There is only One....

There is only One......  One God that we can trust in everything.  One Lord and Savior that we can rely on.  One Spirit that is present to answer prayer. One being that knows the plan for our days; our lives.

Sometimes it takes me a long time to learn a lesson.....

There were many lessons learned in this past week, and I am so thankful to God that the answers all pointed right to Him.

Reality, gave me some tough reminders this week.  I was harshly reminded not to trust in human kind.

People in our lives will always let us down at one point or another.  I happen to be an exceptionally sensitive soul, that gets very 'rocked' by let-downs.  I allow people to get so close to my heart, so informed of my hopes and dreams, that they know all of me.....  Then, when a person that I have opened up to, disappoints me or hurts me, I end up crushed.  

This has happened to me three times, in just the past year, the most recent of which was this week....

But this time was different....  I spent hours, literally, praying, throughout the night that it happened.  I prayed for clarity, and strength, I prayed for vision.  I prayed for peace in my heart.  I prayed and prayed as I cried and cried....

And the tears and prayers were not just about what happened that night, but about all of the trials that I have faced in the past year.  These tears needed to flow, and these prayers needed to be said, over and over...

The lesson learned by me that night, finally, was that we cannot put all of our trust in another human, we should not hang all of our hopes on another human, we cannot rely fully on another human; for we will always get hurt.  I was reminded, in a very BOLD way though, that there is someone that we can trust and hope in, and rely on, etc.; and that is our wonderful, God! 

Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This song sums it all up.....

"Trust In You" by

Lauren Daigle 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_aVFVveJNs
We must "lay it all down at His Feet".  The only place that we leave all of our burdens, and be fully heard, fully received, and return with Peace, is at the Feet of God!

"I need Your rest"  The only way that we can find total rest and comfort, is in the Word of God, and the presence of the Spirit which is received when we open up to him for help or comfort! 

"King of the Fight"  Of Course!  Jesus has lived this whole earthly battle!   He knows what it is like!  He knows the struggles, and the hurt, and the disappoints from those around you!  He is the King of the Fight! Who better to turn to during each and every struggle, then the one who has experienced them all! 

"No matter what I face, You are by my side" 
He is the companion that is with us, all the time, no matter what! 

"You know what tomorrow brings" Disappointments of today, lead to Joy tomorrow.  God knows the plan.  God has reasons for each thing that happens to us!  We just have to trust Him! 
"You are my strength and comfort" 
"You are my steady hand" 
"I will trust, I will trust in You"

Steep Mountains of Life

Challenges of life. Daily Parenting Hardships. Arguments. Exhaustion. 

These are just a few of the many things that are trying to pull me down lately.  Life goes through valleys and mountains; times of needing to climb, and times of even, easy roads. Sometimes the journey is 'hilly', with constant small ups and small downs that need to be navigated. And sometimes, the terrain is so difficult that is doesn't seem like you will make it....

When I'm in one of those roller coaster type seasons of life, I get so tired; so mentally tired!  The constant twists and hikes in the road, unexpected and uneven, really wear on me. 

Luckily, I know in my heart, that all of the trials of this life, will someday be over.  That there is a promised destination, that will be 'smooth sailing'..... :) 

That thought alone, makes me smile!  Envisioning a sailboat on a perfect sea, coasting along in beautiful, perfect sunshine.....  That is certainly one of the ways that I imagine Heaven to be! 

Today, as I was feeling overwhelmed by everything in life, God sent me this wonderful tune, on the radio: 

"Long Way Home", By Steven Curtis Chapman 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1p-QfgkLow

Here are some of the lyrics that I like best: 
"But I had no way of knowing, just how this journey could be" 
"But I know we're gonna make it" 
"And I know sometimes it feels like we're going the wrong way" 
"It's just a long way home" 

"My heart gets so heavy with the weight of the World sometimes" 
" I can hardly wait for the day I get to lay it all down" 

"And when we can't take another step, The Father will pick us up and carry us in his arms" 

It most certainly is a 'Long Way', a long road, to our Heavenly home.  There is so much to be done as we journey there. But the journey should be cherished.  The trials should remind us that God is in charge.  And the best thing to remember, day in and day out, is the "When we can't take another step, the Father will pick us up and carry us in his arms"!

May you have Peace today, knowing that you are never alone in your struggles; and may you be reminded that someday, you will lay all your burdens down forever! 

Blessings! 

