What a wonderful weekend I have had!
I spent the weekend on a women's retreat and received a filling up of my joy cup!!
For most of the time here, I have been searching for fellowship with new journeymen (women) on my spiritual walk. I was so blessed at our church in Texas and so wanting and needing the same blessing here. I knew God had a plan for me, but I was growing weary and needed assurance...
Well, I now have a cup overflowing....AMEN!!!
God is so faithful and I just have had 48 hours of confirmation...really, it does not get any clearer than this!
So to all my new journeymen(women), I am so blessed to have met you and look forward to taking long walks in the garden with you!
Thank you Lord, for your mercies are great!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Building of a Temple
In the building of the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and NO HAMMER, CHISEL OR ANY OTHER IRON TOOL WAS HEARD at the temple site while it was being built. 1Kings 6:7
Have you ever been to a construction site? The noise is almost unbearable!! So think about this verse for a moment.
It took seven years to build the temple, and there was not a sound of hammer, chisel or other iron tool at the building site!!
This astounds me.
During this Season of Lent, when we are focusing on the magnitude of the CROSS, I am struck by this quietness. This absence of modern day tools. This great reverence for the MOST HOLY PLACE, that begins at the moment of construction.
And this quietness begs the question, if I am a temple for the MOST HOLY, am I allowing too much noise at the construction site?
The answer would have to be yes. The noise of jackhammers, saws, chisels and the like have taken residence in my being. Television, cell phones, computers, worry and fret have made themselves at home causing confusion, exhaustion and doubt. All stealing the quietness and the calmness of rebuilding the temple. We live in a society of here and now, whatever will make the process quicker is what we are after. This of course is what the enemy has wanted all along, because with the modern day tools we drown out the STILL SMALL VOICE that is trying to give direction and speak LOVE.
Please don't miss understand me, these things are great tools when used in the correct places, at the quarry!!
Even Jesus went to the quiet places, leaving the crowds and the noise behind to commune with the FATHER.
May you spend your weekend enjoying the silence at the construction site!
It took seven years to build the temple, and there was not a sound of hammer, chisel or other iron tool at the building site!!
This astounds me.
During this Season of Lent, when we are focusing on the magnitude of the CROSS, I am struck by this quietness. This absence of modern day tools. This great reverence for the MOST HOLY PLACE, that begins at the moment of construction.
And this quietness begs the question, if I am a temple for the MOST HOLY, am I allowing too much noise at the construction site?
The answer would have to be yes. The noise of jackhammers, saws, chisels and the like have taken residence in my being. Television, cell phones, computers, worry and fret have made themselves at home causing confusion, exhaustion and doubt. All stealing the quietness and the calmness of rebuilding the temple. We live in a society of here and now, whatever will make the process quicker is what we are after. This of course is what the enemy has wanted all along, because with the modern day tools we drown out the STILL SMALL VOICE that is trying to give direction and speak LOVE.
Please don't miss understand me, these things are great tools when used in the correct places, at the quarry!!
Even Jesus went to the quiet places, leaving the crowds and the noise behind to commune with the FATHER.
Us getting away from the "quarry" for awhile.
We need more time away from the quarry and more time building in the quiet reverence of the MOST HOLY PLACE. I am still in awe of this verse...NO SOUND OF TOOLS at a construction site!! GOD works this way, in the silence, building HIS temple in us.May you spend your weekend enjoying the silence at the construction site!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Stumbling on the Path
Well, it did not take long...I have already stumbled.
I have this bucket with all my "rocks" in it, and this weekend some of them started to fall out. One right after the next. I was successful, for a while, at picking them up and putting them back in. However by Sunday afternoon, I found myself sitting on the side of the road, in the dirt, crying over these "rocks" that would just not stay in the bucket.
A glimpse of beauty within all the "rocks"!
I really wasn't in the dirt, or on the side of the road, and I am not talking about real rocks.
What I am talking about is lack of faith. Trying to be in control. Not trusting in the ONE who knows how best to carry "rocks".
My husband's mom, Mary, lost her sister-in-law on Saturday and on Sunday, Mary was having unexpected surgery for a strangulated intestine...these were my rocks!!
So, when I say I was in the dirt on the side of the road...I was in despair and forgetting WHO really was in control the whole time!
Mary made it through surgery just fine, and will be given a "day pass" to attend the funeral later in the week.
I learned how to lean in better, and give over the "rocks" that I thought needed carrying.
