It all started innocent enough..... Our sweet cavalier, Homer, is currently enjoying (read with lots of sarcasm inserted) a lovely yeast infection through out most of his body. So for all you non-animal, non-veterinary people this equates to one thing: he is one huge walking ITCH.
Lo and behold 4 a.m. rolls around this morning and what should wake me? Scratch, scratch, scratch. Itch, itch, itch. Nails on the tile, little whimpers, rolling on his back in order get to those out of reach places.
I whisper for him to stop. I snap my fingers. I even shush him, because of course my dog knows exactly what that means. 🙄 In the end, I get up, stumble through the bathroom, brush my teeth and out the door we go for his morning constitution while our other dog, Amante, gives us dirty looks for disturbing her rest on my chaise.
I go into the kitchen to start the coffee because if nothing else, that is a good starting point. Grumbling all the while. Doesn't he know I need to sleep? Doesn't he know I have a very important 8 a.m. meeting? Isn't he aware that I have a long day ahead of me?
Together we walk into my home office, I pick up my bible and study, and plop on the couch. And then my mind clears and I realize. This is exactly what I had just asked/prayed for yesterday!! Duhhhhh.....
Yesterday during day 1 of our Road to Diamond training, our fearless leader Carrie had just reminded us all of the importance of attitude and how that shapes our thoughts, our actions, our days, our life.
God had already started a new work in me in June and each day He is bringing more and more about so that I grow and strengthen in Him. So the reminder Carrie gave was not only encouraging but timely. It is time to renew my mind!!
The trap...the word itself even sounds ominous doesn't it?
I know you must be wondering what it could possibly be; it is something so simple, so innocuous so as to never be given a moments thought until its too late.
Ready for it? Negativity.....
Whew.... now that wasn't so bad was it?
Or is it?? For I can assure you it IS a trap that will sneak up and ensnare you before you even realize it has happened!
Do you know what the problem with negativity is? That it creeps in at the beginning of truly difficult situations and begins to poison our thinking until it is a mainstay of our thoughts rather than the exception.
So this morning I started out grumbling but decided to end it with thankfulness and gratitude instead. I was awake, alert, had plenty of time for my study, coffee, and still had plenty of time left over for meeting prep. So as I sit here typing the lesson that was driven home to me so early this morning, sweet little Homer lies here at my feet snoring away. You just have to smile at the irony of that!!
The succinct version is this: we all have a choice in every situation. We can choose to focus on the bad, or how hard it is, or how unfair, OR OR OR....
OR we can choose to find one thing in all the mess in which to be thankful for. When we so choose, we can begin to turn our thoughts around, turn our mind around, turn our day around, and before you know it, you will discover that joy and peace has crept in to take the place of despair.
So grab a cup of coffee, sit down a minute, and before your day takes off like a horse at the races, find that thing that you can be thankful for....let that be the start of your day.
Hugs to you all.....
Grab those boots and let's get to it!
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
One of THOSE days.....
Did you ever have one of THOSE days? You know the type of day I am talking about. You wake up at 3 a.m. and for some reason sleep is determined to elude you.
You stumble into your day in a bit of a fog trying to suck down enough caffeine to make your brain believe you are fully energized and awake.
You make sure you spend time in God's Word, before running out the door to conquer the world. Well, at least your corner of the work world! <grin>
Then it comes.... first as a slow trickle, then gaining momentum, until by time 6 that night rolls around you are well and truly ensconced in an utter landslide that you have no clue how to get out from under.
You have had a day filled with harsh words, hurtful actions, slammed phones, mis-understood good intentions, people walking away from you, and you just spin from one painful moment to another trying desperately to grasp onto some straw of safety and solace yet not quite able to reach it.
You feel me?
This has well and truly been my day. I pull in my drive and sit at the gated entrance (farm gate silly people.... no rich girl here) and my shoulders are slumped with hurt and feeling as if I am carrying the weight of the world. Get out in the misting rain, open gate, pull car through, close gate, continue on up the drive.
Walk into the house, by pass pets and people, and just head to my little office. My sanctuary. My safe place. What is special about this room? Nothing. Not one thing. Wait, you know what? That isn't true.
There is a desk here, a small sofa, a memento or two but that isn't what I am feeling. Peace..... there is utter peace in this tiny room.
It takes me a minute to figure out why.... and then as I hit my knees I realize.
God inhabits the praise and the prayers of His people. My special little room is where I run to Him, pour my heart out to Him, lay my hurts at His feet, and sing (in quite the off key voice) His praises. So here, I can shut out the noise of the world and I can rest in the presence of my Savior and know that He sees my heart, has himself lived a life of hurt, and can see my innermost thoughts like no other can.
