath after having held it for awhile.
His love enables us not to respect ourselves above another. The love that has been shed abroad in our hearts--it flows freely to others. Love that is real. Love that listens first to the person and next to God and what He would have us say to His child.
So each day when I venture out in blogdom--I want to listen with His ears. Listen with His heart. Then I want to respond with His love. Do I think blogging is my "ministry"?
NO.
Do I think life is a ministry?
YES!
A ministry of ministering His love to individuals-----without regard of who you are or who you know. Isn't that what God planted in our hearts from the beginning? Made in His image------ we are to love as He loves.

John 13:35 (The Message)

34-35"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."

The thought that I want to leave you to ponder....When you happen on a woman in blogdom that you seem to have a connection with----embrace that connection. Ponder it. See if God has set a connection for a reason and a season. Women have moved in and out of my life here. Sometimes the connection is not there-I understand that. I don't think we should push it. We don't want to become stalkers. :) But I would ask that you give things time. See if they have something to offer you from God. And then from a heart connected to God-give back freely.

GO LSU!!!!!!!!

GO TIGERS!!!
Now, just so you know-- I am not
normally that "in" to football. But----- I did go here one semester and they are from my state. Soooooooo......Goooo TIGERS!

If you did not catch the last post go back and see if you missed something.

The Daily Dose

This is my first blessing for the new year from my blog sisters.
A blessing that came from someone who so blesses my heart.
Connie from Little Red Hearts from God thrills my heart with the way she does her job and the beautiful ministry/job she has. If you have not gotten a chance to meet her-- you should. Her writing helps me realize just how close we are to heavens door.
She talks often of how in her job she walks people to heavens door(my personal words).
Once she spoke of kissing the cheek of a person about to go to heaven. She left the house and talked about the call she got from the family saying that they were now face to face with Jesus.
Reading her words I thought--she just kissed the cheek that is now being kissed by Jesus.
How great is that? That is how close heaven is guys. Cool thing to think about.
Can you tell I love this girl?
She has a huge heart.
This little award is called The Daily Dose.
And here is all the important info. Because you know you want to know what it is about and where it came from. ;)
".. here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog".
From Xandra: creator, The Daily Dose Award.

Now it is my turn to pass it on and then I must link back to Xandra the creator. If I pass this on to you and you have already gotten it--you don't have to pass it on again.
Some of you that I blog with have already gotten it-- so I will try and catch
the ones who did not.
Because you know---- we have to pass the on the luuuuuv . :)
So here goes....
Dee, Soul Reflections , Sunny Susan, From the Vicarage Kitchen, Thus Far The Lord Has Helped Me, Letters From A Prodigal Daughter, Crown Laid Down, Life Is Not A Cereal, Karen's Ramblings, Three Girly Girls, Still His Girl , MelanieJoy, Shore Stories, Ally's Antics, Windows To My Soul, I'm In Another Place In Him, In His Footsteps, Chocolate And Coffee Deborah Shank, LIFESONG, Organizational Determination, Edge Of Design, Did You Ever Think About, Mary's Writing Nook, Kentucky Woman, Regina's Family Seasons, Riding Free With Deb, On The Upside, Free To Fly, Keep on Believing, Overflow Of a Forgiven Soul, Livin' With Me, Beloved by Name Beautiful by Grace,
Sting My Heart
(I don't know what happened to the above conglomeration-but I didn't type it that way!)
PHEW!!!!!!!!!
That will be the last time I link to all these sites. ;)
But they are great and I love these girls.
Probably don't get around to all of them as much as I would like--but they see me often.
Now girls--if you take it--YOU GOT TA PASS IT!
And don't forget to link back to Xandra. And if you are not here on my list--it is because I thought you already got it. Sorry!

Watching my speed for His names sake

Friday is one of the days that Paw Paw and I go to see Granny at the nursing home. It is about 45 minutes from our house--a long quiet ride.
Usually I try and play some music or and always do some thinking.
I try and watch my speed because I am a stickler about that.
No, I don't always stay right on the mark but not much over it.(Not perfect yet)
Yesterday on the way out into the country I noticed that there was a growing number of cars behind me. I looked down at my speedometer to see if maybe in my day dreaming I had gotten off the mark--nope, 57 (see I am not perfect) ;).
And yet, the cars behind me grew. Now, I don't know about ya'll----- but it was a kind of an uncomfortable feeling for me.
I know how I tend to think when I get behind someone not doing the speed limit. And really, why someone would feel that 40 or 45 is fine when the speed limit is 55 (70 on major highways)----I don't understand! Yes, it urks me.
Back to the point.
At this time there are at least 8 cars following close behind me. And we are out in the middle of nowhere. I did think about speeding up. But then I thought, why should I break the law just because someone else does not care. And hey-maybe the fact that they have to slow down might just change their future.
It might just stop a major accident. Who knows.
But, because I am a person who does not by nature want to urk anyone--it was a tad uncomfortable for me.
Eventually the road straightened out and those who wanted to pass did.
Who am I kidding?
Everyone passed. :)
Then I started thinking how that situation resemble my Spiritual drive through life lately.
(yes, that is how my brain works)
I have been recently pondering how I had gotten off tract spiritually.
I think it is very important to evaluate these things and learn from them.
We know that there are guidelines set in place by God to keep us safe and within His will.
We also know that we can seemingly step over some of the lines and not experience the effects of the sin. Or so we think.
Yet, if God says this far and no further and I decide to take one more step--that is sin.
And if God tells me to only think on things that are pure and lovely
and I choose not to--
Sin. Ouch.
Lately looking back I know that I have stepped over the line.
Not watching certain things on T.V had been the norm in my spiritual walk. I am not talking even about R rated programs--just things that I know Jesus would not sit there and watch with me. Then the line began to blur. Others were watching and I thought- well, I'll just sit here and piddle on my computer. And, before I knew it, my mind was engaging with what was on the T.V.
There are so many other examples I could use.
This is just the easiest.
We look around at the body of Christ and they are moving forward doing things we know we should not do and so we feel uncomfortable taking the stand we know is right.
Kind of like those people riding on my bumper.
Maturity says, I will do what I know is right no matter what.
But, I--- in my self "centeredness" choose to follow along-be pushed along.
I say self centered because when I say yes to me and worldly desires--I am saying NO to the Spirit.
When I slip--others will slip too. People are always watching us. I am part of the spiritual protection for my children. When I step over the line I remove some of that protection.

