Word Filled Wednesday...a cord...

 Taking my oldest daughter wedding dress shopping on Saturday, so I have weddings on the mind!!

Things I love...

Today I started a new journal. I LOVE a new journal. I LOVE seeing all those empty pages, just waiting for me to fill them up with God's word, my thoughts on God's word, my prayers, and yes sometimes my rantings! As I begin a new one, I wonder what adventure will God take me on this time. How will I be different when I fill up the last page? Will I be better? Will I be the same? I can only hope that with each page I write God will be working in my life!

	Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18

for such a time as this...

Esther 4:14b

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position

for such a time as this?” 

(NIV)

"And who knows whether you have not attained royalty 

for such a time as this?”

(NASB)

"Who knows if perhaps you were made queen  

for just such a time as this?” 

(NLV)

"Maybe you were made queen

for just such a time as this."

(The Message)

Not matter which translation this verse is read in, the message is unmistakably clear. Esther was there for such a time as this.

I've been pondering that phrase for a few weeks now. How can this relate to my life? God has made it clear to me that there are many instances in my life that I was put where I was for such a time as this.

10 years ago, our family was making preparations to set out on the first half of a six month journey. This journey was called The Goliath Project. Our church gave Brian their blessing for us to take this trip. We left September 4th headed to Carson City, NV,  our first stop on a prayer journey across this nation. Our goal to pray in all the state capitols. We prayed specifically for each state and for our nation.

 
7 days into our trip something awful happened...9/11! We were in California at the time, we reacted like much of the country, disbelief and fear and lots of prayer. Our initial reaction was we needed to get home, we longed for the familiar. However, God soon showed us that continuing on praying for our country was exactly what we needed to be doing. This was a big "for such a time as this" moment. Did our prayers save a nation like Esther's actions saved her people? No. But we were obedient and maybe someday God will show us just what our prayers did do!

In 2004, we were sure that God was moving us to move. We thought we found the perfect church in a small town in Iowa, we interviewed there and our whole family fell in love with the town. A few days later we got the call that they were going with the other guy. We were so disappointed, but we had another church interested in us and we continued to pursue them. We were sure they liked us and would ask to interview us...wrong again! The message from God was clear:

So we went on with life content to stay put for the time. A few months later, a family in our church experienced a gut wrenching tragedy. We were there "for such a time as this" in their lives. We cried with them, prayed with them and helped them move on in the midst of pain. Our church family rallied in an amazing way for this family. Would this family have made it through this time without us? Yes, but God allowed us to be part of something so powerful, "for such a time as this". Several months later the second church who had turned us down called us back and we have been in that church for 6 years now! God kept us in Colorado just  a bit longer "for such a time as this".

Those are two of many examples in my life of God placing my family somewhere "for such a time as this". How about you? Has God placed you somewhere for such a time as this? I think when we begin to look at things through God-colored glasses it becomes easier to see those times. God can use us in big and small ways. It could be as simple as letting that harried mom go first in the grocery line, or smiling at an elderly person in church or as big as giving someone a meal when they were hungry or comforting a family in the midst of sorrow. We may never know all the ways God uses us "for such a time as this", but won't it be fun someday to be given an account of those times that God used us! Let's just not be so caught up in our own lives that we miss these opportunities to be used by God and to be a blessing to others!

Be still...

Older...or is it??

Today is 5 Minute Friday, a time to write on a one word subject for 5 minutes, no editing allowed. I love this day, its fun to see where a certain word will take me!

Today's word is OLDER...

Go...

When I first saw the word today I was stumped about what to write about, older, how does that tie into the Bible. In school, on the news, in the media we are bombarded with this statement....the earth is older than several million years.

The earth is NOT older than several million years, it is not older than a million years, it is not older than 500,000 years. No the earth is not older than most people think. I believe it to be around 5 or 6 thousand years old.

I love Genesis, it is the basis for everything, it is the book of beginnings. God lists genealogies in there and according to the Bible the earth can not possibly be that old! I believe the Bible, it tells the truth, when it says the earth was created in 7 days, I believe it was created in 7 days. There was no evolution, God created everything and it was very good, He didn't need millions of year to get it right, just 7 days! So don't buy into the earth being older than it is!