Don't you have a bucket too??
The CROSS is where all buckets were emptied, once and for all. There really is no need to carry them around anymore, unless you are picking wild flowers....The power of the CROSS turns our "rocks" into wildflowers!!
So, I continue my WALK in FREEDOM with a few less rocks and a couple of wild flowers, hopefully by EASTER I will have a full bouquet!
I have this bucket with all my "rocks" in it, and this weekend some of them started to fall out. One right after the next. I was successful, for a while, at picking them up and putting them back in. However by Sunday afternoon, I found myself sitting on the side of the road, in the dirt, crying over these "rocks" that would just not stay in the bucket.
A glimpse of beauty within all the "rocks"!
I really wasn't in the dirt, or on the side of the road, and I am not talking about real rocks.
What I am talking about is lack of faith. Trying to be in control. Not trusting in the ONE who knows how best to carry "rocks".
My husband's mom, Mary, lost her sister-in-law on Saturday and on Sunday, Mary was having unexpected surgery for a strangulated intestine...these were my rocks!!
So, when I say I was in the dirt on the side of the road...I was in despair and forgetting WHO really was in control the whole time!
Mary made it through surgery just fine, and will be given a "day pass" to attend the funeral later in the week.
I learned how to lean in better, and give over the "rocks" that I thought needed carrying.
Don't you have a bucket too??
The CROSS is where all buckets were emptied, once and for all. There really is no need to carry them around anymore, unless you are picking wild flowers....The power of the CROSS turns our "rocks" into wildflowers!!
So, I continue my WALK in FREEDOM with a few less rocks and a couple of wild flowers, hopefully by EASTER I will have a full bouquet!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Redemption
The Season of Lent is upon us.
A time to reflect on sins committed and ones that were committed against us. A time to reflect on the ACTION that was taken to take it all away!
I walk in freedom today, not because of something I have done, but because of something I was/am willing to receive....FORGIVENESS!
My daughter dancing in FREEDOM!
I, as a mom, am constantly telling my children to apologize and forgive each other, but how many times do I actually do this for myself? Not near as much as I instruct them too!!
The enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy! The enemy wants you to remember your short comings, failings and other sinful nature...God on the other hand has sent HIS son and HE has paid the price for us! Do you grasp that?? I sometimes don't either, however we should really think long and hard on this...hence the Season of Lent!
I heard something today and am still trying to wrap my mind around it..."When God looks at us, HE sees us as white as snow, because we are made clean by the blood of Christ!"
Think about this.
When we look in the mirror what do we see? Do we see the glory of the MOST HIGH reflected back? I know I don't, however I should if I truly believe that I have been saved by the BLOOD OF CHRIST!
That is exactly what the enemy wants us to not understand and receive!! THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, NAILED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS, WASHED BY HIS BLOOD, MADE HOLY BEFORE GOD!
We live in a fallen world, and we all have human sinful nature, and we all fall short of righteousness.
A time to reflect on sins committed and ones that were committed against us. A time to reflect on the ACTION that was taken to take it all away!
A Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins.
Isaiah 59:20
Isaiah 59:20
I walk in freedom today, not because of something I have done, but because of something I was/am willing to receive....FORGIVENESS!
My daughter dancing in FREEDOM!
The enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy! The enemy wants you to remember your short comings, failings and other sinful nature...God on the other hand has sent HIS son and HE has paid the price for us! Do you grasp that?? I sometimes don't either, however we should really think long and hard on this...hence the Season of Lent!
I heard something today and am still trying to wrap my mind around it..."When God looks at us, HE sees us as white as snow, because we are made clean by the blood of Christ!"
Think about this.
When we look in the mirror what do we see? Do we see the glory of the MOST HIGH reflected back? I know I don't, however I should if I truly believe that I have been saved by the BLOOD OF CHRIST!
That is exactly what the enemy wants us to not understand and receive!! THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, NAILED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS, WASHED BY HIS BLOOD, MADE HOLY BEFORE GOD!
We live in a fallen world, and we all have human sinful nature, and we all fall short of righteousness.
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by HIS grace through the REDEMPTION that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of HIS BLOOD-to be received by faith.
Romans 3:22-25
My challenge this Lenten season is WALK in this gift of SAVING GRACE, to accept the forgiveness and the NEW LIFE that Jesus so selflessly given me, to re-CLAIM my freedom and stand firm against the enemy!! Won't you join me?