Sparkle

I was very fortunate, when writing this post, to be sitting next to a pool, relaxing, and reading a book... :)

As I sat there, taking in each second of peace, and each word read.... I came upon a portion of the book, about "losing your sparkle", and realized that is what had temporarily happened to me....

I had been wondering what happened to my zeal for writing, over the past 3 weeks, and I finally realized today, that it was definitely the devil, the "thief" spoke of in John 10:10, that had put a stop to my progress...

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

You see, first I watched the numbers of readers of my Blog go down (probably because of Holiday busy-ness, now that I think about it), and I got discouraged.   Then, I watched someone else in my life get published in magazines, multiple times, without ever wanting that in her life, or pursuing publication; and I have been trying for almost a year to get my writing into various magazines....

The devil had put me on a 'pitty party' for a bit....   But thank God that I snapped out of it today!!   Thank you Lord for the peace to reflect on what was happening, and to feel and find my "sparkle" once again!!

Now I am reviewing my promotion of this Blog, and realizing that I had begun to slack in that area.  And, I am feeling foolish for allowing envy to creep in and overshadow the success of a very deserving woman!  I know in my heart that God's timing ALWAYS prevails, so I will be published when HE ok's it!

I am so thankful to be reminded, once again, that Jesus came, and suffered here on Earth, so that we all may have LIFE and have it ABUNDANTLY! 

May you be reminded always, of your Sparkle, and remember all that Jesus Christ endured, so that His people may live abundantly!!

Christmas Blessings

Written in 12/2015

Just last evening, I was working on a Blog Post, and got almost done with it.  I was going to finish and post tonight, but....I received a true Christmas Blessings today, and I need to write about it! 

My during-the-week job is in a music dept. at a High School. If you've read my Blog before, you know what a large part Music plays in my life! This job is challenging, and exhausting, but it is such a great fit for me! Each year as they graduate, I am sad to see them go, because I have grown to know them, and am so proud to have been a part of their HS experience! 

Sometimes, in the midst of the school year hustle and bustle, it feels like my job is thankless. Sometimes it feels that noone notices the many little things that I take care of "behind-the-scenes"... Today though, that feeling was proven so very wrong! 

I was surprised with a Christmas gift from the Concert Band and Concert Choir kids. This was not just an ordinary Christmas gift though... It was one of the most thoughtful gifts that I have ever received!  

Let's start with all of the food.... It might look like an odd gift to you all, but to me, it is an amazing sign of how much they all care for me! You see, in November, I tested allergic to 24 foods. Most of which are very common! So, the young ladies that chat with me daily, have been listening to me say how "hungry" that I have been, because there is so much that I cannot eat! 

These girls had asked me for a list of those 24 forbidden foods, saying that they would keep their eyes open for things that I could eat...  So, several students took that list to Target, and cross checked ALL ingredients in each one of those items shown above to find out that they were OK for me to eat! When they were given to me, the student said "We don't want to see you 'hungry' any more!" 

Then, the flowers... 

The students went to the trouble of asking other staff members what my favorites were, and they got it right! This is one of the most beautiful and festive arrangements that I have ever received! 

There's more...They also got me a Gift Card to Taco Johns (the only fast food place from which I can eat items off their menu) AND a Gift Card to a Nail Salon, so that I can partake in some pampering. 

Lastly, they signed the card "Thanks for everything you do! We wouldn't be able to do this without you! Love, Concert Band I and Concert Choir".  

Wow, I am feeling so so blessed! The students have given me such an amazing gift; to know that they care, and that they listen, and that they appreciate me. I am almost speechless, with nothing but a grin on my face and so much joy in my heart!!!

Another way that the students touched my heart today, that they aren't even aware of, is this....   Earlier today, I was wrapping, and making grocery lists, and mailing, and cleaning, and more....  And I must admit, this thought actually crossed my mind 'I hate Christmas'. Now, please don't get upset with me; I don't truly hate Christmas, I love it, but the socially acceptable requirements of Christmastime can get really exhausting! That is where I was at, mentally, today. 

All of those feelings melted away instantly, when I received this loving, thoughtful gift! 

I guess this gift was accompanied by some much needed reminders to me: 

1. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.   Love never fails.   1 Corinthians 13:4-8

2. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7


3. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Acts 20:35 

4. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  
Colossians 3:14-16 
 
May you all be deeply Blessed this Christmas, and may you be reminded of the true spirit of Christmas, spreading love and Christmas joy to those around you! 