It is with all my heart that I hope and pray you have such a place where you can go and find rest, become strengthened, and rise again knowing that the grace of God will always meet us in our moments of need.
Much love my friends.... Tomorrow promises to arrive and have it's own little agenda but we all can choose to step away and find that moment of peace to stop the madness and walk in His forgiveness and love.
Onwards and upwards with our boots on..... Let's do THIS!
You stumble into your day in a bit of a fog trying to suck down enough caffeine to make your brain believe you are fully energized and awake.
You make sure you spend time in God's Word, before running out the door to conquer the world. Well, at least your corner of the work world! <grin>
Then it comes.... first as a slow trickle, then gaining momentum, until by time 6 that night rolls around you are well and truly ensconced in an utter landslide that you have no clue how to get out from under.
You have had a day filled with harsh words, hurtful actions, slammed phones, mis-understood good intentions, people walking away from you, and you just spin from one painful moment to another trying desperately to grasp onto some straw of safety and solace yet not quite able to reach it.
You feel me?
This has well and truly been my day. I pull in my drive and sit at the gated entrance (farm gate silly people.... no rich girl here) and my shoulders are slumped with hurt and feeling as if I am carrying the weight of the world. Get out in the misting rain, open gate, pull car through, close gate, continue on up the drive.
Walk into the house, by pass pets and people, and just head to my little office. My sanctuary. My safe place. What is special about this room? Nothing. Not one thing. Wait, you know what? That isn't true.
There is a desk here, a small sofa, a memento or two but that isn't what I am feeling. Peace..... there is utter peace in this tiny room.
It takes me a minute to figure out why.... and then as I hit my knees I realize.
God inhabits the praise and the prayers of His people. My special little room is where I run to Him, pour my heart out to Him, lay my hurts at His feet, and sing (in quite the off key voice) His praises. So here, I can shut out the noise of the world and I can rest in the presence of my Savior and know that He sees my heart, has himself lived a life of hurt, and can see my innermost thoughts like no other can.
It is with all my heart that I hope and pray you have such a place where you can go and find rest, become strengthened, and rise again knowing that the grace of God will always meet us in our moments of need.
Much love my friends.... Tomorrow promises to arrive and have it's own little agenda but we all can choose to step away and find that moment of peace to stop the madness and walk in His forgiveness and love.
Onwards and upwards with our boots on..... Let's do THIS!
Monday, November 7, 2016
Delight....
R esist E scape S earch P lead O vertake N ame D elight
Delight in the Lord!!!!
Ps 27:6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Now is the time! Let's celebrate together what just happened. The enemy approached. He brought his worst (as he always does). In Christ, YOU STOOD FIRM.
You defeated him without stumbling, even on ground where you have fallen so often before! You responded with the Word of God. You made it. God did it!! Woot woot!!
Remember, "a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again" Prov 24:16.
Let's remember each and every time to R E S P O N D.
My friends, we are all on this walk called life together. If we will learn to "respond" then the enemy will tempt us less and less because I can promise you that the very last thing he wants to happen is for us to call on Jesus, quote scripture, repent, pray and praise.
Join hands, for there is encouragement to be found here. God is for us and not against us.
So there you have it... the basic tools for our continued growth in our relationship with Christ Jesus and living out His calling in our lives.
Much love to each of you
Delight in the Lord!!!!
Ps 27:6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Now is the time! Let's celebrate together what just happened. The enemy approached. He brought his worst (as he always does). In Christ, YOU STOOD FIRM.
You defeated him without stumbling, even on ground where you have fallen so often before! You responded with the Word of God. You made it. God did it!! Woot woot!!
Remember, "a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again" Prov 24:16.
Let's remember each and every time to R E S P O N D.
My friends, we are all on this walk called life together. If we will learn to "respond" then the enemy will tempt us less and less because I can promise you that the very last thing he wants to happen is for us to call on Jesus, quote scripture, repent, pray and praise.
Join hands, for there is encouragement to be found here. God is for us and not against us.
So there you have it... the basic tools for our continued growth in our relationship with Christ Jesus and living out His calling in our lives.
Much love to each of you
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Call that name!
Here we are.... close to the end....
Resist Escape Search Plead Overtake Name
Ephesians 6:17-19 is where Paul is giving us instruction on the Sword of the Spirit then lets us know that we should get busy praying for others!
First off, I, along with others, have been known to say, "It's the least I can do" when it comes to praying for those around us. WRONG!!! It is the most we can do. To bow before the Throne on behalf of another, remind God of His promises, and come together in the name of Jesus is never the least we can do but instead, is always the very best we can do! So starting now, I am removing that statement from my vocabulary.
