~ SERVE WHEREVER YOU ARE ~

A few weeks ago, my mom was in town visiting us from Texas... One afternoon she and I went out to eat for lunch... It was a B E A U T I F U L day so we decided to eat outside...

While we were sitting there enjoying each other's company, we hear a *CRASH* and my mom freaked out because someone had just run into my car... So, I got my purse and walked over there to get the whole process started..

This lady who is probably in her 60's asked a person walking by if it was their car, and I said, "No, it is mine." We looked at the back of my car and the fender was dented in pretty good, but not a big deal... She just keep saying over and over again how sorry she was and was visibly VERY upset... And I am thinking "There is more to this than just this little crash." She started crying and I said, "it is okay!" I grabbed her arms and said it again, to reassure her... She cried harder and we embraced in a tight hug... All I could do was hold her and let her cry...

She finally started to tell me her story... She had been in town caring for her sister who was in hospice... They said it would not be long, and she decided to go home and rest for a few days and come back.. She said that she saw the bakery that we were eating at and stopped because she knew her husband would enjoy the cookies... She got the cookies and was backing out to head home {2.5-3hrs. away} when she crashed into my car... She said, "this is the first time I have let myself cry". And I said, "it is ok.."

We embraced again and I asked her if I could pray for her, and she let me...

After we did everything we needed to do, she said, "I know the Lord let me hit you." And I knew He did too... The Lord knows what we need when we need it, and she needed to cry and have SOMEONE listen to her and hold her, and HE did... {We are His hands and feet.}

I looked at the dent later and said to my mom, "look it is shaped like a heart!".... {I wish I had gotten a picture of it!}

I have had people ask me at different times, "Are you serving?" Because they do not know if I am or not... And my response is, "I serve, you just don't know about it.." I serve as the Lord leads... But, I think that sometimes people think that you have to serve in the four walls of the church to be serving... I disagree... I say "SERVE WHERE YOU ARE...!"

~ Attitude is Everything ~

Philippians 4:11b, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…

”There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

{The road you are traveling may be difficult and even heartbreaking. These seasons of life are inevitable. Yet, how we respond makes a tremendous difference. We can ask for God’s strength to help us. We can choose the attitudes we live by, even on our darkest day.~Leslie Snyder}

* The Normal Christian Life *

"For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
1 Cor. 4:20 NKJV


It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for the impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus.

The lack of miracles isn't because it is not in God's will for us. The problem exists between our ears. As a result, a transformation, a renewing of the mind, is needed, and it's only possible through a work of the Holy Spirit that typically comes upon desperate people.

Stories of the impossible are becoming the norm, and the company of people who have joined this quest for an authentic gospel, the gospel of the Kingdom, is increasing. Loving God and His people is an honor. We will no longer make up excuses for powerlessness because powerlessness is inexcusable. Our mandate is simple: raise up a generation that can openly display the raw power of God.



Excerpts from When Heaven Invades Earth chapter 1
by Bill Johnson
Destiny Image Publishers

~ Real Life Chronicles ~ {I Stand in Awe}

{Holding my precious 1st born in August 1995}

I don't even know where to begin... I am in complete and utter awe today... The Lord has just blessed me more than I could even ever wish for or deserve...

I am getting another second chance...

If you have followed my blog at all you know that I have written about how the Lord delivered me from drugs and alcohol in June 2004...

Some months before that my son's father came back into his life, after being gone for 3 years.

When his dad came back, I let them see each other... I let his dad have another chance with Trent...

In February 2004 Trent was 7 years old and was not happy about me disciplining him, and told me he wanted to go live with his dad.. I was a functioning alcoholic at that point, but when Trent left, I went ahead and hit bottom... Bad...

Then in June, four months later the Lord saved and delivered me from drugs and alcohol.. You can read about it HERE

It has been a hard, hard, hard, gut-wrentching road not having my baby with me on a daily basis... All I ever wanted was to have a family and be a mommy... It has been humbling, and I even now see how the Lord was restoring time to his dad, even when he did not deserve it... I judged him for being out of the picture, and judged my parents for the things they did. I learned how to forgive him and my parents...

