The Invitation

You've been invited into a mystery. The mystery of partnering with someone who is a master of what you were created to do. It's much like a parent inviting a toddler to participate in planting flowers or sweeping the floor or changing a tire or building a treehouse. The toddler is thrilled with the invitation because they want to be in the parents presence. They want to be where the parent is. They want to help create whatever delights the parent. Partnership is formed. Partnership implies mutual interest, joint participation, collaboration. Imagine that. God desires to collaborate with YOU! Where is He inviting you to collaborate? Whatever the joint venture, His presence is there waiting for you, calling you, desiring YOUR presence. Just reach out your hand and receive the tool The Master offers. Join the mystery. This is the invitation.

Streaming Waters based on selected verses in Isaiah 43 & 44

God is doing a new thing! It springs up into my spirit, like new blades of plush grass breaking forth through the soil. I can see it. He has made a way in the dry and dusty desert. Look! Over there! Those are STREAMS! STREAMS in the wasteland. Streams water this newly formed grass. It seeps into my spirit. 43:19. Oh thank you Lord for pouring out the streams on this thirsty land and gushing water on this dry ground. In the same way you pour out your Spirit on your children. As water pours forth and is not held back, so you pour... and pour... and pour... your Spirit out of heaven over us. What a blessing water is to thirsty ground. What a blessing your Spirit bestows. 44:3 I belong to you. I am Jacob. I will write, "The Lord's" on my hand for all to see. I accept your name. 44:5

Resurrecting Powerless Praise

Praise has seen me through many trials. It carried me through a child's cancer. It ministered to me through several cross country moves. It even fought battles I never thought I'd win. Yet, I find myself with a drawn but downcast sword. I try to praise, but it seems empty. I step into obedience and words tumble out of my mouth, but they have no power. I stand in the middle of a battlefield without a voice. Silence echoes through the land.
Just as I give up hope, a gentle breeze blows across my face. With the breath something in my spirit rises! Gratefulness bursts forth and tumbles onto my path. A glimmer of hope dances across my sword. I pick up a handful of dust and give thanks for the place in which I stand. My praise is still powerless, but gratefulness may be the key to unleashing a mighty resurrection. A new strategy emerges. Gratitude begins to take hold. This is where I can rest. All of a sudden I see that I am standing on Holy ground.

My Passion

I LOVE to make women cry! Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” And Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply- how good is a timely word!” Finally, Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” You see an apt word is a powerful thing! It has the power to bring life, healing, restoration, repentance, and relief! An apt word can make women cry!

The only way to have that apt word is through having an ear tuned to the Sovereign Lord! When my ear is tuned closely with Him all I have to do is listen and speak, listen and speak, listen and speak. When I am listening, I am in His presence, when I speak what I hear I bring others into HIS presence! Being in HIS presence makes women cry!

God is a redemptive God! He redeems everything! I believe God has redeemed the apple! In the Garden it was THE thing that led to death. In Proverbs it’s THE thing that leads to life. The apple is no longer associated with decay. It is now golden!

We were told last week that as you move up in leadership you may have to give away the thing you love to do. I don’t want to give up making women cry. That is something I want to cling to, but if giving it away mulitiplies life then I am willing to surrender my apple of gold to you! So ladies, lift up your hands. “Lord, here are your women! It is an honor to place apples of gold in settings of silver into their hands. May their ears be so tuned to you that out of their mouths spill apt words! May they go out into the world and make women cry because they have brought your presence to them! Amen.”

Os Guiness shares a story of someone who wrote out their epithat while still fully living. I have done the same. I want mine to say, “In life she made me cry: In death, I’m rejoicing!” Either way, it epitomizes being in the Lords presence!

"You've Got To Want It!"

Those words out of the mouth of a 5 time Olympian to my student athlete are still resonating within me two days later! "YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT!" Those are wise words for more than athletes. Paul, from the Bible says we should all train as an athlete running for the prize!

