Unchanging Change

"This could be the year God changes everything"

When I read this quote at the beginning of 2011, something about it stirred my spirit.  I can't say for sure why, but I knew that I knew that I knew that it meant change for me and my family.  You probably have noticed I have had this quote on my blog all year, and as it has remained and I have wondered what God was doing the whole time it has been there.

Of course, I assumed that change that would be all warm and fuzzy.  Change to make our life easier, more "picture perfect".

Can someone play the annoying buzzer from Family Feud please?  Cause I was WAY wrong.

This HAS been a year of change.  A year of unsettling, so to speak.

There have lots of valleys and days of uncertainty, but one thing has not been uncertain.

My God.

Yes, I have begged Him to remove and resolve difficult situations over the past year, and He hasn't.

Yes, I've even been angry with Him at times, and He understood.

When life has seemed very confusing on several occasions, He has remained. 

Unchanged.

You may remember that I began reading the One Year Chronological Bible in January.

In the midst of this year of change, God's word, His voice and presence through it, have been what has sustained me.  Todd began reading it along with me back in the summer and we have both learned so much from the stories of old.  Through each day and every page God has taught me more and more about His nature, His love, His sovereignty, His grace.  And, yes, I could go on and on, but let's just simply say, He has been my Friend who sticketh closer than a brother.

Sometimes the simplest word has made a verse so very profound.

Because the scriptures are arranged in the order in which they happened (as closely as possible, anyway), it has been like reading more of a story instead of just chapters and verses.  The characters have seemed more real and less like characters.  I remember feeling heartbreak when David was separated from his dear friend, Johnathan, he loved him so much.  I have longed for someone like Nathan the prophet in my life.  I awed at the favor bestowed upon Joseph. My heart ached for Moses as he climbed the mountain, knowing it would be his final resting place.  As he reached the top, God allowed him a glimpse of the vast land the Israelites would possess - without him.  How bittersweet it must have been for him to lead the people for so long, yet not experience it.  I could see the disgust in Jesus face at the Pharisees and the love in His eyes when He said, "It is finished."

In the words of Moses, "These instructions are not empty words, they are your life!" Deuteronomy 31:47.  His words have been my life.

In fact, we have started an Adult Sunday School Class and this is our "literature".  If you are interested in joining our class, we would be honored to have you.  I posted an image of the chronological Bible we use, it is the NLT translation. There are several different chronological arrangements out there, and they all differ a little.  These are available at www.amazon.com, www.christianbook.com, www.lifeway.com (ahem - where I just happen to know they are on sale at right now), and I'm sure many other places.  It is even available for Kindle users.  Of course you don't have to have this, you can use your own Bible, but it's so much easier to read along when it is all arranged for you in day by day format without interruptions.  Trust me - I'm speaking from experience.  If you have any questions feel free to email me at beyondsundaymornings@gmail.com or Todd at todd@gospelmissionworship.com.

His words have been the highlight of my 2011.  Although, I am not sad to see 2011 go, I am grateful that He has counted us worthy of the journey and I sure hope to have learned everything He wanted me to learn so that I don't have to repeat this course!

What has 2011 meant to you and yours?  Has God brought about change?  What have you clung to this year?



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In Excess

You might think by the title "In Excess" that I am going to talk about the excess of our culture at Christmas time, but that's not it.  There is a different excess I want to visit.

There are lots of things I do in excess. Things I do exceedingly.

I complain in excess.

I talk in excess.

Sometimes I dwell on things in excess.

Sometimes I eat in excess.

There are days when I'm exceedingly lazy.

My kids whine in excess.

My kids fight exceedingly.

When my daughters are doing something exceedingly, I want them to just STOP!  When someone is doing something exceedingly, it tends to get on our nerves.  For example, when a friend is talking exceedingly about a new car or something else for days on end, I just want to say "Get over it!  Everybody knows already!  Let's move on!"

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 

Matthew 2:10

The magi had joy in excess.

About Jesus.

And they expressed it.

If we had been around those magi when they spotted the star, we probably would have said something like, "Ok - so it's a star, just chill out!" because of the excess of their excitement. 

Their joy about following whatever led them to Jesus was excessive.

Is mine?  Not always.

Is yours?
Why don't we have that same excessiveness when it comes to sharing Jesus?  We should have exceedingly great joy in knowing we have a Savior and in knowing that there is more to life than what this world offers.

Exceedingly great joy.....there are dying people out there who need to see it.

Let's express it like the magi.


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Just One Baby

Todd and I were married for four years before our oldest, McKayla was born.  Even though we planned and prepared for her arrival with great excitement, we had no idea the effect she would have on our life.

Having a child changed how we did everything. 

We painted and decorated her room.

We child-proofed our house.

We had showers and parties.

We had to trade cars so the carseat would fit. You should have seen a very pregnant Amy at the car dealership trying to slide behind steering wheels of cars.  I am sure it was quite the sight to behold for onlookers!  Thank you, God, there are no pictures (that I know of). 

And we went to the hospital in labor.

And we went to the hospital in labor.

And we went to the hospital in labor.  No this isn't a typo ;)

Then we brought her home.

And she changed how we did everything.

Not in a bad way, but in a it's-time-to-grow-up-and-be-parents-kind-of-way.

She is still part of every moment of our day.

A part of every decision we make.

She influenced us, in a big way.

Just one baby.

Yet, outside of our home and our extended family, she is just one life. She has not impacted  the world, so to speak.  She has not changed it's course.  Although you couldn't have found a more excited mother, she was just one baby born among many that day.  In fact, according to babycenter.com, just over 4 million babies are born in the United States each year.  That's a lot of babies, but those other 3,999,999 babies born that year didn't necessarily make a huge difference in my life.

But Jesus did.

He was just one baby born on one day, but He has impacted the entire world.

Past world.

Present world.

Future world.

Just one baby.

With a God-sized impact.

Just think about how that One Baby impacts the life of the one reading these words and at the same time impacts the life of someone else on the other side of the globe. 

He impacted rulers, governments, nations - and still does.

He impacted families, faiths, communities - and still does.

He impacted eternity - and still does.

Jesus, it's hard to wrap my mind around the far reaching impact You have made on this world and are still making.  When I think of my life and the lives far from me it is amazing to think that your hand of grace can reach all the way around the globe so that your influence misses no one.  You can whisper to the heart of someone stuck in traffic on a crazy freeway, horns blaring, and at the same time whisper to my heart as I am snug within my home on a little country lane.  You have it all in your hand, your impact never stopping. And You never tire, never bore.  You just keep impacting.  Life after life.  Soul after soul.  Thank You, Jesus for coming as Just One Baby to change the life of every baby.  And thank You, Father, for sending Him.