But if I am willing to keep the line in my life and not step over it-others will eventually join me.

Bottom line----I want to be on His side. I want to walk through this year holding His hand.
Job made a covenant with his eyes.
King David should have.

God has already drawn a line for me. It is very clear.
Getting my patoot back on His side of the line even as I speak.
Driving at His speed no matter how many people are riding on my bumper.

Never alone

I love my God
He is powerful and mighty
His glory rises like the morning sun
Rising in His children like the noon day sun
Burning
Ever burning away the effects of darkness

How my heart leans near to rest upon His chest
He is my comforter
My protector
How can man touch me
The God of the universe Holds me!

How I love my eternal husband
See my heart God?
See how it yearns for You?

See how I hold it out with hands that are no longer closed?
How I trust you
I lay my head against your chest and wrap my arms around you in rest
Sweet Rest!

Even now your presence is here
So tender and sweet
I lay my palm on your cheek
And look deep into your eyes-
I love you!

Thank you! Thank you!
He gently tilts His head and my hand is caught
between His face and the shoulders that bore
the weight of my sin
Peace!

Precious Man!
Precious God!
Only one so glorious could over come the guilt of me
I Love You
Thank You for loving me. \o/

Sharon Brumfield

Need help

6x8=???????
Julia is trying to learn her multiplication facts.
Yuck!
Who says we don't have to go back in time.
I hate math. I have a major math block. That thanks to a 4th grade teacher who thought ridicule was a great teaching method. Thank you Ms Spangle.
Anyhoo....I need some ideas to help teach her the facts.
I would love some rhymes or songs.
Something she could say in her head until she has them down pat.
I know you home school Moms have some good ideas.
So pass the goodies on.

Thanks!

SMACK!!!!

Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” Every time you tell your story, it is another blow to the enemy’s plan. Hallelujah!

I read that this morning in a devotional someone sent me. I have heard that verse before, but it hit me this morning. I could not help but envision the blows satan is receiving because of the women in blogdom that are speaking up.

Have we seen the power of God in action in our lives? I have read recently about needs being met by God in miraculous ways. About the innocent eyes of children seeing the heavenly host that surround us. These things encourage our hearts. They remind us that the God that we serve- that we do not see with our physical eye--HE IS! He is alive! He weaves His great works in and out of our lives. If we are looking-if we are anticipating...we will see Him.
Then when we see Him---lets give God a shout out.
Because a shout out to God is a smack in the face of our antagonists.

We don't like satan. We are not on his side.
We are in a battle.
We want to do some damage to the other side.

We are women. We love to talk.
We have the whole world at our finger tips with ears open.
Lets do some major damage to the other side.

Just working out my faith with a little fear and a little contemplating

We are not human beings going through a
temporary spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings, going through a temporary human experience.

Can you say AMEN?
This is just temporary!
But we will live in eternity with the results of the choices we made while here.
EEEEEKKKK!

This past year in my life has -with-out-a-doubt- shown me that I am human.
Areas in my life that I thought I had conquered --popped back up and became part of my life again. Yuck!
Things that I thought I would always have a grip on seemed to slip away
as if they had never been mine.
I began to think, toward the end of the year, that I really had never known myself.
It shook me up and really made me mad.
I was not going to go backward. I had worked to hard to get where I was. I had been doing everything I could to maintain. I maintain. That is me.
I like knowing who I am. And I need to know where I am going.
God decided He was going to knock all the props out from under me.
And He did that very successfully--I am currently sitting on my butt in the middle of my life.
Now I want to fix it. Fix the mistakes. Redo the tests and PASS the tests.
Like the lady above-- I could pull out the list and start checking it off.
But we all know that would lead to failure.

I decided to do a little contemplating. Backing up a few steps and talking to God at the beginning of this year before I get going again. A little fasting-- a little praying.
Clean the slate of all lingering things that stand between God and I.

I need to know why I got off tract. I guess I figure that the problem started out as a grain of sand and it became a bolder before I knew it.
So I am asking some questions.
I need to hear His voice the way I did before the train derailed. I want to anticipate getting up in the morning to experience life with Him. I miss the sweet presence of the Spirit.
It has been a tad dry as of late.
I miss the flow of His pure water.

Just doing a little contemplating.

Happy Birthday Linda!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Linda
Happy Birthday to you!


Love ya girl
Hope you have a great day with your family.

Girly Comments & Graphics

Hapy Birthday Keith!

Today is my Man's Birthday!
Yes, a new year baby.

Happy Birthday Keith! I love you!

You fill my heart in ways that I only could have imagined.
You allow me to step out and experience the person God truly planned me to be.
I am a better person because of you.
And you know that is TRUE!

The other day at church when Brady mentioned that we should imagine loosing our spouse--
my heart sunk.
I can not even imagine the giant hole that would replace the space my heart now fills
if God took you home.
Makes my heart hurt even just thinking about it.

I love you baby!
I am so glad you were born!
SHMILY