What the Olympian said in my home on Christmas Eve is lifting my eyes to the horizon of New Years Eve. They are asking ME "What do you want that badly this coming year?"

The answer my heart gives is that I want more of the Lord in my life! I want to hear HIM more, I want to experience HIM more, and I want to be more like HIM!

Our church suggested that we corporately begin the New Year with a 21 day fast. Fast from whatever the Lord tells us to fast from, while reminding us that as we deny ourselves from something we also devote ourselves to something. This sounds a lot like training to me: twenty-one days of intensive focus for wanting something! Some want financial freedom, some want healthier eating habits, while others want healing and restoration in relationships.

What do YOU want?

I know how I will spend my 21 days of training for the New Year! I am denying myself sleep and devoting myself to being in the Lords presence each morning! I have to train myself to set my alarm much earlier than I ever would, however I am anticipating more of the Lord than I normally would receive without the training!

How will you begin your New Year?

Why not allow the wisdom of an Olympian who continues to train athletes for their moment of receiving their reward to resonate? You've just got to want it!

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:4-24-25
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Painting with Fire

So this one is for my teen girls out there! Those that love all things art...and those that I love! Have I told you how much you mean to me? It's so fun bowing before the Lord with you!

I painted with fire last week. It was AWESOME! The fire brought out the pattern of the wood. Without the fire the wood just looked like boring wood. But then the torch touched the surface and all of a sudden COLOR APPEARED!!! It was brown color and so beautiful. It had varying hues of brown. The colored DANCED! REALLY! It travelled in one direction of wood grain and then all of a sudden there was a twist in the grain and the color moved abruptly following the twist.

What are you following? Are you just going down the path not really making your own decisions? Are you following someone elses decision for you? It's ok to follow someone elses decision as long as it doesn't go against what the Lord is wanting you to do. But what is The Lord wanting YOU to do? Are you asking HIM? Are you allowing yourself to be the grain of wood that the fire of the Lord can travel down?

I've been thinking a lot about my own life and decision making. It's funny, but there have been several very difficult decisions I've had to make in the last several years where others have misinterpreted the motive behind my decision. That didn't feel good! Recently, the Lord has been showing me that my heart intentions were pure. That I didn't base my decision on someone else, or in anger, or on some faulty foundation. But I had made my decision based upon conviction from the Lord. HE is trying to show me that decisions based upon Godly conviction honors HIM! And you know what? Honoring and worshiping The King of Kings is really all I ever want to do!!!!

How about you? You want to honor The King with me? Then start making your decisions based upon Godly convictions! You may not always please people with your decision...but you will definitely please the Lord!

I love you girl and I'm praying for you! oh...btw...please don't paint with fire without your parents permission. In fact, let's just do that in art class...k?

Performance Painting

Hey, if you want a moment to worship then go to this link and sit back and enjoy being in the Lord's presence! I loved being in His presence as I painted! Have an awesome day!

HERE'S THE LINK:

http://vimeo.com/1797430

Disappointment is not Devastation

When your eyes are set fully on the hope of Christ, disappointment does not bring forth devastation. It is only when you have set your hopes in something OTHER than Christ that disappointment can turn to devastation.
For example, let's say you have an amazing idea that you want to pitch to someone. You're sure the Lord is behind it, you have clarity and enthusiasm! You pitch your idea and the idea is met with a door slammed in your face.
Now comes the moment of truth! You come home completely disappointed, yet, you still believe in the call you heard The Lord give you. The closed door does not steal your belief in moving forward with your idea, it only alters the direction. You find you are not devastated. That's because your hope is set fully in Christ...not in the idea or in the person slamming the door. You continue to move forward seeking the face of God and the new opportunity He is bound to place before you! You continue on in faith...believing in what you can't see!

Keep marching, Sweet Warrior! Never give up what God has placed within!

My Fathers Voice

I reached for my Daily Bible this morning and said to the Lord, "I want to hear from you today, Lord. I need to hear you!!! I long to hear you!!!!!"

