Testify Tuesday

I have been just about to burst waiting for this Testify Tuesday. I have a story to tell you that blessed my socks off! After you read my story, you might say what happened was mere coincidence, but I don’t believe in coincidences, I believe in Godincedences.

A couple of weeks ago, Todd, Brenna, and I went to eat lunch after church. We strolled into Burger King and sauntered toward to the counter as we looked at the menu. As he pondered what he wanted, I stepped a little behind Todd, as I normally do, and quietly told him what to order for Brenna, and then what to order for me. Mind you, there was no one behind me in line, and there is no way the person behind the counter could have heard what I told him because at this point the clerk was not even paying attention to us.

Here is what I told Todd:

“I want the dollar cheeseburger.
Mustard and pickles only.
And a Coke.
I sure would like a Frozen Coke, but it won’t wash my food down very well, so I guess just get me a Coke.”

You see, I was hinting to my husband in that wifely way we do, that I really wanted a Coke to drink and a Frozen Coke for a treat after we ate. I didn’t want to come out and ask for it, because you know how we girls are, if I tooold him, it wouldn’t have been as specialllllll. How many times have we fallen for that little romantic trap?!? Not too many years ago such an idea would have been sure to cause quite the fight when he didn’t pick up on my little “hint”, but I knew he probably wouldn’t order the Frozen Coke, so I didn’t have my heart set on it.

As he paid, Brenna and I filled our drinks, got the ketchup, etc. We all took our seats at the table with our little order number proudly displayed for the nice lady who would bring our tray. Only a few minutes past before she approached us with tray in hand, we passed out the food and all three began to open our wrappers and my husband says in quite a surprised tone, “What’s that?” as he noticed an extra glass on our tray.

I kinda snickered as I lifted the lid from the glass to find none other than, you guessed it,
A FROZEN COKE!

I asked Todd if he ordered it for me and he assured me that he did not, wishing he could have gotten the brownie points. In my sassy little Royal Princess Daughter of the King voice, I said, “Well, I guess my OTHER Husband did!” as I giggled.

“Yeah, I guess SOMEBODY heard you!” Todd muttered, “I wish you would have asked for our meal to be paid for or for me a milkshake!”

It was a DELIGHTFUL Frozen Coke!

It’s the little things that remind me of how much my Heavely Father, my Heavenly Bridegroom loves me. He knows me better than I know myself!


Now – that’s one of the places I have seen Him recently, what’s been happening in your world with the Almighty?

Let’s Testify to His goodness on this Tuesday.




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A Monday Challenge

Mondays. We all dread ‘em, try to figure out ways around them, few of us actually look forward to them. The Monday after Thanksgiving is probably dreaded more than most others after we’ve had a few days to taste freedom to do as we choose. Freedom to do things we enjoy. We spend time with family, some shop, some put up the Christmas tree, some watch football, we women spend a bit of time in the kitchen.  No matter what we spend the days doing, we enjoy the long break from the regular routine.

But – the Monday after always comes… I can hear it now - as the alarm went off this morning. If you are anything like me, a less than cheerful grunted UGGH! accompanied your jerk back to reality, a jerk that took a mere second to ruin the bliss of sleepland. My mind and my body scream “NOOOO! Not yet!” as I return from slumber.

In my job, the Monday following Thanksgiving is one of the days we dread the most, it is a crazy day, but this year I want to look at it differently. A couple of weeks ago I heard a statement regarding “Mondays” on KLOVE, that was a little different than the “typical”. You could say it gave me a fresh perspective.

Mondays aren’t ALL bad…
Mondays are a chance to do something with what we learned on Sunday.

Hmmm….

Every Monday is a chance to use what God has spoken to me in His house on Sunday.

Adds a little anticipation in place of the dread and makes Monday a little more exciting doesn’t it? It’s a challenge to us to put feet to our faith and flesh out what went into our hearts and minds as we worshipped.

What did you learn on Sunday that you want to “do something with” on this Monday?

Here’s what I learned that I want to use today:

My pastor spoke from Psalms 34 on Sunday and verse 1 says “I will bless the Lord at all times; His  praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This verse spoke to me in light of the impending “Monday” and all that comes with it. If His praise is continually in my mouth, there will be no room for the things in my mouth that don’t bring Him glory. Gossip, complaining, whining, sarcasm, griping, groaning, and discussing with coworkers how terrible the day is going to be can’t fit in my mouth if His praise is continually there.

Monday’s looking better already! Our life as believers is about more than church on Sunday morning. God’s desire is for us to take Him and His message Beyond Sunday Morning into real life.

What did you learn on Sunday that you want to do something with today? Share it with us, you just might challenge the rest of us to live out something new too.




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ThankFULL - part 5

I have enjoyed reflecting on the things I am thankful for and posting them to you. Today's post is the final installment of ThankFULL, as I probably won't be posting again until Monday.

There is so much that I want to include in my ThankFULL list, because my cup truly does runneth over, I cannot narrow down today's list to just one or two, so I have written about several.

I am thankful beyond words for my husband Todd. He truly exemplifies a life lived for Christ. He follows after God wholeheartedly, even in the face of criticism. He is gentle and kind. He is a wonderful father. And he is getting my Christmas decorations out of the attic as we speak! He is very patient and has a teachable heart. What makes all of these qualities even more special to me is knowing he has them even though he never had an earthly example of them. He learned all of this through his relationship with God.

My daughters, I am so thankful to have been entrusted with them and that they each love me in their own unique little ways.

I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. As I cared for my sick child today, I was more appreciative of the days where no one is sick in our house.

I am thankful that God has provided for me so that I can do simple things like drop some money in the Salvation Army kettle when I see one. Not every person can enjoy that priviledge, but He has blessed us, and I can.

I am thankful for my home and for all of the memories that have been made here.

I am thankful for my computer and the ability to write to you all everyday.

I have a job that I do not deserve and employers that are not only my bosses, but also my friends, and they love Christ.

