Not the same old stuff, again?

Redundant, what is He trying to teach me in the same place I was!

Beat up, feeling worth less than I know He sees.

Do we always come back over and over, just a little farther than before? This time I know it sooner, but still fight. Is it the sin nature one's born with that causes such turmoil?

Does there have to be a constant struggle...to become more like Him?



I move through this day, can't I start again? Why does it feel like that everyday, I can't restart everyday...I'd never get anywhere!

My life is cracked and chiped, I can't be anyone's rock. I am grateful for the imperfections for they make me who I am, they make me touchable, reachable, real!

I read these words Psalm 31:2-4 and pray...

Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

Show me. Show me!

Week Three: Who exactly do you think you are?

My mind tries to fathom who you are. My brain reaches to understand your majesty but it is impossible to take in all that you are.

The one who "laid the foundations of the Earth and gives order to the morning". The God who knows "when mountain goats give birth and who gives the horse it's strength". The one who "has seen the gates of the shadow of death and sends the lightning bolts in their way".

Oh God of the universe, expand my mind with more of you! Fill me with more of your presence, and Father, when I am prideful and think I know all remind me as you did Job of your Majesty. Remind me that you and only you know all things, that if I can't wrap my brain around your creation, what makes me think I will understand your ways!

Trust, Faith in you is vital!

And when I realize my insufficency, Lord let me Praise you.

Job 38-41

Week Two: What's going on?

Well, a bit behind but it's all good!

God's got me right where he wants me :)

The past week has been unexpected to say the least. Saturday the 9th was the start of the craziest day we've had in a long time. Faith was hanging out with a girl friend at her house, Bill was on duty at the Fire Dept and as for myself and Ty, well we started the whole mess!

We were enjoying the quiet house and beautiful day then Ty decided to play outside while I sat at the dining room table to do some reading in my bible. As I wrapped up the remainder of the reading for that day, I kid you not, I finished the last verse and heard a blood curdling scream from outside! Being the mom of this kid, I paused for a moment and listened for more, which would give the indication that he was not kidding! The second scream came and I was like "grease lightening", up from the chair and out the door I flew. There was Ty running towards me, holding his face and screaming that the dog had bit him. I took a look and yup there was definitely an abrasion. It looked more like a cut than a bite but either way it was gonna need some medical attention.

To make this painfully long story short, we spent way to much time in the ER waiting for stitches that never came, nor did any sort of cleaning agent. The wound was sealed up with a kind of super glue for skin and we were sent on our way. Upon my arrival home from the ER with Ty, Bill called to inform me he was being taken to the ER for chest pain. This was going to be a long night!

After running some tests and an overnighter at the hospital, the doctor couldn't seem to find any reason for the sudden pain. Sunday after church Bill was being discharged and Ty's germ infested wound was now dangerously infected and had to be delt with! Monday and Tuesday we had Dr's appointments, a follow up for Bill that showed an arterial blockage and traumatizing procedures for Ty, where the skin glue (dermabond) had to be ripped off to allow the infection out. The following days we simply had to clean it and redress it with gauze ect. Bill was scheduled for a heart cath which revealed NOTHING! The blockage was there...then gone, Prayer works people!

Putting all our immediate family emergencies aside, my extended family seems to be literally falling apart! Ministry is proving to be a daunting task, My kids are pecking the very flesh off my bones and I feel totally insufficient to deal with any of it.

I know I can't deal with any of it on my own

but remembering it is the challenge!

That is why I believe God's got me right where he wants me...totally striped of the control I thought I had and bare, waiting on Him, trusting Him and being reminded of His power. Power to give it all and take it all away. That's exactly what happens in the book of Job. Over the last week and a half that's where He's got me reading His word, in the book that paints the picture of blessing through suffering.

I know, too often I think it's all about me and the things that happen

or don't happen have everything to do with me.

Not to mention that sometimes it feels like I didn't do anything

to deserve the suffering I feel.

But

What if it has nothing to do with me?

What if it is solely to prove His power?

What if it has everything to do with glorifying and praising Him!

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Job 2:10

I get to choose?

Today started out pretty rocky. I woke up late, we clamored out of bed, choked down cereal and hurry, hurry, hurry we have to go... I began the day the way I never want to!

We made it through our morning lessons in the nick of time, but not before I found myself in tears and kneeling by my bed...this was huge, I rarely see what I need in the moment and this time I knew what I needed to do. I was just there waiting for Him to help me help myself...God why? Why do I always mess it all up? Help me, Help me do your will and not my own.

The day took a turn for the better...I dropped all things seen and headed for the unseen. We had a relaxing afternoon sewing with my dear friend and I left with a lifted spirit and for Faith, a homemade treasure. God is so faithful if we will just trust Him...really trust Him!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Dig deep

As Summer fades and Autumn falls, we must remain willing. Continue or simply begin loosening up the soil with in us, so that it is ready for the planting, so that it is ready for the harvest.

Should we neglect to dig deep, to break up our hard places through vulnerable time with the Savior, we may miss the Summer of our lives. We may miss the abundant harvest He wishes to plant in the soil of our soul.

As this weather season changed let our hearts change too! Let us turn from selfishness to selflessness, let us turn from pride to humility and Lord let us see the crops you've planted this season be harvested the next. Nurture our soil. Help us dig deep, down to the rich fertile goodness.

