Proverbs 3:5-6; II Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:13 - Emotional Day

Carpal tunnel?  How can that cause such pain in my neck?  I’ve never had that before.  Something new to deal with for the new year?  When I heard the doctor say these words, the Lord quickly brought Proverbs 3:5-6 to my mind...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

Then to hear that it might be progression with my MS...URGH!  I’ve never had pain before with my MS.  Why would I have it now?  Besides that I still have strength and with MS issues that leaves. The Lord quickly brought II Timothy 1:7 to my mind...

God did not give me a spirit that makes me afraid but He gives me a spirit of power, love and self-control.

If it’s MS, how will I deal with this pain?  To that question the Lord quickly brought Philippians 4:13 to my mind...

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

As we left the doctor’s office I was trying not to cry and actually didn’t for a couple hours.  I just was trying to process all that the doctor said.  I fully expected to go in and be told it was issues in my neck again and was totally taken back by what he said.  I tried to push what he said out of my mind and concentrate on the things we needed to accomplish while in Sandusky.

When we left the doctor, we made a visit to a lady in a nursing home close to the hospital.  As we were leaving I saw a lady sitting in the hallway who was crying.  I felt so bad for her so I told Doc to wait a minute.  I stopped, took her hands, prayed with her and told her “Jesus loves you.”  As I turned to walk away I heard, “I love you” come from her.  I hadn’t heard any words come from her until then.  What a gift the Lord gave me in that experience.  It encouraged my heart so much.  It was like He was telling me that no matter what is ahead for me in my physical body He will continue to use me as His servant.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for encouraging me through Your Word today, through the three little words from the lady at the nursing home and through the words from my husband when I finally broke down in tears.  Father, I praise Your Holy Name for all the ways You were so real to me today.  Beyond a shadow of a doubt I know that You are in control and will enable me to get through whatever is ahead.  Thank You Jesus for being My Strength.  Amen.

John 1:1-17 - "Revelation Song"

I woke up this morning singing the chorus to the "Revelation Song" over and over.  

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I - will - adore You!

"Who was, and is, and is to come…"  I think about His last hours on this earth as He spent time with the disciples.  John 13:1-17 gives the account of Jesus washes their feet.  I can't even being to imagine that time.  To think that the Lord was washing my feet would be so overwhelming.  

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Verse ten is key in this group of scripture.  When we experience salvation, we are clean in the spiritual sense. But we need to continue the cleansing process through sanctification throughout the rest of our life.  This cleansing is done through the Holy Spirit who we allow to live in us.  As we allow ourselves to be cleansed holy, we enable the Lord to use us as His heart desires.  He gave us the example in these verses of how to have a servant heart.  We are to be servants to one another and in order to do so in the best manner possible we first must be cleansed and seeking more of Him.  When we take on this role we will be blessed abundantly as He tells us in verse seventeen.

It's kind of weird sometimes how my mind wanders.  As I walked into the kitchen this morning, I saw the dining room table and kitchen counters uncluttered.  My first thought was something I heard years ago about however your house is at the end of the year is how your house will be for the new year.  Many years at this time of year the dining room table would be piled high with stuff brought in from an event, shopping or just whatever was happening in life.  Too much busyness can occur during the holidays to have the house in order.  I started thinking about my spiritual house.  Is it in order?  Have I been too busy for God?  I can praise His holy name in knowing He is my priority.  It is when He is first that I am enabled to be the servant He so desires of me.  When I start my day with Him, He enables me to see the desires of His heart which in turn become the desires of my heart.  Of course, I have to be careful that I stay in such a relationship with Him where I pray for His holiness to be upon me.  That is all part of holy living.  I must make sure He is first, others second and myself third in my list of priorities.  

Just as there are some crumbs on the floor in the dining room that need cleaned up there are things that creep into my life that need taken care of.  I need to make sure I am in His word, praying, being in communion with Him, etc. each and every day.  He is the One to cleanse me holy.  He is the One to direct my steps.  He is the One to give me a servant's heart.  Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for leading my thoughts this morning to You in this way.  Thank You for the song You put on my lips this morning the moment I woke up.  Lord, more of You and less of me is what I need in order to be Your servant in the best way possible today.  Father, cleanse me in a mighty way in order that I may be what You need me to be to all I meet today.  I pray a blessing of healing over my physical body.  I pray against the pain from yesterday and ask for today to be a new day in the sense of what I'm dealing with.  Lord, You are My Healer.  You've healed me so many times and I know You will heal me again.  I don't know if that will come instantaneously or through doctors and medicine but I know it will come.  I praise Your Holy Name for that knowledge.  This morning I sing to You…

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I - will - adore You!

