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.

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.

The past two weeks have been, unusual…for lack of a better word.  My grandmother had shown signs of a stroke and she was the primary care giver to my grandfather who really couldn’t even stand up without help.  My mom lives with them, but works full time.  So, I gathered up the kids and left to help.  I spent a week there helping my grandmother and mother.  We worked on arrangements for a long term facility and spoke with an attorney about those arrangements. 

There were so many unanswered questions, but, through this, I was able to pray with my grandmother.  We stood in the hallway and prayed to the Lord for answers and guidence.  Something I had never done with her before. My children witnessed the Lord’s provision when the long term care facility let us know that the “home” closest to my grandmother which never has room available, just happened to have a bed for my grandfather.  And not only that, but that they would waive fees usually required to place a patient.  At that point, it was time to get back home to my husband…

When I arrived home, I was contacted by my stepmother.  My father had been put into the hospital with an intestinal blockage and a possible heart problem.  He had emergency surgery. 

That same week, my husband was notified that a close family friend…actually, his godfather (he was raised Catholic), had passed away.  He had cancer that had spread through his body very quickly. 

As I have shared this with friends, they ask me how I am keeping it together, and I just have one answer.  I trust so I won’t crumble!  I have such peace about it all.  My life is God’s.  What He does with it, is His choice.  I know that He will work all things out for the good of anyone who trusts in Him.  And, I trust Him!  Everyday, I see the Lord working  and I know that He is real.  He is alive.  He is working in my life and in others lives around me.  And, if you don’t know this already…He wants to be a part of yours.  God is good to provide, He is faithful to provide, and He is worthy of our praise!  God bless you.

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?”

Four generations at Christmas 2007

Thought I would post this photo of my family…

Interestingly, I went to their website where I was able to read comments left by the website visitors.  It always amazes me that so many people calling themselves Christians will try and make their point about hateful comments with hateful comments.  It is just so heartbreaking that Christians allow themselves to be taken over by emotions that cause them to lash out in a hateful tone.  It misrepresents God, and what God stands for. 

I think it is time for all Christians to stand up for what is right.  Based on what God says is right, and do it the way God has shown to be the right way to do it.  You can not make your point heard when you are insulting a person, or demanding they take your view, or screaming in their face, or calling them horrible things.  This type of behavior pushes people away from God, not to Him. 

With that said, I think this ad is very well done.  I hope it makes people think about what could have been, what could be, if all children had the opportunity to come into the world.

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.

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

It is well written and a definite read for anyone pushing harsh criticism on G.W. Bush.  Enjoy!