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One Thing

I know many of you are probably feeling a little "stretched" right now.  Stretched for time, stretched  for money, stretched for patience.

And I would dare to say, your spirit is feeling stretched too.

Just stop.

Stop for just a second.

Slam the door on all the junk for a minute and find something, one thing, to praise Him for.  Just one thing.

I promise you, based on the nature of Almighty God, it will medicate your situation.  It will bring healing to a dry irritated heart like soothing balm.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.  For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts! Psalms 92:1-5

Father, I stop.  I slam the door on everything else and praise you for one thing in this one moment you have given me.  I praise You for the stirring I feel within my heart when I look upon a picture of my family.  The family that You have given me.  That love I feel is so intense, it can come from no one other than You and makes me shudder at the thought of how much the Ancient of Days loves me.  Oh God, how can You feel the same when You look down from your throne upon my face?  I don't know how your love is so boundless, but You have assured me that it is and for that I am so thankful.  One more time your Word proves true to my soul - IT IS GOOD TO PRAISE THE LORD.......Amen

http://www.bellaphotography.smugmug.com/

Now, it's your turn.

Will you stop for just one moment and praise Him for one thing? 

Just one.

Or will you continue on doing today your way?

 I promise, His way is better.

Post a comment.  Make it public! - Tell us what you praise Him for.   Praise is contagious.

It makes you feel all giggly inside...........


 
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Merry Mas

I read a church sign near my home a few days ago that said something like this:

MERRY MAS

JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME RING WITHOUT CHRIST, DOES IT? 

Thinking about the message of the sign as I drove on, I thought how goofy "Merry Mas" sounded, and the more I said it to myself, the more clearly I began to hear something totally different. 

I began to hear mess.

M. E. S. S.

A mess.

I don't know about you, but I have enough messes in my life to clean up without creating another one.  And a mess is exactly what we're left with when we don't focus on Christ during the Christmas season.
I actually remember getting in trouble from my mom one year when I was little for writing "X-Mas".  Of course, I didn't understand the magnitude of it then, but now - I totally get it.  The phrase "Keep Christ in Christmas" has been used so much in recent years, that it seems to have little impact, but the concept is vitally important to enjoying and not dreading this time of year. 

There is one way to keep Christ in Christmas that is very, very simple.  This will require no more time than you are already giving to the season.  You are already hearing Christmas music on the radio, in stores, and on television, aren't you?  This is really simple - just engage your mind.  Let the words of songs like Silent Night penetrate through the to-do lists and the to-buy lists in your mind and seep down into your soul......I might be crying when Silent Night ends, but it's certainly not a bah humbug cry.  They are tears of gratitude, tears of worship to the One calms me. 

I challenge you to reflect on the words of the old Christmas Hymns and let them draw a picture in your mind of that lowly stable, those quaking shepherds, the glory streaming from Heaven, and the angels singing Alleluia.

What a blessed night.

What are some ways you and your family keep Christ in Christmas? 




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Complete

Do the daily trials of life ever leave you feeling like something's missing, like you're incomplete? Do the daily battles leave you feeling like you just don't have it all figured out yet, and maybe never will?

The Apostle Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, my prayer for you, and my prayer for me, an often weary Jesus girl:


When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in Heaven and on Earth.  I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, howlong, how high,and how deep His love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too GREAT to understand fully. 

Then

you will be made

 C   O   M   P   L   E   T   E

 with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 

Ephesians 3:14-19

I just wanna be complete......

And you?





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Not Enough Mary Moments

Hello, my bloggy peeps! 

Are you all familiar with the story of Mary and Martha?  If you aren't, I encourage you to take a peek at it.

Luke 10:42
but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

I want that verse to be said of me.

And, lately, unfortunately, it can't.

I have to tell you something that is very difficult for me to say.  I love writing for you.  I love posting words of encouragement and giving you challenges from the scripture God has been using to teach me; but, there have been too many Martha moments and not enough Mary moments in my life lately. 

So, I am going to take a break and spend some time sitting at His feet.  There are lots of things I need to seek Him about, and hope you will understand.

As I sit at His feet, I encourage you to do the same.  There is no better place to be.  What we learn at His feet will NOT be taken away from us.



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For Those Who Pastor

As most of you know, I'm a pastor's wife and I can tell you life in ministry, next to parenting, is one of the most difficult and rewarding occupations in the world.  I hesitate to use the word "occupation", because, from our side of the fence, it's not an occupation.  It's a calling.  It's a purpose.  It's a drive within that can come from no other place than the throne of God. 

You just can't NOT do it.  I mean how many other occupations do you see people furthering their education, advancing their degree, and doing it for no more compensation this side of Heaven?  Pastors do that.  Not for the compensation, but for the opportunity to gain further understanding on how to minister to this hurting, dying world.

October is Pastor Appreciation month, and I don't say that because my husband is a pastor, but because I see the things that those who pastor others endure.  I see what they give, and sometimes it costs them more than you can imagine.  I see the battles they face.  Pastoring puts tension on their marriages, on their children, on their extended families, and on their friendships - but they give anyway.

Your pastor loves you. 

God loves you through your pastor.

Some of you who read Beyond Sunday Morning are from the same congregation as I, and many of you who read are not.  Over the summer, our congregation felt the pain of losing our pastor.   He and his precious wife were called to minister in a new avenue.   John and Carla Offutt were called by God to embark on a new ministry called LifeSource Ministries.  They have a desire to pastor those who pastor, minister to those who minister, and to refresh local church bodies.

If you love your pastor and appreciate what he does for the Kingdom, make a point to let him know some time this month and be sure to let him know about Life Source Ministries. 

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Where Are You?

Where Are You?

A question God asked of Adam and Eve as they hid from them in the garden after they sinned.  Our guest speaker last night, Pastor Jim Wright, spoke on the questions God asked of Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3, and "Where are you?" was the first question God asked.  

God knew the answers to the questions He asked them. 

He knew where they were.

He knew what they had done.

He knew they felt shame.

And He knew what this was going to cost them.

Genesis 3:8 -

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

What breaks my heart to read in this verse is they "hid themselves from the presence of the Lord."

Is that true of you, my friend?

Have you hidden yourself from the presence of the Lord?

Oh, I hope not.  Sometimes it happens so illusively we don't even realize we have hidden from the presence of the Lord.  If we don't realize where we are, we can't figure out where we are supposed to be.

Can I tell you a simple truth today, and I tell it to you in love,my sister -

Avoiding Him, no matter what area of your life, is the same as hiding from His presence.

Please don't hide from Him. 

He loves you. 

He already knows. 

He hasn't moved.

He hasn't turned His back on you.

Simply turn your back from Him..........

And look into His face.

"Where are You, My child," He says.   Listen with your heart.  Can you hear Him?