I am thankful for my parents, my brother, sisters, and their families.

I am beyond thankful for Scripture, that teaches, corrects, directs, inspires.

And more than all of these things, I am forever grateful and thankful to God - My Father, Jesus - My Savior, and the Holy Spirit - my Teacher for crafting a plan that allowed me the gift of living forever with them some day.

On this Thanksgiving Eve, what is it that you would like to add to your ThankFULL list today?




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Made to Crave - Coming Soon

Just a post to let you know about a new book/study coming soon entitled Made to Crave, authored by Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. I think this subject perks the ears of many of us women, I've included the trailer below for you to take a peek at.   I plan on reading this book as soon as I can get my hands on it and would like to do the study if I can work out the details. I am excited to see what Lysa teaches in her new book.




This book will be out just in time for all those "New Years Resolutions!"



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ThankFULL - Part 4

Ok - this may sound kinda silly at first, but hang with me a minute. Today I am ThankFULL for Pumpkin Pie.

Yes. Pumpkin Pie.

I bet you were expecting something super-spiritual weren't you? What can I say? I love Pumpkin Pie. It's so smooth, gooshes around in my mouth, has NOOOO coconut,no crunchy surprises, it's best friends with a dollop of whip cream. Mmmm. Pumpkin Pie. By the way, I'm making one Thursday just in case you were concerned that I may not get to enjoy some Pumpkin Pie this Thanksgiving! I always take that matter into my own hands, no since trusting someone else with something as important as Pumpkin Pie!

There is more to my love for Pumpkin Pie than it's unique flavor. You see, I remember the first time I ever tasted Pumpkin Pie. I was at my Grandma's house. Our family traveled there to spend Thanksgiving and Grandma had made this funny looking pie. She gave me a piece of it with a huge helping of whipped cream on top. It was love at first bite, literally. Funny thing is, I never remembered eating it again until several years later. I had forgotten about Pumpkin Pie until I saw a slice and instantly the memories of my Grandma and her kitchen flooded back. I could hear the sounds from within her house and smell the aromas from her kitchen. Memories with her that I wish I had known to cherish at the time.

She's been with Jesus for many many years now, but my mind drifts to her often. The aroma of certain spices bring her memory near.  Baking cookies makes me think of her.  Walnuts make me think of her.  I hope in some way she knew or knows now how much I love her. I am sad to say that as a young girl, I was not always kind to her.  I didn't completely understand her illness and easily became frustrated with her. But - even when I was being less than Christ-like to her, she was always Christ-like to me, always attempting conversation with me just to bring me close. She came to live with us before she passed and looking back at those final months and days with her, I can now see how tender her heart was. She was kind and grateful, quiet and humble.  

And she loved.

Like Jesus.

Kathleen Gaines Almand
"Grandma"
July 23, 1917 to November 28, 1982

My relationship with her is one of my greatest treasures and one of my greatest regrets. I wish my heart hadn't been so resistant, but someday, I will be with her again, and you better believe, I'm gonna let her love me forever.

We had great conversation in your comments yesterday about friendships, I enjoyed hearing from you so mcuh.   What is on your ThankFULL list for today?  Let's keep chattin.

Pumpkin Pie anyone?






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ThankFULL - Part 3

Today I will add to my ThankFULL list something near and dear to most of us women.

Friendships.

God has blessed me to an overflow with women surrounding me who love Him and love me too. Tears fill my eyes as I type this because I feel so unworthy of the gift these people give me by just simply letting me be me and simply loving me anyway.

This past Saturday, I was at Beulah Baptist Church for their annual Women's Thanksgiving and Christmas Celebration as one of their speakers. What a sweet group of women! Their hearts were so welcoming and inviting and each of them made sure you felt as if you belonged there before you left. It was a fun day. We ate, we played games. We laughed and we cried and it was good.

But- one of the biggest blessings for me on Saturday was this - Keep in mind, I was going to speak to a group of women I did not know in a place I had never been. My friend, Mitzi, rode along with me for "moral support" (she's one of my biggest cheerleaders!) and I was so thankful that she took time out of her Saturday to go with me, I know how valuable Saturdays are to a working mom.  To our surprise, when I pulled into the parking lot of the church, we spotted a familiar vehicle and had to take a second glance. It was my friend Brittany's car. She came along to support me too. She surprised me, blessed me, and encouraged me with her presence.

My heart smiled.

You see, I experienced the gift in a close godly friend several years ago, but our lives began to change, and distance has since separated us. After she moved away, I was left with a hole for a long time. I prayed, and prayed often, for God to send me another godly friend, but for a long while, that prayer went unanswered. If you have ever experienced a friendship where you are able to pray together holding nothing back, able to share scripture, and a relationship that has the openness to ask the hard questions, you know what I am talking about. It is a relationship that is irreplaceable. I longed to have it again and after a few years God answered that prayer in my friend, Brittany.

And in my friend, Leslie.

And He is cultivating wonderful things in my friendships with several other wonderful women right now, and I thank every one of you for your influence in my life. It means more to me than you know.

God just keeps answering that prayer, and I am reaping the benefits.

If you don't have a true friend that will share the Word with you, pray with and for you, and be truly honest with you, oh, dear sister, you are missing out! You need one or two, or twelve! It grows me in ways that I cannot grow on my own. I challenge you to pray that prayer for a godly friend and be open to what He does with it. Be willing to be that kind of friend to somebody.

God, my Best Friend, I am so thankful for the abundance of friendships that you have given me and most thankful for your friendship. I pray that you whisper into the hearts of my friends today a special word of encouragement. A Divine brush with your shoulder. I pray that this Thanksgiving season will mark a new season in their relationship with You. Take them to new places and assure them of how much they are loved, not only loved by You, but also loved by me. Show me ways to be the same kind of friend to each of them that they have been to me.

What is on your ThankFULL list for today?  Do you have a friend you are thankful for that you would like to comment about?  I'm sure she would be honored if you did.  You could email her a link to this post and let her read for herself what she means to you.




