The ONE Who Steadies my Heart!

I am blessed by what my LORD has done for me. He has just kept pouring out His love all over me even when I just wanted to sit and sulk.
There has been a lot these past few weeks, from small mishaps and set backs to huge disappointment and a down right crisis. One that blew me away......but...you know what. God has been so present right there with me steadying my heart and keeping my focus on Him and not the circumstance.
 My enemy has not wasted any time and has sent his darts by using "mean" hurtful people to salt the wound.... and immediately, God counters by literally putting someone who had GRACE written all over them to encourage me or to just let me lay my head down on their shoulder and cry. THIS IS THE GOD I LOVE!!!

I have been studying Ephesians with some down right fantastic ladies for a few weeks. We have been on a journey through this study learning deeper about Spiritual Warfare and the tactics our enemy uses to thwart our focus. Each time, he throws a blow meant to tear us down, Our Ancient of Days is there to knock him out of the way and pick us up to continue pressing on. Think of the prize at the end of our race. Makes my heart pitter patter all over the place!!

Not one time are we told we won't battle. Not one time are we told we will have it easy. Not one time are we told to give up! Ephesians tells us to "take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, having done everything to stand firm." STAND FIRM! HOLD FAST! If we were not going to struggle, then why would we need to know how to stand? We will have battles, we will have warfare. WE DO HAVE THE VICTORY! Satan appears to win at times, doesn't he? Well, if you are a child of the KING, he can't defeat you! He thought he had won when the stone rolled in front of the tomb.....wow....3 days later, he knew he was outdone! AMEN!!

I know that there are so many of us with these enemy attacks looming and jabbing. I know we will have those until Jesus comes for us. The Hope of Glory that lines my heart, steadies my heart is the only constant immovable love that causes me to stand and face the same direction....because I am keeping my eye on the "author and perfecter" of my faith. He inspires me....literally inspires me to not look back, but to keep my mind and my eyes on the forever He has waiting for me. So, I am pressing on.

I am praying for all of you and praying that you can see the "Light that shines in dark places".  Keep your head up. He is coming back for us!

"Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might" Ephesians 6:10

If you get a minute, listen to this song below. I hope it blesses you!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJi_7f1cpbk

There is Rest for the Weary-Followed by Joy for the KING!

I am so excited about yesterday. God just kept pouring out the blessings at the same time, binding up the enemy from stealing the moments!

The day started with something wonderful for my 15 yr old. Totally God!! AMEN!!
Then my three daughters and myself had some amazing hang time, we ate, we laughed, we drove and laughed some more. Then we visited with my daddy and he was making us laugh more! What a joy!!
We then headed to church for Wednesday night time! LOVED IT!!

Yesterday was my first day back from Sabbatical and God was pouring out the joy!!
 Let me tell you, my heart was beating so fast with excitement. I was back to lead Calvary Kids again after a beautiful rest!

I met two new boys last night, and they were a huge gift. At the end of the night, after the teaching, application and worship, they told me it was the best time they have had at church. When I was walking them over to childcare, one of them said "can we just hang out with you some more?"
My heart melted. My God was giving me the assurance that I was ready to be back. I am still tearing up hearing those words from this 4th grade boy...yes 4th grade boy! What a joy!!!

So, I am back, not with a full plate, but back doing what God has given me to do. His way, for His Glory!
I have not taken on huge leadership positions, but have stayed with my roots....in the room, talking Jesus with Calvary kids! I am looking forward to this year. I am looking forward to what God has in store for me, for my family, and my ministry to both my own girls and to kids at Calvary. I know that this rest was what God planned for me to do, as hard as it was, I rested in obedience to Him. So, I know He has huge Kingdom work for me both at home and at church. He knew I needed to rest and get prepared for the next lap of "this race He has set before me".
So, I am running it with endurance knowing Who has the Victory!

Have a blessed day in the LORD!!!