Don't hide from His presence.

Father, Your presence is welcome in my heart, my mind, and my life today.  Whisper those words into my spirit often.  May I hear you asking "Where are you?" and come running to your feet.  You went looking for Adam and Eve in the garden because You wanted to be with them, and I am no different.  You want to be with me.

You want to be with me.

I must ask myself today, "Where AM I?" because sometimes I hide without realizing what I've gotten myself into and if I don't realize where I AM, I can't see where I need to be.  

Thank You, God, for simply wanting to be with me.  Thank You for enjoying my presence, may I enjoy Yours.



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Secrets From The Sisterhood

Here's a couple of quick recipes for a crazy weeknight that were sent to me by a couple of my friends.

The first one is from Camillia.  If your watching your waistline, this one is figure friendly!

Tuna Patties(however many cans of tuna, use the same number of eggs, for about 8 patties, I use 3 cans and 3 eggs)

3 cans tuna
3 eggs
equal parmesan cheese and italian bread crumbs
some seasonings of choice, I use a dash of lemon pepper, paprkia, garlic powder (not much), pepper, season salt, italian seasonings. Any or all of these work.

Mix all together till its stuck together.

Barely cover the bottom of a skillet with oil, and brown on both sides
Total time 10 minutes.

Warm up canned veggies or boxed rice and walah. dinner is served!
(side note...one patty is one weight watchers point)


And since you were so good with your dinner recipe that was quite figure friendly, here's a recipe from Linda for a quick go-to dessert:

Angel Food Dessert
1 large angel food cake ( store bought)
1 large can crushed pineapple with juice
1 small container cool whip
1 large pkg of french vanilla instant pudding.

slice cake into 3 layers and set aside

In mixing bowl, mix pineapple with juice with pudding.
add 1/2 container of cool whip.

Spread 1/2 of mixture on bottom layer of cake, put 2nd layer on and spread other 1/2 of mixture and put 3rd layer on.  Keep in Fridge until ready to serve.
This can be made low calorie by using fat free cool whip and sugar free pudding.

Sounds quite yummy to me!


Here's one of my family's favorite things for dinner that's pretty quick and easy:

Divine Burgers
1lb ground beef
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
1 c shredded cheese (the flavor you prefer)

Combine all ingredients.  Separate and form into 4 patties and grill. (I use my little George Foreman grill - does anybody else still use theirs????)  The cheese makes the edges all yummy and crispy. We eat them without buns, but they are good both ways. 

We just may have Divine Burgers for dinner tonight!

If you have something your family likes to eat that can be whipped up in a snap, please post a comment with the how-to or you can send me an email at beyondsundaymornings@gmail.com.



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No Such Thing.......

Before you read any further today, make sure there are no little eyes reading over your shoulder!  I know everyone does things differently in their individual families, and I respect that, but I sure don't want to cause any broken hearts by today's post.......So be careful little eyes what you see!












PSST.............................................................Lean in real close......

I need to tell you a secret.......




There is no such thing as the Boogie Man.




There is no such thing as the Easter Bunny.




There is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy.





Nope.





There's no such thing as Santa Claus.






And here's one you might be surprised at.......

There's no such thing as perfect people.

There.   I said it.  The truth is out.

Now, I know you know that and I know it too, but sometimes I find myself living and thinking as if that statement were true.  I really have to be careful where I let my mind go, because if I don't keep tabs on my thinking, the next thing I know I'm comparing Amy's little life, Amy's little circumstances, Amy's little income, Amy's little house, Amy's little car, Amy's little wardrobe, Amy's little husband who recently forgot to pick up a much needed coupon for an important birthday gift (let's don't go there), and Amy's little everything else to what I perceive is true about someone else.

We cannot compare those things. 

They are not equal.

No matter how good I think Ms. "X" has it, I don't know her truth.

Let me repeat that.

No matter how good I think Ms. "X" has it, I don't know her truth.

I only know my perception of her.

And my perception is based on my imperfect thinking.

If my thinking is imperfect, then my perception of her must be imperfect too.

Don't forget that Ms. "X" is comparing herself to someone else, possibly even you.  Yes, her home may be nicer, her car may be newer, she may have a deeper wallet or a deeper closet, but she may just be watching you, wishing her life were more like yours.

She may be envious of the bond she sees you sharing with your family.

She may be envious of your faith.

She just may not be seeing her life as perfect at all.

Just a thought to pass along to you today....

Don't forget -

There's no such thing as perfect people.

Let me confess something to you, I have an issue with this, and for the past year or so, God has been showing me that for me, comparing myself to someone else is sin.  I have to stand on my own as a unique woman created by Him and I cannot be measured by someone else.  It's like trying to measure cups with a ruler.  It just doesn't work.  Maybe He wants you to know that too....





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Never Extinguished

Before we go any further, I must ask you one question -

Do you believe God's Word?

I mean REALLY believe to the deepest parts of your being that what He says in His word is true??

Do you BELIEVE it?

It may seem silly that I ask you that, but at one point, I don't think I really took God at His Word and believed what was contained in those pages was real and it applied to me.  This may sound abrupt, but until you believe what it says applies to YOU, then you are dealing with unbelief, and He wants to take you beyond that. 

With that said, let me share with you a familiar verse that lifted my spirit from the basement, so to speak.  I was reading along in my chronological Bible and we finally got to the New Testament.  I was reading in John chapter one.  It was talking about Jesus being the Word and the Word was God and the Word was with God.  The Word gave life to all, and the life brought light to everyone.  Then I read these words and it was like a fresh sunrise to my soul:

The light shines in the darkness,
      and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John1:5



There have been many dark days recently, as many of you can attest to, but these words were just like water to my dry heart. 

Do you get what this says?

No matter how dark your days may seem, the darkness can NEVER extinguish that light within you, because it comes from the One who has already defeated darkness. The darkness cannot overcome it.

Believe what this word says today.

Believe it.

Even for you.


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The Sweetness of Old Friends

It had been sixteen plus years since I had seen them, spent time with them, laughed with them face to face.  I was both excited yet apprehensive toward our lunch date that was fastly approaching.   As I drove to the restaurant, the thoughts running through my mind were crazy.

Will they even recognize me?

Will there be anything to talk about?

Will it be awkward?

Will we be different? No longer having that comraderie forged at our lunch tables and in the gym lobby of our high school?  

It was a wonderful time as I sat with two of my best high school friends.  They gave me the gift of laughter and acceptance during those clumsy high school years, we were just goofy together, and it was ok.  These same two people were with me the night I met my husband, a man I prayed for, so they will always have a special place in my heart. 

Our conversation over lunch lingered long and we laughed as we used to.  Yes, a lot of water has passed under our bridges over the 20 years spanning since high school, but despite the passage of time, it was a gift to be with them.  I hope they felt the same.