Romans 3:22-25
My challenge this Lenten season is WALK in this gift of SAVING GRACE, to accept the forgiveness and the NEW LIFE that Jesus so selflessly given me, to re-CLAIM my freedom and stand firm against the enemy!! Won't you join me?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
I Fell
Two weeks ago I fell. I fell hard.
Temperatures rose to a balmy 37*, the rain fell gently down, the snow slowly melted and then as surely as the temperatures rose, they began to drop.
What had been water cascading down the asphalt driveway was now a crystalline black sheet of ice. This is when the fall occurred. When night and morning are blurred together. One day has ended, the next just beginning.
I was called to "rescue" my daughter from a sleep-over that had turned to homesickness; my husband, still on travel and landing at the airport; my son, sleeping and dreaming of new adventures. I pull on my coat and grab my keys and proceed to rescue my precious little one from the dark night.
I should have surrendered when my truck refused to climb the incline of the drive and instead chose to slide sideways back towards the garage, but my daughter needed me. Not once, but several times my truck refused my direct command to retrieve my precious little one. I was on a mission and failure was not an option. So, I get out of the truck and investigate the reason for the refusal, knowing good and well what the problem was, but not really wanting to admit defeat.
I am able to climb the incline, why shouldn't the truck be able too...and then it happened. I was standing in all my "in-control" self and then I wasn't. Though I should not have been, I was in total surprise of where I found myself...cold, wet, and hurt, really hurt. All I could think about was " Please, God, let me get to my daughter, she needs me."
I was not going anywhere. She was brought to me, safe and sound.
I had a lesson to learn and it has taken two weeks to fully receive it.
When we (I) fall from GRACE, it sometimes catches us by surprise even though we have seen it coming and refuse to take another route.
My fall has left me with back pain, no bruise, but pain that will take some time to heal. The bruise will come later, the hurt is deep.
Sin is that way. The hurt goes deep, the pain has caused scarring and sometimes we are unaware of the bruising until the shades of our sin become visible through the eyes of TRUTH.
The healing does come. The hurt is healed all the way through to the marrow, the root of the sin is no more. GRACE has been renewed.
I still have a way to go before my back is the same, however because of my fall, I was able to warn my husband of the ice, I was able to be humbled into letting go and allowing someone else to rescue my precious little daughter, and I have been blessed by the SPIRIT.
Now when my back catches, I am reminded of slowing down and listening to the still small voice that is leading the way, the way of the righteous, not of the in-control!!
Temperatures rose to a balmy 37*, the rain fell gently down, the snow slowly melted and then as surely as the temperatures rose, they began to drop.
What had been water cascading down the asphalt driveway was now a crystalline black sheet of ice. This is when the fall occurred. When night and morning are blurred together. One day has ended, the next just beginning.
I was called to "rescue" my daughter from a sleep-over that had turned to homesickness; my husband, still on travel and landing at the airport; my son, sleeping and dreaming of new adventures. I pull on my coat and grab my keys and proceed to rescue my precious little one from the dark night.
I should have surrendered when my truck refused to climb the incline of the drive and instead chose to slide sideways back towards the garage, but my daughter needed me. Not once, but several times my truck refused my direct command to retrieve my precious little one. I was on a mission and failure was not an option. So, I get out of the truck and investigate the reason for the refusal, knowing good and well what the problem was, but not really wanting to admit defeat.
I am able to climb the incline, why shouldn't the truck be able too...and then it happened. I was standing in all my "in-control" self and then I wasn't. Though I should not have been, I was in total surprise of where I found myself...cold, wet, and hurt, really hurt. All I could think about was " Please, God, let me get to my daughter, she needs me."
I was not going anywhere. She was brought to me, safe and sound.
I had a lesson to learn and it has taken two weeks to fully receive it.
When we (I) fall from GRACE, it sometimes catches us by surprise even though we have seen it coming and refuse to take another route.
My fall has left me with back pain, no bruise, but pain that will take some time to heal. The bruise will come later, the hurt is deep.
Sin is that way. The hurt goes deep, the pain has caused scarring and sometimes we are unaware of the bruising until the shades of our sin become visible through the eyes of TRUTH.
The healing does come. The hurt is healed all the way through to the marrow, the root of the sin is no more. GRACE has been renewed.
I still have a way to go before my back is the same, however because of my fall, I was able to warn my husband of the ice, I was able to be humbled into letting go and allowing someone else to rescue my precious little daughter, and I have been blessed by the SPIRIT.