I opened to today's date to see what The Lord wanted to share!

As the pages fell open, right smack in the middle of today's reading was a sticky note from my Dad! It said, "God loves you and so do Mom and me! Love, Dad"

The note was dated a year ago. He snuck it into my Bible reading knowing that I would find it a year later.

"Thank you Lord, for the gift of hearing my earthly fathers voice! He allowed me to hear YOUR voice! YOU love me and so does my Dad!"

*Note to any reader of this blog: my Dad lives thousands of miles away which made it even sweeter to find his note this morning!

Immediate Answer!

I was reading the story of Elijah and Ahab today and I noticed something I had never thought about. It was the part where Elijah challenges Ahab's prophets to a duel: 400 prophets danced for fire to rain down on their sacrifice all day verses 1 man of God (Elijah) calling upon the Lord for fire to burn the sacrifice. Something struck me as Elijah prayed to God. God immediately answered Elijah's prayer! God burned up the sacrifice plus the wood plus the water that had been poured upon the whole thing. God exceedingly abundantly answered Elijah's prayer IMMEDIATELY when he asked! If you keep reading that passage, you'll see the very next thing Elijah does is to pray for rain! Due to the overwhelming response of God Elijah had just experienced, I would expect that praying for rain would be just as easy, if not easier, than praying for fire to fall from the sky. That's not the case. Scripture says that Elijah prayed for a while. He sent his servant to look for a rain cloud 7 times! This time Elijah's prayer was not answered immediately! It was the same Elijah praying and the same God he prayed to, yet, God chose not to answer immediately!
Has that ever happened to you? One day you see God move in amazing ways as he answers your prayers and other days you're left waiting wondering if He hears you at all. This is the very place where I have been struggling. This passage reminds me to praise the Lord when He answers my prayers immediately and to remain faithful when my prayers seem to go unanswered.
Think of one of your prayers which seems to have gone unanswered but you're still praying anyway. Remind yourself that the servant was asked to look in the distance for any sign of rain. Seven times he did not see anything, BUT Elijah kept on praying in faith! So keep praying you never know when God will bring your answer to the horizon, "even if it looks as small as a mans hand!" Get up and rejoice! Showers of blessing are just ahead!

His Pasture!

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3

Think on this!!! We are the sheep of HIS pasture!!!!! We are in God's pasture!!! We are not in the pasture of the enemy!!!! We are in HIS pasture!!!!! There are fences around it...boundaries around it...HE rules it....HE has authority over it and HE is the gate keeper!!!!! Let's dance in HIS pasture today!!!! There is no fear in this pasture!!!!! Love abounds here instead!!!!

Anyone want to roll down the hill with me into the meadow next to the quiet waters?

Here's a thought to meditate on!

It is out of the relationship with Jesus that everything else flows!

I have recently been reminded of this as I have had to look at the pride that was causing my heart to be hardened! My heart was hardened to the relational aspect of living life with Jesus moment to moment!

That's all...just something to ponder!!! Is your relationship with Jesus intimate and tender?

Dwelling Meets Dwelling

I was thinking about the Old Testament and how God resided in His Holy Dwelling-the Temple. It was the place where God chose to settle among His people. Especially if you look at the life of Moses or David or Solomon. Consistently God's presence settled in the Holy of Holies.

I then started thinking about the New Testament and how WE, people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are also a temple where the Lord Himself has chosen to settle and reside. We are His dwelling place!

Finally, I started thinking about the Church! The church should be a place where Dwelling meets Dwelling!!! The church should be the place where God meets people and people experience God! It should be a place where lives are supernaturally impacted by being in the presence of a living God!

It makes me wonder that if supernatural transformation is not happening within your church then is your church a place that allows the Lord to fully reside in it's dwelling? If not, I would strongly urge you to begin asking the Lord if there is any sin residing within the walls of the church that has chased away the settling of His presence!