It wasn't awkward.

It was sweet.

My question for you, my sisters -

Would you fear awkwardness if you were meeting Jesus for lunch?  Would the time passing since your last intimate moments with Him make you nervous?  Would you be weary for the water that has passed under your bridge since your last encounter?

Or would you just pick up where you left off?

Let me remind you, He's at that table awaiting your arrival.  He's not nervous.  He sits calmly, with confidence to see the woman He loves.

Don't cancel.

Just go.

And linger for hours in your conversation.

Laugh as you used to.

It will be a gift to be with Him.

And He will feel the same.



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Secrets From The Sisterhood: A Dinner Idea For Those Crazy Weeknights

If your life is anything like ours, evenings are C - R - A - Z - Y. 

There's always homework, practices, A.R. reading, showers, whining, dishes, laundry, important discussions, etc to be done.  I won't keep listing so I don't stress myself out merely thinking about it!

Although our life is hectic and crazy, it is still very important to Todd and I that we have dinner as a family as often as we can; therefore, after Jesus and a few other people, my crockpot is my best friend. 

If you have one of those handy dandy little appliances and don't use it much, it's time to dig it out of the back of the cabinet and dust it off, because I am sure you will want to try this yummy recipe from Leslie Dick. 

Perfect for a hectic weeknight.  Throw it in the crockpot in the morning and head out the door.

Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 TBSP taco seasoning
2 TBSP flour
1 each, green and red pepper, cut into strips
1 c. frozen corn
1 1/2 c. thick-n-chunky salsa
1 c. mexican style shredded cheese. 

Toss chicken with seasoning and flour in slow cooker. Stir in vegetables and salsa; cover. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours on low (or for 3 to 4 hours on high). Serve on white or spanish rice and top with cheese.

There's a couple of more where that came from, so be watching for the next Secret From The Sisterhood.

Blessings,


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To My Danielles,

For the past two weeks in our Sunday School Class, the subject of spiritual battle has surfaced.  We've discussed the intense need we have for purposefully putting on our spiritual armor every day and being alert and ready for attacks from the enemy. 

It seems everywhere I go, there are many of God's people who are weary and overwhelmed right now.  It doesn't seem to matter if the individual is a new or seasoned believer, the story is the same......

I just don't know how much more I can take.....

Many times when I've heard this, I've seen eyes brimming with tears, and witness their spirits longing for some glimpse of hope.  My hearts break along with all of theirs.  Most of these spirits that are downcast, are weary for what they see happening or about to happen to those that they love.

With spiritual and physical despair in mind, it makes me think of something I read about Daniel a few weeks ago.  If you would like to read it for yourself, you can find what I'm talking about in Daniel chapter 10.  Daniel had been given a vision of future things that would happen to God's people, it was a vision of war and terrible hardship.  The things he had been shown in this vision were so disturbing that Daniel  mourned and did not eat for three weeks. 

If your spirit is weary, I'm sure you can identify with what Daniel was feeling.

Daniel was standing on the banks of the Tigris River, he saw a messenger from God.  Being an emotional wreck already, Daniel grew very weak and passed out at the mere sound of the voice of this one resembling a man.  The messenger reaches down, touches him, and lifts him trembling to his hands and knees.  And he said to Daniel -

"Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you.  Stand up, for I have been sent to you." v11

Trembling, Daniel stands up to take heed of the messengers words.

My weary sisters, I know your spirits are trembling, I know you feel weak, but listen to what I have to say to you --- You are very precious to God.  Stand Up.  Listen for God's message to you.

The messenger goes on to tell Daniel to not be afraid -

"Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven.  I have come in answer to your prayer.  But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.  Then Michael one of the archangels came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia...."v 12-14

How long had Daniel been in mourning, unable to eat?

Yes, 3 weeks.

How long had the messenger from God been detained by the enemy?

21 days.

That's one of those things that makes you go Hmm Hmm Hmm- you 90's kids will totally get what I mean!

Daniel mourned in his spirit for what would happen to his people - God's people - for 3 weeks and there was spiritual battle going on between the enemy and God's messenger for 21 days.  I think it no coincidence that these numbers are the same and I think it no coincidence that the messenger was sure to tell Daniel that since the FIRST day he began to pray, his requests had been heard in Heaven - hence, the battle.

War-torn sisters, your requests are being heard since the first day you began to pray about this and there is battle taking place for you.

Daniel stands speechless, looks down to the ground, then the messenger touched his lips as if to release the words in Daniel's heart....Daniel pours out these sentences, I'm sure you can identify -

"I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak.  How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord?  My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." v16

I know some of you feel like you can hardly breathe under the weight of your struggles. The messenger reminds him again

"Don't be afraid," he said.  "For you are very precious to God.  Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!"  v18

Then Daniel says -

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, "Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me." v19

Ok, girls, follow me for just a minute.  We have talked about all of the different things Jesus is to us.  One of the characteristics of Jesus is strength.  He IS strength.  He is the I AM; therefore, whatever our need is, HE IS. He is strength.  He is courage.

And if He is living in you, if He has touched you like the messenger touched Daniel causing him to feel his strength return, you can BE strong.  You can BE encouraged.  You can have peace.  This was but a messenger of god who was able to do this, you have THE GOD living in you, imagine the possibilities.

Stand up, my sweet Danielles, stand up.

For you are very precious to God.

Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore.....

Eph 6:13-14

Stand up.

Just stand.

God has a message for you.

Even in the midst of this battle.

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Well.....

Well, how's the Say Yes 7 Day Challenge going?  Are you noticing traces of Him in your day to day comings and goings?  If you are, don't forget to post a comment here, and while your there read the other comments.  If you're having trouble, maybe reading those comments will get you started.



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Say Yes 7 Day Challenge

Don't let that title scare you....this isn't the typical challenge you think of - it doesn't involve exercise!  Some of you know me well enough to know that the words "exercise" and "Amy" are not best friends!  Lest you think I've lost my marbles, let me explain this Say Yes 7 Day Challenge.

For the next seven days, I challenge you to exercise your minds, your thoughts, your spirit, your eyes.  I love to watch for God in the everyday comings and goings of my life, and when I live through those eyes, I sense Him so near.  He seems so present.  Real.  Involved.

Involved in MY life.
Alive.

He's still alive.  Did you hear me?  He's alive!  He's still moving and working. We just have to watch for Him. 

This past week I watched a webcast featuring Lysa TerKeurst and Ann Voskamp entitled "Yes to God".  When I heard about the webcast, I was excited to see it because I enjoyed reading Lysa's book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God last summer. I have also enjoyed Ann Voskamp's writings that she mixes with photography.  With her words and images, she ministers to others with her heart completely exposed.  Their program served as an alarm clock to my spirit to wake up and not forget to watch for God in the everyday and say "Yes" to Him.  Even if that yes is but a simple acknowledgement that, in fact, it IS Him that I see in the ordinary.

