The head is considered as the center of the intellect, as of
thought, memory, understanding, or emotional control; mind;brain.
Many times the Bible uses the phrase, "he that hath understanding...." In this understanding, we use our heads, our summation of thought, intellect, memory, emotion, past experiences, and primarily God's Word to understand..
"I pledge my Head to clearer thinking..." We should always be making conscious choices. We choose blessing or cursing.....God says to do so.
In obeying His Word, we have chosen Blessings! In rejecting His Word, we have automatically chosen cursing.
He has told His children, by way of Joshua and God's inspired Word, ( of whom we are: that is, one of His), to "choose this day whom you will serve:
Joshua 24:15
And IF it seem evil (wrong) unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
We make choices every day of our life. We need to pray before we make any decision. Use your head. Make an intentional choice to love, serve, obey, and have faith in God's Word.
God has made us in HIS image. We are set apart from all other created beings. We have something very special; an intellect that keeps forever learning and having knowledge, we are curious about the universe, our origin, our future, our past. We have been endowed with awareness and knowledge of HIM written upon our hearts.....our head plays an important part in that knowledge.....we ARE the body and have the MIND of CHRIST:
1 Corinthians 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
We are one with the Father IN Christ Jesus. Let us use this knowledge....I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking......using the mind of Christ given me through the grace, mercy, and love of the Father, by virtue of salvation In Christ Alone!
Victory Prayer:
Abba Father,
I pray for understanding. I need You to reveal Your will for my life. I realize I may find this in Your inspired Word, the Holy Bible, and through my relationship and communion with You through prayer. Give me a heart to seek You in every decision and to obey what You have revealed already through Your Word.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen and Omaine!
Dandelion Mist
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot, Missionary
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Coming Soon!
Do you remember the 4-H Club? Well, coming soon, a presentation on the 4-H's!
Head
Heart
Hands
Health........ALL from a Biblical Perspective!
Pledge
The 4-H pledge is:
I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
Written in 1918 by Otis E. Hall
Lily Sue
Head
Heart
Hands
Health........ALL from a Biblical Perspective!
Pledge
The 4-H pledge is:
I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
Written in 1918 by Otis E. Hall
Lily Sue
From My Heart To God's Heart
Good Morning, Father! How Great Thou Art!
LORD GOD, this Victory Prayer will be so very unusual this morning because this is my very heart revealed. I honestly am at a loss this morning as to what and how to pray. You know, Lord, one of those times when I feel that I've said everything a thousand times over. I fear that I'll sound to You like one of the pagans, who think they'll be heard for their 'much speaking'.
When one prays without ceasing, is in a constant state of prayer, is forever thankful, and always in communion with You in spirit and heart....what is there left to say?
I think of the song "I Can Only Imagine" and I feel that I'm waiting to meet my love, the love King Solomon talks about. As Christ loves His church and is waiting for His bride, so I wait for You, and I long to hear that "voice as the sound of many waters". I long to see those "feet as burnished brass" and those "eyes as flaming fire". I think about how "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, not entered into the hearts of man, the things that You have prepared for those who love You!"
I can only say then how I wish to see the glory of You as You are the Light that fills the universe when we are with You in heaven, that Your glory fills the temple, that out of Your throne will flow rivers of living waters, how I hope to see that, to be with You, reign with You, serve You, and worship You at Your throne.
What will I see? Will I see the pure white Lamb of God? Will I see that pure white Lamb with a blood stain from the blood that was shed for me and for all?
Will I see You, Jesus, as the Man (the flesh)? Will I see and touch those nail scars? Will I fall before You and lie there as dead? Will I dance before You in joy? Will I laugh with child-like delight? Will I skip and jump about and cause You to laugh?
I anxiously await the streets of pure gold waving in such purity that it alomst appears liquid, shimmering in the Glorious light that is Your Person. I am excited about the twelve foundations of the city of New Jerusalem that is created and designed by You, the precious jewels and soild pure iridescent pearls that are the twelve gates. I look forward to eating from the Tree of Life that heals the nations and yields her fruit monthly.
I stand in awe at the idea of Your Majesty and Love that will permeate the Kingdom.
But Lord, back here on earth, in the here and now, what more can I say? I pray Your Word. I pray scripture. I pray for loved ones. I pray for the lost and the sick. I pray for our enemies. I pray requests from others. I pray as an intercessor.
My prayers are filled with worship and praise and thankfulness. Yet today, I'm at a complete loss for words.