"Quiet" Time- Really?

"The LORD  your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

A few years ago, I began to ask God to help me plan a better quiet time. I desired to do it in the morning, I actually felt deeply about that being the time...but how?!... instead, I would get up to late, wanting those extra minutes of sleep and would find myself later trying to do it at work, or when I got home and all of the "hungry ones" were chomping at the bids for food!!! I know a lot of you feel me on this :)
My plan just wasn't taking off to well.

                                            So, here's how He accomplished it:

First, He needed to remind me that He is the One who works out time. He sets it up, He has total control over it. I needed to stop trying to "fit Him in".

Second, He had to show me that my quiet time was not the deep digging that I do for Precept. He just wanted me to sit with Him, read His Word, meditate and have a "heart to heart" with Him. In my mind, I was at the point where everytime I opened His word, I thought I needed to dive in like I was preparing a lesson, which is why I was having such a hard time in the morning having my "quiet time".  I kept missing that quiet meant resting in Him and in His word.

Third, He again had to show me that I could not just fit this time into some moment during the day that was convenient for me. I realized that somedays.... (who am I kidding)....most days, that time did not come. I am a single mom, work full time, homeschool, helping to plan a wedding for my son....see my issue?

FINALLY.... I GOT IT!!! With a lot of nudging from the Holy Spirit :)

                                                                     SO..

 This month, I have been waking up, rolling out of bed, going right to the desk beside my bed, turning on my lamp, opening my Bible and having that quiet, restful, beautiful, amazing heart to heart with my KING before I even begin getting ready for work. He WANTS this time with me. His word says He delights in it. WOW! He delights in that time with me. This makes my heart beat so fast!

Here is the cool part, I work from 5am to 5pm, so I have been waking up at 3:17am (not sure what that is the exact time- ...hmm) and eagerly grasping this time with Him before my day begins.
 My days have been better, my mind has been clearer to hear Him on so much that I didn't seem to hear Him on before. Including a mission trip...but that's another blog :) and I have this peace about what may or may not come.

He made a way for me. In the early morning hours, when it is literally so quiet in my house. GOD IS GOOD! I am not tired or sleepy from not getting those extra "minutes" of sleep. I am actually pumped and ready for what the day and my enemy has to bring. I have my Sword! PRAISE GOD!

Nothing is impossible with God.  I have seen it through the details of my son's wedding, homeschool planning, my sabbatical and through the lives of so many and now from this time that He has set up for our morning time together. Believe me, early morning quiet time seemed very impossible just a month ago.

He continues to remind me to have faith in what He is doing in my life and to let it inspire me to be the one He has made me to be in all aspects of my life and the lives of my kiddos. It feels pretty great!

My days are far from perfect, but for some reason, they seem less crazy. Hmm... ; )

LOVING MY KING!!!

Blessed by the Reminder

"For He has rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."
Colossians 1:13-15

These last few days have brought both sadness and rejoicing. Disappointment and encouragement. Heartbreak and totally "cup runneth over" moments.

In all the moments, whether good or bad, my God was present. My Portion, my Ebenezer was right there with me. It was me that did not notice.

In every minute and every second, He was present with me, cheering me on in whatever that moment brought. He is my biggest fan, my biggest love! Noone else can do what He has done for me. Why do I sometimes miss it! Why do I sometimes ignore it?......because my enemy cannot wait to "steal, kill and destroy" my joy of who I am in Christ. This enemy cannot have my life, but he can sure make living it miserable at times, always looking for a way to dig in. Causing me to concentrate on the situation, not the One Who walks with me in it. You think I would have learned this by now ;)

So, this morning, as I sat and spent time with my King, studying His word, praying for so many,
I was shown something very special to me. Something I needed to know. Thanking my LORD for it!

Today is a new day for me and for my family and for you and yours. Praying choices are made to glorify God and not ourselves. Praying that someone sees Jesus!! Praying for a church full of kids today hearing the message of salvation. Praying for God to be "noticed" in every moment. He is so worth it!!!

