GOD IS GREAT

Today has been a very productive day. We've accomplished so much around the house. God is great! Still wondering but confident that God already has ministry and home already layed out the way he sees fit for us.

In my reading today I was again reminded of telling what Jesus does in your life. Seems I run across that continually throuout scripture. Today I read about the Samaritan woman at the well, when Jesus told her about her life and about the living water. John 4:28 "Then leaving her jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 'come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?'" vs. 39 "Many of the Samaritans from the town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'...And because of his words many more became believers." We must remember that when we share our testimony about what Jesus has done in our life that it does reach the hearts of others. As the song says "This is an emergency - There are tears of the saints, for the lost and unsaved, their crying for them, 'come back home'" I pray that yours and my testimonies will resinate in the hearts of others. God will use what he has done in our lives to effect others for the Kingdom. I know for a fact that what I have gone through God will use to further his kingdom. Keep your heart open to Jesus and daily ask him to come in and fill you.

I was telling Tim this morning that so much in our life seems like the impossible. Then I smiled and remembered that God loves the impossible. (that is the impossible in our human eyes) This song that I've put on my blog was given to me by a young man named Brian. He said he listens to it at certain times in life... well, listen to it. You'll know when!

I'm getting excited to see what's next.

SHINE

Somehow I feel at a loss for words. I'm trying not to allow the enormity of the unknown, in every aspect of our life, get in the way of the truth that I know. The truth that I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has everything in place and is working things out for his plan to unfold. My job now is to be obedient to his leadings. To praise him in the midst of everything unknown and rejoice in the future plans that he will unfold, in his time. That is the truth that I know. I was just sharing this with Tim, but also shared "I know that God has us but I cannot gloss over the fact that I'm scared too." I don't want to pretend that I've got it all together. Reality is that I daily have to call out to Jesus for his strength. I cannot imagine going through this without that.

So we pack - again! I don't know if God will ever "settle" us in one place. I thought we could have been here until we retire. Good lesson in not making our own plans.

I was just telling Tim that blogging today was kind of blah. Then these words came out. "Somehow I feel just me, I don't want to be just me but Christ in me. It is the Spirit of Christ that I want to shine through. Even though I know I have the Spirit of Christ in me I don't want just me to be what I and others see, but the Spirit of Christ that is within me, that is what I want to shine." I stopped and knew I needed to share this. I can do all I want in this world and in our stuff in life but if I am doing this being just me, everything will be fruitless. It is when we allow the Spirit of Christ to shine through us that we will shine. May that Spirit shine in me and in each of you. Remember, if you don't know Jesus, just stop what you are doing, ask Jesus to come into your heart (he did die on the cross to take away your sins, all of them.) The Spirit of Christ will come. That is a promise. If you know Jesus but just don't "feel it" - cry out to him and ask for his presence within you. In you and around you.

May the peace of Christ be with each of us.

BROKENNESS

I talked yesterday to a woman who is so incredibly broken. She is filled with so much pain. I could listen and share with her Jesus. Jesus came for the brokenhearted. He came for the sick not the healthy. He came to set people free. He wants to just love all over you. Psalm 103 says "Praise the Lord, O my soul...who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things..." This is the Jesus who loves each of us, this is the Jesus who died on the cross for your sins and mine. That pit you feel like your in - you don't have to stay there. Call out to Jesus and he will save you. That is a promise.

We prepare to move - where? I don't know, but we will pack up the house now and trust the Lord to take care of the rest. I'm actually getting excited to see what God is going to do.

Recently the Lord connected me with an old friend from seminary days. (we met 15 years ago) Our conversations reiterate the need for pastors and their families to be loved on. I heard stories of friends of ours from seminary days who are no longer in the ministry after being burned so badly. There is a need out there and it cannot be ignored any longer.

Thought for the day - think about your pastor, his wife and his children. Now remember that God has called them to be the shepherd of your church. Love all over them, support them in prayer big time. Don't criticize them but accept them for who God has made them. Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." If you consider your pastor and his family friends, real friends, then when challenges arise in the church and you find yourself disagreeing with him on issues - remember that true friendship comes with respect, even when you disagree. Then remember the scripture above and pray for your pastor and submit to the authority that God has placed in him. Then encourage and support him. (As long as it is in line with scripture.)