Sometimes I just want to lie in Your presence. Ask for nothing. Require nothing. Say nothing. Do nothing.
I just want to feel You hold me in Your arms, weep, sigh, be still.
I am Yours. I am willing. I surrender. Never let me go! Hold my hand every step, this I do ask, Abba Father.
In the most precious Name of Jesus, I bow before You. I worship, praise and adore You.
I will not worry about anything. You hold my future and You hold my today. I am thankful!
Let the world be confused if they choose. I choose this day, to only serve and trust and obey You.
Choose this day, whom you will serve.....as for me, I will serve the Lord!
LORD GOD, this Victory Prayer will be so very unusual this morning because this is my very heart revealed. I honestly am at a loss this morning as to what and how to pray. You know, Lord, one of those times when I feel that I've said everything a thousand times over. I fear that I'll sound to You like one of the pagans, who think they'll be heard for their 'much speaking'.
When one prays without ceasing, is in a constant state of prayer, is forever thankful, and always in communion with You in spirit and heart....what is there left to say?
I think of the song "I Can Only Imagine" and I feel that I'm waiting to meet my love, the love King Solomon talks about. As Christ loves His church and is waiting for His bride, so I wait for You, and I long to hear that "voice as the sound of many waters". I long to see those "feet as burnished brass" and those "eyes as flaming fire". I think about how "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, not entered into the hearts of man, the things that You have prepared for those who love You!"
I can only say then how I wish to see the glory of You as You are the Light that fills the universe when we are with You in heaven, that Your glory fills the temple, that out of Your throne will flow rivers of living waters, how I hope to see that, to be with You, reign with You, serve You, and worship You at Your throne.
What will I see? Will I see the pure white Lamb of God? Will I see that pure white Lamb with a blood stain from the blood that was shed for me and for all?
Will I see You, Jesus, as the Man (the flesh)? Will I see and touch those nail scars? Will I fall before You and lie there as dead? Will I dance before You in joy? Will I laugh with child-like delight? Will I skip and jump about and cause You to laugh?
I anxiously await the streets of pure gold waving in such purity that it alomst appears liquid, shimmering in the Glorious light that is Your Person. I am excited about the twelve foundations of the city of New Jerusalem that is created and designed by You, the precious jewels and soild pure iridescent pearls that are the twelve gates. I look forward to eating from the Tree of Life that heals the nations and yields her fruit monthly.
I stand in awe at the idea of Your Majesty and Love that will permeate the Kingdom.
But Lord, back here on earth, in the here and now, what more can I say? I pray Your Word. I pray scripture. I pray for loved ones. I pray for the lost and the sick. I pray for our enemies. I pray requests from others. I pray as an intercessor.
My prayers are filled with worship and praise and thankfulness. Yet today, I'm at a complete loss for words.
Sometimes I just want to lie in Your presence. Ask for nothing. Require nothing. Say nothing. Do nothing.
I just want to feel You hold me in Your arms, weep, sigh, be still.
I am Yours. I am willing. I surrender. Never let me go! Hold my hand every step, this I do ask, Abba Father.
In the most precious Name of Jesus, I bow before You. I worship, praise and adore You.
I will not worry about anything. You hold my future and You hold my today. I am thankful!
Let the world be confused if they choose. I choose this day, to only serve and trust and obey You.
Choose this day, whom you will serve.....as for me, I will serve the Lord!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
"When I Make Up My Jewels"
Malachi 3:17
And they shall be mine, said the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves (Obeys) him.
JEWELS:
Definition:
1.)A cut and polished precious stone; gem.
2.)A fashioned ornament for personal adornment, especially of a precious metal set with gems.
3.)A precious possession.
Just THINK about it! We, who are Christ’s, are those precious jewels that make up the Creator’s adornment!
Doesn’t that just make you WANT that refinement like precious gold!?
Maybe I can never be that strong, perfect, or beautiful on this earth….in this life…BUT when God makes up HIS jewels…I, yes, even I, will be like a very precious stone for His adornment.
How AWESOME is that? By the time He makes up His jewels, I (we) will be tried, tested in the fire, and purified by the testing of my (our) faith.
1 Peter 1:7
"These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains
strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and
honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
When you feel rejected, filled with heartbreak and pain, when you feel unloved, unwanted, alone, and as if you have no purpose….never forget that YOU ARE ONE OF HIS PRECIOUS JEWELS!
Someday, HE will gather His Jewels together and we will be joined with Him in all HIS glory.
We will shine as the stars!