 He has overcome the one who tries to overcome me...I am an overcomer because of my Jesus, Who is coming back for me!! He is coming back for all of those who believe! GLORY!!!

Have a wonderfully, God filled, day!

"For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads the high places of the earth, THE LORD GOD  of hosts is HIS name."
Amos 4:13

Perfect Love

"I can't comprehend YOUR infinitely beautiful and perfect love"
Those are the first few words of a David Crowder song, "After All (Holy)"

I am in awe of the words penned in this song. As I heard it for the first time, I couldn't quite grasp how a Perfect God could love such and imperfect me. I still sit at times and ask myself, me God? You really loved me enough to save me, even though you knew where I would go in life, where I would stray and be so blatently disobedient. Me?

A few years ago, a very special friend reminded me that when she read John 3:16, she couldn't find where it said "For God so loved the world, except______(fill in the blank with a name, maybe your own) that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (die and live eternally in hell) but have eternal life (live forever in heaven with God)."
 He loved us all, even those He knew would reject him, and deny Him completely. And....even those who would choose Him, and then stray and break His heart...ding ding ding, that's me.
Wow! Still so hard to comprehend. My heart cannot begin to try to grasp it. Why? Because He is Holy! GLORY! HE IS HOLY!! His ways are not my ways! He chased after me for years and years, He wanted me back so He recaptured my heart....That is love, pure, genuine love.

This past weekend, God gave me a miracle, a true miracle. My heart is still pounding.

Saturday, we had a major thing come up and God already had a plan for it. A miraculous plan. A solution to what this situation was, as soon as it happened! I didn't even get a chance to take a breath after saying "What do I do now God? "
But, after that I came in my house, and found myself saying "was that good enough, is what YOU did good enough?"
Immediately, my chest grew heavy and my stomach tightened up. I felt like I had nothing, just empty.

I was convicted by the Holy Spirit at that moment of something I was still carrying, a stronghold that I didn't know still had me. He worked on me all night with it,  I even had close sisters praying for me.  God moved a mountain  in my situation and in my heart, and YES, it was good enough! AMEN YES IT WAS! How could I believe for a minute that it wasn't?

So, as I type this, the problem is still solved, the peace is still here and above that, my God Who knows how to love perfectly and beautifully is still here and still loves this so unperfect me. I know I will face more difficulties, but I am not alone...never alone!

A perfect Jesus, gave up His throne to come to this earth to die in my place, in your place, and was without sin. He chose to come, die, be buried and to be raised again. He conquered death for us. He intercedes for those who believe. He walks with me and also among you. He knows! He sees!

Someday, because of His great and perfect love, I will see Him face to face and live with my forever KING!

My hope, my prayer, is that this same Beautiful One has called you and that you know He will "never leave you"....if you don't know if you are His then reach out. Talk to someone that can help you understand. Don't let another moment go by without knowing the answer to "if I died right now, do I know for sure  that I will be in heaven?" This is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. God has this saving business all worked out for you :)  You don't have to be perfect or even close!!
Time is precious, and so are you.

My YES Moments!

This morning, God woke me up to a pressing desire to go to His Word. I love it when He is my alarm clock. So, I got up, and went. What a blessing it was!!!

I have been leading a ladies Precept Bible Study group through Revelation. This is an amazing group of ladies that God has put together. We have been studying together, some as long as 4 plus years. We have studied the Pentateuch, Daniel, Nehemiah, Judges, Covenant...and the list goes on. We study, pray, cry, laugh and praise God together. God has both blessed me and lavished His love on me by calling me to lead this group. I absolutely adore these ladies.

I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to do what God calls you to do, or not do :)
I love that He has given me passion and a desire to study and love His Word. It is my inhale! I am breathing in the very breath of God. It is a feeling that I cannot be without.