Mascara

Last Sunday, as I was rehearsing before services with the Worship Band, I found myself frantically searching through, and then emptying, my purse, in search of mascara.  You see, it is not uncommon for me to leave the house on any given morning, without having completed that finishing touch.   

I am usually running behind, just that tiny amount of time that it takes to apply mascara....

So, on most days, you could find 2 or 3 tubes of mascara in my purse (waiting to be applied at the first available moment). But last Sunday, there were none. 

I looked at myself in a compact mirror, and thought "Ugghh!  I really need mascara today!"  And, since I had already looked all through my purse and my vehicle, I didn't know what to do....

Well, we finished rehearsal unusually early.   I said to the other ladies "I have time, I am going to run to the grocery store to get some mascara."

I did.   I looked around that store for 5 minutes, and then asked a clerk, who responded "We don't carry any makeup items."   Bummer!   As I walked out to my vehicle, I thought 'There is a convenience store/gas mart nearby.  I will try there'....   So, I drove there.  Looked around for a bit.  Then, asked for help, and the individual replied "we haven't carried mascara for a while." 

Running low on time before the 1st church service at which I needed to sing, I felt it necessary to go back to the church (**sigh**)  without mascara....

Once back at the church, I dug through my purse once more, hoping for a tube of mascara to appear.   It did not.   I then went into the church, and took my normal spot up front.  It was time to sing.  Honestly, I felt somehow naked up there.  I couldn't shake the thought that 'No one here has ever seen me without mascara before.  I must look Ill or tired.  What will people think'....

I was very self-conscious for those first 4 minutes up front....  But then, the band began to play,  the music filled my heart, and my voice rang out in praise to God.  I was suddenly taken, mind and soul, to the place that I cherish most; the place in my heart where nothing is occurring but lifting up beautiful music to the Lord.   When I am singing with the worship band, I feel more free than anywhere else, and more connected, on a direct line, to the Lord, than any other time. 

I sang through the services.  Greeted many people, and smiled a lot.  I praised my God to the height of my ability; as I LOVE to do! 

It wasn't until I got home, and glanced in the mirror, that I remembered that I did not have mascara on.....   In that moment,  in front of the mirror, I was boldly reminded that God does not care how I appear during worship.  No one else really does either.  What the congregation is used to, and what helps them worship, and what feeds my soul more than any other praise, is singing unto the Lord!  
So why had I wasted even a moment looking for mascara? 

That morning, I had forgotten many things.  I had forgotten the reason I was there; to praise Him.  I had forgotten that the Lord only cares that you come before him and worship, NOT in what state you do so!  There is no requirement, none whatsoever, to appear before God and praise His Holy name!  

Apparently, I was out of sync with God.  I had put emphasis on something material, when the only emphasis having any business being on my heart that day was Praise of my Savior! 

May you be reminded by my story today, to praise God in all places, in all ways, and in all physical appearances.  Because, He loves our praise in every way given! 

Prayer:
Thank you Lord, for helping me see, for reminding me, that you will hear our voice and accept our praise, anytime, any way, and in any form that we offer it to You, mascara or not, ! Amen.

Psalm 27:4 NIV

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

Crazy!

Sometimes life can get just plain CRAZY!

For 48 hrs. (well, we did sleep some, of course), I have had many many boys running through my house! Neighborhood boys, of all ages.....seriously ages 4 through maybe 13.....

Nerf wars galore, unbelievable amounts of jerky & Gatorade consumed!  I have never seen a whole pan of rice crispy bars eaten, before they even hardened up.....

This type of FUN makes me smile! I am so very happy that there are tons of kids around, in our neighborhood, to hang out with my boys!   But.....sometimes it is overwhelming..... to try to be cleaning, or Blogging, or cooking, or even just plain thinking through something, with the craziness around.... :)  These boys can get SO loud, and SO energized!!

But, It was all brought into perspective today, when one of my boys spiked a fever, very suddenly, of 104..... I can't get it to go away with meds, he looks so very uncomfortable! :(  The house is much more quiet now.   There are still other boys around, with my youngest, but the noise level is dulled, per my instruction.

So here I sit, in silence, able to put my thoughts together to Blog, but realizing, that I would much rather have the CRAZY laughter and joy of them all, filling my house!  Regarding parenting, people often say "Quiet usually means their up to something", but in this instance, quiet means that one of the 'crew' is not well.  Which is a bummer for everyone! 