Ann said this, "May we have a thought life of Yes so that we might live an action life of Yes." When our thoughts are centered around seeing and acknowledging Him,  it's so much easier to have a Yes action life.  It's easier to act at the moments of God's urging when in our thought life we have been looking for opportunities to say, "Yes, that's Him." 

Please don't tune me out thinking you don't have time to walk around with your head in the clouds looking for cute God moments....It's about more than that..

Engage.

Please.

Don't believe the lie that you can't see Him.  Don't believe the lie that you are too busy. Where ever you are, He is there.  Psalms 139: 7-12

 I can never escape from your Spirit!
      I can never get away from your presence!
 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
      if I go down to the grave,you are there.
 If I ride the wings of the morning,
      if I dwell by the farthest oceans 

  even there your hand will guide me,
      and your strength will support me.
  I could ask the darkness to hide me
      and the light around me to become night—
    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
   To you the night shines as bright as day.
      Darkness and light are the same to you.

Lysa TerKeurst said this, "If we wait until everything is in place or wait until all of the broken things in our life get fixed to say Yes to God, we will miss saying Yes to God.  Because the messes and the broken pieces will always be there, in the midst of now, say Yes to God."

So what's the challenge you're wondering?

For the next seven days, look for Him in the midst of the everyday.  Live expecting to experience Him and when you do, come back here and post a comment telling us about it.  It doesn't have to be long, it can be a simple blip.  If you have trouble sensing Him, ask Him for eyes to see.  Lysa shared that she starts every morning with this prayer before her feet hit the floor:

God, I want to see You.
God, I want to hear You.
God, I want to know You.
God, I want to follow hard after You.
And even before I know what I will face today, I say yes to You.

For the next seven days, I am expecting to experience Him, and I am expecting you to experience Him too. 
As I intentionally watch for Him over the next week, I may not write new posts, but you can trust that you will find me in the comments below - and I'll be looking to meet you there.

To get you started, here's my first Yes, that's you God moment:

As I type this post, it's Sunday night, I am sitting out on my deck.  I sat here reflecting upon God while wrapping up this post,  I looked up at the moon, looked for Him there, but that wasn't it.  KLove is playing on our stereo in the background and I'm not really paying attention, but suddenly my attention turns from the moon for a moment and I hear these words:

God says yes to His promises
Take Him at His word
Yeah you can believe it
God says yes
To a child-like faith
When we claim everything He died to give
God says yes

The song was entitled God Says Yes by John Waller, and God's boldness at that moment to be so obvious to me just made be belly laugh - out loud. I say Yes to Him and He says Yes to me....You see, I was reluctant to issue this challenge to you.  I was afraid you wouldn't participate, but I said Yes to His prompting and He's already answered me.  I hope I made Him belly laugh too! By the way, the crickets think I'm crazy now!

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Hush!

"The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning." 

If we ever hear those words come across our weather radio or our television, my kids become quite the inquistors..

"Where's it at?"

"Is it coming toward us?"

"What's the difference in a watch and a warning?" 

If you have kids that despise storms, I'm sure you get my drift.  This past spring there was a day when we had a severe thunderstorm warning, which escalated into a tornado warning and they were petrified.

I mean petrified. 

And I understand, I never liked storms either, especially when I was a child.

We took the necessary safety measures and got into the bathroom with our radio and flashlight, but they were incorrigible.  No matter how Todd and I tried to reassure them, they could not hear what we were telling them for their fearful, frantic crying.  They would ask a question and then begin crying out of their fear that they couldn't comprehend my response.  They would cry about the dog, they would cry about the where-abouts of every extended family member, they would cry about the swing in the back yard, they would cry about what to do next.

At first I would try to answer them in a calm voice in an effort to bring them back from the Land of Fear, but my soothing answers were not penetrating their fears. They were so focussed on the questions and the situation that they would not listen.  Finally I had to yell at them to get their attention, "Hush!" I had to remind them that we were fine and they were worrying about things that had not even happened.

Sometimes we walk through storms and each second seems to be dominated by our fears. The fears are the only voices that we can hear and we don't know what to do next.  We are scared of what may happen. 

Don't forget, the Father is there in that bathroom with you while you're all hunkered down.  He is there in the eye of the storm.   He is there after the storm.  He will protect you.  We have to silence our fears long enough to hear His voice.

"Hush, be still." Mark 4:39

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me........... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

"Hush, be still." Mark 4:39

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Secrets From The Sisterhood

Last week I posed a question to the ladies of the Sisterhood.  Here's what I asked them:

What is something that you reuse in your home in a way different than it was intended?

I'll share with you a few of their creative ideas that you can try for yourself.

From Leslie - Homemade chip clips.  She reuses the hangers that pants come on to make chip clips.  Simply cut the clip off of each end and discard the rest.  For those of you with children whose clothes have outgrown those smaller hangers, this is a great idea to reuse them.  You and also add a magnet to the back and place it on your refrigerator to secure grocery lists, coupons, etc.

From April -  Hairspray is for more than just your hair.  If you accidentally get a stray ink pen mark on your clothes, spray the area with hairspray, scrub and most inks will dissolve.  

Hamburger patties - Instead of trying to shape and mold them in your hands, form the meat into a ball, place on a sheet of wax paper.  Lay a second sheet of wax paper over it, then using a dinner plate press down on the wax paper until the patty is your desired thickness.  Peel away the wax paper and repeat.
From Jan - Do you have a plastic shower curtain that has icky build up on it?  She uses lemon juice to make it fresh and clean.

From Amy - Have you ever left the coffee pot on and the coffee burns in the bottom, discoloring your coffee pot?  Put a tablespoon or so of salt in the pot along with 1 or 2 cups of ice cubes.  Swish it around, and as the ice begins to melt, you will start to see the coffee color coming off of your pot. 

In my laundry room, I have a dish pan for each person in our family. Instead of filling it with dirty dishes -  we put the clean clothes in each person's tub as they are folded.  Then everything is separated and the kids can easily carry the stacks of clothes to their rooms to put away - NOT THAT THEY ARE EVER HAPPY ABOUT IT THOUGH!  

I use a gallon size ziploc bag to corral all of those envelopes like taco seasoning, Kool Aid packets, ranch dressing mixes, onion soup mix etc.  In the cabinet where I keep my spices, I put one of those removable hooks on the inside of the cabinet door, punched a hole in the bag, and hung it.  Now I can easily find those pesky little envelopes without emptying the entire cabinet.