He is giving me six months to really focus on what He wants me to do. Homeschooling is my first and foremost calling. He is showing me in ways I can understand that I am right where I am supposed to be on this :)

 He also knows my passion for His Word and the overwhelming desire to show others, including my own kids, how to study it for themselves and discover on their own the precepts that God wants for them!!  So amazing to see the lightbulb go off! GOD IS GOOD!! I love to hear the sound of "oh, I get it"!! Makes my heart sing!! Understanding and applying the Truth!!! YES!!!

He brought me to Precept Leading in a way only He could, 5 years ago!! Since then, He has allowed me to use it at home, at church with our kiddos, and in this ladies group. I have been blessed to see Him call other leaders out of the core group that started years ago. I have watched it grow!! YES LORD! THANK YOU!!

This fall, I know where God wants me with our kiddos at Calvary. What a gift this is.
Homeschooling will be my first ministry! I am so excited about it...at the same time He has shown me that He wants me to carry on with Precept Leading. He has shown me a way to put it all together without filling up my plate. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A GIFT THIS IS TO ME!! A huge answer to prayer for me and my family!

Did I mention my passion for teaching others to study God's Word? GLORY!! Learning the Truth and living in the light of it!! YES!

I am so glad that He loves me enough to take the time to show my hard headed self what He wants for me and for my family! I am pumped!!!! Will tell you more...soon.

Have a fantastic day in the LORD...take the time to let Him breathe His Word into you!!!

"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of the heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3

Broken-Rejoicing Heart

Wow! Where did April go?? It seems to have come and gone in a flash!

April was a hard month for my family and at the same time a month of rejoicing.
The hard part was a change in my family. Something that seemed to rip my heart out, and at the same time this "ripping" was going on, my son was preparing to ask his girlfriend to marry him. So, I didn't know what to do with my heart that seemed divided by both sadness and joy. Broken and rejoicing at the same time. HOW??

God showed me, yet again, in ways I can understand, that He's got this. My El Roi sees everything that my family is going through, both good and bad,  and is right there with us.

                                                     However,

Satan does not want me to remember this, he wants to cause me to be blinded by the hurt of the bad and stay that way so I can miss the joy of blessing and deliverance.

My youngest daughter and I have been reading "A Wrinkle in Time" together. The chapter we just read was kind of eye opening to me. In this chapter, Meg, the daughter could see her father but he could not see her. He was surrounded by darkness, that "IT" had covered him with. He was just about ready to give up when Meg showed up and gave him the glasses of Mrs. Who and could see again. (there is more detail in the book)

I am not sure if you have read this book or what you think of it, but the "IT" was evil and wanted all to just conform and be happily comfortable and he promised all would be well.  WRONG! "IT" was a liar and a deceiver and a destroyer.  The character of "IT"was portrayed as a huge brain at the center of this world that the main characters found themselves in. This brain was causing people to heed to the lies and false hope. Conformity!! Missing TRUTH!

As I read it, I began to mull it over in my head to explain it to my daughter. I realized that satan loves to work in my thought process, my brain! He tries to place thoughts that are not pleasing to God right in the middle of my thinking. These are not thoughts of lustful or of blatent sinful things, but subtle thoughts of just giving in. Just bask in the sorrow and self pity! NO WAY! 

My God does not want me to focus so much on the painful things that I miss the joy of who I am in Him. He loves me and knows what I am dealing with. HE SEES ME and HE SEES YOU! He knows that satan wants to capture our thoughts and focus and our God knows it is a war. GLORY TO GOD, WE KNOW WHO WINS!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My prayer is that I continue, by God's grace and mercy, to "take every though captive to the LORD",  until the day my Jesus comes for me.

Praying the same for you!

By the way, my son's girlfriend said "YES"!! What a testimony of purity they have!

saying goodbye to April to say hello and welcome to May :)
Hoping you have a wonderful May in our LORD!