Stop...

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day".

Genesis 1:5

 

Answers in Genesis has much more detail on this subject, check it out!

Word Filled Wednesday...All Good...

We need to remember that God sees all He creates as very good...even the smallest and unseen!

Trust in the Lord...

**First of all in interest of full disclosure, the idea for this picture is not my own! My daughter Abby has this as her profile picture and I took it and tweaked it.(with her permission of course) I also did not take the picture but my future son-in-law did. (good job Larry!)

This verse is very fitting for today, as we just loaded up our van with all of Abby's things for college. Last year she was at a one year Bible school in Texas, this year she will be at school with her sister in Minnesota. I pray for all my kids to trust in the LORD with ALL their hearts.

As they embark on another school year I pray this scripture for them, as they attend classes and as God show's them His plan for them, they need to trust in the LORD with ALL their hearts! 

As Abby decides just what direction to go with her major, may she trust in the LORD  with ALL her heart. 

As Ashley and Larry plan their March wedding, I pray they trust in the LORD with ALL their hearts, and that He would be the center of their lives.

As my son, Caleb begins the task of applying to colleges for next fall, he needs to trust in the LORD with ALL his heart! 

Life is such a great adventure when we allow Proverbs 3:5 to be lived out in our own lives!

Take some time today and read the rest of Proverbs 3...it's good stuff!!!

5 Minute Friday...New Every Morning

Ah...5 Minute Friday...the day I get to write for 5 minutes with no editing worries. Just me and my thoughts on one subject and 5 minutes to ponder about this one word. Today's word is.....

New…

 Start:

 

 Oh Lord...I've failed you again....

      But this I have to be excited about... Your compassions are new every morning! 

Oh Lord...why must life be so hard....

      But this I have to look forward too...Your compassions are new every morning!

No matter what the day holds, no matter what life throws our way...

      Your compassions are new every morning!

Lord you are awesome...you make all things new!

With the rising of the sun...Your compassions are new!

I have a fresh start everyday...thank you Lord!!!

I don't deserve your love, but you give it! 

     Your compassions are new every morning!

Each night as I drift to sleep with the worries of the day,                                                               You are there and You are excited because You know when I wake up refreshed...

     Your compassions are new!!! 

Thank you Lord for your word and your promise...

     Your compassions are new every morning!!!!! 

 Stop

 

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3:22-23

Word Filled Wednesday...seasons...

Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace. 

My version goes something like this:

There is a time to unpack and a time to pack 

(as Abby comes home from camp and leave for college)

A time to rest and a time to go 

(depending on my body, some days I am just still, but when I feel good I go!)

A time to talk and a time to listen 

(with my daughter home for a week, I need to listen and enjoy her experiences from the summer)

A time to laugh and a time to cry 

(a wedding and a graduation in the next year...I'll do both)

There are many seasons in life, its always good to accept your seasons and live in them. 

God gave them all to us!

got fruit...

What type of tree are you? 

5 Minute Friday...Beauty

 Here are the rules:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.

Link up found at Gypsy Mama.

Today's word is BEAUTY.
Begin:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty is only skin deep.

Sleep Beauty

Beauty and the Beast

These are all things that come to mind when I hear the word beauty. Most of these are sayings from  the world, stories from the world. What about scripture, what does it say about beauty?

....for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Those are two pretty powerful scriptures. It would seem that God does not believe beauty is only skin deep. He is not interested in whether or not we are put together just right on the outside. He is interested in what's on the inside. 

Oh, Lord am I beautiful on the inside? Is my heart full of you and willing to do your deeds? Or am I only concerned with the outside? Help me include you in my daily beauty routine. The glow I receive from you is even more beautiful that the glow I would get from any beauty product on the market today!

Stop


Wow, I am a slow writer, that five minutes just flew by! The scripture references for the verses I mentioned above are I Samuel 16:7 and Proverbs 30:31. (I am ok at remembering verses, not so good at remembering their addresses.)

My daughters who are beautiful because they both love Jesus and serve Him with their whole heart Just look at the joy on those faces! That is the kind of glow that only God can give a person!

Even without makeup these girls still are beautiful!

Word Filled Wednesday...Teach me your ways...