Thank You Jesus for being The One I Adore.  Amen.

I Peter 1:3-12 - "Good Morning"

I woke up this morning singing Mandisa's "Good Morning" and immediately was blessed.  I thought, "My goodness, God, You sure knew I needed some encouragement after the night I had."  He was quick to remind me that He was with me throughout all the times of waking up.    He also reminded me the importance of doing this…

Wave away my yesterday

'Cause I'm leaving it behind me

Hello sunshine, come what may

I feel something new inside me

Tomorrow is gone.  Today is another day.  How I choose to live it is up to me but the Lord hopes I will live in the way He so desires of me.  As I was looking back over my writing these last four months I was amazed at how many times I was going through a major issue with my health.  MS flair-ups, back/hip pain and now neck/arm issues.  I have to wonder why I've been hit with multiple issues so close together.  Part of me wonders if I've missed something He has tried to tell me.  Another part of me wonders if it's like what He has told me before that people need to see Him glorified through me.  No matter what the reason is I know I can sing these words and know them to be fact…I can feel the hope...That's rising up in me.

I have hope in the Lord.  I love the words of I Peter 1 that give me the encouragement I need to continue on the path of a holy life no matter what I go through on this earth.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Verses six and seven are the key to what I need to hold onto.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Woo hoo!  I was wondering why I was going through physical issues and now I know.  The end result will be “...praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  That’s good enough for me!  I don’t need to know timing or even have to worry about “if” because He has given me enough in this answer.  I am so excited this morning to be His.  He is so awesome in the way He quiets our hearts even when our bodies may be in turmoil.  Woo hoo!

Matthew Henry puts it this way:

Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honor, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.

“...the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honor, and glory.  Let this reconcile us to present afflictions.”  Oh my!  Yes!  I will embrace this time of the arm pain and numbness and allow the Lord to enable me to find the way to see Him be glorified through it.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for today...for this song...for the way You revealed to me through this scripture.  Lord, I am overwhelmed by Your love.  I sit here with tears of joy flowing because of the way You spoke to me this morning.  I feel unworthy of Your love yet I know You not only died on the cross to save me from my sins but You also came back to life so that I may live in You.  Lord, thank You, thank You, thank You.  Father, I pray for more of You and less of me so that I can continue on this path of holy living.  I pray for more people to experience You in this manner.  Lord, I also pray for a greater depth in my relationship with You.  Right now I feel like I’m ready to burst with Your love but I know there is more for me to experience.  I am singing the words to this song this morning with a whole new meaning...I can feel the hope...That's rising up in me.  You are my Hope and for that I am so grateful.  You have given me hope for the time I am on this earth and You have given me hope for eternity.  Thank You Jesus for being My Revealer.  Amen.

Psalm 119:47; Proverbs 16:9 - "You Are Good"

My day normally begins with sitting down with a cup of coffee or my vitamin water and spending time listening to the Lord and writing.  This morning I had to make a phone call to the doctor first thing and it got me off track.  I didn't want to get into my time with God until after I received a call back from them so I started checking email, Facebook, etc.  BOOM!  This was one of the first things I read…

"Let's remember to exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world this morning. Let's take a moment to pause. Get into God's Word and let it get into us. Before the craziness of another day begins, before checking our phone for text messages, before logging onto our computer... let's soak in the life-giving truth of God's Word.” - Lysa TerKeurst

Sorry God!  I know this is my normal morning routine and I enjoy it so much.  I don't know what I would do if I didn't have God.  The relationship I have with Him encourages me through the good times and the bad times.  He is the One to lead and direct me to what He desires of me.  His voice is the one I listen to so that I will know the desires of His heart for me.  