I thought on Thursday that I was going to be sending him back off to Texas, but everything changed... Trent told me that he wanted to move here, and start school here in the fall...

So we talked about it, and talked to his dad and the decision has been made...

He is coming home...



I don't even know what to say... I get another second chance... I don't deserve it, but I am going to receive this blessing, and soak it up... I am in awe... The Lord has taught me so much in this time... 7 years is a long season, but it is over and a new one is beginning... I am humbled and overjoyed, and so... in... awe...

Thank You Father... thank You...

Joel 2:25: And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten--the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust.....

Psalm 103:1~5: Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

~ History Makers ~ By Kris Vallotton

Every so often in the course of history there are individuals born who defy common reason and statistical explanation. These are the great ones, who break the tether of their generation’s expectations and rise to the high call that seems to echo from somewhere beyond the grave.

The prophets of old peered into the future and spoke of these violent ones who would force their way into the Kingdom, take hold of Heaven and pull it down to earth. These reigning saints refuse to have their exploits be a mere reflection of the past, but instead break the gravitational barriers of naysayers and doubters, and journey far beyond the boundaries of reason into places where no one has ever gone before. Ultimately they capture the prize of the upward call of God that lies in Christ Jesus. These are God’s history makers, the Lord’s chosen people, His mighty men, His holy nation.

Many of us can feel the vacuum of this vortex drawing our hearts into this divine destiny. We find our inner man longing, stirring, and burning for the great adventure. Live or die, we must press through the walls of mediocrity and find the Promised Land of our souls. We live with a passion to be numbered among those who have gained fame in the halls of Heaven and are feared among the prison guards of hell. If we are going to walk as God’s ruling royalty, we have to:

➢ Pray unceasingly

➢ Give sacrificially

➢ Dream unreasonably

➢ Serve wholeheartedly

➢ Love unashamedly

➢ Walk innocently

➢ Believe undoubtingly

➢ Live powerfully

These are the qualities of the Bride of Christ in all of her glory. She is called to be the most creative force on the face of the earth. Therefore, we must not allow ourselves to become known for our boxes, that is, famous for what we don’t do because of our “righteous”constrictions. Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin had certain moral values that restrained their behavior, but they were famous for what they did, not for what they didn’t do! It would be tragic if the most creative people on the face of the earth allowed themselves to be reduced to rent-a-cops guarding a box (The Ark of the Covenant) that God vacated 2,000 years ago.

The truth is that if we don’t take our rightful place in the earth, we will relegate sinners, void of the mind of Christ, barred from the wisdom of the ages, and wandering in utter darkness, to being the most brilliant minds of our time! If the brightest light in this world belonged to those locked in darkness, how great would the darkness be in our world? Something is fundamentally wrong with this picture, but this is our brain on religion. Religion is like kryptonite to Superman. Religion can conform the most righteous, reigning saints into mindless zombies, puppets repeating someone else’s convictions they don’t even understand themselves.

Attack Of The Clones

I am convinced that religion is the father of genetic cloning. Religion invented cloning long before the world ever thought of it. Religion has a way of sucking the most powerful people on the planet into a spiritual look-a-like contest, calling it discipleship. True discipleship is meant to empower people to be transformed into the image of their Creator, but religion redefines the terms, conforming people into replicas of their leaders. Religion takes God’s mighty men and makes them artifacts in a museum.