 

It's senior picture time, whether I'm ready for it or not, I have a senior, he's actually my last senior. My husband and I have prayed for him ever since the day we discovered we were expecting. Our prayer is that he will walk in the ways of the Lord, that he will walk in the truth, that he will praise the Lord and glorify His name forever! 

Teach me your way, O LORD,
   and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
   that I may fear your name.
 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
   I will glorify your name forever. 

Psalm 86:11-12

 

Back to School...With a Purpose

 It's back to school time. This is becoming a bittersweet expression for me. This is my last August with a child at home, for him back to school means we dust off the school desk and begin our last year of  homeschooling. For my daughters, it means moving from camp into their dorm rooms to continue their college education. For some of you, back to school will involve a yellow school bus and a trip to a public school. Whatever your means of schooling, one thing is clear, it is almost time to go Back to School! This means its time to buy new supplies, my favorite thing about August is new school supplies, I love freshly sharpened pencils, pointy crayons, a fresh notebook and unopened shiny new textbooks!! I will love them even after all my kids are done with school!

The Power of God Collection

I was so excited last week to receive a package in the mail that contained the above products. Dayspring has come out with a line of school supplies that have a pretty powerful message. I received the Power of God collection. I am excited to give these notebooks to my daughters, I am praying they will be daily reminders to them as they continue their college education. My youngest daughter dreams of being a missionary in a closed country and the notebook with the "This Message is Illegal" message on it will help remind her to pray for these countries and Christians. My oldest daughter is majoring in  Children's Ministry and I pray the message found in Romans 1:16 will be a daily inspiration to her as well. Not only will these products inspire my girls, but they will be a witness everywhere carry them.

Some of the other lines are Whatever is True, God Recycles and He has My Heart. Please check out these amazing products Dayspring offers and if you hurry they are having a sale, if you are like me sales are hard to resist!!

Don't just send you children back to school...do it with a purpose for HIM!!!

Please click above to go to the (in)spired deals website!! 25% off this month!!

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

I Peter 3:15

*Dayspring did not pay me for this review. I did receive the notebooks free in exchange for this review. I do strongly recommend this product, its a powerful witnessing tool!

The Body of Christ...

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 

I Corinthians 12:14

In the past week I have seen the Body of Christ working in my church family. It has been an awesome thing to witness. We had a funeral at our church on Wednesday and there were many hands that went into making this happen. Many of these people are behind the scenes, planning every detail right down to boxes of Kleenex placed strategically around the church. Food appeared in abundance in the kitchen, men moved tables and served as ushers, women worked tirelessly in the kitchen. All this to bless a family which many of them of them barely knew.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 

I Corinthians 12:12

Our church is preparing for its annual clothing drive, what a blessing to see piles of clothes showing up at the church at all hours. Next week there will be hours and hours put into sorting these clothes and making sure only the very best are offered to our community. These people do not do this job for recognition, but because they want to serve. They do not know the people who will show up at the clothing drive, but they love them anyway.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; 

if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 

I Corinthians 12:26

Sunday morning at 3:00 am a storm quickly passed through our town, winds in excess of 60 mph were recorded, 890 homes were without power from several hours, and branches and trees were down all over town. At church on Sunday morning, it was announced that there would be a group meeting at our church that afternoon to help clean up the mess from the storm. Many showed up and spent most of the day blessing people by helping clean up their yards. Some of the people helped were members of our church family, but several of them were people they did not know.

We are called to be Christ's hands, to serve those in need, whether we know them or not. When the Body of Christ functions as it should, amazing things happen! Not all of us can go out and pick up branches, but within the body of Christ there is a job for everyone! Find your place and don't hesitate, serve Him the best way you can!

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:27

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is the first scripture I ever memorized! My favorite verse is the third. I want to be like a tree planted by streams of water, I want to produce fruit in season. I do not want to wither, but rather prosper! I do not want to be like the chaff, blown away by the wind. 

Oh Lord, help me to delight in you, to meditate on your law, both day and night!!

 Psalm 1

Blessed is the man
   who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
   or sit in the seat of mockers.
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and on his law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
   Whatever he does prospers.

 ⁴ Not so the wicked!
   They are like chaff
   that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 ⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked will perish.