“Prayer is the Voice of Faith.”-Our Daily Bread

I started a devotional today.  My husband has been using it for some months now, but I usually just read the Bible.  I noticed how he just loves his time with this daily devotional, how he wakes up every morning and turns on his side lamp before even getting out of bed, how he seldom misses a day, and I thought, “there could be something to this little devotional book.” 

The lesson today was about faith and prayer.  I read about God’s call on Abrams life.  How God asked him to leave everything Abram knew and follow His, that is God’s, plan for Abram’s life.  I had read it before, so it was familiar to me.  But at the end of the devotional, were the simple words, “Prayer is the Voice of Faith.”  And I had to think, when we pray we are acting out a faith in God that He will answer our prayer.  So why do we so doubt after we have faith.  Like, “God, I really need a healing and I know you are the only one that can give me what I need.”  Then, we tell our friends, “I asked God for a healing, but ya know…I don’t know if it’s His will or whatever.  Maybe He will, but maybe He won’t.”  I mean really, friends!!!  We need to pray with faith and with certainty that whatever we ask in His name we will receive by faith.  Let’s be real here though, don’t be asking the Lord for the lotto numbers.  Or the ok to marry the guy that is an atheist, or the ok to live with someone to “get to know them better”.  We need to be within the will of the Father to receive what the Father has for us.  Our prayers must be in line with what is righteous and good for us.  And, in our heart we must be willing to give up what He asks us to give up.  If our prayer is for healing, maybe you need to give up what is causing our illness; such as smoking or drinking, or drugs, we must be willing to completely give it up.  Just as Abram left his land, his comfort, to obey God’s will.

God bless you today.

 

Lord, please….what are You doing with Me?

This year has been so difficult.  You know, if have read my previous posts, that I am a person who tries to keep focused on God’s plan and what He is doing in my life.  I know that all He chooses to do is for our good.  Yet, I am having a “why me” moment.  And that bugs me, because I always tell everyone during their “why me” moments, “why not you?”.  I believe it too.  Why not me?  Because I’ m a good person.  That’s why.  Oh, but the Bible says, no one is good but the Lord.  So I can’t use that excuse.  So let’s call it what it is.  I don’t want to go through this anymore!  I am getting tired.  I am running the race and running the race and I feel like my electrolytes are depleted and my body fat is zero, (ok, the zero part wouldn’t be so bad.)  My feet won’t move, not one more step.  So Lord, Please!  What You doing with me? 

My body, my flesh, says give up.  My flesh says to stop and surrender to the world.  The flesh says the world is stronger than my faith. But I know the Truth that is in Christ.  And what does the Truth say, what does the Bible say?  Keep running, keep your eyes on the Lord, don’t give up, fight the good fight with the only thing you can , the Word of God.  And I must.  Because in the end, it matters.

 

I have too much stuff…

A while ago I wrote about being a good steward of what the Lord provides.  That includes time, money, talents, etc.  This week I have come to the realization that I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF!!  How is it that we can accumulate so much?

This week I started a project with my kids.  We needed to get our schedule on track after taking on watching a one year old to earn extra money.  We had tried this and that, but it just isn’t working.  We need the money right now, and so I prayed that the Lord would give me the right schedule.

Ok, so to make things more efficient…I decided to go through the house and evaluate each area to see if we were using it correctly.  I looked at the bathroom cupboards and drawers and noticed they were completely disorganized.  Toothpaste was far away from the toothbrushes, hair brushes were not even near the rubber bands and hair ribbons, etc.  So I made a layout of the bathroom and assigned ”areas” to it.  Now there is a hygiene and ‘getting ready’ area, cleaning supply area,  paper products area, and extra supplies that haven’t been opened area.  You get the idea.  Well, I have been doing this through the whole house and I find that we just have too much.

So here is the plan…I am going to go through every closet and drawer and room until I have a pile of stuff to donate.  I am going to donate that stuff and then pray daily that the Lord will keep us all from adding anything unnecessary to this house for a year.  At which time, I will evaluate it again.  Why do we need more than eight dinner plates, or maybe twelve if you have big dinners?  All those plastic cups you get with fountain drinks…do we really need them?  Rubber bands from newspapers, or twist ties you never use? 

This may seem like a silly post to you, but the Lord asks us to live in peace, right?  How can we live in peace when we look around at all the stuff and the clutter, and think…”What can I do with all of this stuff?”

 

Just a random post…

Four generations at Christmas 2007

Thought I would post this photo of my family…

 

More Than Dreams…

My family and I just watched two parts of this wonderful documentary about people in Muslim countries turning their lives over to Jesus.  The following link is just part one of Kahlil’s story.  He is an Arab man training to be a fighter for Allah.  Just an amazing true story of Jesus showing himself to a man desperately seeking the true God.

We take so many freedoms for granted here in the US.  We walk around with our Bibles, go freely to church on Sunday, and we are able to speak the name of Jesus without the threat of being killed.  As I sat in my living room watching this video, tears in my eyes, I couldn’t help but think of how many people in other countries die today for their faith in Christ.  Let us all pray for their strength and courage.

God bless you all.