As I thought about the vast volume difference in my home, I kept thinking about Psalm 100, Verses 1-2 

      On your feet now—applaud God!
     Bring a gift of laughter,    
     sing yourselves into his presence.

Oh how I wish that my children were always 'on their feet' bringing laughter before God!  It is tough to keep up with them when they are well, but even more tough to watch them lay around, not feeling well!   I feel very blessed to have a home that is welcoming to other children!  I know that I am fortunate to have the opportunity to overhear their laughter.  

I don't really know where I am going with this post.....other than wanting to say....   Thank you God for all the days of running feet on my floor or in my yard.   Thank you Lord for the gift of children, who bring laughter to the World.  Thank you Lord for great friends, and for fun days. May you bless Your children with more healthy days than ill, more laughter than tears, and more time spent singing unto You, than anything else!  Amen. 

Another Year

Well, I had a birthday this past week...  (No, I am not going to share which # ) ;)

Over the past several years, I have really dreaded birthdays.  I had been of the opinion that I was getting 'too old' to accomplish all that I wish to...

But this birthday was different.  This time, I look at all the amazing things that the Lord has done in my life, over just the past month, and I can't help but wonder what is to come in this new year of my life.   God has me very in awe of His work in my life right now!   All of the avenues that keep appearing, unexpectedly, in which I can share my faith stories and minister to others, are perfectly aligning with my internal need to share the good news of Jesus! 

I have been in a period of "waiting" (see previous post titled "waiting to minister"), but I can feel the beginning of my time to "GO"!  I am so excited for all that is to come! 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  
Isaiah 43:18-19

The Lord is doing a new thing in me, and he may be in you too.   Watch for the signs, listen for His voice!  Know that He is capable of making streams in a wasteland, whenever and wherever He wishes! God's timing is not the same as our timing.  The wait is certainly tough, but the start of the mission is so exciting, that it was well worth the wait! 

Blessings to your week! 

"Selah"

Many times in the Psalms, the word "Selah" is used. 

I am currently leading a Women's Bible Study group that is

learning about letting things go; letting go of our controlling 

nature, and realizing that God is in control.   Last week, we 

came upon the word "Selah", and our books said that it 

means "to pause and listen" or "to stop and think".


When in a part of our study focused on "listening", we 

decided that we wish to know more about this Hebrew 

word.....

Below, I share what I learned when I dug deeper, hoping to

find wisdom from this word, "Selah", that was used 71 times 

in the Psalms. 

It appears that Selah was a musical term. This term occurs only in the Psalms, and elsewhere only 3 times in Habakkuk. This Hebrew music term is connected with the use of the temple music.

סֶלָה (çelâh, seh'-law): suspension (of music), i.e. pause

Selah: Rest, silence.This seems to have been a short pause in the singing of the Psalms.

Pause.
Easton's Bible Dictionary defines it as: as word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, about seventy-four times in all in Scripture. Its meaning is full of doubt. Some interpret it as meaning "silence" or "pause;" others, "end," "a louder strain," "piano," etc. The LXX. render the word by daplasma i.e., "a division."

Well then...That's clear as mud....

For whatever reason, I expected to find a more concrete answer when studying this word.  I was happy to find that it is a musical term, as I am lover of all things music, but honestly, I was hoping for more insight into pausing and listening in life....

It is difficult to pause and listen, whether it be to what your loved ones have to say, or listening for the prompts of God, it is difficult in this fast paced life, to pause to listen!  I noticed that "Selah" is usually at the end of a phrase, in the Psalms.  I can now understand, both musically and spiritually, why the psalmist would want us to "pause" and let the beautiful words of the Psalm 'sink in', so to speak. If the Psalms are read in a hurry, much of the meaning and spirituality of the words is lost. 

Well, now that I think about it, isn't the same true with much of life?  If we don't pause, rest, stop and think, we miss much of the meaning!  The best memories are made in moments of rest, pause, or attention.  In fact, we wouldn't remember the moments at all, if we didn't pause to capture them! 

So, whether you are hoping to be a better listener, wishing for more restful times, or waiting to hear God's instruction for your life, be sure to work "Selah" into your everyday life!   

Pause, and listen to all around you. Don't miss any moments! 

Rush

I feel weak.