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ThankFULL - Day 2

The thing I am thankful for today is simply one word -

Love.

In that one word, so much is wrapped up. Love makes so much possible. If it weren't for love, I would not have experienced life in the same way.  

Because they loved me, my parents raised me, discplined me, taught me, shaped me. 

They loved me enough to introduce me to my Jesus. 

Without love, I wouldn't completely experience the joy of being a mother.

My relationship with my husband would be meaningless.

My siblings and my friends wouldn't stick by me through my shortcomings if it weren't for love. 

Because of love, I can forgive and be forgiven.

Love tells us the hard things we sometimes don't want to hear.

Love comes along side us and supports us when our knees are weak.

For the sake of love, Jesus left the splendor of Heaven, to be mocked, spit upon, beaten, battered, and crucified for me.  Me.  One that did not yet know how to love Him back.

I am thankful for love because God is love. 1 John 4

And I am thankful that He is.

His love is perfect and perfect love casts out fear.  1 John 4:18

And to think, except for His perfect love for me, what I experience in my life that I consider to be love, as wonderful as they are, are not perfect love.  Can you imagine experiencing perfect love as He loves?  I think my heart would explode. 

I am thankful that He gives me glimpses of Himself and love in my everyday life.  Without His love, I fear where my life would be.  Because of His love, Jesus has not yet returned, giving many one more day to reach out and let Love touch their hearts.


I thank you God, my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer for your perfect love for us.  I thank You for the ways You allow me to experience small portions of the whole that You have instore for us.  Without your love, I could not make it.  I could not live, I could not breathe. Thank you God, there are no other words that I can say to express it, other than thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now, I am eager to hear from each of you - What's on your thankful list today?



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ThankFULL

It’s only a week away – Thanksgiving, that is. I never appreciated Thanksgiving the way I should have until I was an adult, and more so after I became a mother. The air chills a bit, fall aromas fill the air, and everyone is close. Not only is Thanksgiving a holiday to reflect upon thankfulness to God, but it is accompanied by a few days off of work, days that I spend enjoying my family.

The rush stops for few days for us, and we simply spend time together.

And “my cup runneth over” as Psalms 23:5 says.

It does. It runneth over.

I spend all year asking God in different ways to “fill my cup” and on Thanksgiving Day, and the few days that follow, I realize that my cup runneth over. I realize He has been faithful and supplied all that I need and more, He has filled me to overflowing. I get excited as Thanksgiving approaches each year because my cup gets so FULL.

My friend Kristie, who I met this past summer at She Speaks, is the author of a new blog entitled “Strengthening Me”, and her post for this week was entitled “A Thankful Heart”. To prepare her heart for Thanksgiving, she decided to write down something every day between now and Thanksgiving that she is thankful for and challenged her readers to do the same. She also encouraged them to share that list at their Thanksgiving meal. I think that is a wonderful idea and I challenge you all to do the same.

Lysa TerKeurst, in her book Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, says this about a thankful heart:

“Remember, thankfulness breeds thankfulness. The more we practice it, the more we’ll live thanksgiving out loud.”

So let’s practice Thanksgiving between now and next Thursday so that we can live thanksgiving out loud.

Thanksgiving to God = Praising God, Praising God = God’s Presence. He inhabits the praises of His people, so thank Him, which will lead you to praising Him, which will lead to His presence, which leads to a cup that runneth over.

Let’s start our lists right now, tell us something you are thankful for today and everyday from now until Thanksgiving. There are cups out there longing to run over.

And when you get a chance, check out Kristie’s blog, Strengthening Me at http://strengtheningme.blogspot.com/ . I know you’ll enjoy it.

Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides, I thank you today for giving me a cup that can overflow with your love and provision. I pray for my readers today, some of whom are having a difficult time, and ask you to whisper something to their hearts as a reminder of something they are thankful to You for. I pray for all of us to have hearts prepared for Thanksgiving Day, but further I pray that we remember in those moments that it is easy to grumble, that thankfulness breeds thankfulness. When we practice thankfulness, we live it out for others to see, and that reflects your heart.




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Taking A Sick Day

Sorry, everybody, but I'm gonna have to "take a sick day" from my blog. I normally write my post the night before you see them, and tonight, well - my brain is not clicking in the writing realm. I'll do my best to recuperate and be back with something for you on Thursday.

Have a blessed Wednesday,



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Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

This past Sunday was International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This day is set aside to pray for Christians across the globe being persecuted for their faith, many giving their lives for the sake of Christ. As attention was brought to this need for prayer during our worship service on Sunday, we were reminded how passionately these believers follow Christ. We were reminded that many of them do not have a copy of the Word to read for themselves, so they sneak away, often hiding in wooded areas, etc to meet with a few other believers for encouragement and truth. Maybe only one out of a group of 5 or 6 even has access to the written Word, sometimes only a page or two.

But - that limitation does not stop them.

They bond together during those times and truly live out Psalms 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Those strong believers are more concerned about knowing God’s truth within themselves and obeying God than bowing to any ruler or government.

As I heard their stories, the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” stirred within me. It seems the absence of accessibility to Scripture and a local church body makes their hearts grow fonder of the Gospel.

My life, as I have lived thus far, can in no way compare to the lives these brothers and sisters endure, but I have experienced the meaning of the old saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. I mean that in relation to the accessibility of Scripture and or godly influence from time to time. For example, as I have told you before, I love Christian music and there have been times over the years where my heart has longed for the encouragement Christian music brings as I go through my work day – But - the absence of that access, made my ears so excited to tune in once I was in my car. My spirit was like a sponge soaking all of the lyrics and scripture put to music.

There have also been times, one even a few short weeks ago, where I read a verse, but never appreciated it fully until an experience along the course of my day brought its application to light. The sad part was, I had not fully hidden it within my heart and could not recall exactly the words or the exact location of that scripture. I became DESPERATE to know EXACTLY where it was and EXACTLY what God said.