Secondly, prayer isn't just helping those you are lifting in prayer but is also helpful for us as well. Instead of continuing to wrestle with a temptation, a lie, or on not sinning, we can refocus and intercede for others.
Prayer allows us to climb off the worry go round and experience the true peace of God that in turn will guard our hearts and our minds. (Phil 4:6-7)
So let's join hearts today and lift up each other and those around us in holy prayer!
March on, my friends, march on.
Resist Escape Search Plead Overtake Name
Ephesians 6:17-19 is where Paul is giving us instruction on the Sword of the Spirit then lets us know that we should get busy praying for others!
First off, I, along with others, have been known to say, "It's the least I can do" when it comes to praying for those around us. WRONG!!! It is the most we can do. To bow before the Throne on behalf of another, remind God of His promises, and come together in the name of Jesus is never the least we can do but instead, is always the very best we can do! So starting now, I am removing that statement from my vocabulary.
Secondly, prayer isn't just helping those you are lifting in prayer but is also helpful for us as well. Instead of continuing to wrestle with a temptation, a lie, or on not sinning, we can refocus and intercede for others.
Prayer allows us to climb off the worry go round and experience the true peace of God that in turn will guard our hearts and our minds. (Phil 4:6-7)
So let's join hearts today and lift up each other and those around us in holy prayer!
March on, my friends, march on.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Overtake.... that which has been given
Resist Escape Search Plead Overtake
In this life we are wrestling so much more than we perceive with our eyes. God warns us that we are wrestling against principalities and powers. (Col 2:15) But do not fear, for it is through the cross that Jesus fully disarmed the power of the enemy. (Col 2:8-15)
The enemy no longer has the bullets but likes to brandish his gun in the hopes of bluffing us into accepting a defeat that isn't ours.
When we choose to sin or believe his lie, then you are yielding control and giving him ground. Wait....don't stop reading there. For we have hope! As we repent and believe the truth, he loses that control.
When we bow in prayer and ask God to be Lord over our lives and to occupy the former areas with His Spirit and Word, then we are bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2Chron 10:5)
When we renew our hearts with His then we are able to love Him with all our hearts, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.
So keep advancing.....Jesus has won the victory all we have to do is choose to stand in it!
Be strong my friends.... though the path may be narrow, it is filled with great peace and joy.
your companion in this walk
In this life we are wrestling so much more than we perceive with our eyes. God warns us that we are wrestling against principalities and powers. (Col 2:15) But do not fear, for it is through the cross that Jesus fully disarmed the power of the enemy. (Col 2:8-15)
The enemy no longer has the bullets but likes to brandish his gun in the hopes of bluffing us into accepting a defeat that isn't ours.
When we choose to sin or believe his lie, then you are yielding control and giving him ground. Wait....don't stop reading there. For we have hope! As we repent and believe the truth, he loses that control.
When we bow in prayer and ask God to be Lord over our lives and to occupy the former areas with His Spirit and Word, then we are bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2Chron 10:5)
When we renew our hearts with His then we are able to love Him with all our hearts, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength.
So keep advancing.....Jesus has won the victory all we have to do is choose to stand in it!
Be strong my friends.... though the path may be narrow, it is filled with great peace and joy.
your companion in this walk
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Appeal by Faith
Resist Escape Search Plead
Our fourth journey is plead. Plead (appeal by faith) the blood of Jesus when we go to Him, admit our sin, and ask for His forgiveness.
We are human and sometimes we allow emotion to tell us a lie that just cannot be true no matter how we let it rule our hearts. God is ALWAYS faithful to forgive us when we ask and to wash us clean.
We must learn to rest in that! Forgiven believers who don't believe they are forgiven, will not act like believers. Does that make sense? What I am saying is this.... if we allow our feelings of failure or apology rule our hearts instead of allowing God's forgiveness to come in and cleanse us, then it is oh so easy to say, "well I messed up already anyways" and continue along a path you really don't want to be on.
God has said you are forgiven, so do not all Him a liar in your heart by believing you are not. Just as the Lord instructed Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15).
Yes we fall and we fail.... I, myself, am rather exceptional at it. But in spite of it all, God loves me, sees my repentant heart, and washes me clean. IF I accept that forgiveness, then He can continue to work in me, grow me, and strengthen me to continue on the path that He has chosen for me.
So remember my friends the very old hymn, there is power in the blood, and pick your head up, smile, and rest in the forgiveness that is yours.
love and hugs to you all.....
Our fourth journey is plead. Plead (appeal by faith) the blood of Jesus when we go to Him, admit our sin, and ask for His forgiveness.
