THE HAIR BRUSH

Experiencing and hearing the voice of God is something that I long for more of.  Some days more than others.  This morning I am sitting on my bed doing some stuff on in the internet only to come across the following clip.  I must say I did not know what to expect as I saw the title, but it made me curious.  Beth Moore is my favorite women's bible teacher.  She is truly filled with the Spirit of Christ and teaches directly from the word of God.  Tears and laughter filled my eyes as I listened to this story and the passion in her heart.  I pray that we all know that God does and wants to speak to us - we just have to listen. 

May that be our prayer today - Father God, I ask that we hear your voice today.  That you would speak to each of us however you so desire and that we are open and receptive to distinguish it.  That your Spirit would so resinate in our/my heart(s) that we are so moved into action, even when it doesn't make sense.  Fill us Father God with your overflowing love, your power so we hear you so clearly.

Little bundle to high school

I don't know if I will be able to capture my thoughts and life in the past while.  I feel so out of the blogging mode and I want to get back in it.  My life has been a whirlwind of activity and responsibilities that blogging has ended up to be at the bottom of my to do list.  Today brought some quiet and completion of tasks that have been in the works for a while so I have some time now to write.

Let me start by saying that I am super happy that I have a grandaughter.  Emily Jane was born last Friday and she is an absolutely beautiful little girl.  Holding that little pink bundle felt so normal to me.  That was my life - pink bundles.  Now I await another beautiful blue bundle to arrive in March.

This morning I witnessed something so amazing.  I was at my daughter's high school for the weekly chapel.  Her Christian high school has chapel once a week for 45 minutes.  Angela usually talks about how awesome chapel is but today I was there, along with another mom, to present and promote information about the school Spring mission trip to Jamaica.  After out brief presentation the guest pastor, an area youth pastor, shared a word with the students about dying to ourself.  It was a powerful word, spoken directly from scripture, and spoken directly to students.  At the end I watched as he asked students who needed prayer and direction in this area of their life to come up for prayer, to be prayed with by staff.  There was silence in the gym except for the pianist and violinist playing in the backgound, as students walked up for prayer.  It was such a powerful thing to see.  You see, the 45 min. was already past but it mattered not.  Transformation in the life of even 1 student was worth being late to class.  As he began to close the time he asked the principle to come to the middle of the gym, then told all the students to get down out of their seats and lay hands on him for prayer.  He told them that their principle may sometimes feel like they don't really notice him...etc. so let's pray for him.  He left prayer open and tears were pouring down my cheeks as I heard student after student speaking a prayer for him.  It was such a powerful moment and my heart lept for joy that my daughter is a part of this school.

Then I come home and remembered that we have a car insurance bill due and about an hour ago my washing machine decided to go on the fritz.  I don't usually understand God's plan.  Guess I'm not suppose to.  I wish I could understand, but living by faith is not understanding his plan, but trusting that he has one.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah



No distance between us

We were having family devotions the other day after dinner.  As Tim was reading, some words resinated inside of me.  I wanted him to read it again - to highlight the words.  They were words that were so beautiful to me - a picture so beautiful.  I have underlined the one particular sentence that I fell in love with.

"Do not look to your own thoughts, but walk in the Spirit; so will you accomplish the work the Spirit desires for you. ... Therefore be diligent.  Follow Me so closely that there will be no distance between us.  Listen carefully to My voice so you do not go your own way.  Set your heart to follow to the end, for at the end there awaits an exceeding weight of glory for those who endure."

As I heard these words I had such a longing for this every day.  I know those times when I have been so close to the Spirit.  It is I who get in the way so many times when I try to accomplish my work instead of His work in my life.  Galatians 5:25 "Since we live by the Spririt, let us keep in step with the Spirit."  To keep in step means that we are following.  Have you ever tried to keep in step with someone you are walking with?  Tim and I try that sometimes but it can be hard.  His legs are longer than mine and he has a differerent stride than me but for me to keep in step with him I have to stay focused and pay attention to each step he takes.  Many times along the way I will mess up the step but I just have to get back in the rhythm again.  That's a beautiful picture of following the Spirit of Christ.  When we allow him to lead us sometimes we will get off step, our attentions wander in other directions, we get sidetracked.  But he is still there with us, gently guiding us back to him.  I want to be so close to him that there is no space between us.  What peace that will bring to my soul, what peace it does bring to my soul when I am walking in step with him.

...and after alot of practice walking in step with the Spirit, I have those times when I find myself not having to work so hard to pay attention to where my feet are walking because through his power I am confident that where he leads will be the best and most beautiful for me.

Dear Jesus, I thank you so much this day for sending your Spirit to live within me.  It is so amazing to me that you love me so much that you would indwell inside of me.  Help me to live my life empowered to live and walk in step with you.  Help me to get out of the way.  Speak to me this day and may I walk refreshed and filled up in you.

Freedom

I was challenged this morning about obedience to God.  As I read the story of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac - which I have read many times - I was struck by Abraham's response to God.  God tells him to "take your son, ... and offer him there as a burnt offering..."  Now listen to how Abraham responds.  "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey,...and his son Isaac.  And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him."  Do you catch what I did?  Abraham had no hesitation in obeying God.  No questions.  He just did it.  We know that God spared Isaac's life but what a test of Abraham's faith.  How would I pass such a test?  That one - I would fail.  I don't like that I'm not there yet.  Yet even as I think about my life I continue to fail the tests in my faith.  But you know?  Jesus was the sacrifice that paid for all of my failures.  I can live in the grace that washes over me.  I don't have to be bound by my failures but I can live in the freedom that Christ has brought into my life.  Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Halleluiah!  Praise Jesus!