There is something about those moments that I both love and loathe. I love the satisfaction, assurance, and truth that I know His Word has for me. When those scriptures come to life’s light, it becomes like a treasure hunt in my mind until I can get my hands on His word. My love for His letters to me deepens. At the same time, I get so frustrated when I can’t go to just the right place to see what it was He had to say to me. I kick myself for not taking His words to me more seriously and for not paying more attention. Although I both love and loathe them, moments like these seem to fuel my passion for His truth and make me want more and more of Him. Absence makes my heart grow fonder.


I say all of that to say this, if the absence of my mere accessibility to verses causes my heart to grow fonder toward my Jesus, I cannot imagine the fire that burns within the hearts of those persecuted people. If they must risk their lives to even share His presence with their very few close knit friends who believe, their hearts must be like a blazing wildfire on the inside. They must meet every second that they live as they stand on Him alone, every trial that they face in solitude in their faith, with an expectation of seeing God at work.

I repeat – They must meet every SECOND that they live….with an expectation of seeing God at work. I don’t do that. Not every second, not every minute, not every hour.

I don’t expect to see Him while I’m in the grocery store.

I don’t expect to see Him as I talk with patients at work.

I don’t expect to see Him as I meet a stranger in the parking lot.

But He is there, in ALL those places, and my spiritual mind is not engaged. His words aren’t playing back to me from the deepest places of my heart.

Because I never hid them there.

Oh, that we would have that passion within us.


Oh God, it frightens me too much to pray for persecution, but I boldly pray for that passion, that fire to drive my every step. I thank You that You placed me in this nation that I may worship You freely, where I may read and recite your word without fear. I don’t know why You chose to place me here, but I am thankful. Show me, Father, where to go from here. What comes next in birthing that passion within my heart? Search me and reveal to me what is in my life that dulls the passion that comes from a life on fire by a love for You.



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What Do You Think?

I've been tinkering a little with my blog, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. I've applied a little mascara and blush! I told my friends at work today that it was kinda like getting a new haircut! What do you think? I'm eager for your feedback as to whether "older was better" or "new and improved". Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Thank you so much for reading and passing the word along, I truly enjoy serving you through Beyond Sunday Morning.

Love you all,



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Hand In Hand

The elevator doors opened as I walked toward them. Out from behind the doors bound a little toddler, probably just about two years old. Right behind him was his mother. She did not have hold of him, although she kept close, her hand extended for him to grab at a moment’s notice. She was speaking to him gently to come along with her, all the while allowing him to explore what was around him. At first he was distracted by the wide open space he found himself in once he crossed the elevator threshold, then the shiny golden trash can caught his eye. He rubbed the smooth sides with his hands, and as his eyes drifted to the top of the trash can, he then noticed the two square elevator buttons.

Mommy spoke again, “Come on. This way…” and he turned to look at her, but the buttons were too enticing to follow along right that second. He reached as tall as he could to push them, and as his little fingers touched them, the buttons illuminated, catching his eyes by surprise. He stepped back from them for a moment to take them in. He then remembered in his mouth was his sucker he had forgotten, so he turned from his mommy, with his back to her, to enjoy his sucker for a moment. He pulled it from his cheek inspected it, and slipped it back inside his mouth, as he heard Mommy’s voice once again, “Come with me,” she beckoned as she reached her hand toward him, all the while stepping toward the outside doors. “Let’s go this way,” she coaxed as she moved a few more steps away from the little explorer. As he noticed the distance between himself and Mommy growing, he let go of his sucker and ran to grab her hand. They disappeared from my sight just that way, walking hand in hand.

As I observed those things take place in only a matter of a few seconds, it reminded me of my relationship with God. He is right there with me no matter where I go, but sometimes, I find myself in wide open spaces, with many things that grab my attention. Some of those things are very intriguing and puzzling to me and take my mind from the Voice that is beckoning me, “Come on. Let’s go this way.”

Deep in my heart I know when I hear that voice, I should follow immediately, but more often than not, I linger a little longer at something else that has caught my eye. Being the loving Father that He is, His hand is always extended, as He allows me the freedom to explore, but within that exploration I also have a special freedom that means a great deal to Him. The freedom to choose to take His hand.

He has things to do, work to accomplish, and will continue on His path to accomplish it, with or without me. However, His hand is always extended my direction, so that in the moment I take my eyes off the elevator buttons, and heed his voice, I can come running to take His hand and walk with Him to where He is going.

Walking hand in hand.

…..He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10: 3 – 4

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. John 10:27




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Glass or Gladware?

I was talking to a friend recently about a very challenging problem in her life. The situation she is in is difficult because it involves a choice that she cannot make, she must wait for someone else to make it. She knows the answer to the problem, but the other party refuses that the answer is correct. That answer is bending the knee to God and giving Him control and authority over every aspect of life. As I tried to make her see the situation from the perspective of the other party’s pain, I told her this:

Sometimes we think it is easier to “be tough” than we think it is to break.

How often do we press on through life and difficult situations, by putting on our thick skin and resolving to “be tough” because we “can handle it” instead of just breaking into pieces before God so that He can put us back together into the work that He intended? I think we are afraid that if we break, He might fail in putting us back together. He might put us back together into something we are unfamiliar with and we may be forced to do life differently than we ever have before. That break might produce change, and we are scared to death of change.

Let’s travel to the kitchen cabinets for a minute and let me illustrate what I mean in a very practical way to us girls.

Open your cabinet doors. What do you see? In one cabinet I see several toss away plastic Gladware containers. Now, don’t misinterpret my explanation as a lack of affection for these handy dandy containers, they have gotten me through many a pinch! I love those things, they serve a wonderful purpose, but truthfully, they don’t last very long. After a bit of use, a few rounds through the dishwasher, freezing and defrosting, the corners begin to crack or the lids begin to split and I toss them away.