Religious people, like the Pharisees of old, have the hardest time reaching out to folks who think “outside of the box” and don’t behave inside their hopeless shackles. Part of the struggle comes from what they have done to the Savior of the world. They have sterilized the gospel. Jesus took water and turned it to wine, but 2,000 years later, today’s Pharisees have diluted it to grape juice. Religion has reduced the supernatural power of God to a history lesson about serving the dead body of a helpless Christ who, still nailed to the Cross, is incapable of rocking their sacred boat. They emphasize the drowning of baptism, arguing over how people should get wet and what should be said over them during their dipping. Religious people have lost touch with the fact that the bold print of baptism is not on the descent but on the ascension. The death of Christ paid for our sins, but it was His resurrection that gave life to our mortal bodies. Religion embraces death sadistically and moves the risen Christ out of the garden and back to the tomb. Religious people pray things like “God, kill me,” not realizing that even the One who came to give His life as a ransom for us all prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup (of death) from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus did not want to die; He wanted to do His Father’s will. If religion had its way, it would rewrite Mary’s proclamation to read, “He is in the tomb just where we laid Him!” We have lost sight of the fact that the Cross was for the old man not the new man, and that the true Christian life is not about dying for Christ, but living in the life He purchased for us to establish His Kingdom on earth! The Church must shake off the shackles of religion and embrace our supernatural destiny.

Our Commission

The world is crying out in distress, and we must not miss this kairos moment, the opportunity of the ages. In the late sixties, the Beatles took America by storm. In a few short years, four boys from Liverpool altered the course of our nation’s history. Soon after, the world was swept into the wake of their anointing—all while they were singing “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” But it wasn’t long before the Fab Four started to experience a crisis in their own souls. They began to cry out in desperation, singing,

Help, I need somebody
Help, not just anybody
Help, you know I need someone, help

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody’s help in any way.
But now those days are gone, I’m not so self-assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ‘round
Help me get my feet back on the ground.
Won’t you please, please help me
Help me, help me, ooh.

But their cry for help fell on deaf ears in the sanctuary of hope, and soon they were calling Hare Krishna their “sweet lord.” The Church can’t afford to fall asleep in the harvest today as we have done so many times in the past. We are not supposed to reflect our culture; we are commissioned to transform it.

We are called to disciple all the nations of the world. Discipling nations means submerging them in God—not religion—and “teaching them all I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Teaching nations how to think is the transformational catalyst to changing cultures. But as long as Christians aren’t valued in society, they will have no influence in the world. (You only have as much influence in people’s lives as they have value for you. Anytime you try to have more influence than someone has value for you, you will manipulate them.) It is imperative that we become kings who understand the ways royal people influence authority. Otherwise, we will reduce ourselves to social begging, hoping that the BIG, powerful people feel compassion for us and help our cause. This poisonous poverty mindset reduces the Christian message to a cry for help instead of a call for leadership. We don’t need nations to change for our sake. We have a living, abiding, unshakable Kingdom that dwells within us and prospers under all circumstances. We need the nations to change for the sake of those still lost in darkness. They need the culture around them to create a safe environment for them until they get the Kingdom within them.

This cultural begging has relegated the Kingdom of God to a subculture. God never intended Christianity to be a subculture. Subcultures are those cultures that are subservient to a more powerful culture. The world’s commentary on the first century Church reflects the true influence we are meant to have in society. They proclaimed, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6 NKJV). We are called to turn the world around and set it back on its feet again. We are to be counter-culture until the mindset of the nations begins to take on the attitude of the Kingdom. Christians are not subservient to the world because God has assigned us the highest level of authority that exists on this planet. When Christians lose their desire and courage to confront the evils of our day honorably, we begin to be influenced by the lying principalities that are also commissioned to disciple the nations, but with an antichrist agenda. These demonic forces work to dethrone the Prince of Peace, who is the rightful prince of the principles that make societies prosper, and instead enthrone the prince of darkness. Consequently, the enabling principles of a culture become demonically inspired instead of Kingdom in-Spirited. This dark prince works to establish evil thinking that leads to destructive behaviors. But when Jesus rules, He enables the principles of the King to transform the culture through the mind of Christ. In other words, people in a nation governed by the Kingdom begin to think like God!

However, it is important that we learn how to carry His power and authority. If we believers become combative instead of honorably confronting, we will reduce our influence to the small pond of the church and render ourselves powerless in the ocean of humanity. We are to carry God’s authority into the lives of people and nations through invitation, not through intrusion or invasion. Although we are called to be combative to the powers of darkness, we are to be honorably confronting to people, demonstrating the benefits and rewards of a superior Kingdom.

~ Leaving a Legacy ~

The other day my husband was going to work out in the yard. My youngest Drake asks: "Can I help?" Steve says: "Sure buddy.."

