Sunday, September 23, 2012

Roughin' It

This weekend marked the first day of Fall, and our family has enjoyed every minute of it. I keep saying, "This is my idea of roughin' it!"

My husband is an outdoorsman. He loves camping, hunting and fishing. I love running water, my own shower and toilet. I want clean hair and face, and at least a touch of makeup on this 51-year old skin.

So we bought this tiny mobile home on a tiny plot of land. It has all the comforts of home for me (just on a much smaller scale) and all the outdoors my hubby needs.

I sit here this weekend, so grateful to God for allowing us this privilege. As my husband and daughter are out in the woods setting up a tree stand, I'm enjoying a WOW Worship cd, a hot cup of German Chocolate Cake flavored coffee, and a great book by one of my favorite authors. It just doesn't get any better than this. This is my idea of roughin' it! Thank you, Lord.

Monday, September 17, 2012

40 Days of Prayer

If you're like me and you're concerned about America, let's start praying! God promises that if we will humble ourselves and pray, He will hear from heaven, heal our land and forgive our sins. I'm not waiting for September 28! I'm printing out this prayer card from Max Lucado and starting today. I'm also going to fast from sweets until election day. Who's with me?!

 

Downtime

Had a very busy weekend. Taking some downtime today to work on my altered book journal. Still feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all, but I am sensing some direction.

 Yes, my "art" looks a little "kindergartenish" but the messages that came from these pages are...

  1. Follow the dotted lines of prayer to the open window of inspired dreams.
  2. Plain and simple, calm and restful days are too few and far between.
  3. It is extremely difficult and expensive to attain royalty. It costs nothing but requires EVERYTHING!
Conclusion--pray more, take more calm and restful days, and realize that my royalty has been bought and paid for, but continues to require all of me!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

She Waited for the Call That Never Came

I love this poem by Ruth Bell Graham. It has brought me strength and encouragement when I have felt so powerless...

She waited for the call
that never came;
searched every mail
for a letter,
or a note,
or card,
that bore his name;
and on her knees at night,
and on her feet
all day,
she stormed Heaven's gate
in his behalf;
she pled for him
in Heaven's high court.
"Be still, and wait; and see"--
the word God gave;
then she
knew that He would
do in and for and with him,
that which she never could.
So doubts ignored
she went about her chores
with joy--
knowing, though spurned,
His word was true.
The prodigal had not returned,
but God was God,
and there was work to do.

--Ruth Bell Graham

Providence in Scripture Reading


This weekend I took my chronological Bible to the lake with us to catch up on my reading. I didn’t get a lot done, but I did some. I don’t know about you, but I often have a hard time concentrating and forget what I read the instant I finish. Plus, I often get interrupted—mainly by my 5-year-old.

This morning, back at home, I opened my Bible to the point where my bookmark was. I realized I had read this section already, so I skipped ahead to find an unfamiliar part. I came to Nehemiah 4, and the last few verses spoke to powerfully to me and a situation in my life—especially regarding events of the weekend.

I underlined several phrases and wrote in the margin. Then I turned the page and realized that I actually had read all of it while at the lake! Where I had actually left off was two pages beyond my bookmark! Had I forgotten to move my bookmark? I never have before. Had my 5-year-old moved it? Possibly, but I never saw her anywhere near my Bible. All I know is that I was meant to read Nehemiah 4 today…

“When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.” Nehemiah 4:15 (NIV)

I am often distracted by the enemy’s plots. I get so wrapped up in my own stuff—my grief and worry. I get caught up in discouragement and despair, and that keeps me from accomplishing what I truly believe God has called me to do. I feel unworthy and incapable. Who am I to think that I could serve God or speak to anyone else about Him? But if I would just listen and seek God, instead of focusing on my worries, fears and insecurities, maybe I, too, would be more aware of the enemy’s plot. Just maybe I could see how God was frustrating that plot!

“Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” Nehemiah 4:17-18 (NIV)

Ruth Bell Graham wrote a poem that has helped carry me through times of terrible worry and stress. If you’re a mom, you understand—especially if you’re a mom of an adult child who has struggles. I want so much for my child. I want things that he doesn’t necessarily want for himself. But part of me feels like I must convince him to want these things! I have to make him understand. Graham’s poem addresses this problem we mothers have. She talks about how she prays all day long as she goes about her work, and she spends time on her knees in prayer at night. But she also realizes that there is a work that needs to be done in her child that only God can do! She ends by saying, “God is God and there is work to do.”  So instead of wearing myself out worrying and strategizing for my child, I will pray, put my child safely in the hands of God, and then I will go on with my work that I feel God calling me to do. I will do my work with one hand and in the other I will carry a weapon—the word of God--that I continue to pray over my child. But I will not stop moving forward. I will not be paralyzed by fear and worry!

“Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” Nehemiah 4:20 (NIV)

Instead of wasting my prayer time trying to convince God to do things my way, I will trust His way. Instead of trying to change His mind about my situation, I will listen for that trumpet. And when I hear it, I will rush to join God in the work that He is doing. He will fight FOR me!

Thank you, Lord, for not allowing me to skim over this portion of scripture that I’ve read so many times. However that bookmark got placed two pages back doesn’t matter. What does matter is that You will go to great lengths to speak to me. I just have to listen!