From Camillia - I re-use dryer sheets as dust-rags...just run them over the furniture, makes the house smell good too, like I shampooed the carpet or something :)


Feel free to comment with any ideas you might have for using something in a way that is a little out of the ordinary!



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Daring Courage

Words spoken by Jeremiah, the prophet, from the New Living Translation:

I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!"

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.
Lamentations 3:20-26

Just before Jeremiah wrote these words, he had been describing the complete destruction and devastation of Israel as a result of their disobedience to God.  As he looked upon his country, his hometown, things were very, very bad.  There wasn't much hope in any direction Jeremiah turned.

Imagine your world, life as you know it, completely devastated. 

No idea where to begin.

No clue what to do next.

Complete shock.

The wounds raw, still stinging.

Surreal.

Is there someone reading today that has found herself in Jeremiah's shoes of despair, hopelessness, and destruction?  If that is you, I hope you caught these 6 words in that passage:

Yet I still dare to hope 

He still dared to hope when he remembered God's faithfulness, God's character, his inheritance to come. 

Dare defined by dictionary.com means this -

1. to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; to be bold enough;
2. to have the boldness to try; venture; hazard
3. to meet defiantly; face courageously
4. to challenge or provoke into a demonstration of courage.

My sisters, hear me on this.   It takes no strength, no courage, no boldness to look upon your situation as hopeless.  It takes no courage to gaze upon the destruction of circumstances and keep your eyes upon that destruction.  Anyone can do that, and you're not just anyone.  It takes nothing special to face life this way, but you were made for more than that.

It does take courage to still dare to hope in God's faithfulness. 

Do you have that courage?  If you are His, you do, and it's time you found it. 

Do you mind if I pray for you?

Father, I pray for the one out there that has found herself in what she sees as a heap of rubble that is going to smother her or those around her.  God, I am depending upon You to give her the courage she needs to dare to believe in who You are.  God, give her the courage to dare to lift her eyes from the rubble and believe in what this world cannot.  Give her the courage to dare to remember Your faithfulness, Your mercies that are new for her each day, and her inheritance in Christ.  Give her the courage to hope in the truth according to Your word that You are good to those who depend on You.  You are good to those who search for You.  Make her daring today.  Daring and courageous so that she can wait quietly for the victory that will come from You.  Give her the courage to remember that she is yours and that none of this has caught You by surprise.

Meeting her situation defiantly, facing it with courage, I ask this for her by the power of the name of the One who has conquered death, hell, and the grave.  Jesus Christ.  If He conquered those things, I believe He can conquer her rubble.



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Just Doodling

Amy Was Here!

Do you sisters remember doodling that EVERYWHERE?  Not "Amy" unless, of course, that's your name, but surely you get my drift!  I doodled it on my notebook, on my papers, on the phone book, the fogged up school bus windows, you name it, it doodled it.  Sometimes I was ready to live life on the edge and threw in a little edgey spelling...

Amy Wuz Here!

Cantcha sense the rebel within?? Then when I was really in the doodling mood, I expanded my authoring horizons and added a sassy little phrase...

Amy was here

But now she's gone

She's left her name to carry on.....

Wasn't I just brilliant?  Yes, along with the 10 million other teens and tweens who were doodling the same words on every surface possible.  Did y'all doodle that too?

Come on, admit it.

I know you did.

You know what though, everyday our life is a day of doodling.  We are doodling on surfaces of every life around us.  

But now she's gone

She's left her name to carry on....

After you have left presence of the people you interact with today, what will your doodle say?  What carries on after you move on?

Those thoughts, my sisters, have a HUGE ability to impact people long after we are gone.  Does the though of your name carry on bitterness, gloom, joy, love, compassion?  If the thoughts are those that have the characteristics of Christ - GET THIS- you have left the Holy Spirit some wonderful tools to work with....

Just a doodling thought for you today.

Jesus was here

But now He's gone

He's left His name to carry on...........

Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Secrets From The Sisterhood

Last week we shared a few laundry tips, and we have a couple of more for you today. If you have any additional laundry tips or advice, feel free to leave a comment today to share.

I stopped using liquid fabric softener a long time ago because I kept noticing random spots that looked like grease on my clean clothes.  Since leaving it out of my laundry, the spots are gone, but I have missed the softness and the freshness that the fabric softener brings.  Recently I read somewhere online (and I can't remember where) how another person handles her fabric softener woes.  Instead of putting it into the wash, she puts her liquid fabric softener into a spray bottle.  Before adding her clean clothes to the dryer, she mists the inside of her dryer with about 6 sprays of fabric softener.  I have tried this and, thus far, love the results! 

And it makes your fabric softener go farther too!

Here's an idea from Camillia.  When I read it, it took me back to my Mom's house, because this how my mom does laundry.  Camillia does her laundry daily to keep it from being overwhelming, folding and stacking it on her bed.  That way all of the laundry gets put up at the end of the day and it doesn't stack up.

I guess you could say it makes you make the bed everyday too.....Hmmm...Mom would be so proud.

More tips to come next week, and I promise they won't be about dirty ole laundry!



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Unclearly Refined

God shows and teaches me alot in my drives to and from work.  I guess He knows it's probably the quietest time of my day, and He teaches me things with such practical stuff. 

One day last week, I was sitting at a stop light on my way to work.  As I sat waiting at the red light, the light turned green for the cross traffic.  The traffic began to move forward and a tanker truck caught my eye.  I have never seen a tanker truck quite like this one, and to tell you the truth, I have no idea what it was carrying.  I was distracted by a word I saw painted on it and never got past that word.  The truck was a different color than the typical tanker truck, kind of a blue green and the tank itself had silver lettering.

There were words at the top and words at the bottom, which I never read because I was struck by the word in the center.  Not just the word, but how it was fashioned, and I felt a stirring within.  That same stirring that I have come to know as the Holy Spirit, who in His gentleness, is always ready to make my life and the happenings of my day a classroom. 

The letters of the word were very large.  Solid at the bottom, but the tops of the letters faded away.  Faded into nothing.  You've seen words like this in slide shows and power points, and I tried my best to reproduce what caught my eye -

Now, this isn't exactly what I saw, but it's close. I noticed the tops of the letters faded away to nothing, their edges having no real defined stopping place, and God taught me something about refining.

The refining process is not always clearly defined for us. 

It doesn't always make sense.

He doesn't always reveal all of the pieces to us.

We all face situations and struggles in our life that just don't make sense. Even though they don't always make sense, don't always have a defined outline, aren't always exactly clear, you can always trust that refining is taking place.

God uses those trials and struggles in His refining process to make us more like Him and even though we can't see how a situation is going to work out, He is still using it.