We are human and sometimes we allow emotion to tell us a lie that just cannot be true no matter how we let it rule our hearts. God is ALWAYS faithful to forgive us when we ask and to wash us clean.
We must learn to rest in that! Forgiven believers who don't believe they are forgiven, will not act like believers. Does that make sense? What I am saying is this.... if we allow our feelings of failure or apology rule our hearts instead of allowing God's forgiveness to come in and cleanse us, then it is oh so easy to say, "well I messed up already anyways" and continue along a path you really don't want to be on.
God has said you are forgiven, so do not all Him a liar in your heart by believing you are not. Just as the Lord instructed Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15).
Yes we fall and we fail.... I, myself, am rather exceptional at it. But in spite of it all, God loves me, sees my repentant heart, and washes me clean. IF I accept that forgiveness, then He can continue to work in me, grow me, and strengthen me to continue on the path that He has chosen for me.
So remember my friends the very old hymn, there is power in the blood, and pick your head up, smile, and rest in the forgiveness that is yours.
love and hugs to you all.....
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Looking at Self
Here we go with the third part.....
Resist Escape Search
We must always search out unconfessed sin. Yuccckkk.... can't say I even like how that starts out.
Let's be honest. None of us "likes" to admit any wrong on our part. It isn't pleasant, it doesn't feel good, and we just plain ol' don't like to do it.
I stopped to allow God to be brutally honest with me (not high on my list of favorite activities) and I discovered much about myself. I like to think myself better than I am. Well who doesn't? I much prefer to paint a pretty picture of what I want to believe I am like and what I do than to sit with a humble heart and allow God to hold a mirror to show my true heart.
You know the true heart I am talking about. That place in your heart that you guard and protect. That place that no one, not even your closest friend, husband, family knows of. That place that God and God alone see's.
You know what He is revealing to me? This True Heart is the very seat of my relationship with Him, the core of my faith, the truest measure of my obedience to Him, and the clearest reflection of who I believe I am in Christ.
THIS IS A SCARY PLACE! Not a fearful place but intimidating to allow falsehoods to fall from your eyes, peer deep into your heart through the eyes of One who see's it all and loves you completely not in spite of but rather because of what He alone sees.
Did you see how my mind and nature took me immediately to all the wrong that He would find there? But God see's ALL of me.... ALL of you..... ALL of each of us. The ONLY thing that can separate us is those sins that we allow to go free and not repent of.
So here I sit, taking them out, one by one, ashamed to my core but finding the richest mercy and grace that words cannot explain. As much as my heart longs to share this utter peace, mercy that courses through, I just can't. It can only be experienced. It can only come when we allow ourselves to admit the wrong, turn from it, and give it all to God.
So don't be like me and shrink from God's searching but rather invite Him to come in and search your heart today. Don't waste a minute! Run to Him, and there find healing and rest for your weary heart.
Much love my friends.... so much love for each of you....
Resist Escape Search
We must always search out unconfessed sin. Yuccckkk.... can't say I even like how that starts out.
Let's be honest. None of us "likes" to admit any wrong on our part. It isn't pleasant, it doesn't feel good, and we just plain ol' don't like to do it.
I stopped to allow God to be brutally honest with me (not high on my list of favorite activities) and I discovered much about myself. I like to think myself better than I am. Well who doesn't? I much prefer to paint a pretty picture of what I want to believe I am like and what I do than to sit with a humble heart and allow God to hold a mirror to show my true heart.
You know the true heart I am talking about. That place in your heart that you guard and protect. That place that no one, not even your closest friend, husband, family knows of. That place that God and God alone see's.
You know what He is revealing to me? This True Heart is the very seat of my relationship with Him, the core of my faith, the truest measure of my obedience to Him, and the clearest reflection of who I believe I am in Christ.
THIS IS A SCARY PLACE! Not a fearful place but intimidating to allow falsehoods to fall from your eyes, peer deep into your heart through the eyes of One who see's it all and loves you completely not in spite of but rather because of what He alone sees.
Did you see how my mind and nature took me immediately to all the wrong that He would find there? But God see's ALL of me.... ALL of you..... ALL of each of us. The ONLY thing that can separate us is those sins that we allow to go free and not repent of.
So here I sit, taking them out, one by one, ashamed to my core but finding the richest mercy and grace that words cannot explain. As much as my heart longs to share this utter peace, mercy that courses through, I just can't. It can only be experienced. It can only come when we allow ourselves to admit the wrong, turn from it, and give it all to God.
So don't be like me and shrink from God's searching but rather invite Him to come in and search your heart today. Don't waste a minute! Run to Him, and there find healing and rest for your weary heart.
Much love my friends.... so much love for each of you....
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