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:23
Not only will we be His jewels, we will shine with Him forever!
Heaven will CERTAINLY NOT be boring as some think. I wonder…will we all be different kinds of Jewels? I think about the twelve foundations of precious stones listed in the book of Revelation….and I want to be a Chrysolite! Why? I have not a clue! My birthstone is a Topaz and I love it…its very beautiful, but something about a Chrysolite - maybe I see it as Christ-Light!
Sunset: Created by God Himself!Revelation21:19-21:
And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first
Foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; seventh,chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth the twelfth, an amethyst. 21)the twelve gates were twelve pearls;
Every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
You know, if you study these stones you’ll find the compositions fascinating…God has done wondrously and marvelously in His creation. Eye hath truly not seen and one can never begin to closely think in the wildest imagination what GOD has prepared for those who Love Him and follow after Him through Christ Jesus!
Above I mentioned the Chrysolite reminding me of Christ-Light…the pure gold of the streets being like Transparent glass reminds me that Christ can SEE all through us…nothing is HIDDEN from the Almighty God!
This is my prayer for our Beautiful Garden of Prayer for today:
Refine me like gold, Lord! As I know that YOU can see right through me…make me as pure as refined gold…fashion me, so that I'm like the purest Chrysolite, or any of Your majesticlly beautiful stones, and make me ready for the Gathering of Your Jewels!
Although heaven will be altogether magnificent beyond anything we can imagine…it is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of all who will believe on Him…that will be the True and Glorious Light of Heaven.
And they shall be mine, said the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves (Obeys) him.
JEWELS:
Definition:
1.)A cut and polished precious stone; gem.
2.)A fashioned ornament for personal adornment, especially of a precious metal set with gems.
3.)A precious possession.
Just THINK about it! We, who are Christ’s, are those precious jewels that make up the Creator’s adornment!
Doesn’t that just make you WANT that refinement like precious gold!?
Maybe I can never be that strong, perfect, or beautiful on this earth….in this life…BUT when God makes up HIS jewels…I, yes, even I, will be like a very precious stone for His adornment.
How AWESOME is that? By the time He makes up His jewels, I (we) will be tried, tested in the fire, and purified by the testing of my (our) faith.
1 Peter 1:7
"These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains
strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and
honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
When you feel rejected, filled with heartbreak and pain, when you feel unloved, unwanted, alone, and as if you have no purpose….never forget that YOU ARE ONE OF HIS PRECIOUS JEWELS!
Someday, HE will gather His Jewels together and we will be joined with Him in all HIS glory.
We will shine as the stars!
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:23
Not only will we be His jewels, we will shine with Him forever!
Heaven will CERTAINLY NOT be boring as some think. I wonder…will we all be different kinds of Jewels? I think about the twelve foundations of precious stones listed in the book of Revelation….and I want to be a Chrysolite! Why? I have not a clue! My birthstone is a Topaz and I love it…its very beautiful, but something about a Chrysolite - maybe I see it as Christ-Light!
Sunset: Created by God Himself!And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first
Foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; seventh,chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth the twelfth, an amethyst. 21)the twelve gates were twelve pearls;
Every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
You know, if you study these stones you’ll find the compositions fascinating…God has done wondrously and marvelously in His creation. Eye hath truly not seen and one can never begin to closely think in the wildest imagination what GOD has prepared for those who Love Him and follow after Him through Christ Jesus!
Above I mentioned the Chrysolite reminding me of Christ-Light…the pure gold of the streets being like Transparent glass reminds me that Christ can SEE all through us…nothing is HIDDEN from the Almighty God!
This is my prayer for our Beautiful Garden of Prayer for today:
Refine me like gold, Lord! As I know that YOU can see right through me…make me as pure as refined gold…fashion me, so that I'm like the purest Chrysolite, or any of Your majesticlly beautiful stones, and make me ready for the Gathering of Your Jewels!
Although heaven will be altogether magnificent beyond anything we can imagine…it is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of all who will believe on Him…that will be the True and Glorious Light of Heaven.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Walk Worthy of Your Calling
Paul's words to Timothy:
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power." (2Tim.3:1-5)
Does this not sound like the world today? Does this not sound just like the so-called "Emerging church"? And I use the term very 'loosely'. Church is the TRUE body of Christ, and we've gotten so far from living Christ-like that there seems to be little resemblence left.
"Love one another as I have loved you..." What kind of love do we see today? SELF-love.