I know some of you are facing GREAT trials, HARD struggles, and DEEP pain that make no sense at all.  Please trust this - even though you can't see the end, you can't see the outcome, He is using it and you are more like Jesus today than you were yesterday. 

It's all part of the refining process.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7

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Packed Down

I love to bake, I always have.  Growing up, we were always baking something.  After dinner was devoured and the mess cleaned up, we all usually ended up in the living room for a TV show or two.  Not long after taking our posts in the living room, often Daddy would bid me and April back to the kitchen.

"Why don't you go fix your daddy some cookies...." he would whine as he rubbed his belly.

It was in Momma's kitchen I learned all I know about cooking.  It was in Momma's kitchen that I learned to measure, mix, and pour.

I used to sneak up in the top cabinet where she stored the brown sugar, open the bag, pull out a chunk or two or twenty and let it melt in my mouth!  (I know, beginning signs of a future problem with sweets!)  Pure brown sugar....

Speaking of brown sugar, one of my favorite things to make requires brown sugar, that being the simple old stand by, chocolate chip cookies.   I just love them warm out of the oven, when the center is still soft and the chocolate stretches with each bite leaving it's evidence on your chin.

Mmmm.

This recipe would not be quite the same without the right amount of brown sugar.   As you know, measuring brown sugar is a little different than measuring sugar or flour.  When you measure brown sugar, you have to pack it down tight into the measuring cup and keep adding and packing until you get the amount you need.  You know you've packed it and measured it well if it keeps it's solid shape when you dump it.  

I was wondering just how much difference that packing makes, so I tried it out.  I measured 1 cup of brown sugar into my measuring cup today.  After I packed it down though, it was only about 2/3 cup of brown sugar. 

If I were baking and my recipe called for a cup of brown sugar, and I just beebopped around in my kitchen, poured a cup of brown sugar into my measuring cup and dumped it into the bowl with the rest of my ingredients without packing it down, don't you think I would notice a difference in the finished product?

You'd better believe it.

It wouldn't be as sweet.

It would leave my taste buds longing for more..

Our life with God is kind of like brown sugar.  The more we let Him pack us down, whether it be through struggles, trials, pain, valleys, or deserts, the more sweetness He can fit in.   Although life can be hard, I would much rather come to the end satisfied in His sweetness than longing for something more.

We often hear this verse in regards to giving financially, giving to others, or giving of our time, but as I thought about packing down that brown sugar, it kept coming to mind:

"Give and it will be given to you; good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." 
Luke 6:38

Just think of that verse in terms of giving Him your life.  Giving Him control of your life - complete control. Allowing Him to press you down, even if it hurts, so that He can make room to give you more until you're running over with what He puts in. 

That my sisters sounds like a recipe for sweetness to me.

"....I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly."  John 10:10




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Secrets From The Sisterhood

Happy Tuesday Morning to all of you.  We have something new for you today, a new feature called "Secrets From The Sisterhood" where we will share practical advice, household tips, recipes, etc so that we can all help life be a little easier on each other. 

Today's Secret From The Sisterhood is all about some laundry, and I know we can all identify with that.

Our first secret comes from Camillia who learned this trick from another sister in Christ, Robin. 

Who hasn't forgotten a load of clothes in the washer or even thrown them into the dryer but forgot to turn the dryer on?  The next thing you know, the whole load of laundry has soured, and STINKS.  Often you can wash the whole load again, and they STILL STINK.

Here's her tip to remedy a soured load of clothes:
When you start the washer to rewash the load, add a cup of vinegar along with your usual detergent and your clothes will smell fresh and clean when they're done!

Secondly, while we're talking about that dirty word Laundry, here's a tip from Linda for those stubborn underarm sweat stains.  Linda uses plain old peroxide as a prewash on those areas before throwing them in the washer.

Hope these tips help to make your laundry woes not so woeful!

Blessings to you all today and hope you enjoyed Secrets From The Sisterhood!

More to come.....



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Eye Contact

There's something about eye contact that bugs me.......

It bugs me that we don't do it anymore.

In this techno-information age, we no longer look at one another. 

Here's what I mean:

Let's say you are in an office building, walking down a hallway, and someone is walking toward you.  You have your phone in your hand, or in your pocket, the person gets closer and closer to you - what do we do?

Yep, you're right. 

We pull our phones out and start tinkering with the buttons - pretending to be checking messages, etc, generically glancing up every few seconds to measure the distance between us until we pass the person approaching.

Never making eye contact.

Avoiding the awkwardness.

There are souls behind those eyes we avoid and eye contact can be powerful.

I've heard it said you can spray an audience with eye contact.

I've heard it said that the eyes are the window to the soul.

Thoughts can be communicated with the eyes without speaking a word.  Eye contact communicates your full attention, telling the one who is speaking to you that they are important.   Eyes can sparkle with delight, they can be filled with worry, brimming with sadness.  They can portray strength and confidence.  The eyes can dance with fury.

What we do or don't do with our eyes can say a lot.

How is your eye contact?

Mine is not always so great, and since I work in one of those buildings with long hallways, I have been being more intentional about making eye contact with the people I meet along the way.

And I think it FREAKS people out!

Of course, I don't just stare them down, burning holes with my laser vision, but I look at their face and simply say, "Hello."  Their expressions are at first a bit shocked, but usually it quickly softens, a gentle smile emerges and then they return a "Hi" or a nod of the head.  I don't know why, but it makes my steps down the hall a little lighter. 

And guess what? It's not awkward at all.  It's as if it contains a pulse of refreshment within me.

What about our spiritual eye contact?  How is that?

Do we keep tinkering with things in our spirits, busying ourselves so that we never have to make eye contact with our Creator?

I think if we were honest, we would have to answer - yes, sometimes we do.  Sometimes I even busy myself with good things and avoid the real issues that He is trying to show me.  If I don't look at Him, then I don't have to deal with it.

Whatever!

I'm not going to get by with it. 

You see, He's not intimidated with awkwardness, and He's not going to avoid situations where that awkwardness might surface.  He's always looking directly into the windows of my soul, ready to communicate with me.

I've just got to quit tinkering with stuff......

Savior Jesus, forgive me for all of those times I have avoided eye contact with You busying myself so that I don't have to hear you.  Forgive me for all of those people I have ignored, never looking at them.  Those souls are important to you.  On any given day, You could be appointing me to encourage one who is downcast with a simple hello.  That one small gesture could remind that one that they are worth something.  It could remind them that they ARE noticed.  Thank You, Jesus for these words from John 4, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest."  The hallways, corridors, and lobbies of life are all fields ripe for harvest. There are people all around who are in such need of a loving gesture.   My heart is a harvest field too, if I would but make eye contact with You more, I could see the harvest You want to bring forth from me.  The changes I say I long for, may very well be ready for harvest if I would lift my eyes to meet Yours.