In the other cabinet, I see glass mixing bowls, glass casserole dishes, ceramic serving platters, etc, some of them I have had since my wedding shower. They are durable, they can be used over and over, and unless I drop one of them to the floor and shatter it, I will still have it years from now. Yes, they are breakable, but in reality, they are much more valuable to me than my Gladware. Someday I will be able to pass these along to my daughters or my granddaughters, but the Gladware will be long gone.

Do you get what I’m saying here? The plastic dishes are “tougher” and the others are “breakable”, but which one has the lasting value? We can chose to “be tough” instead of chosing to be “breakable”, but what about “being tough” is lasting? It takes more strength to break than it does to be weak. Being tough is not true strength at all.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18

Lord God, the One to which every knee will bend, create in me a breakable spirit, grow my faith that I might trust your rebuilding plan when I am broken. I invite you to change my heart into one that is pliable and open to the change You see necessary in me. Father, remove the deception from our minds that tells us that breaking is weakness, because it really does take more strength to break than it does to be weak. Jesus, may You be that strength that I need to break and fall apart before You, ready to let You do your work and execute your perfect plan.




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Still Singing

As I sat with my friends at lunch yesterday, my friend Cathy was describing a recent visit with her mother. Cathy’s mom suffers with Alzheimer’s and is engaging in conversation less and less when she visits, which is very sad for her daughters to experience. She told us with sadness in her voice, “Mom doesn’t talk much anymore.” As she described her visit with her mom, Dot, Cathy described a church telecast that her mom has enjoyed in the past. As the time approached for the televised service to begin, Cathy changed the channel so that Dot could enjoy it. In bittersweetness, Cathy told us how special this particular visit with her mom was to her. You see, when Cathy changed the channel to the church broadcast, worship music began and the words to the hymns were on the screen and her momma could read them.

“And my momma just sang and sang and sang. She may not talk much anymore, but she can still sing.”

This spoke to my heart immensely because although Mrs. Dot is not the same person to her family or to us anymore, she still has that sense of a song within her heart. I know God puts it there, for that is what we are going to do when we see Him, and I cannot wait to sing “Holy! Holy! Holy! Is the Lord God Almighty!”.

Here is what the Apostle Paul tells us to do:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16

Thinking about the song in Mrs. Dot’s heart, reminded me of a story I heard about several months ago, and many of you may have heard about it too, but it bears repeating. Today I've added a video of a little boy named Draven singing in worship to Jesus. Sure, kids sing songs to Jesus all the time, but Draven’s story is different. Draven is autistic and is very non-verbal, but he can sing songs to his Jesus, and notice the words that are the clearest ones that He sings.

"Holy Holy Holy Is The Lord God Almighty."  Sound familiar?

Revelation 4:8  "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come."   

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

Psalms 40:3

God made us to worship, He puts the songs within our mouths, that is part of Heaven within us right here on this earth. Although life has dealt both Dot and Draven less than perfect situations, they are still singing. Although Dot's mind is not the same, her spirit still knows how to sing. Although Draven speaks very little, his spirit still can sing. That my friends, is a touch from the Master's Hand. My prayer is that no matter what this life may bring, I will still be singing when He returns for me or calls my name. Lord, put a song in my heart everyday for the rest of my life.

What song is in your heart today?

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The Best Skin Care Product EVER!

Who among us hasn’t been a bit overwhelmed while standing in the skin care aisle? The shelves are filled with an array of skin care products lining them from top to bottom, left to right, all promising to make us look young again. I mean if I bought a product to address every skin care “problem” I have, I would have to take out a loan and rent a U-haul to get it all home! There’s wrinkle creams, creams to reduce redness, firming creams, products for fine lines, remedies for dark circles, age spots, dullness, blah blah blah. Who knows what to pick? I certainly don’t! I’m getting anxious just standing in an imaginary aisle in my brain right now!

The skin care industry is huge, especially in the United States where we spend $20,000,000,000 (yes, billion) per year on skin care products. We go to very extreme measures to look beautiful, we do chemical peels, apply masks, cucumbers, tea bags, or whatever else we can get our hands on. Some of us are even willing to undergo surgery to capture our youthfulness.

The skin care companies market their products in many different ways, using many different comments and descriptions. I listed a few product descriptions I found and there is a common theme in each of them. Read through them and see if you notice anything:

Skin appears brighter, more radiant, and significantly firmer in just five days!

This collection utilizes the natural active benefits of soy and evens out skin tone and texture to reveal skin’s true radiance naturally


This daily moisturizer evens out skin tone and texture and immediately reflects light to bring out skin's natural radiance


Stimulates surface-cell renewal and intensely hydrates for healthy-looking, radiant and smooth skin that defends itself better against signs of aging

Sure, they all promise more beautiful skin, but did you notice a common word?

RADIANT.

Guess what! I have a wonderful surprise for you! It’s a new skin care product to tell you about, and it won’t cost you one red cent and you already have it in your possession! How great is that? Do you wanna know what it is?

Here goes-

Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalms 34:5

Isn’t radiant beauty what we’re after, girls? Of course we are. We all want to “feel pretty”, we want others to think we are beautiful, think we are radiant. We pay great prices for radiance, $20 billion is quite a bit, yet we still seem to be searching for that perfect secret.

There are people in my life that are beautiful. I look at them and I see radiance, a radiance that cannot come from within a bottle or jar. True radiance. A face with no shame. Those people in whom I see radiance exude Him from within and I love to be around them. Being around these women helps make me more beautiful. They look to Him, and they are radiant.

Looking to Him. That principle applied daily (like our costly creams!) will produce radiant results, a face without dread, fear, regret, pain. Without shame.

Beauty - that’s more than skin deep!



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Testify Tuesday

Good morning everybody! This is the day that the Lord has made - let us rejoice and testify to His goodness on this Testify Tuesday. May our words be like Moses as he spoke the words of this song before Israel in Deuteronomy 32:

1 Listen, you heavens, and I will speak;

hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.