And one of them, a doctor of the Law, putting him to the test, asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" Jesus said to him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
How OFTEN do we REALLY put others ahead of ourselves? Really? We ought to prefer one another above ourselves. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10
How do we accomplish this? Love God. Love people. Love one another above yourself.
If you find yourself completely at odds with the body of Christ.....maybe you should look to home first.
Beginning at Jerusalem......God intended an order of the family: God first. Spouses and Children next. The church. Work. When we keep God's perfect order things just fall into place!
You say you have to work to eat. True. You say you have no time for God, home, wife/husband, children. FALSE.
Prioritize and SEE how much time you can actually spend with family! It's the exact same principle as tithing....you give away to receive. God says HE will pour out a blessing that you can't contain....AND He will REBUKE the DEVOURER for your sake! ( Malachai 3:11) The one who devours your money, your increase, your time, your home, your walk with Him, your spiritual life, your energy, everything you work so hard for...... the DEVOURER, SATAN will be REBUKED for you WHEN you put God first, family next, and so on.
Some actually put ministry and church family ahead of their OWN family......not the way it should be.....LOVE begins at HOME!
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Why are we taught (and say it rotely!) THY will be done?
We usually don't really mean it or we'd take the time to study the principles God has told us over and over IN His Word.....will work in our favor.
Want favor? Obey God. Seek HIS will in honesty and with right intent.
Prayer:
God I pray honestly, THY will be done. Help me to seek You daily and to walk in the Way You have chosen for me from the foundation of the world.......You have not hidden Your will for us!
Isaiah 30:21
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the Way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
I realize that You know best and care about me in every aspect of my life. I thank You with all my heart!
Help me to have a healthy balance in ministry and personal family life. Help me to know that when I ignore home and children for any reason, I have become out of balance in my personal walk with You!
THY WILL BE DONE.
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power." (2Tim.3:1-5)
Does this not sound like the world today? Does this not sound just like the so-called "Emerging church"? And I use the term very 'loosely'. Church is the TRUE body of Christ, and we've gotten so far from living Christ-like that there seems to be little resemblence left.
"Love one another as I have loved you..." What kind of love do we see today? SELF-love.
And one of them, a doctor of the Law, putting him to the test, asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" Jesus said to him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
How OFTEN do we REALLY put others ahead of ourselves? Really? We ought to prefer one another above ourselves. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10
How do we accomplish this? Love God. Love people. Love one another above yourself.
If you find yourself completely at odds with the body of Christ.....maybe you should look to home first.
Beginning at Jerusalem......God intended an order of the family: God first. Spouses and Children next. The church. Work. When we keep God's perfect order things just fall into place!
You say you have to work to eat. True. You say you have no time for God, home, wife/husband, children. FALSE.
Prioritize and SEE how much time you can actually spend with family! It's the exact same principle as tithing....you give away to receive. God says HE will pour out a blessing that you can't contain....AND He will REBUKE the DEVOURER for your sake! ( Malachai 3:11) The one who devours your money, your increase, your time, your home, your walk with Him, your spiritual life, your energy, everything you work so hard for...... the DEVOURER, SATAN will be REBUKED for you WHEN you put God first, family next, and so on.
Some actually put ministry and church family ahead of their OWN family......not the way it should be.....LOVE begins at HOME!
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Why are we taught (and say it rotely!) THY will be done?
We usually don't really mean it or we'd take the time to study the principles God has told us over and over IN His Word.....will work in our favor.
Want favor? Obey God. Seek HIS will in honesty and with right intent.
Prayer:
God I pray honestly, THY will be done. Help me to seek You daily and to walk in the Way You have chosen for me from the foundation of the world.......You have not hidden Your will for us!
Isaiah 30:21
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the Way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
I realize that You know best and care about me in every aspect of my life. I thank You with all my heart!
Help me to have a healthy balance in ministry and personal family life. Help me to know that when I ignore home and children for any reason, I have become out of balance in my personal walk with You!
THY WILL BE DONE.
Monday, May 9, 2011
A Heart for God: Mothers!
Mother's Day Fun 
Today Pastor Dave devoted the service to honoring God by also honoring motherhood. He began as usual, with a few jokes and things mother's say to their kids that make no sense....especially when you're a kid!
I laughed so hard, I was truly afraid I was going to get those hysterical giggles that I can get when things funny happen under serious circumstances....like a room filled with a couple thousand people.....in church.....when I'm NOT the center of attention and don't want to be!