God's peace!!!!

APPOINTED TIME

Psalm 102:13 says "You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come."

This scripture seemed to shine for me this morning. I wondered in my readings this morning what the Lord wanted to reveal to me and I came back to this verse. So we will be obedient to the Lord and make some big steps. We have had a sense that the time has come in our life - for what exactly we are not for sure, but we are sure that we want the Lord to direct our path, not us. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Prov. 19:21. I can do all I want to hang on to the securities of this world, but those things are not lasting. Only Jesus will remain the same, only Jesus will never fail me. Set aside my plans and my thoughts Lord, may I daily remember that you have NEVER FAILED TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

God has done so much shaping in me in the more recent years. I know for certain that he will use the fire that I have been through to minister to others. Being open and vulnerable on this blog has been a huge step but one that God has blessed. If you are reading this and are facing uncertain times stop and close your eyes, mediate on Jesus, open up your heart to him, tell him how you feel, ask him to fill you with his presence. He will....he loves his children and wants us to come to him. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." That is a promise.

I have been so guilty of trying to carry it on my own. I give it to Jesus, then I pick it up again the next day...sound familiar? I am so grateful that Jesus loves me through it, he is patient with me; yet I need daily to lay it down before him, daily come to him.

I am so grateful that the God of the universe is the one carrying me today and tomorrow.

DELIGHT

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

This was scripture shared with us tonight by some friends. Words layed on his heart to share with us. It was such a blessing to be together, the four of us, sharing life and Jesus with each other. Praying together - powerful prayer together. I love that the Lord has put them in our path and look forward to more times shared together. I love being together with friends and spending so much time sharing about our faith walk, our struggles and triumphs. I love hearing about how God is working in their life, growing from what God is doing with them, listening and not judging - and seeing myself in what God is working out in them.

Jesus wants us to be real - to be open about ourselves - share life with each other - lift one another up - and not judge one another. It is a daily walking it out for I know that I fail in so many of these ways. Soften my heart Lord every day to see everyone through your eyes - as you see them. May I delight in YOU!

CRUNCH TIME

Ever had a time in your life when you felt like it was crunch time. Decisions had to be made...etc. and it just felt like crunch time? Seems we are facing some of this now.

I had a dream last night, actually early morning - we had moved to St. Louis, and I was picking up Angela from her new school. (she was maybe 3rd grade in the dream) She came out holding my hand and bouncing happily. I asked her how school was and she cheerfully said "it was great mom." I woke up to the words, concluding my dream - "I will never leave you or forsake you." This could only have been a reminder that in the midst of big decisions God is right there. Lord, help me to stand strong in this assurance. He has the best in mind for his children; what he knows is the best for them, not what we think is the best.

My mind is a fog because I am tired. So instead of trying to write more I think I'll just go to sleep.

FLYING FREE

So I don't usually post twice in one day but here goes. This morning I decided to go on a bike ride. I took off and headed down 26 mile to the Macomb Orchard Trail. As I was riding down the trail, a smooth and straight path, I had this urge to just let go of the handlebars. I use to ride no handed all the time when I was a kid. I steadied the handle bars, balanced myself, then let go with hands in the air. I felt like I was flying and in that time sensed the words "we will soar on wings of Eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not be faint." I felt a freeness of flying and it was so cool. When God gives us those moments it's so important not to forget them. If I close my eyes I can still feel the freeness of flying.

When we were at a lake this past weekend we saw a hawk soaring above the lake. It kept flying around and around. We noticed that it didn't flap it's wings the entire time we were watching it. That freedom of flight, which appears to have little effort,, is what our life with Christ is meant to be. If I listen to Jesus invitation to just climb aboard and soar with him doing the flying I can just relax for the ride. I can take it all in, breath in his fresh air and wait for the glorious mountain that I will land on. I may fly around mountainous areas that seem a bit scary at times but we will come out on the other side with him still carrying me.

Just close your eyes and enjoy the ride...........(by the way, I was excited to find out when I got home that I rode 6.7 miles, record for me)