I love the Psalms, especially Psalm 119.  One little tidbit in this Psalm that is powerful is verse forty-seven.  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.  I don't always "…rise before dawn…" but I do "…cry for help" from the Lord.  Even though He already knows I need to tell Him that I am His surrendered servant who wants to do His will.  I need to tell Him how much I love and appreciate Him.  I need Him to hear from my heart but most importantly I need to hear from His heart.  As I read His word and pray, He enables me to soak Him in before the busyness of my day begins.  His strength becomes my strength.  His wisdom becomes my wisdom.  His demeanor becomes my demeanor.  All because I start my day with Him.  

This picture reminds me of the importance of living a life of surrender to the Lord.  Each and every day when I start my day putting Him first in my thoughts He is able to direct my steps for the rest of the day.  I am enabled to be a hearer of His voice to know the direction I am to go.  This happens by one easy step…starting with Him.  Days like today drive me crazy when I get off track but I'm so grateful He drew me back so quickly.  Distractions can get in the way only when I allow them.  

I love the words of Kari Jobe's song, "You Are Good."  It was through the Lord drawing me to Him this morning that enabled me to get back to my normal.  It was through His kindness, goodness and mercy that He didn't allow me to continue off track.  I love, love, love the knowledge that His "…favor is my delight…"  Woo hoo!!!!  He is so good!

Your kindness leads me to repentance
Your goodness draws me to your side
Your mercy calls me to be like You
Your favor is my delight
Everyday I'll awaken my praise
and pour out a song from my heart

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for bringing me back into my normal this morning.  Thank You for loving me enough to speak through another to me.  Lord, more of You and less of me continues to be my prayer.  I know it is only through this process that I can hear Your voice and know the direction You desire of me.  Father, I don't know where You will lead me to today but I do know I'm your faithful servant who will do whatever You so desire of me.  Thank You Jesus for being who You are in my life.  Thank You for being My Life-Giver!  Amen.

Revelation 21:1-4 - "There Will Be A Day"

The first thing that came out of my mouth when I received a call to go to the hospital last night  to be with a family of one who was unresponsive was "Lord, please don't let this be a family I know."  On the way I prayed and asked Him to give me His words and His strength with whoever I found myself ministering to.  He told me He was with me and I knew no matter what, I would be able to do what He put before me.  I told Him that I knew I could minister to whoever it was but I also am emotional right now with the pain and the steroids and prayed for His strength.  He provided in a mighty way.

In the first few minutes after she took her last breathe one family member said, "I know she's in a better place."  That's the exact words I recently read that one should never say to those who lose a loved one.  The book stated those words are empty words.  As I listened to this one say them I knew there was no emptiness in them at all.  There was hope.  There was belief.  She went onto say that her sister was no longer in pain and for that she was grateful.  I talked to her about the different emotions we experience at the time of a death.  There is the sadness in knowing we are separated from them.  Yet there is also joy in knowing we will be reunited with them.  As I was comforting this family I had a chorus we use to sing in Children's Church going through my mind.  It went something like this...

Heaven is a wonderful place…filled with glory and grace…I want to see my Savior's face cause heaven is a wonderful place…  At the end the children would yell, "I want to go there!"  Over and over and over it went through my mind.  I was thinking about heaven and what it will be like.  My mind turned to Revelation 21 that talks about heaven being a place of no more tears.  I understand there won't be tears because there won't be hurts and sorrow.  But I can't comprehend how I could possibly not have tears of joy there.  I guess when I think about it I won't have this body anyway.  Maybe my next body won't be so emotional!  The last few words of Revelation 21:1-4 are key.  "…the old order of things has passed away."  Woo hoo!

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Matthew Henry writes about this section of scripture:
The presence of God with his people in heaven, will not be interrupt as it is on earth, he will dwell with them continually. All effects of former trouble shall be done away. They have often been in tears, by reason of sin, of affliction, of the calamities of the church; but no signs, no remembrance of former sorrows shall remain. Christ makes all things new. If we are willing and desirous that the gracious Redeemer should make all things new in order hearts and nature, he will make all things new in respect of our situation, till he has brought us to enjoy complete happiness. See the certainty of the promise. 