It's time to wake up and start cleaning up our personal "Temples" as well as our corporate "Temples"! I truly believe that God desires to have the church be a place where Dwelling can meet Dwelling!!!

The Dry Erase Board

Here is a question to ask the Lord:

"Lord, what do YOU want me to do with my life? What will bless YOU?"

Next, WAIT for HIS response! It may come in the form of a still small quiet voice, or perhaps an opportunity will arise that you could never have thought up for yourself!

Think of a dry erase board. Up on that board are things you've drawn up that you have wanted to do! Things you've longed to do! Things you are gifted in doing!

Erase that board.

Step back.

Put down the marker.

And ask:

"Lord, what do YOU want me to do with my life? What will bless YOU?"

He's getting ready to draw HIS picture for your life right now! It may look exactly like what you had already drawn! OR it may look completely different but still have the essence of what you had on that board!


Either way...now you can live a life that blesses HIM! You are free to live a life of WORSHIP!!!!

This one is for all the Mom's out there!

While making dinner tonight, my thirteen year old daughter was sitting nearby doing her homework. I felt led to keep myself in the kitchen where she could hear me and see me (although I had many other things to do in other rooms). While busying my hands with mundane tasks, I was talking with the Lord in my head. I was asking Him things like, "Does it really matter that I am in the same room with her?" "Should I be having a deep discussion with her?" "Is there something that I need to DO?"

My mind then went to the times when I am quiet in the Lord's presence. Those times when I make myself still and just sit in His presence! I LOVE those times. No words or worries are exchanged. It's just wonderful to imagine HIM near me! I savor those times! Much like the times I loved to be in the college library studying with my then boyfriend (now husband). We didn't talk at all. It was just wonderful to know that he was near.

The Lord interrupted my thoughts and I sensed that He was saying, "I value and appreciate what you DO! This being in the same room with your daughter IS valuable to me! It is of great worth!"

I then thought of the little daily tasks that I do every day that no one notices or mentions. I sensed that The King of Kings was saying, "I value and appreciate those things as well! They do not go unnoticed to ME!"

I then thought back to a time when I was a young girl. No one had cleaned a pot of corn that had been on the stove. I kept noticing that pot of corn! No one else did! Finally I threw a teen tantrum and cleaned it! Anger flew out of my mouth as my hands worked the task! As I replayed the scene in my head, I heard in my Spirit, "I valued and appreciated you cleaning that pot of corn!"

Tomorrow is Valentines Day! I just want those moms out there to know that your Abba, Father values and appreciates all that you do!!! HE sees it all!! Nothing goes unnoticed!!!

There is this little line in Genesis 16 that states, "You are the God who sees me!"

I think HE wants you to know that:
HE sees YOU!!! HE values YOU!!!! HE appreciates YOU!!! And all those things you DO!

Finding God

As a kid I found God in nature all the time! I loved to look up to the sky and talk to God! I would enjoy the feel of mudpies between my fingers and my thoughts would be so focused on the sensory delights! I would swing and let the breeze blow against my cheeks as I tried my best to pump my swing over the top of the swing set! Sticks and rocks and pinecones were the best playmates! I would lay still in the grass beneath towering trees and watch them move back and forth in the wind. I would decide what object the clouds looked like and then I would flip myself over and look at the flickering shade created by the sun and trees that were raining down on my back.
Most of my summer days were spent in exploration and discovery of all God created and it was just out the back door!

"Thank you God for where you allowed me to grow up! That place shaped me into who I am today! AND you were there! Even when I didn't know your son! YOU were there and I was searching for you!"

Where did you look for God as a kid? Where are you looking for Him now?
-------Original Message-------

Psalm 63:7

“For you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.” NASB

Lord, we dwell in the Shelter of the Most High and because of that we can rest in the shadow of the Almighty!

Pause and reflect on that truth from Psalm 91:1!