So they got out there and started working away... together...

I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of the process, and thought about how sweet it was to see them working together... Here are a few shots...

*




*

I did not think much of it, but then the next day Drake asks if there is anything that he could help his dad do in the yard again.. Then he says: "I am an outdoor kinda guy.."

They go outside again, then Drake decides he wants to build something. He grabs some wood, nails and a hammer... And asks his dad for some help... Steve stopped the work he was doing to go help Drakester.. I am washing the dishes and could see what was going on, and thinking how precious it is to see my husband and my son working on something together {they are best friends so this is nothing new, just so precious to my heart}... I felt like the Lord whispered to my heart: "He is building a legacy.."

{I grew up without a dad, and Steve had a dad, but his dad was not really there in a way that children need their daddy's...}

There were so many things that ran through my heart and mind... Steve could be doing so many other things but he was investing time and building intimacy with his son, but not only that, I knew that this investment of time would affect our grandchildren and great grandchildren and so on... He is building a legacy and it will affect generations, that I believe can affect the culture... And it has to start at home...

I started to cry thinking about how the Lord has redeemed so much in our lives, and how very thankful I am... I prayed for any future boys in our family, that they would leave a legacy for their children in that way too...

Steve and I grew up without the Lord in our lives or our families lives, but He is so faithful and captured our hearts...

The picture below made me think of how the Lord got a hold of us, and we stood up and said "yes" to the Lord... And how because of Jesus and what He did on the cross and Him giving us the love and tools we need, ~the old, dead roots of the past are being pulled up!

Isaiah 58:12: Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 61:4: They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Nehemiah 2:18: I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

The Breaking Process by Jentzen Franklin

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done." Mt 6:10 NKJV

In the breaking process God's intention is not to destroy your will, but redirect it; not to rob you of self-worth, but to let you see that He is the source of your worth. Gideon's three hundred soldiers had to break their pitchers, which made them vulnerable to attack, before the light within them could shine out and the enemy be defeated (See Jdg 7). Elisha had to break his plow, which represented his financial security, before he could qualify for a double portion of God's Spirit (See 1Ki 19:19-21). Mary had to break her alabaster box, which represented her dowry and hope for marriage, in order to receive Christ's highest commendation (See Mk 14:3-9). Brokenness is costly; it happens in stages. Stage 1: Repentance. After his affair with Bathsheba David prayed, "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit" (Ps 51:17 NLT). Stage 2: Discipline. "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1Co 9:27 NKJV). Stage 3: Intimacy. You love prayer and God's Word because you "connect" with Him through them. But you'll have to fight the distractions around you to get to the place of intimacy, and fight the carnality within you to stay there. The real issue in brokenness is-submitting to God's control. Dick Rasanen writes: "Dear God, I find it so easy to try to be the one in charge. I find it so painful to realize that I am not the one in control. Help me to know when saying ‘I just work here' it's a confession, and not just a way of evading responsibility."

~ Testimony Tuesday ~

I have not done one of these in awhile... And there are soooo many testimonies lately that I could do... I love hearing people's testimonies.. It builds my faith soooo much... PLUS: {Revelation 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony}...

Anyway~ The Lord has really been speaking to me about something over and over and over... It is crazy, because I feel like: "Lord, do I even dare to dream that this could happen?" This something has to do with Texas, and He has been placing it on my heart for a month to 2 months... I have gone back and forth, cried, doubted, gotten excited, etc...

So fast forward to February 17th... A friend of mine who is also my neighbor went with me to Texas for a girls weekend getaway... We wanted to get out of the snow and into some warmer weather, so we made plans to meet up at my parents and with my best girlfriends from Texas...

Anyone who knows me, knows that flying is NOT one of my favorite things to do, BUT in this season in my life, I find myself flying A L O T! {The Lord has a funny way of helping you get over your fears.}

Well my friend and I were playing Farkle on the plane, and then she got up to go to the restroom.. {which I didn't really like.. I hate it when people get up and walk around.. I feel like everyone needs to stay in their seats and NOT ROCK THE PLANE! OK?! :-) J/K kinda..}

Anyway, after she left I decided to look out the window and could not believe what I saw... I grabbed my camera and only had enough battery to capture the one shot {which I am so thankful for}, but wish I could have gotten more because it got bigger!