Now when my back catches, I am reminded of slowing down and listening to the still small voice that is leading the way, the way of the righteous, not of the in-control!!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Small Voice in the Storm
Cloudy with a chance of wintry mix...rain/sleet/snow.
These are the days to curl up and read, write or watch a great movie..but they also represent the perfect scenario for the enemy to come and lay claim in your mind.
During this season of clouds and freezing rain, the roads turn icy in a moments notice, you have to be on guard. We should be the same in our faith walk..let me try and explain what I mean.
The enemy slips in unnoticed, with just a wondering thought, then that thought demands more attention and we give it, usually without a second thought as to what lie we are actually being told. Then, without much warning that small wondering thought has actually become a stronghold and we label IT as who we are, how we are, it is automatic, part of us...
Unlike the weather, this does not happen instantly, but over time. The enemy starts young..I am watching the battle begin in my own daughter and am trying to call what IT is at the start so that IT does not make permanent residents in her mind!
I speak as a solider who has fought those battles and still does. IT is the lies of the enemy. Lies that tell us we are unworthy, worthless, ugly, unsuccessful, and the list goes on...
When our season of life has turned cloudy and rainy, the lies seem to be louder and stronger and become more deadly. DO NOT give in to the lies (I am repeating that to myself)! Why is that do you think? Why when things are not so sunny and happy it is so much easier to fall for the lies? Has GOD changed?
The answer is no, GOD has not changed, we have just forgotten.
We have forgotten that HE has rescued us, died for us, and has set us free! We have forgotten the love HE has for us. We have simply forgotten to be still and know WHO has created us.
GOD is in the clouds, the wind, and the rain (frozen or not) speaking in a still small voice....quiet your (mine too) hearts and minds and listen to the TRUTH, for that TRUTH will set you free!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Discipline or Attack
Have you ever wondered if you were under attack from the enemy?
Have you ever felt the correcting hand of God?
How do you know the difference between the two?
The path that HE has me on is one that resembles the previous questions! The problem is knowing when the correcting ends and an attack has begun...
Simply put, the enemy knows all to well my bad habits and that God wants to rid me of them...so, the enemy sets snares to catch me...and of course I trip and start to second guess the path.
The Israelites had the same problem. What should have been an eleven day journey took forty years, why? Because they simply could not follow directions. God laid out the rules and the enemy went right to work at shifting the perspective of the people. The enemy planted seeds of fear, pride, and want and let the people do the rest of the work for him...
Are we not the same today?? I know that I am. The rules have not changed, the seeds of fear, pride and want are not new either...and yet we still fall for them all the time.
Our perspective changes and we see correction as an attack and assume that we will be set free from the trial...however, the trial is there to refine us, renew us, and reshape us into the being we are meant to be; we miss the lesson and the trial continues and the enemy smiles and confusion sets in again...
The good news, God never leaves us the way we were...and slowly we start to get the picture!! I am just praying that it is not a forty year journey...one year will do thank you, okay maybe I need one or two more lessons... {faint smile}!
Here is to being quick learners!! God bless each one of you on your own journey in the desert!
Have you ever felt the correcting hand of God?
How do you know the difference between the two?
The path that HE has me on is one that resembles the previous questions! The problem is knowing when the correcting ends and an attack has begun...
Simply put, the enemy knows all to well my bad habits and that God wants to rid me of them...so, the enemy sets snares to catch me...and of course I trip and start to second guess the path.
The Israelites had the same problem. What should have been an eleven day journey took forty years, why? Because they simply could not follow directions. God laid out the rules and the enemy went right to work at shifting the perspective of the people. The enemy planted seeds of fear, pride, and want and let the people do the rest of the work for him...
Are we not the same today?? I know that I am. The rules have not changed, the seeds of fear, pride and want are not new either...and yet we still fall for them all the time.
Our perspective changes and we see correction as an attack and assume that we will be set free from the trial...however, the trial is there to refine us, renew us, and reshape us into the being we are meant to be; we miss the lesson and the trial continues and the enemy smiles and confusion sets in again...
The good news, God never leaves us the way we were...and slowly we start to get the picture!! I am just praying that it is not a forty year journey...one year will do thank you, okay maybe I need one or two more lessons... {faint smile}!
Here is to being quick learners!! God bless each one of you on your own journey in the desert!
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