Ask HIM if there is any place that you are not dwelling in HIS shelter and then wait for HIM to reveal any place where your foot may not be stepping in HIS “nest”! If HE brings something to your mind be quick to confess it and ask for forgiveness.

Lord, you have been my help!

Thank HIM for specific ways in which HE has helped you in the past! It can be things from this week or from years gone by! Remember we are still thanking HIM for allowing the Israelites to pass through dry ground when HE parted the seas! It’s is an awesome thing to continually thank HIM for past “markers” in your life!

Since we are moving about under the shadow of YOUR mighty wings…

What does that look like in your life? Can you see yourself moving about with a huge shadow over your head! That shadow protected the Israelites from the intense heat through the desert! HIS shadow, HIS wings, protects us as we move into unchartered territories! This is our rightful position as HIS children!

Since we are moving about under the shadow of YOUR MIGHTY wings, we can sing for joy!

Joy, in the orginal Hebrew is Ranan (pronounced Raw-nan’). It means to cry out, to shout for joy, to give a ringing cry, to cry out in praise!

Now, imagine yourself walking about under the protective wing covering of The Almighty shouting out in praise! Singing out a song of victory BEFORE you get to your destination AS you are walking to your destination!!!

Lord, it is in this unified spirit that we march into land that you have led us to walk upon! YOU have been our help in the past, you protect us, and in response we sing for joy! Amen and Amen!

Bowing Before Taking on the Mountain

I have to confess, my eyes fell off of Jesus this week…AGAIN!!!! My eyes fell off of HIM and onto my worries and concerns! I think I walked this way for several days before I realized what had happened. The only way I realized that my eyes had gotten off of HIM and onto ME was that my attitude began to stink. It began to stink so much that I could smell myself! I have two teenage football players and they never know they stink after practice until it’s really, really bad! Typically they only notice it when their belongings have remained zipped up in their bags for several days! That’s how badly I think I stunk!!!!
Looking back, I realize that I was irritable, I laughed a whole lot less, I was quick to speak, slow to listen and quickly got angry, (doesn’t James say to do that the other way around? “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry!” James 1:19) My eyes were off of The Savior of my soul and consequently my soul began to sour!
When I finally realized what had happened, I had to confess and repent of my bad attitude and actions, however, I found myself following up my confession with the word, “BUT”! “…But, God, you know I am worried about this thing….” “But, Lord, I am tired of waiting…” “But, Father, I can’t…” What I found rising up within me was not peace, BUT anger! I was angry that things weren’t the way that I wanted them to be! I was angry that my situation had not budged even though I was doing all the right things, saying all the right prayers, and walking all the right paths! Frustration finally spewed out of me and onto Jesus as I shouted out in prayer, “BUT, GOD, SOMETHING SHOULD CHANGE!!!! MY SITUATION SHOULD CHANGE!!!!”
You know what I heard? …Nothing! Silence! No response what-so-ever from the King of Kings! AND I didn’t hang around long enough to wait out the stillness to see if there would be a reply! I was fed up!
What fascinates me is that something began to melt in my heart as I poured honesty upon Jesus’ feet! Although it wasn’t sweet smelling, allowing my true emotions to spill out of me and onto Him seemed to awaken hope deep inside of me! As I walked away from the scene, I looked back over my shoulder and finally Jesus came back into view!!!! I ran back to Him and realized that the “BUTS” were all about “ME”! My eyes were on ME! They had fallen off of HIM!!!! True repentance began to take shape in my heart where hardness had reigned just moments before!
As I think of Santa Fe, I realize that there is a possibility that after all of the prayer things may not change; the situation may remain as it is. I also know that there are others who would say, “We just need to speak to this mountain and it will move!” I think back to 8 years ago when I was told that my one year old baby had cancer. Before the surgery, I couldn’t speak to the mountain! I could only surrender my baby into the arms of the One that I trusted! I realize today that THAT moment, was an intense time of worship! I told The Lord, “Whatever you choose…if you choose to keep my baby on earth with me, or if you choose to take him to be with you in heaven or anything else in between, it’s all ok with me, because I trust You!” I was telling the King of Kings that no matter what happened, I would continue to worship HIM! I laid MY concerns aside, so I could lift HIM up!
Standing before this Santa Fe mountain, I am choosing to do the same thing! I want God to know that I will worship HIM no matter how things turn out. If God chooses to breathe new life into this area of ministry, or if He chooses to close it down, I will worship Him!!!!
So, ladies, I have to turn around and ask each of you: Will you worship Him with me no matter how it turns out? Will you lay your own concerns aside so that you can lift Him up? Will you walk your heart through the process of resetting your eyes on Him? Will you join me in worshipping Him now on this side of the mountain not knowing how things will turn out on the other side? Will you surrender your baby into The Everlasting Arms? If so, let us worship Him together, not for what He does but for who He is! May we bow as one before “I AM”!
Oh, and as we put our faces to the ground, I just want you to know that my son is nine now and healthy as ever! Praise be to God!