 

Good Steward – Time, Money, & Resources

I believe that the Lord intends us to be good stewards of all that He gives to us. Which would include time, money, and resources. Wasting our time is a big problem for Americans. We have so many sources of “time stealers”. Talking on the phone, tv, and computers can all be a problem for us if we do not use our time wisely. These are areas I definitly need to keep in check.
I have found that scheduling my day helps me to be a better steward of the time God has given me.
I recomend the assistance of Titus2.com in helping you learn how to schedule your household, your personal time, and your homeschool life. I have used their manuals; Manager’s of Their Homes and Manager’s of Their Chores, to greatly transform my use of time.

Check them out at http://www.titus2.com

 

I am so in awe of my God…

Everyday the Lord shows me his amazing love for me and my family.  I am just in awe of what He chooses to do for us on a daily basis. He is so worthy of our praise and I shall praise Him everyday!

If you don’t know the kind of God I speak about, one who continues to love you and will never leave your side, follow this link to learn more.

Lord, it is my wish today to just thank you for your amazing grace.  You continue to just absolutely amaze me.  I pray that anyone reading this who does not know this kind of amazing love that You will just touch their heart, Lord.  Cause them to have a desire to know more.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

Let Your Light Shine….

Have you ever noticed that you can tell when someone is a Christian?  You meet someone in the store, or at the doctor’s office, and you just know they are a Christian? 

When I first became a Christian, it seemed like everyone that came my way was  a Christian also.  At the time, about five years ago, I thought it was a just a coincidence.  But now, I know that God actually put them in my path and continues to do so. 

I was studying my Bible last night when I came across the part of  Jesus’ ministry where He is telling the people gathered about the light within.   Luke 11:33-36 “No man, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a cellar, nor under a basket, but on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.  The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.   Therefore see whether the light that is in you isn’t darkness.   If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.”  (emphasis added) 

I notice the light shining in many Christians that I come in contact with.  I see it in their eyes, and I hope they can see it in mine.  As this world continues to become darker and darker, Christian’s light must shine brighter and brighter. 

Ask the Lord today, to refresh your light and fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you can be a bright light in today’s darkness.

God bless you today! 

 

Young ones standing…

Our 12 year old daughter had a major break through this weekend.  It was so exciting for her.  She was circling around singing, “I have no-oh th-oughts, I have no-oh th-oughts!”  Ok, so to the average person, she might have sounded crazy.  My husband looked at me like, “honey…is she ok?”

To give you some background, our daughter has been struggling with worry and trust for as long as I can remember.  She is afraid of the dark, she is afraid of her ears being touched, she doesn’t try new food, she is afraid of heights, and she is desperately afraid of the orthodontist. 

Our orthodontist is amazing.  He is gentle, kind, and has never hurt her in any way.  In fact, she has never felt anything he has done with her braces.  But days, and sometimes weeks, before her appointment she starts worrying.  This is not ordinary worry.  It is complete distraught, physically sick, crying, losing sleep worry.  Every time the appointment comes around, we pray and seek God’s strength.  She knows to trust God, but allows the enemy to keep her in fear.

Ok, so back to the break through.  Our daughter’s orthodontist appointment is coming up.  And, as she always does in the evening…she is taking a shower.  Which is where she normally ‘thinks’.  But tonight she comes running down the stairs with a glow that can not be explained singing her little song. 

When asked what she was so excited about, she just says, “I rebuked Satan today!  He started making me feel scared about my dentist appointment.  And I just said, ‘Satan, if God is for me who can be against me?  I am a child of God and you can not tempt me anymore!’ “, and she finished with, “I told him off Mom!”  She has not once thought about her appointment since that night.  I can not wait to see what God does with her new trust in Him.

I can not help but think of the verse, Matthew 18:2-3 “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuradly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Her excitement, her smile, she didn’t care what anyone thought.  She was just innocently trusting God.  In a way, I envied her.

Just wanted to share…

 

Simply Pride. (Just my thoughts for the day.)

Today I was having devotion time with my children, ages 12 & 13.  We are studying Joyce Meyer’s book, Life Without Strife.  I have read the book, but thought it would be a good book to discuss with the kids.  Each morning at 6:30, while we have breakfast, I read aloud through a chapter and we discuss the questions at the end. 

As I was reading today about the “doors” which allow strife to enter, we came to the door of pride.  The book explains how judgement, criticism, complaining, contentions, it all comes from the door of pride.  So, I’m sitting there reading this to the kids while inside I am completely convicted.  I’m thinking this book is a good book for the kids, and I have already read it, but yet I need to hear this just as much as anyone.  Convicted again!

I love to be convicted like that, because it sets me in my place.  When I get to thinking I am “doing something for someone else”, the Lord gives me a “kick” to say, “You need this just as much.”  It keeps me humble.  But, I wasn’t always able to see this.  I used to blindly think I was helping people see the error of their ways.  I would set out books I thought my husband should read. (Still a little tempted to do that.)  I would go around with many “words of wisdom”, and think I was helping people so much.  But, as I age in my Christian walk, I have learned of how little I actually know. 

Pride is a deceitful thing.  It makes you think you know, when you probably do not.  Just yesterday, I was going to set a book out for my husband, but the Holy Spirit stopped me.  The good thing is, I listened!  I am still tempted by this pride, this simple pride.  But I am learning, if  I think I am right, I better check with God.

God bless you all today.