The pace of this life that I live, has me exhausted!  This past week, I had so much going on; between my own obligations, my day job, my ministry, my kids' schedules and events.....There were a few days that I didn't get lunch, and I was going full speed, every day, from 6am-10pm, without even sitting down! 

I am willing to bet that many of you have had times like that. Sometimes, when we over-commit ourselves and our family members, and devote much more time to 'perceived obligations', than to taking care of ourselves and our loved ones; we can feel major burn out. 

This past week, I thought I was fighting the burn out well.  I was already 3 very full, busy days into the week, and felt calm and collected, and able to keep on moving forward through this crazy busy life!   Then, it happened..... My son's school called, as I was going about my day job diligently.....to remind me that I was late for a very important meeting!  A meeting that I had asked for, and prayed for, for 4 years.  There were 5 professionals waiting for me, a 20 minute drive away, and I had forgotten all about it! Completely forgot.....

As I ran from my desk to my car, and called in backups; I felt more rushed and exhausted than ever!  I felt panic and I felt powerless.   I felt embarrassed, and like such a failure, for having forgotten about such a very important meeting! 

I jogged into the meeting, short of breath, and profusely apologized from the humbled, embarrassed depth of my heart!  The meeting went well, and thank God that the individuals in attendance all waited for me to arrive!  This meeting truly had been in the making for 4 years....

As I left the meeting, pleased with the outcome.....I felt an empowerment come over me.  It was stemming from the realization that I was so mentally weak, from 'life' the days before, that I had "checked out" on the most important event in my week!  At that point, I felt strength and motivation overcome me...... I looked back at all of the 'busy-ness' on my calendar.....all of the 'perceived obligations' that stole my time from me; and I prayed for God to give me the strength to discern the difference between the events on my calendar that are truly "optional" and the events that are non-negotiable. 

Right in that time of weakness and deep embarrassment; the Lord made clear to me, once again, which items on my calendar are worth the "rush" associated with making them happen, and which are not.   The strength within me, to say "No" to the 'perceived obligations', and always an emphatic YES, to love, proud parenting, and God's guidance, was renewed! 

Here I sit, typing with pride, as a woman, renewed with strength and the power to stand up for what's important to me!  

I certainly found strength in the weakness that God put before me this week, and I look forward to using that strength to slow the 'Rush', and focus on what's truly important!

May your upcoming week be full of Strength, and the power to stand up for what is important to you! 

Patience

Patience is a very difficult thing to have!  In this very fast paced life, waiting for something that we want, can be excruciating! 

God tells us in many places in the Bible to "Have Patience".  Here are a few that we are going to look at today: 

Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

Luke 8:15
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. 

Romans 8:25 makes me remember being pregnant. The actual baby could not be seen, but we waited for it with patience.  Conception sometimes takes patience; the act of birth takes patience...   In all of that waiting and hoping, for what we do not see, we are to be patient.   But it's very difficult to wait for the positive on the pregnancy test, or to wait to meet that baby that's growing in a tummy, or to wait to see if the baby is healthy after birth....  These are times when we have no other choice than to be patient.  Nothing that we do can speed up the process in any of these instances, only God himself can make things happen. 

I believe that calm patience is an important factor in the equation of life, and in receiving what we've hoped for! 

Luke 8:15 makes me think of growing a garden and a flower bed. Both take much patience and a lot of time.  You must start the seed, and if it is maintained with all the right "good stuff", it will grow into a beautiful plant full of vegetables or beautiful flowers! 

As I began to think about that scripture, I was first convinced that described my role as a mother.  To plant my children in 'Good Soil', and keep patiently feeding them the right knowledge, love, and Scripture, so that they may grow into prosperous, healthy adults.   

That is certainly true, but I also realized, that even as fully grown adults, we must plant ourselves in 'Good Soil', and maintain our health, both physically and spiritually.  We must continually learn, and seek knowledge.  In order to continue to 'bear fruit', at home, work, in marriage, at church, and in every other avenue of life, we must patiently care for ourselves appropriately.   

In this time of transition in my own life, I am finding graceful patience very important, and  I thank God every moment that I am 'planted' among other healthy, happy, and caring 'flowers', and that I am constantly fed by His word, and by the wonderful people He has placed around me! 

Thank you Lord, for making your 'Good Soil' available to us every day, to keep us growing in faith, and blooming through life! 

Here's a great song, called "Grow"........Enjoy! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vipcq_63gJE