whippin up

encore

Totally

(Photo on one of my sunset walks in my neighborhood...)

I've heard it said that all cylinders of one's life can't run at once, especially in ministry.

Some say your family and the church can't run well at the same time.

Some say if your house is in order the church probably won't be, and vice versa.

If you're doing great financially, you will quite possibly deal with a healthy problem and vice versa.

In other words, people say there is no "perfect world" outside of heaven. But for once, just for once...even a day...I'd love for all the facets of my life to work together beautifully.

Right now the church is working beautifully. But every single thing in my life...no.

Sometimes I wish I could be pain free for just a day. I take things to heart so much that yes, I do feel pain many times. If I didn't love so much it wouldn't hurt so much.

Quiet me with your love right now Lord.

Just quiet me and let me hear your still small voice through the irritation.

Thank you for Zephaniah 3:17. I cling to it most days, on behalf of something. Many days it's a different thing than the previous day as my challenges are always trading off for another one.

Make them stop...even for a day?

Love you, my father... thank you for making me yours. I am totally free to be totally yours.

wanting to wake up again...

(photo taken in our backyard)

Thanks for showing up in such a big way on Sunday. You didn't leave me...in fact you showed yourself strong not only to me but to everybody there.

Can't even describe how I'm feeling about everything but it's wonderful.

The joy has come back...

I'm biking again everyday and thanking you for every little and big thing. I'm thanking you for the day, for the sunsets, the breeze, my friends, my church, my everything. I'm just enthralled with what you are doing...who you are...

Thanks for an amazing week last week. I can't wait to see what you're going to do next and I'm so glad to be yours. All yours.

It's my joy to wake up in the mornings now...but I lay with my eyes shut for a few moments when I first awake just to say good morning and talk to you just like the old days (prior to three months ago) when I would do that everyday, all the time. For three months that disentegrated into a plea just to help me want to get out of bed and start my day at all. It was survival, that was all...

You've brought me from survive to thrive again.

God... you're so good!

stay right beside me

dwelling

Today the scripture that has come to my mind is Psalm 91. He that dwelleth...

Truly you have surrounded me in that secret place the past few months and brought me to a new and beautiful place.

Life is good.

I'll shout your fame and sing your praise forever.

Thank you for teaching me so much in the darkness...now in the light I'm a changed person, a richer person, a filled up person -- to shine to the world. I'll do it, I promise.

new thing

Jesus...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You totally rock.

Isaiah 43:19 is what you spoke to me today:

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Mmmmm...that's what you're doing and it's so good.

I receive it.

burst

I'm still basking in the glory of Sunday... you are so totally amazing and I can't wait to see what you have for us next.

I have so much to testify about...I am so filled up I'm about to burst... but I won't because that would be kind of gross.

I love you.

more

Wow.

You outdid yourself today.

Totally.

It blows my mind that you are my perfect Father and I can actually ask you for more!

your thoughts

details

Yesterday was a good day all around. Before I began work I did a devotional in Psalm 37. Verse 23 really stuck out to me: "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." I've always believed, "if it matters to you it matters to Him." Nothing is too big or small to you. I really believe you not only care about the large decisions of my life but you care about small things I'm concerned about or small things that bring me joy.

I was blessed by reading and meditating on Psalm 37 and then worshipping at the piano before starting my day. The day unfolded with lots of things to get ready for Friends Day on Sunday ~ a busy but a productive and good day.

I found it interesting that someone called me in the course of my work day and they needed to talk about their problems and get some advice and as they shared with me they said, "I feel kind of guilty to even call you or talk about this...I know my problems are small compared to what others in the world are going through, and I shouldn't be complaining." I promptly quoted Psalm 37:23 to them! "He delights in every detail of their lives." THANK YOU for caring so much for us, despite the fact that someone in the world can always be found that has it worse than any of us do in various circumstances. You aren't put off by us talking about it, venting or being concerned. You are more concerned about us than we are about ourselves and are always there to remind of that if we'll take the time.

There are several details I'm concerned about right now but refusing to worry. I am praying a lot more about them, though. One concerns one of my children. They need your touch right now oh God. Clear away the confusion. Strengthen them. Bring all things together for your glory.

laugh

Nancy Seelow just sent this to me as a declaration...

It's on the horizon...thank you Jesus!

anxiety

Photo I took at Clearwater this summer...