It is a promise from the Lord that we have in eternity with Him.  This morning Doc said we must remember our ABC's.  
Accept
Believe
Confess
If we want to spend eternity with Him, we must not only remember our ABC's but we must live them.  If the desire of our heart is to give Him the desire of His heart, we must live in His presence while on this earth so that we can dwell with Him in the new earth.

Yesterday I started the day with Jeremy Camp's song, "There Will Be A Day" and as I drove home it came to me again…

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your words and Your strength last night with this family.  I praise You for the way You encouraged me through them.  Lord, I also thank You for Doc's message on HOPE this morning.  Father, I pray for more people to find hope in You.  I pray for the five who prayed the sinners prayer this morning.  Lord, encourage them as they take the steps to live closer to You.  Protect them from any attacks from the enemy.  Lord, I pray for more of You and less of me so that I can be more effective for You.  Father, You are so awesome in the way You put opportunities before me.  You are also so awesome in the way You used the Teen Sunday School lesson on Job to bless me.  I love my teens and pray for them to draw closer to You too.  Lord, I'm going to be selfish in asking that relief will come with this pain and tingling.  I pray for a healing through the medication.  Thank You Jesus for being My Hope.  Amen.

Luke 2:10 - "There Will Be A Day"

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10

I do not believe it is coincidence that I had this verse come before me within minutes of each other this morning.  There definitely has to be something the Lord wants me to get from it.  As I read it, I first see the "Do not be afraid" being spoken over the shepherds by the angel in the field.  The angel frightened them by appearing from no where and speaking.  The angel was trying to comfort them so they would hear what he had to say.  Is that what the Lord is trying to get me to see from this verse?  Do I need comforted as I deal with this pain and numbness?  Do I need to listen closer to a message He has for me to share?  Or perhaps it's the concept of sharing Him with others which will bring joy.  There is so much loss going on in my little world.  Many have lost loved ones this year.  Some are dealing right now with the loss of good health.  Others have had financial loss and loss of relationships.  So many people are not feeling very joyful these days.  

I think of something I learned a long time ago on how to receive joy through praying...

Jesus - We need to be thankful to the Lord for all He has done and continues to do for us.

Others - As we pray for others to come into relationship with Him or into a deeper relationship with Him we will be blessed.  We need to pray not only for their physical, mental, emotional, financial, professional needs but most importantly we need to pray for their spiritual needs.

Yourself - We need to remember that praying is a two-way form of communication.  Listening is sometimes more important than speaking.

The words to Jeremy Camp's song, "There Will Be A Day" are so appropriate during these days.  I so look forward to the day when I will no longer have to deal with things of this world but instead can be in His physical presence worshiping Him.

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where youve walked out all alone

Troubled soul dont lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty thats in store
Outweighs the hurt of lifes sting

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I cant wait until that day where the very one
Ive lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that Ive faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery
O, this is why, this is why I sing

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face

There will be a day he will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
He will wipe away the tears
There will be a day

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me.  Thank You for speaking to me.  Father, I am listening for Your direction on this verse.  I pray for open doors to be You to others today.  Lord, more of You and less of me is the only way I can do that.  Open my eyes and ears to opportunities.  Lord, there are just so many hurting people.  I pray most of all for them to seek You and to find You.  I pray the hurt will be healed through whatever way You so desire.  Lord, I also pray for the physical issues I am dealing with.  Thank You for doctors who have wisdom.  Lord, I pray for the medication given to me to be part of Your healing process.  I pray for an open appointment with Dr Braun, if that's the direction I am to go.  Lord, I've experienced Your instant healing before and it would be awesome if You chose to do that in this situation.  But I've also received Your healing through doctors and medicine and if that's Your will, I will be blessed.  No matter what the route is ahead I know You are in control.  I do not fear the unknown because You are already there.  Thank You Jesus for being The One That Goes Before Me.  Amen.

Jeremiah 1:5 - My Baby Turns Thirty!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:5

This time of year brings a lot of anticipation into the hearts of people.  There is the anticipation of gifts for little ones and family times for grown-ups.  Thirty years ago for Christmas I was anticipating the birth of my second child.  It was a different kind of anticipation as we were told he had a physical defect early in the pregnancy but then told the next month “everything is normal.”  We prayed and we believed the Lord had healed him but yet as humans we still had some doubt in the back of our mind.  I believe the enemy was trying to scare us but the Lord had greater plans.