Here is what I saw~



It is kind of hard to see but it is a perfect circle rainbow!!! I did not even know that they existed.. It was soooo amazing and it got bigger too.. It was so beautiful! The sun was not even shining on that side of the plane..

When I got to TEXAS I looked it up on the Internet to see if anyone knew what this was, because I did not know anyone that had ever seen this.. I came across a website that gives you reasons, scientifically, why these happen... {I didn't care about that part because I knew the Lord meant for me to see it...} The name of these circle rainbows is amazing. They are called: "Glories"...

This circle rainbow has so many meanings for me: God's promises, things coming full circle regarding Texas, etc... It blessed me that He would just be in my face like that...

I love You Lord... Thank You...

P.S. I would love for you to add some way that the Lord has made Himself known to you or confirmed things to you lately...

~ HEALING ~

Jeremiah 30:17: But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD...

Jeremiah 33:6: 'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

The Cleansing Stream

O now I see the crimson wave,

The fountain deep and wide;

The blood which Christ so freely gave,

Which all our sins will hide.

CHORUS

The cleansing stream,

I see! I see!

And now by faith it cleanseth me.

O, praise the Lord, it cleanseth me!

It cleanseth me, yes, cleanseth me!

~ NEW BEGINNINGS ~

I have a dear friend that is starting a new chapter in her ministry life... I met her 2007 after answering an ad...

In the ad in my neighborhood news letter, it said that they were offering a "Post Abortive" Bible Study at a nearby church... I was in SHOCK!! I knew that the Lord forgave me for going through abortion, but I had NO IDEA He wanted to actually heal me from it...

Up to that point, I had been in and out of depression... I didn't know why. I had been saved for three years, and knew I was forgiven {but probably only in my mind.. I guess my heart did not know yet..}. But after meeting Yvonne and going through the Bible Study, I realized I had not grieved my loss... And I really did not know before then that the Lord didn't want me to hold on to that..

I can't tell you the how much freedom I have had since then... Thank You Lord...

And I think that one of the things that has shocked me the most is that He would not only heal me from something I did, but that He would use it to help someone else...

I shared what I went through at my church and they decided to hold the Bible Study there and five women within this tiny church came forward.. {so many suffer in silence..}

I was also asked to share my testimony in a women's prison in Indianapolis, Indiana... The ministry that asked me to share, had been told that they were not aloud to address abortion with the women. I was told that since it was my testimony, then I could share... It was amazing... The Lord knows our struggles, He knew that there were many women in that room who had gone through the same thing I did, and they were hurting. He wanted to bring healing that day, and I believe He did...

I can't tell you how much the Lord healed me through a Post Abortive Bible Study and blessed me through the friendship I have with Yvonne...

If you or anyone you know has gone through an abortion, I think you would really be blessed by checking out her blog at: NEW BEGINNINGS. {And if you happen to live in the West Houston/Katy/Sugarland/Brookshire/Fulsher area, and need the kind of healing I am talking about go to: http://www.newbeginnings-katy.org/}

~LOVE GOD & LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR~

Matthew 22: 34-40: Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(emphasis added.)

~The Irresistible Revolution~

I "stumbled" across this book the other day... There are some books that I would suggest that people need to read as they go on their journey with the Lord, and this is another one!! It is so amazing and so real and has opened up the word to me!

I am excited for what the Lord is doing! Thank You Lord!!!

I highly recommend this book!!

Have a blessed day!!!