2 Let my teaching fall like rain

and my words descend like dew,

like showers on new grass,

like abundant rain on tender plants.

3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD.

Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

Here's my testimony for this week - He IS upright, He IS perfect, He IS faithful, just as this scripture says.  I saw an example of that faithfulness as I went through my day yesterday.  As I posted on Monday, we had a very touching and moving service at our church on Sunday.  I nailed many things to the cross and walked away from them to let them die and have been believing God for a resurrection since.  Not a resurrection of old garbage, a resurrection of something new and fresh.  As I drove to work yesterday morning, I saw evidence of that resurrection beginning.  I had my mind back for the first time in a long while, and I hadn't realized it was gone.  I did not realize how terribly burdened I had become by what would "happen next" and how burdened I had become with analyzing happenings in my mind.  God was central in my thoughts and not man.  My shoulders felt lighter and my heart hopeful for the first time in weeks and I can thank the faithfulness of my Abba Daddy for that.

Now, it's your turn to testify.  May your words be like those Moses spoke of - abundant rain on tender plants.  I can't wait to hear your stories.


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Funeral Sounds

Don’t be scared off by that title, I’m not going all morbid on you! - Just hang with me for a minute, and maybe you’ll get what I am saying.

As I sat in worship service yesterday morning and heard the sounds of brokenness, tears, sniffles, and muffled hugs accompanied with background music the thought of a funeral came to mind. When I think of a funeral, I think of soft music playing, I hear crying, you see people hugging and hear the sound of them patting each other. You hear “I’m sorry’s” and “I love you’s” muffled with tears. Such a thought probably came to mind because of the pain I felt within my own heart accompanied by the atmosphere and sounds of weeping that I heard. It almost felt like grieving.

We were asked to turn a page in our lives as a church after several months of desert wandering. We were reminded of Jesus’ command (not suggestion) to forgive those who have hurt us and we were also reminded of His command to love one another (also not a suggestion!) We were reminded of the definition of true anguish for God’s people, the church. Opportunities for restoration abounded.

Hearts broke.

Tears fell.

Hurts were nailed to a cross.

As I could hear the hammer nailing each individual’s pain to the cross, I sat there thinking it was as if we were each grieving an individual loss.

And we were.

Some of the hurts that were being given up were old, they had become part of us. We have carried them with us, nursed them, fed them, cared for them until they were like family and to let them go was like grieving a loss. We were at a loss as to what to do without them.

With the hurt removed, I had to ask myself, “What do I do now since it is no longer a part of me?” I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering in my heart:

You can’t have a resurrection without a death… Let the hurts die, so that I might resurrect something beautiful.


So, I ask you today – what do need to let die so that God can resurrect something beautiful?

Turn a new page and bury that what has been bothering you so that life can come forth from it, God is still in the resurrection business and I am excited to see what is in store for His people.


Abba Father, although we do not like to feel pain, sometimes it is good for us to do so, for in that pain, new life can be raised. I come to you my God Almighty, seated upon Heaven’s throne, and boldly ask You for restoration in hearts and in lives today. I invite You, Holy Spirit, to have an ever present voice in our hearts and minds today as our thoughts drift back to those hurts and we are tempted to resuscitate them. Change begins with in me specifically; remind us to take personal responsibility for that change. It begins in me. It is wrong for me to wait for someone else to change first, that is only my pride speaking, and Your Word says that You hate pride. Give me the discernment to take that thought captive when it comes into my mind and the wisdom to realize that the enemy will try to dangle those hurts in front of me so that I will take them back. Fill my mouth with Your words that I might tell him that those hurts were crucified and are dead and that they are no longer alive to me. I chose life as You instruct me in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” Give me the remembrance to tell the enemy that I CHOSE LIFE, I want NO PART of the destruction he dangles before me and that I am waiting in expectation of the new life You will bring forth from this death.

Amen


P.S. Tomorrow is Testify Tuesday! So be thinking of your God stories to share with us!




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Birthdays

My oldest blessing, McKayla celebrated her 11th birthday yesterday. She was born in the wee hours of the morning, so the night before her birthday as I kissed her goodnight, my mind traveled back to that hospital room and the hours of waiting for her arrival. I will never be able to describe to her how greatly her arrival was anticipated by so many who loved her before they ever met her.

I thought of how small she was, how helpless she was, and how much she has learned since that first time I looked upon her little face. We rejoiced with each milestone along the way. Her first smile, sleeping through the night, rolling over, her first laugh, sitting up, crawling, her first steps, her first words. Then there was learning to tie her shoes, her first day of school, the day she was saved, the night she was baptized – baptized by her very own Daddy. There will be many more milestones to come and each will be a time of rejoicing accompanied with bittersweetness because she is growing so fast and becoming someone we are very proud of.

Not only do we celebrate her birthday on November 4, we also recognize another day on the calendar as her birthday. She was saved - birthed into the Kingdom – on August 6, 2008 making that day a special birthday as well.

Do you remember your “birthday”? I can assure you there is Someone who does.

He remembers the hours waiting for your birth, He has celebrated and rejoiced at every milestone. He kept a record of all your firsts. He remembers how helpless you were and how much you had to learn when He first looked upon your face as His child. He has watched with each passing day as you have learned something new, eagerly waiting to take you on your next journey.


And He is proud of who you are becoming.


When I think of how much I love my children, my eyes can’t hold back the tears and my heart swells with so much love it aches. God is love (1 John 4:16), so I can’t imagine how He must ache when He thinks of you. I can only feel love with my heart, but since He IS love, He must feel it with His whole being, and what an ache for you that must be.

When was your “birthday”? Let’s celebrate those “birthdays” today by telling each other what that day was like.