There was a couple of instances in particular that I could have lost my other-wise collected and calm 'cool' self to ROFL kind of thing, you know.
Then we got into the real business of learning some really great stuff.....Pastor Dave always has a bunch of great stuff to teach us. Encouragement. Reinforcement. Re- validation. Re......well, I've run out of re's.....anyway, he began in Matthew with the three mother's mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.....not the ones who were near perfect mothers, but the ones who were liars, deceivers( Tamar) prostitutes, harlots (Rehab) foreigners, (Ruth from Moab),etc.
Interestingly I titled my own personal notes, "Mess to Miracles OR Mistakes to Miracles" and just as I was finished writing it down he said almost the same thing.....great minds DO run together!
It was an amazing service, a special song by Amanda (who sings like an angel!!), the choir was magnificent, and Steve, dressed in a light colored suit for the second warm day so far this year, all made a very special tribute to mother's of all sorts.
The most important point out of the entire service is that you can be the mother God designed you to be no matter what your past. Raise your children in a Christ-centered relationship. Be there for them spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally. Be the one (along with dad, of course) who is loyal to them, always. Being loyal can include if/when they are wrong teach them and correct them, but always give them the benefit of the doubt before you quickly jump to the conclusion that they are automatically wrong.
Just like you.....when God changed your life....would you want everyone thinking you're just being 'the same old person' never giving you a chance to show what God has done in your life? Never trusting you?
Well, as young people grow in Christ, they need to be able to be trusted.....like one of our pastors once said,
" trust them BUT check up on them, too!"
Well, being a mother is not an easy job, but if we can give them back to God, after He entrusted them to us for teaching, caring, stewardship, loving, praying for and training up for Him, then it will be a job worth all the investment in time, pain, tears, joy, heartache, fears, worries.......and money (???) Ha. Just had to add that little insignificant point!
Just think! God has trusted the woman.......you think we don't have an important job as a stay-at-home mom??? God has entrusted the Woman, I say again, to be the one who raises up children for HIM.....is that not the absolute most awesome job on earth? Dad's have their important roles, too, of course, but you've no doubt heard the old expression, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world?" God chose you to be the mother of your children for a purpose! He wants YOU to BE a MOTHER in every sense of the word! Mother your children! (Tend, love, nurture, protect, raise them up the WAY they should go!)
You get to teach, chauffeur, cook, wash dishes, laundry, clean house, pay bills, do accounting, home schooling, homework, brush teeth, wipe noses, change diapers, take temperatures, walk the floor at night, wake up at all hours of the night, pray, cry, worry, laugh at jokes that you may not even 'get', be their advisor, help them put on their clothes and shoes, walk them to school, teach bike-riding, skateboarding, run along behind them to keep them from falling, kiss their boo-boos, hurt when they hurt, laugh when they laugh, run them and all the neighborhood kids to the movies or skating, so in doing all this you learn skills that you'd otherwise never learn. All this on-the-job-training you get for free and no paycheck......great deal, huh? It really is. LOOK at them....no, really just LOOK! Aren't they just the cutest little (or big) buggers you ever saw!? Look at the way they behave when they don't know you're watching.....it's better than TV!
You have had many rough bumps along the way, and maybe some even bumpier up ahead, but God has given YOU the tools to tread this path of mother-hood. He gave you a strong will, determination, the fortitude of an Army Five-Star general, a soft heart, a warm touch, a gentle word, and skillful disciplinarian tactics that would make a drill sargent proud! He endowed you with an instinct that can smell a 'fib' a mile away.
You have been blessed with energy that could run General Electric around the world for a month.....just a few minutes of downtime and you're ready to get back in the ring.
He gave you the wisdom to know that your children need you and love you even when they are angry and may say they hate you....you can look them in the eye and say, "Well, I love you anyway!"
As a mom you listen to secrets and never tell a soul. You take all your children's problems to God alone.
You pray over them when they don't see or know about it.
You drop them off at first grade for the first time, and secretly wipe away tears of abandonment....your little one has left you for a whole day!
The journey that you began as a mother only ends when you arrive in heaven......your child has been the delight that God gave you because you were born to be HIS special care-giver for HIS most precious design. How He must love you to trust you with HIS Children!
Prayer:
Father, thank you that you trusted me with your most valuable creation! I pray that I will always BE the kind of mother YOU want me to be....and that includes Grandmother.....it's the SAME thing, just GRAND!
What an honor.
Today Pastor Dave devoted the service to honoring God by also honoring motherhood. He began as usual, with a few jokes and things mother's say to their kids that make no sense....especially when you're a kid!