~The Gospel~

in a world of doubt i will have faith

in a world of hate i will love

in a world of selfishness i will forget myself

in a world of those who give up i will persevere

in a world of greed i will give, and give again

in a world of lies i will tell the truth

in a world of fear i will have courage

in a world of lust i will have self-control

in a world of jealousy i will be content

in a world of those who want more i will be thankful

in a world of thieves i will give up and give

in a world of apathy i will be compassionate

in a world of negativity i will hope

in a world of brutality i will have mercy

in a world of independence i will join hands with others

in a world of confusion i will be understanding

in a world of bitterness i will forgive

in a world of backstabbers i will be trustworthy

in a world of pain i will bring healing

in a world of sorrow i will bring joy

in a world of loneliness i will be a friend

in a world of anger i will bring peace

in a world of violence i will give a hug

in a world of distaster i will bring laughter

in a world of disappointment i will tell good news

in a world of rulers i will serve

in a world of inconsistency i will stand on your foundation

in a world of destructive words i will speak encouragement

in a world of perversion i will be set apart and pure

in a world of fakes i will be genuine, real, and transparent

in a world of self-righteousness i will confess my guilt

in a world of death i will receive God’s love

in a world of foolishness i will be lead by the Holy Spirit

in a world of dissipation i will be transformed

in a world of comfort i will suffer

in a world of entitlement and possession i will sacrifice

in a world of rights i will be wronged

in a world of rebellion and defiance i will obey

in a world of injustice i will do what is right

in a world of strength i will be meek

in a world of rudeness i will be considerate

in a world of “wisdom” i will be foolish

in a world of distraction i will focus

in a world of people who know everything i will learn

in a world of people quick to speak i will be ready to listen

Copied from DatHouse website

Check it out! It Begins Sunday Evening...

http://www.40daysofthat.com/

Never, Never, Never Give Up! By Wendy Griffith

Wendy Griffith:

Never, Never, Never Give Up!
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.—Galatians 6:9 (King James Version)

As much as we look forward to the holidays, it can also be one of the toughest times of the year. For me, I often look back at the year and ask, Did I accomplish my goals for this year? Did the things I was believing God for happen this year? If they didn't, it's tempting to let disappointment and despair come in. But, the good news is: God has an answer! Don't give up! Don't lose hope! Don't lose your confidence! The thing you're believing God for could be closer than you think.

God has an appointed time, and He says in Galatians 6:9 (AMP): "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage..."

The NIV Bible says it like this: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we WILL reap a harvest if we do not give up."

My friends, that is a promise you can take to the bank. God has an appointed time to bless you. You may think it's long overdue, but God says, "If you don't give up and throw in the towel...I promise...I am going to bless you."

God is Not a Slacker

In 2 Peter 3:9 the Lord says, "I am not slack in the promises I have made toward you, as some men count slackness," but He is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

I love the definition of slack: moving slowly; sluggish; lacking in activity, not busy, loose, not tense or taut, lacking in diligence or due care or concern; negligent as in a slack worker or a slacker.

Friends, God is not a slacker. Especially when it comes to those things that He has promised you. You may be one more hour, one more prayer, one more step of obedience away from your promise. God is faithful! Resist the temptation to doubt, resist the temptation to think the Lord has forgotten you—because deep down inside, you know you are closer than it may look or feel.

Then (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.—Luke 18:1

I want to remind you about a woman in the Bible who knew how to pray and refused to give up until she got her promise. Her name is Hannah, and she was married to a man named Elkanah and He had another wife named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

In 1 Samuel, Chapter One, it says Hannah was a woman of sorrowful spirit. In fact, it goes on to say she was at the point of grief and bitterness of soul. The other wife had tormented her constantly because of her barrenness, and she just couldn't take it anymore. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel you are just hanging on by a thread. Well, hang on brother or sister! This story and your story have a happy ending.

The Bible was clear, Hannah was deeply grieved. 1 Samuel 1:7 says, "She wept and did not eat." Fortunately, Hannah knew what to do. The Bible says she went to church and she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

Now, because of her grief, Hannah prayed in her heart, only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli the priest thought she was drunk and said to her, "'How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!' But Hannah answered and said, 'No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.' Then Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.' And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

The Waiting is Not in Vain

Did Hannah have her baby yet? No! But the Bible says she was no longer sad. She hadn't conceived the baby in the natural yet, but she had conceived the baby in the spirit. She had the word of the Lord, and she knew that baby was on the way.