Thanksgiving leads to Peace!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7

This verse has an amazing Thanksgiving to Christmas transition! It says, “…with THANKSGIVING, (present your request to God.) And the PEACE of God (will guard your hearts and minds…)” I am asking that the Lord will guard your hearts and minds with HIS peace as you do your part in thanking HIM for all HE has and has not given!

Several years back I found myself in yet another difficult life challenge! During that time I committed to writing down one thing I was thankful for every day for 30 days! At first, I struggled to find things for which to be thankful. Some days I could only thank God for the 5 minutes of quiet in my day. Other days, with an ungrateful heart I thanked God for the weather. However, slowly, my attitude began to change; it began to infiltrate my heart! Suddenly the peace of God took over and my mind and heart were guarded against the stench which had been residing within.

In whatever situation you find yourself as you read this, I challenge you to thank God! Thank Him for the fact that you got out of bed today! Thank Him for the computer that is before you! Thank Him for whatever little ole thing you can muster up! Then do it again…and again…and again!!!!! Soon, you too will experience peace of heart and mind! I don’t understand how it happens; I just know that it does! God’s Word declares it! Go on, Sweet Sister; go find an ant to thank God for! Soon you’ll be thanking Him for the mountains- even if they are what stand in your way!!!! To HIM be the glory!!!

Fragrance

On my walk this morning, I rounded a corner when all of a sudden a beautiful fragrance captured my full attention. Curious, I slowed down and looked around to see what could possibly smell so wonderful. At the very back of a garden wall I spied a group of Petunias snuggled together! They were few in number but their aroma was powerful and alluring. My mind immediately went to the Scipture that says, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” 2 Cor 2:15-16a

Those who have Christ in their lives ARE a fragrance! The fragrance doesn’t dissipate as we move among those who don’t know Christ. We carry the smell of Christ wherever we go! However, those who are lost are either captivated by the fragrance or repulsed by the odor!

This week, I want you to know that you smell! Though few in numbers, your fragrance is noticed, even as you huddle together at the back of the garden! BUT there’s another part to the Scripture I want us to focus on! The section in 2 Corinthians begins with, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Cor 2:14

Soon it will be time to leave the back of the garden and start walking again. I thank God that HE will lead you each in a trimphal procession! I see you throwing Petunias from your basket wherever you go. Some will follow those petals to you and will gain “a knowledge of HIM”. Others will side step those petals! Your job is to throw them with abandon as you step into that triumphal procession! The scene reminds me of the time that King David danced with all of his heart as he led the procession of the Ark back into Jerusalem. His wife looked down on him with contempt, but others joined in the celebration! He was an aroma that others could smell!

Let’s remember that we smell! Let’s begin to dance! Let’s trust God to lead us in triumphal processions! We are the fragrance of LIFE!!! I’m breathing deeply! I’m captivated by your fragrance!