I laughed so hard, I was truly afraid I was going to get those hysterical giggles that I can get when things funny happen under serious circumstances....like a room filled with a couple thousand people.....in church.....when I'm NOT the center of attention and don't want to be!
There was a couple of instances in particular that I could have lost my other-wise collected and calm 'cool' self to ROFL kind of thing, you know.
Then we got into the real business of learning some really great stuff.....Pastor Dave always has a bunch of great stuff to teach us. Encouragement. Reinforcement. Re- validation. Re......well, I've run out of re's.....anyway, he began in Matthew with the three mother's mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.....not the ones who were near perfect mothers, but the ones who were liars, deceivers( Tamar) prostitutes, harlots (Rehab) foreigners, (Ruth from Moab),etc.
Interestingly I titled my own personal notes, "Mess to Miracles OR Mistakes to Miracles" and just as I was finished writing it down he said almost the same thing.....great minds DO run together!
It was an amazing service, a special song by Amanda (who sings like an angel!!), the choir was magnificent, and Steve, dressed in a light colored suit for the second warm day so far this year, all made a very special tribute to mother's of all sorts.
The most important point out of the entire service is that you can be the mother God designed you to be no matter what your past. Raise your children in a Christ-centered relationship. Be there for them spiritually, emotionally, physically, and relationally. Be the one (along with dad, of course) who is loyal to them, always. Being loyal can include if/when they are wrong teach them and correct them, but always give them the benefit of the doubt before you quickly jump to the conclusion that they are automatically wrong.
Just like you.....when God changed your life....would you want everyone thinking you're just being 'the same old person' never giving you a chance to show what God has done in your life? Never trusting you?
Well, as young people grow in Christ, they need to be able to be trusted.....like one of our pastors once said,
" trust them BUT check up on them, too!"
Well, being a mother is not an easy job, but if we can give them back to God, after He entrusted them to us for teaching, caring, stewardship, loving, praying for and training up for Him, then it will be a job worth all the investment in time, pain, tears, joy, heartache, fears, worries.......and money (???) Ha. Just had to add that little insignificant point!
Just think! God has trusted the woman.......you think we don't have an important job as a stay-at-home mom??? God has entrusted the Woman, I say again, to be the one who raises up children for HIM.....is that not the absolute most awesome job on earth? Dad's have their important roles, too, of course, but you've no doubt heard the old expression, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world?" God chose you to be the mother of your children for a purpose! He wants YOU to BE a MOTHER in every sense of the word! Mother your children! (Tend, love, nurture, protect, raise them up the WAY they should go!)
You get to teach, chauffeur, cook, wash dishes, laundry, clean house, pay bills, do accounting, home schooling, homework, brush teeth, wipe noses, change diapers, take temperatures, walk the floor at night, wake up at all hours of the night, pray, cry, worry, laugh at jokes that you may not even 'get', be their advisor, help them put on their clothes and shoes, walk them to school, teach bike-riding, skateboarding, run along behind them to keep them from falling, kiss their boo-boos, hurt when they hurt, laugh when they laugh, run them and all the neighborhood kids to the movies or skating, so in doing all this you learn skills that you'd otherwise never learn. All this on-the-job-training you get for free and no paycheck......great deal, huh? It really is. LOOK at them....no, really just LOOK! Aren't they just the cutest little (or big) buggers you ever saw!? Look at the way they behave when they don't know you're watching.....it's better than TV!
You have had many rough bumps along the way, and maybe some even bumpier up ahead, but God has given YOU the tools to tread this path of mother-hood. He gave you a strong will, determination, the fortitude of an Army Five-Star general, a soft heart, a warm touch, a gentle word, and skillful disciplinarian tactics that would make a drill sargent proud! He endowed you with an instinct that can smell a 'fib' a mile away.
You have been blessed with energy that could run General Electric around the world for a month.....just a few minutes of downtime and you're ready to get back in the ring.
He gave you the wisdom to know that your children need you and love you even when they are angry and may say they hate you....you can look them in the eye and say, "Well, I love you anyway!"
As a mom you listen to secrets and never tell a soul. You take all your children's problems to God alone.
You pray over them when they don't see or know about it.
You drop them off at first grade for the first time, and secretly wipe away tears of abandonment....your little one has left you for a whole day!
The journey that you began as a mother only ends when you arrive in heaven......your child has been the delight that God gave you because you were born to be HIS special care-giver for HIS most precious design. How He must love you to trust you with HIS Children!