May your Autumn bring willingness to loosen up the soil within you and break up the hard places so He has a place to plant. nurture. grow. and produce a harvest that will glorify Him.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of

righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

It is hard to get up early. It is hard to throw back the warm blankets and reveal the cold air. It is not pleasant for me to get up and stumble to the coffee pot but the harvest that it will bring will be worth so much more than those extra few minutes under the cozy covers.

the silent...quiet ones

...these are the prayers that mean so much, when you know He knows and you meet, completely understood. It's hard to break away, they all need so much...I think I need something else, do I? Not hardly, Him, in the quiet...me silent, is all that can fix everything!

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, Oh Lord. Ps 139:4

When I awake,
I am still
with you. v.18

For This I'm On My Knees

Lord, For this, I am on my knees

...your provision please.

I catch a glimpse here and there,

yet still I need to see you!

I pray for wisdom in these days,

and need your guidance each and every step of the way.

Lord, show me how to bow to you,

with heart wide open and less to prove.

Fill me with your gracious touch,

and help me keep my flesh shut up.

It gets away and can run quite wild,

But I know your guidance can calm this child.

Lord, For this, I am on my knees,

for you my God, to help me!

Our recipe for prayer

We read this morning in Matthew 6:9-13 the best way to pray, then we made our own recipe for prayer, literally.

Here's how we did it:
5 trail mix type ingredients (we just used what we had in the pantry and it worked out great)


Place a small hand full of each in a snack/sandwich bag and identify how each can remind you of the 5 ingredients in the Lord's Payer.

• Praise - honoring God (sm marshmallows-sinless/white, fluffy/happy praise)
• Purpose - wanting Gods will not our own (raisins-someone dried prunes for the purpose of creating raisins)
• Provision - trusting God to take care of us (graham cracker broken up like sm pieces of bread)
• Pardon - forgiveness from God and for others (plain chex cereal-jail cell bars ect)
• Protection - from temptation and evil (semi-sweet chocolate chips-tempting)

Our plan is to use them at snack time in our home and recall each ingredients meaning. We also want to make some for other family/friends and start kind of an "friendship bread" chain with Prayer Trail mixes!

Would you like to be one of the first to join our chain...?

Make enough trail mixes to give to all the members of the 2-3 families/friends of your choice...much like friendship bread.

Ex. We choose Sally Sue's family of 4, we will made 4 trail mixes for them and encourage them to read the passage in scripture, talk with their family about it and then keep the chain going by choosing a couple families to make the recipe for!

Include a post card size copy of this info in the baggies.

Write with sharpie on the outside of the baggie...

Matthew 6:9-13

"The Recipe for Prayer"

Have fun making and recalling Gods "Recipe for Prayer" this was an amazing teachable moment in our home!!! We will continue to make trail mix this way and encorage you to do it to.

FYI: The taste wasn't to shabby either!

Begining the Journey

Well, In our home we pray normally before meals and at bed time. My Husband and I for whatever reason have not made it a point to pray regularly together or as a family. I know how vital this is in our walk, yet for some reason we still don't make it happen. I will have every good intention of doing so and still set it on a shelf...

Just this past Monday began the journey of more regular prayer time for us, Praise God! With dinner done house quickly picked up we met in the living room with soft music on, all ready to read from Gods Word and then Pray together. We read in Philippians, due to this being a difficult financial and emotional time for us. Then we did it...from his daddy chair he suggested we also add something about today that we were thankful for! Amazing what happens when we let down our guard, open up, being honest with Christ and yes, each other too!

Next night we would meet there again in our family devotion/prayer spot, cuddled together with pillows and blankets. This time Daddy reads from Philippians and we listen to what our heavenly father has for us this night. We are tired tonight, much yawning and squirming but we listen then pray...together!

So our journey of prayer together begins...

Continuing the Pilgimage Through Prayer

At times I find it hard to do it right.
I mean really focus or say the right thing.

Good news is, God isn't looking for me to do it right.

He isn't looking for me to say the right things.

All He wants is my honesty, humility and time...

Matthew tells the way the hypocrites and pagans prayed back in the day...standing in front of everyone so they could be seen...babbling on and on hoping to have their many words heard.

My Prayer is for our Unseen Father, to help me to pray not for the reward of others but for His reward. For Him to show me how to just talk to Him about life about the everyday stuff that I am happy about, confused about and dealing with. He already knows our every need even before we ask! So, see we don't have to do it right or have the right words cause He already knows it all.

He just wants us to be with Him!

In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector we are told not to pray with pride, in a way that's all about us ie. Thank you that I'm notlike so and so... I' so glad I do this and that. We should Humble ourselves before the Lord and He will lift us up James 4:1. We/I need to be honest, open up about my stuff (cause remember, He does already know it) and trust Him. Lay my Pride aside and humble myself before Him.

I pray that you and I would quiet ourselves
and take time to spend with our God.
Go ahead... Nobodys watching but Him...It's quiet...
And the Lord who created You and wants to talk with you is waiting...

A Pilgrimage into Prayer

Into prayer?
Where is that? How do you journey there?

For me it's simply to begin...

To find a place, a spot to share
Sit down and think of you, right there
Begin to talk with you...
Give you my heart and open up
Yes, let you overflow my cup

When I make plans and meet you there,
that's the journey into prayer!