Praising God!

     I used to see God in the glory of the sunrise and sunsets, and in the majesty of the mountains but now, He's everywhere! I watch the little ants running to the "treasure" they've found and then back to their home to stash it away, never even aware of me looming over them! How much they are like people in our world! I've watched them and compared them in my meditations, they are so oblivious to me even being in "their" area, just as many people live their lives oblivious to God's presence and I wondered what God could see in us?
     In church yesterday we were singing praises, I was singing and meditating on the greatness of God, many times in instances like that, God communicates with me. This time He flashed a picture of all of those "ants" stopping in their race to gather goodies and turning in one accord and bowing(as all of the people were doing in praise), He said "See, this is why I love people". When we take time to stop our race, to praise God, to focus on Him, we become irresistible! He loves our praises!

It's a good day!

     It's a good day. Sometimes it's a challenge to see the good in the situation for me, I know some people are always praising God, but even in scripture it says to embrace our trials. So yes, some days are trials! I am one of those people that have a balance that seems easily shaken(I know being easily shaken is not a good way to be, and I long to grow more stable, however this is my current state of being), Lane is pretty well balanced all of the time! How does he do it?! I've wondered why God created hormones, mosquitoes, ticks and mean people! and a few other things, but that's a whole 'nother topic. I never know if I'm off balance because of hormones, sugar intake, lack of sleep, wrong focus, or what, but it does me make thankful for days like today when everything seems lined up well! Thank You Lord!
     We have survived Lane's first week of school and he is already being stretched and me too! I think it's good I'm not in the classes, they encourage you to "not" ask questions and I thrive on asking questions. We are to become like children and do you know of many healthy children that aren't questioning everything? So, I wonder how well I would do in a class where you're supposed to be seen and not heard, that's the setting I grew up in and I'm so thankful that I did learn to be considerate of others, however in a learning environment I would want the freedom to question. The questions aren't the issue stretching Lane, it's more the schedule!

Bear Fruit! Bring Glory to God~ John 15:4-8

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
  “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:4-8

     I asked my Lord how I can bear fruit, my world is very limited right now? He told me there is a season for all things. He doesn't expect to see fruit in the fall and winter, but when the spring comes followed by summer, there should be fruit aplenty! Sometimes we have to wait and that isn't always easy to do, but if we abide in Him and He abides in us, then we can trust and wait. It will happen in the right time.
     I've recently heard a message from our pastor, that most people that are suffering from depression are "out of God's will". I believe that and have done the same thing myself, but sometimes when you're out of God's will, it's hard to find your way back. Stop, ask, listen and then follow, you may have to ask more than once, but most likely you'll have to learn to listen. He will bring you back and then you will be part of the vine and then in your season, the fruit will be there.

Let's Go! (Sept 4, 2011)

Wow, what a beautiful day! It revives the spirit to have a day this beautiful! Windows open, cool breeze, hummers busy at the feeder, ripples dancing across the lake with the sun casting shining reflections! Geese flying overhead inviting with their honks to join them in their trek south~ my spirit dances within me and says let's go!

Choose life! (Deut 30:19)

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ... Deut 30:19 (this is one of the verses noted to myself in the flyleaf of my bible)

What to write!

I've found that it can be challenging to write when I actually have an audience! I have written a journal for myself for years, that was much easier! Now when I write I wonder what someone will think about the different statements or ideas I post, but if I'm going to keep posting anything I'm going to have to go back to the journal style, as if I'm just writing my thoughts for no special intended audience. I realize that everyone is on a different level of existence and understanding. It would be impossible to write something that appeals to everyone. If you find something here that you enjoy, I'm glad, if not, I regret it, but at least it didn't waste a great deal of your time, most of my posts are fairly short! =}

Warrior's Prayer

     I'm not saying that I walk in victory everyday, but I do find this prayer to help me overcome an unseen force that wants to hold me back either through emotions, thoughts or even physical pain. I've been reading this prayer every morning for a few weeks now and it is making a change in my life.
     Please try reading it daily, even if you can't focus on all of the words, I read it out loud in the room because there is an unseen enemy that needs to hear it as well as declaring it for yourself and to God. Lane ordered this somewhere online for me, so I'm not claiming credit for it, but now him and I both are reading it every morning.
     Recently I was going through a real battle with depression and tears(I didn't even know what I was depressed about or why the tears were rolling out of my eyes), but the first thought I had in the morning was a negative thought, something to the effect of "another long, empty, pointless day"....see how that is from the enemy? That thought held me in bed, until this prayer came back to mind!
     After reading it for a couple of weeks now, I could kind of hit some of the high points, and was able to repeat parts of it, touching on each part of the armor. Now my goal is to keep the idea of it with me throughout the day. Every time a negative thought hits me, I'm pulling out a part of the Warrior's prayer that applies (this will be a challenge, I'm assailed with negative thoughts).
     If this is an issue for you as well, please, just for an experiment, try reading this prayer out loud every morning for a few weeks, but when the battle against you intensifies, don't stop, that's when you need to repeat it again. This morning I awoke, had a few negative fleeting thoughts, repeated it to myself as best as I could while still laying on the bed and shortly found myself telling my Lord, Thank You for this day that You've made, this day that You've given me to live in Your glory! What a difference from laying there thinking "why get up?"!
(it might be good to print or copy it off and keep it where you will see it each morning? I keep my copy with my bible that I read each morning)

Warrior's Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Your warrior prepares for battle.

Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on

the whole armor of God!

I put on the Girdle of Truth!

May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word

so I will not be a victim of Satan's lies.

I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness!

May it guard my heart from evil

so I will remain pure and holy,

protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.

I put on the Shoes of Peace!

May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel

so Your peace will shine through me

and be a light to all I encounter.

I take the Shield of Faith!

May I be ready for Satan"s fiery darts of

doubt, denial and deceit

so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

I put on the Helmet of Salvation!

May I keep my mind focused on You

so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts.

I take the Sword of the Spirit!

May the two-edged sword of Your Word

be ready in my hands

so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.

By faith your warrior has put on

the whole armor of God!

I am prepared to live this day

in spiritual victory!

Amen