Prayer:
Father, thank you that you trusted me with your most valuable creation! I pray that I will always BE the kind of mother YOU want me to be....and that includes Grandmother.....it's the SAME thing, just GRAND!
What an honor.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
A Recipe From Friends in Poznan, Poland
During a Jewish Conference we attended in 2008 in Poznan, Poland, some Catholic friends we met, gave us accommodation in their lovely home. We were treated as if we were royalty by this precious family, who knew no religious bounds of denomination.
We arrived on a dark night, later than we expected, tried to find the flat on our own...after all, being world travelers, we could easily follow directions from Krakow and arrive without having to disrupt the family....right? Wrong!
It began to rain along our journey from Krakow. Cold winter rain. Dark highways. No lights to be found anywhere. Poznan was beautiful even at night. We found the general vicinity of our hosts, but couldn't fine their particular flat. Once we arrived in their neighborhood, the houses flowed together as one. Small doorways. Close knit. Invisible numbers. We had to breakdown our reserve and call them. Men don't like to do that, you know. Especially not my hubby! But to protect the innocent, I convinced him to call.
The family host was anxious to meet us, so was his wife, Isabella, who was just getting off work!
The children were little adults. Perfect manners! Smiling warmly at their strange guests from America. Baptists even......not Catholic!
But I'm ahead of myself. Valdi met us at the nearby mall and led us to his flat. We had just been right in front of it, of course.
They had prepared a feast for us. Polish style, open faced sandwiches, fruits of all sorts, desserts, coffee, and herbata....herbal teas of various sorts. They were interested in us and our mission. We were interested in what prompted them to welcome strangers into their home!
They told us they were members of an organization called Gennessaret......I hope I have it right.....it's an organization that does what the Bible teaches us to do......welcome the strangers and aliens as one of your own....and wow! did they ever!
We took many photographs of each other, smiling faces, broken English and Polish, and talked as if we'd known one another forever....what God can do with Christian love!
Anyway, one evening the conference ran late. It was dark, lightless, and raining again. We decided to stop and have a quick dinner and not be a burden on our host family. Wrong again! We did have dinner in a very beautiful and quaint little Thai restaurant in the mall...we knew how to get anywhere now, from the mall!!
It was after ten p.m. when we arrived at our host's home. Quietly, we used they key given to us....they gave us a key to their home!!!......and tiptoed inside. The dining room lights were on, the children waiting up for us.....Isabella and Valdi waiting patiently for us to come 'home'!
We felt terrible, but do you think they would allow that......not on your life! They said, "We must have dessert....it's is the children's favorite! They want you to enjoy."
Of course we were delighted. Late night dessert. Cheese even. Mmmmmm how would my night go later? Never mind that!
Isabella informed us that everything was all ready except for the last minute...... cooking the cheese.
Here goes and it IS delicious!!!
Cakes of Camembert cheese (for each person.....maybe one half to one cake)
egg beaten to dip the cheese cakes, finely ground bread crumbs to coat the cheese cakes.
Fry them until golden brown. Platter and serve with cranberry jam on top!
Fantastic dessert! Serve with hot coffee.....in Poland we used Jacob's which you can get in America in the ethnic section of the grocers.
Add wonderful conversation......hopefully with a hint of Polish accent and wal'la! A perfect evening with believers in Jesus the Messiah....of the Jews, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, Lutheran's, Methodists.....the Messiah of the world......only BELIEVE....you believe in God, believe ALSO in JESUS, who IS God in the FLESH.....the WORD made flesh (read the book of John, chapter ONE!
Shalom! Pok'oj!
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for friends who are believers in our Lord Jesus! I thank you for my Jewish friends in Poland, Germany, America and around the world. I thank you for my Chinese and Polish friends. Thank you that you allowed me to be part of their lives and them an important part of mine! I thank you for the Roma we worked with in Poland. You have blessed us with many brothers and sisters in the Family....the Family of God!
In Jesus' name I pray.....Omaine!
Ancient oven in Jerusalem Home
Poznan Flats
Cathedral In Downtown Poznan, Poland
We arrived on a dark night, later than we expected, tried to find the flat on our own...after all, being world travelers, we could easily follow directions from Krakow and arrive without having to disrupt the family....right? Wrong!