Here's the lesson: whatever the burden, whatever that thing is that you've been asking the Lord for year after year after year, be like Hannah. Call on the God of the Universe! Call on the One who can take your barrenness away and give you new life! The One who can give you the desires of your heart. Maybe, like Hannah, you're crying out for a baby; or a husband, a wife, a job, a ministry, a loved one to get saved, or for a healing. God remembered Hannah and at the appointed time, He will remember you too!

Hannah wanted a son, but God wanted a prophet to Israel. Her waiting was not in vain. God had to get her to the point of desperation where she was not only crying out to the Lord for a child, but she was willing to give him up for the Lord's service. She wanted a son, but God needed a prophet. God had to get her to the point where she wanted what God wanted. See, God has a purpose in your waiting.

And here we are, three thousand years later, and we're still talking about Hannah's son Samuel. Hannah's determination, her willingness to never give up, to press in and get her promise, is what makes her still a hero today. God remembered Hannah, my friend. Today, I believe God is remembering you, too. He has a set time, an appointed time.

In Psalm 102:13 God says, "You will arise and have compassion on Zion (put your name here): for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come."

Wendy Griffith, Senior Reporter
CBN News

~Quote & Scripture~

We can't obey the Word of the Lord if we don't know the Word of the Lord. ~James Goll

> Colossians 1:11&12{The Message}: As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strenth to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.

Going To Meet Sarah Palin!

Me and thousands of other very excited people will be waiting in line, in the cold, later today, to meet Sarah Palin! She will be at Borders Bookstore 5mins. from my house! Yay!!

So Exciting!!

~Testimony Tuesday~

Oh gosh where do I start..... So much has happened since the last "Testimony Tuesday"...

I have to give a little history here.. We moved to Indiana two years ago.

Before that we were members at an amazing non-denominational church in Houston, Texas... That is one of the things I have missed soooooooo much! I do not have ANYTHING against denominational churches, I used to go to one before we changed to the non-denominational one...

ANYWAY~ To make a long story short we ended up at two different denominational churches... The last one we went to for a year... I LOVED the people there... They were so welcoming!

However, my husband and I felt like it was time to move on, like it was a new season... It was hard on us and some others for us to leave, and I may have actually lost some friends, which is really sad, because I love them so much... But, we had to follow the Lord's lead...

I can't tell you how dry I have been for many, many, many months... I have been in a valley... But, I realize you learn a lot in the valley..

So, I started looking at churches.. And came across one that reminds me so much of the one in Houston... I found that they had a couple different prayer and worship services during the week!!!!!! And I was so excited! So, I ended up going to one of the prayer and worship services just to see, before we visited on Sunday...

When I pulled up on Friday, I prayed and asked the Lord for confirmation if I was suppose to be there.. Then I said "never mind" and thanked Him for letting me be there...

It was such a HUGE blessing to be with other believers that were passionate and on fire for the Lord! You could cut the peace in that place with a knife... That is how peaceful it was in there... You could not deny that the presence of the Lord was there..

Before I went in to pray with this group, I had called my mom in Texas, and she told me to call her when I was done and let her know how it was...

I called her afterwards to tell her about it, and in that two hour period of time, my mom had unexpectantly gone to the hospital for some test.. (she is fine.. PRAISE GOD!)

She said that she went in and was waiting for them to do the test and on the front page of the religious section of this small Texas towns paper, was the VERY name of the group I was meeting with THAT DAY!!!! We were amazed!!!

He gave me the confirmation in such an amazing way... Only He could do that!!

On a side note: We went to the service on Sunday, and it was amazing! The worship was alive, it was multi-cultural, and you could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit... There were people raising their hands, grown men on their knees before the Lord, it was just beautiful, and we were blessed to be a part of it...

I have been waiting for TWO years and it was worth it...

Bless You Lord!!!!!

GO CHECK OUT ~ 40 DAYS OF THAT!

It does not matter when you start, just check it out!

40 DAYS OF THAT!!!

~First Day of School~

Today is the first day of school!! My big 3rd Grader!!!