Here’s my “birthday” story:

I was “born” in July of 1985 in a very small church. I shared with my parents the agony I had been going through each Sunday during the invitation at church. It truly felt like a war within me and I didn’t know what to do with it. My parents, thankfully, called our pastor, Rev. Roger Joseph, who met us at the church to have a little chat. That little sanctuary became a delivery room that evening. The following Sunday, July 21, 1985, I was baptized. I remember my mother buying me a new white dress and I remember the pastor sharing something special with the congregation as I stood before them. He and several others had just returned from a trip to the Holy Land. As a souvenir, he brought back a bottle of water from the Jordan River which he used in my baptism. He baptized me with water from the same river where my Jesus was baptized and I have never been the same. God knew I was into “details” before I knew I was into “details” and He put that detail into my story before I was able to appreciate it, so it has been a gift that has kept on giving.

Now, tell me your story.


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Eyes Bigger Than My Stomach

I know I’ve already mentioned the Israelites this week, but I noticed another similarity we have with them today, and, well, I’ll just be honest, it wasn’t a good similarity. But look at it this way, we have the “cliff notes” of their story, which can make things easier for us, where they had to learn things first hand.

The Israelites had been rescued from Egypt by God, He had parted the Red Sea, given them water, and began to rain down manna from Heaven for them to eat 6 days a week. He even rained down a double portion on the 6th day to hold them over for the 7th. Every morning when they woke, the manna had fallen from the sky with the morning dew. All they had to do was go out and collect enough food for that day. It wasn’t long though that the Israelites began to complain and grumble about the manna.

Listen to their whining in Numbers 11:5-6:
We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.

Don’tcha just wanna smack em?! I mean come on! The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE specially prepares food for you everyday, sprinkles it all over your yard, all you have to do is bring it inside, and you wanna gripe about it??

As irritated as I get at them, I realize it sounds an awful lot like us (notice I said us, me included!). When it comes to things to help us grow in our relationship with Him, things to strengthen us, He rains them down everyday.

And we don’t bring it inside.

Instead, we grumble about it.

We live in an era like this world has never seen. He rains down manna everyday through the technology of our generation. We have Christian radio, online broadcasts, encouraging words through facebook, automatic email devotions, Christian television, blogs, Christian bookstores that are open 6 days a week, we have our churches, 6 or 8 Bibles strown about our homes, Bible studies available on every subject imaginable, online Bible tools, etc, - yet I hear this statement often, a statement that breaks my heart:

“I’m just not getting fed.”

Could it be that we (me included again!) have become like the Israelites and “now our appetite is gone”?

They became sick of the manna, but look at what they were focusing on – they were thinking of all the things they liked to eat when they were in Egypt, however, they failed to mention the horrible life of slavery they lived under when they were there.

Proverbs 16:26 says this:
A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on.

Our appetites can work for us, our hunger can urge us on to know more about him, to “be fed”. Maybe we just don’t have an appetite, maybe we haven’t allowed ourselves to feel real “hunger”, and maybe we should give that a try. Oh - we know we “need to”, but true hunger, we don’t go that far, we can’t leave everything else alone long enough.

No church, no pastor, no website, no blog, no author, no devotional book is going to feed us. Sure a new book, a new study, even a new church will seem to feed us for a while, but unless we get to the heart of the matter, our true hunger for God and our need for it, we will always end up in the same place.

Jesus said “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.” (John 6:35)

When it comes to Him being the Bread of Life, I want my eyes to be bigger than my stomach, as the old saying goes. I want to be so hungry for Him that I overfill my plate with Him. I mean, I want it spillin’ over the sides, now! You know why?

Because then I will always be full of Him.

And I will always have some of Him to share with you.

I don’t want to be like the Israelites, God, but I know that I sometimes am just that. I look to so many places, even good places, places that offer things of You, to feed me what only You can provide. Let me look onto my “yard” everyday and collect what You have rained down for me. Show me how to use it in the recipes of life so that You are part of every bit of my days. Lord, I don’t want a sour stomach void of appetite. I know how I worry over my girls when the won’t eat, so I can’t imagine what it does to You when I don’t collect what You have to feed me. Increase our hunger, and if we’ve never truly felt it, take us to that place so that we never forget it and are always looking to return to it. Give us eyes bigger than our stomachs, God.


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Kinda Like the Flu

Joy. It’s contagious, fiercely contagious – kinda like the flu, but in a good way. I caught me case of it yesterday afternoon. I was at my desk working, it was just a few minutes before time to leave for the day and one of my friends called me at my desk.
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“Get on up here, we’re having church!” She exclaimed.

“Ok?!” I said with a little hesitation, “What’s going on?”

“Just get up here!” she insisted.

I left my desk and walked to hers. I approached to find her sharing with two others an example of the Word coming alive for her this past Sunday in her church service.

She was full of joy as she belted out, “I just wanted to stand up and say, ‘People, do yall see this! Do you get what he’s saying?’ ”. I could identify with what she was saying so easily, I love it when You do that to me, God! It was wonderful to see it happen for her too.

What my friend didn’t know was that I told someone very dear to me earlier in the day, “I need to see some hope somewhere. I gotta have some hope!” God brought me the hope I asked for through my friend! She had shared how she didn’t even really feel well enough to go to church on Sunday, but hates to miss because she enjoys it so much, which brought me joy because this is a new level in her relationship with the Father.

But - it brought me joy unspeakable and full of glory to see her passion and excitement for the alive, active Word to become real to her. She saw God be specific (remember that prayer from Monday’s post?) to her through something she learned. God became even more personal to her through that than He was the day before.

And it was contagious, kinda like the flu! I praised God, sang, and worshipped all the way home! I’m still a little giddy about it. I got my hope and now I’m the one who wants to stand up and say “People, do y’all see this?!? Do you see what He’s doing?!?!”   

Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
You inspire shouts of joy.

Psalms 65:8 NLT

From where the sun rises to where it sets – that covers a lot of ground! And He inspires shouts of joy from one end of that ground to the other!

Well, You know You make me wanna' Shout!
Kick my heels up and Shout!
Throw my hands up and Shout!
Throw my head back and Shout!
Come on now
Shout it out!


God, I love You.


By the way, girls, No - I don't have fever with these fits!