It began to rain along our journey from Krakow. Cold winter rain. Dark highways. No lights to be found anywhere. Poznan was beautiful even at night. We found the general vicinity of our hosts, but couldn't fine their particular flat. Once we arrived in their neighborhood, the houses flowed together as one. Small doorways. Close knit. Invisible numbers. We had to breakdown our reserve and call them. Men don't like to do that, you know. Especially not my hubby! But to protect the innocent, I convinced him to call.
The family host was anxious to meet us, so was his wife, Isabella, who was just getting off work!
The children were little adults. Perfect manners! Smiling warmly at their strange guests from America. Baptists even......not Catholic!
But I'm ahead of myself. Valdi met us at the nearby mall and led us to his flat. We had just been right in front of it, of course.
They had prepared a feast for us. Polish style, open faced sandwiches, fruits of all sorts, desserts, coffee, and herbata....herbal teas of various sorts. They were interested in us and our mission. We were interested in what prompted them to welcome strangers into their home!
They told us they were members of an organization called Gennessaret......I hope I have it right.....it's an organization that does what the Bible teaches us to do......welcome the strangers and aliens as one of your own....and wow! did they ever!
We took many photographs of each other, smiling faces, broken English and Polish, and talked as if we'd known one another forever....what God can do with Christian love!
Anyway, one evening the conference ran late. It was dark, lightless, and raining again. We decided to stop and have a quick dinner and not be a burden on our host family. Wrong again! We did have dinner in a very beautiful and quaint little Thai restaurant in the mall...we knew how to get anywhere now, from the mall!!
It was after ten p.m. when we arrived at our host's home. Quietly, we used they key given to us....they gave us a key to their home!!!......and tiptoed inside. The dining room lights were on, the children waiting up for us.....Isabella and Valdi waiting patiently for us to come 'home'!
We felt terrible, but do you think they would allow that......not on your life! They said, "We must have dessert....it's is the children's favorite! They want you to enjoy."
Of course we were delighted. Late night dessert. Cheese even. Mmmmmm how would my night go later? Never mind that!
Isabella informed us that everything was all ready except for the last minute...... cooking the cheese.
Here goes and it IS delicious!!!
Cakes of Camembert cheese (for each person.....maybe one half to one cake)
egg beaten to dip the cheese cakes, finely ground bread crumbs to coat the cheese cakes.
Fry them until golden brown. Platter and serve with cranberry jam on top!
Fantastic dessert! Serve with hot coffee.....in Poland we used Jacob's which you can get in America in the ethnic section of the grocers.
Add wonderful conversation......hopefully with a hint of Polish accent and wal'la! A perfect evening with believers in Jesus the Messiah....of the Jews, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, Lutheran's, Methodists.....the Messiah of the world......only BELIEVE....you believe in God, believe ALSO in JESUS, who IS God in the FLESH.....the WORD made flesh (read the book of John, chapter ONE!
Shalom! Pok'oj!
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for friends who are believers in our Lord Jesus! I thank you for my Jewish friends in Poland, Germany, America and around the world. I thank you for my Chinese and Polish friends. Thank you that you allowed me to be part of their lives and them an important part of mine! I thank you for the Roma we worked with in Poland. You have blessed us with many brothers and sisters in the Family....the Family of God!
In Jesus' name I pray.....Omaine!
Poznan FlatsCathedral In Downtown Poznan, PolandWednesday, May 4, 2011
This Is The Day!
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Sunshine.....beautiful but not yet warm enough for me to sit out on the back porch. I envy the Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Yellow Finches, and Robins. They can abide the cold and still keep on singing.
I am always cold it seems.....but I still love the beauty all around me. As long as I can see everything from my toasty living room, kitchen, or bathroom.......I'm good.
I got my hair cut last Wednesday in preparation for summer.....too soon, maybe! Oh well, it's done and it looks very different! Want to see it anyone?
Ok, I'll add it anyway......what do ya' think? Short and silver (??) I hope!
This IS the day that the Lord has made......I will rejoice and be glad!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for this day. I spend it in awe of You!
Sunshine.....beautiful but not yet warm enough for me to sit out on the back porch. I envy the Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Yellow Finches, and Robins. They can abide the cold and still keep on singing.
I am always cold it seems.....but I still love the beauty all around me. As long as I can see everything from my toasty living room, kitchen, or bathroom.......I'm good.
I got my hair cut last Wednesday in preparation for summer.....too soon, maybe! Oh well, it's done and it looks very different! Want to see it anyone?
Ok, I'll add it anyway......what do ya' think? Short and silver (??) I hope!
This IS the day that the Lord has made......I will rejoice and be glad!
Prayer:
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