"Do not begin to be anxious..." (Phil. 4:6, PBV)

The other day I was in deep thought contemplating what ultimately happens to me in situations that have made me anxious throughout life. I can't remember where I heard it but someone told me that if something won't matter in ten years it can't be that important -- so be especially vigilant about not allowing those things to stress you out.

So as I was contemplating situations that have caused me anxiety, I thought to myself, "what was it that stressed me out the most ten years ago?" As I recalled specific situations at that time I came to realize that absolutely none of what I had such angst about affects me at all today, in any way shape or form. What a waste of my energy back then!

I've learned that an important part of life is DOING BETTER once you KNOW BETTER.

I know better now.

Thank you Jesus, for helping me to think about the future with every decision I make, whether it is refusing to be anxious or determining to get excited about whatever it is you're calling me to do. I know that getting anxious is an indication that I don't trust you. I know that you are infallible...you are worthy of trust. Thank you for taking care of me.

streets of heaven

I think every pastor's wife needs one of these on the streets of gold in heaven. Whatdayya think, Jesus?

strategic word

It wasn't really a fortune cookies, but it was a word from you, in 2007 and almost immediately it unfolded and became reality in my life.

There's nothing like getting a word from you! You told me to rest in you ~ rest in what you were telling me ~ obey ~ and in refusing to even consider other things and surrender to you, you'd take me to the nations from my laptop. In less than a year after I made the decision to fully obey that word, I was speaking to my precious ladies from Africa for the first time! My life was changed forever, that's for sure.

Lord, this Africa trip is coming up really quick. I need your insight, your wisdom, your power, to just flood me over the next four weeks to get your mind on what you want the ladies to hear this year. There is a great burden for me to "get it right"...these ladies are so in need of a touch from you, and I can't afford to miss you on this...

Thank you for your help. I'm sunk without you.

church

so good

Thanks for all you did in and for me over the weekend at the conference in Orlando.

You're so good, You're so good, You're so good...

Jesus You're so good...

I'm gonna say it again...

You're so good, Youre so good, You're so good, Jesus You're so good.

lions

I have longed for more time the past few days to get into the Word for myself – not to preach, not to prepare for worship, but simply to “be”. The past week has been busy and while I like being busy I don’t like being overwhelmingly busy. I can’t wait for Monday if for nothing else than to have quiet time with you, which is the greatest blessing.

On my way to Lakeland yesterday (where I was meeting with Joy to go to Orlando) despite the talk radio that Larry had on, I was able to block everything else out in my mind and read some in the Word, read Streams in the Desert and spend a little time in reflection as I looked out the window going down the highway.

I was reading in I Samuel 17 about David facing Goliath and in verses 34-37 it talks about him killing the lion and bear in preparation to face his giant, Goliath. I am reminded that we have to face various obstacles along the way to our destiny in order to prepare us. David had a great destiny before him in not only becoming the greatest worship leader/psalmist who ever lived, but also a King and a man after God’s own heart.

The interesting thing is, what was David defeating a lion and bear for? It wasn’t for nothing. He wasn’t sadistic, he certainly wasn’t killing to kill…there was a purpose. The lion and bear were coming in to steal a lamb from his father’s flock. He had to protect the flock. And so he destroyed the lion and the bear.

There are times even today in 2008 I find myself having to take care of bears and lions. They aren’t just irritations to me but they are direct threats to the flock. They must be defeated so that the flock can not only be protected from harm but so that they can flourish and grow.

While defeating wild animals from destroying the flock I not only get tired but I think sometimes that I may die in the process. In verse 37 David said, “The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” Obviously it was a serious thing when David had to defeat the wild animal and escape their “claws”. Without God he couldn’t have done it and I’m sure he might have had a few moments of fear before the deliverance of the Lord was complete in the matter.

In retrospect I realize that the defeat of the wild animals became just the opportunity that David needed to be prepared for his ultimate destiny. Were he to not gain Godly confidence, courage and faith through defeating those animals he would have never been ready to face his giant. If he quit, he would have ultimately missed the plan of God and would never have been able to become King.I’m realizing that lions and bears are necessary to propel me into the next level that God has for me. Thank you for helping me to defeat them. Day by day I am experiencing victories and I can sense it, I can taste it, I can smell it in the air...victory is at hand!