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Our Job

There are so many things in our lives that just seem so overwhelming when looked at as a whole. You know – like needing to lose weight, getting out of debt, managing in relationships that seem difficult, etc. I read a statement at http://www.lysaterkeurst.com/ today that perked my brain up a little. On her blog post she made this statement:

“Our job is obedience. God’s job is results.”

My thoughts were captured for a moment. I have mentioned in several other posts how important our obedience is to God, and I know that what happens in my life is in His hands, but – I never put the two thoughts together. Not like that anyway.

Doesn’t that statement seem to bring things into a perspective that is a much lighter burden to bear? There are many, many things that happen in the world around me and in my life that I cannot control, but – one of the only aspects in my life that I have complete control of is my obedience.

Let me say that again –

One of the only aspects of my life that I have complete control of is my obedience.

When we look at the enormity of a situation we face, it is easy to become discouraged. It seems mountainous, even impossible at times. Even though we may know what God says about our circumstances, it’s easy to become disheartened when those circumstances are staring us in the face. That is exactly how the Israelites felt. In Exodus chapter 6, Moses tries to tell the Israelites that God would deliver them and take them to the land He had promised them, but the Israelites would not listen to Him. Verse 9 says, “So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.” They knew what God had promised, but from their perspective, they could not see how it could be possible for them. They were too discouraged because of how bad their situation was.

Don’t we do the same thing? We know He loves us, we know He has plans for us, we know He has greater purpose, but we can’t believe it to be so because of what is in front of us. Are you too discouraged to listen to Him, to believe Him? That is why my obedience is so important. If I do what He says, and worry about obeying Him only, the big job is off of my shoulders and onto His. He is responsible for the results, not me. If it doesn’t work out, I did what I was supposed to do, and there is NO SHAME in that.

By the way, I’ll let you in on a little secret. It WILL work out, maybe not the way I thought it should, but maybe the way I thought was wrong. When I leave the results up to Him, God CANNOT fail. There is no error in Him. Man is full of error and man certainly fails, so why would I risk handling something myself?

What are you facing today that seems too big to accomplish or face? What situation discourages you from trying?

Is it losing 10 or 20 pounds? Your job is to obey, the reading on the scale is His job.

Is it getting out of debt? Your job is to obey what He tells you about your finances, the bottom line is up to Him.

Is it dealing with a strained relationship that seems impossible to fix? Obey Him. That is all that is up to you, the results of your actions are up to Him. If the other person doesn’t come around, it was God’s idea that was rejected not yours, so you have no reason to take it personal.

Is it the need to get closer to God, but it just seems too hard? Start with obedience in the simplest of areas, and watch the results unfold. He won’t fail in drawing you closer.

Obey. That’s the only thing you CAN control.

Where do You desire my obedience? Am I being defiant in any place in my life, defiant of your authority? Just like a little kid is warned not to touch a hot stove, your reasons for my obedience are completely motivated by your love for me. You want me to let You take care of the results, instead I try to manipulate them with my striving. God give me a heart that is eager to give the burden of the result to You. I fear we do that because we do not completely trust You. I am so sorry for not having enough trust. I cannot imagine how I must make You feel when I take responsibility for the results. I know how it would hurt me if my husband didn’t trust me with simple responsibilities like paying a bill, caring for my children, cooking dinner, or any other life task, it would make me feel unwanted and insignificant to him. Father, I never want to portray that You are unwanted in my life or that You are insignificant to me. You are much more capable than I in dealing with where You have placed me. Show me in this segment of today, where You desire my obedience, and my obedience only.


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Monday Morning

Let’s start this week off on a good note and pray together:

My God, my Savior, my Rescuer, my Redeemer, You are the One worthy of all honor and praise. My life is nothing without your moving within it. It makes no sense without You as the center. Holy Spirit, I beckon your presence, your promptings, your urgings as I live this day – hour by hour, minute by minute. God, reveal to me places where the motives of my heart are not yours. Shine your light on any dark corners within me so that I might see what You see. Jesus, saturate my spirit with a measure of your compassion for those around me. Give me your tenderness in my hands so that I might touch someone for You. May my eyes be your eyes, able to see into the souls of the ones I come into contact with so that I might see those who are hurting. Give me keen ears to hear your voice speak when those hurting people are near. Father, may I be more concerned with your message reaching others than I am with me today. Let today be like a divine appointment book, with each slot filled with people that You want to meet with today, and may I not be too busy to “look at the book” missing the chance to work along side You.

God, You don’t need me to tell you that it is the beginning of another work week. Many people will face today with exasperation and dread. I pray that You pour your joy into their spirits today. Show them how to bear the load that You have for them and how to lay down the one that You did not intend. Prepare us to hear from You everyday this week. No day that has your voice in it is ordinary, may our week be extraordinary because You were in it. Holy Spirit remind us in the moments of discouragement that praise=presence. If I praise You, I will sense how close You really are.

Father, we “church” people tend to pray with our own “lingo” and sometimes that seems so generic and general. I ask You, God, to go beyond the general and generic in the lives that read this today and be specific to them. Be specific about the loads, be specific, about the divine appointments, be specific about the heart motives, and the dark places. God, I don’t want them to read this prayer and think “that was a nice prayer”, I want them to end this prayer knowing You have spoken and stirred something greater within them. I want them to face this “Monday” with a new hope, new courage, new strength because they have heard from You.

Father, I pray for your church. I pray that we, your people, stop “doing” church and start being the church. You have been bringing this to my mind and heart often, and I pray that you are stirring that thought within many so that your church rises up and impacts this dying world. Church doesn’t just “end” at the close of a Sunday service, that is when it begins. God may we throw life ropes to those who are drowning, may we give healing to those who are hurting, and may we share life with those who are dying. Show us all practical ways to be your hands - starting today.

I lift all of this to You expecting great things from the Author of Life. In the name of my Savior, Jesus, BE SPECIFIC in our hearts today.
Amen



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