Here's your challenge:  Try some eye contact today, both with others and with Him - let me know how it goes!



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Daddy's and Daughters

Daddy's and daughters.  It's a relationship all it's own.  A friend of mine has a very special relationship with her dad that I have always admired.  Even as a grown woman who is married with children, she still absolutely adores her daddy and he adores her.  About her father she often says, "They just don't make 'em like him anymore."  They still talk regularly and they have a standing lunch date every week that NOTHING interrupts.  I tell her often how fortunate she is to have this special bond with him.

She sits right beside me and yesterday she was having a day that was just a wee bit trying. It was one of those days, everything she tried to do was either a hassle or a disaster, nothing was simple, everything was complicated and convoluted.  We had teased back and forth with each other about her happenings and she says, "I guess I've just been drinking Haterade."

Of course, I laughed at her quick wit before returning to my work.  I knew she had just coined a new office phrase - Haterade.

With yesterday being her special lunch day with her dad, she called her dad to set the place for their date.  After they decided on their destination, she hung up her phone and said,

"I feel so much better now that I talked to my dad."

Talking to Dad had made the things that seemed so big, look a little smaller.  As I sat there at my desk thinking about what she said, I thought how true that statement is.  Every time I am overwhelmed with life, I always feel better after I have talked to my Abba Dad.  My perspective changes, my spirit is strengthened, my temper soothed.  When I talk to Him, He never fails to settle me from the inside out.

Studies have shown that girls who have a close relationship with their fathers are much less likely to seek fulfillment in the wrong places, and I think the same can be said for us in a spiritual sense.  When I have been in close relationship with my Abba Father, I am much less likely to chase after things of this world.  On the other hand, when that relationship begins to grow distant, in no time at all I find myself wrapped up in things that just really don't matter. I catch myself trying to find my worth as a person through activities, other people's opinions, work, etc instead of resting in the identity of Who I belong to. 

Isaiah 50:4 tells us that He knows how to comfort the weary.   Let Him comfort you.

Are you heavy laden?

Are you weary?

Hear His words, written in red - for you

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle, and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

Talk to your Daddy, you'll feel so much better if you do.


Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Predictable

I've been asking God to show me things about myself, about my heart that need to change.  Things that aren't like Him.  He has slowly been pulling back the curtain on something about my heart over the past several months, and a couple of nights ago, as I sat in prayer, He pulled that curtain back a bit further.

My burden for the lost is not what it should be, but that's not what He revealed.  He revealed to me that my life is predictable.  Everything about it is predictable.

My prayers are predictable.
My worship is predictable.
My decisions are predictable  - and safe.
My home life is predictable.

Even how I reach out with His love to other people is predictable.

pre·dict·a·ble/priˈdiktəbəl/Adjective

1. Able to be predicted.

2. Behaving or occurring in a way that is expected 

(according to Merriam-Webster.com)

My life is predictable and that's the way I like it.

It's much easier for me to reach out to someone I perceive as predictable, someone "like me".  Someone I perceive as "normal".  Someone who doesn't challenge the parameters of my predictable life.

But -put me with someone whose life is a little different than mine, and I squirm.  I don't mean squirm in the sense that I don't want them to know the love of our Great God, but squirm in the sense that I am intimidated by what may come next, intimidated by their "unpredictability".  I'm standoffish and have to force myself to engage. It's like I would prefer them to follow some formula of predictability so that I can relate, so that I'm not uncomfortable.

As I prayed through this, praying to love the way Jesus loves, I sensed His whisper to my heart -

I love unpredictably. 

He does, doesn't He?

Predictable love is love that is expected.  Love that is returned for something. Unpredictable love is given in the most unexpected situations, unexpected times, to the unexpected person.  Given while expecting absolutely nothing. 

Nothing. 

Giving love just to be giving it.

He loves unpredictably.  He loves me when I'm in the mire.  He loves me when I'm swimming in a puddle of sin.  He loves me when I turn my face away from Him.

He loves the beggar.

He loves the prostitute.

He loves the orphan.

He loves the criminal.

He loves the meth-maker.

He loves the thief.

He loves the diseased.

He loves the most unpredictable people in the most unpredictable places.  They don't intimidate Him, They don't make Him squirm, and they certainly don't make Him uncomfortable.

He loves unpredictably.

Jesus, thank You for pulling the curtain back enough for me to see this part of my heart.  Thank You for revealing it in your own gentle way, You taught me this without condemnation.  You taught me this with encouragement.  Father, remind me to look with Your eyes for unpredictable people this week and give me the love and the courage to love them unpredictably.

How predictable, my friends, is your life?




 
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King

Awakening

Mornings.......

They aren't always may thing.

Honestly, they are rarely my thing.

It takes me a little while to get going, I'm find it hard to talk first thing in the morning, I feel a bit clumsy as I stumble to the closet to get my towel.  I'm usually waste a few minutes trying to figure out why I can't see until I realize that I don't have my glasses on.

But - if I can just get in the shower, that is where I know the awakening begins.  The scent of my peppermint shampoo is delightful and as I breathe in its fragrance, my brain begins it's work.

An awakening.

I've experienced an awakening of another sort this week, this one not prompted by the scent of peppermint, in fact, I really can't put my finger on exactly what prompted this awakening.  After many days of pushing through life and life's circumstances, many days of looking for a ray of hope, many days of wondering what tomorrow might bring or even what six months from now might bring, for some reason there has been an awakening within my soul that I can't quite explain.

It's as if my soul is ready to absorb.

Scriptures speak more loudly.

Music moves me more deeply.

My heart longs for His return more intently.

Laughter comes more easily.

When I look upon the faces of my family, hear their voices, sense their touch, I love them more than the moment before.

Nothing has changed.  The circumstances in our lives are the same as they were when I walked in the valley, but I guess I can sense Psalms 23 in my life. 

He restores my soul.....

I fear no evil for He is with me....

My husband used this very familiar passage of scripture Sunday as he spoke. I don't know if something spoken in that message or the truth of the scriptures themselves were the peppermint for my soul or if it was something else that awakened my heart, but whatever it was, I wish I could figure it out.

So that next time I feel like my spirit is clumsy, when I can't see, when I don't know what to say, I will know where and when to expect the awakening......

What awakens you?   Is it coffee, a devotional book, turning on the news?  Practically or Spiritually - I would love for you to share with me what awakens you.

Holy Spirit, You are with me and today I do not fear.  God, You are restoring my soul and I am so thankful that You took notice of this soul in need of Your restoration.  Your touch is the only touch that can truly repair me.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, I breathe You in as deep as I can this very moment - awaken my soul more to think like You, feel like You, love like You, minister like You.



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King