When I was a little girl, I prayed for the babies I would have some day to be healthy.  That prayer was answered.

Before I became pregnant with Ben I prayed for the Lord to bless me with another child.
That prayer was answered.
When we were told there was something wrong with Ben, we prayed for a healing.
That prayer was answered.
As Ben was growing up he was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, once again we prayed for a healing.
That prayer was answered.
Also while he was growing up I prayed for Ben to grow up and marry a godly woman.
That prayer was answered.
Another prayer while he was growing up was that Ben would be a great Daddy.
That prayer was answered.
The ultimate prayer from the time Ben was born was that he would follow Jesus.
That prayer was answered.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Ben...for his life...for the love he has for you.  I ask that You continue to bless him.  Lord, I am so proud of the man he has become.  I love seeing him serving you, especially when we get to serve together!  Thank You Jesus for loving Him so greatly!  Thank You for being His Heavenly Father.  Amen.

Luke 2:15-20 - "A Strange Way To Save The World"

Doc asked me to read the Christmas story during our Christmas Eve service.  As I read these words, I was overwhelmed with such joy…

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I can't even imagine how the shepherds felt when they were told of the Messiah, went to find Him and then actually saw Him in the flesh.  I love the part of the story that says they left Him "…glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."  Woo hoo!  I can only imagine as they traveled the story they shared with others along the road.  I see the life of a new believer in this story.  They are told about Jesus and when they get to the point of wanting Him in their life they seek more of Him.  After the point of seeking Him and accepting Him into their heart they are on fire for Him.  Everyone they meet gets to hear about Him.  It's too bad for many the newness and excitement wears off and they quit sharing Him.

Verse nineteen is so special to me as a mother.  Mary "pondered them in her heart."  That's exactly what a mother does.  She keeps the memories tucked away in her heart and brings them back to her mind at times where she needs encouragement or needs to feel loved.  When the boys were growing up, reading of the Christmas story was always a part of Christmas.  I was blessed last night to hear that Paul is keeping up this tradition with his family.  Another blessing this season was having everyone home for Christmas.  

I know I am so blessed and I am so thankful to the Lord for each and every blessing.  I also know there are many who don't feel the same and for them I am praying they will feel the Lord in a special way today.  Today I am praying for…

• the family dealing with their loved one in her "last days"
• the one who is waiting on biopsy results
• the one who is hospitalized in a weakened state in her physical body
• the families who are separated due to marital problems and/or divorce
• the families dealing with this illness that is going around
• the many families who have lost a loved one this year and the ones who continue to grieve from deaths in years past
• the siblings who are at odds with one another 
• the parents dealing with a prodigal
• the homeless no matter what caused their situation
• those feeling alone, whether they have people around them or not
• those in the life of addiction
• those who are without the necessities of life, no matter what the reason is for their circumstances

As we minister in Mansfield today, I pray for the Lord to reveal to me situations/people who need extra attention.  I pray He will use me to be Him to them today.  I remember a few weeks ago as I went around and prayed over the gifts at the toy give away at Gateway how He revealed specific things about the children receiving the toys.  It broke my heart yet I felt blessed that He was using me to intercede for those children.  It also was exciting to think about how He already knew what toy was going to what child.  There was one toy in particular that as I was praying He had me stop and touch it.  He told me the child receiving it doesn't receive nice touches and with me touching it that child would feel Him through my touches.  I know some would say I am crazy.  Some would probably say that is too far out there to be true.  But I am living this life where sometimes the things He tells me or does through me are so not of me that there is no other explanation but it is Him.

Dear Jesus,

I praise You for coming to this world in the form of a baby in order to save this world in the form of a man.  I praise You for all the ways You bless me.  Lord, I need more of You and less of me in order to continue on this journey as Your servant.  Thank You in advance for the ways You will shine through me today.  I praise You, Father, for the opportunity to minister in Mansfield today.  Lord, may Your words be on my lips throughout this day.  Give me opportunities to minister for You in some mighty ways.  Lord, be glorified!  Thank You Jesus for being My Savior!  Amen.

Psalm 16:11 - Hearts Come Home For Christmas

I love this picture a friend gave us last year for Christmas.  A few weeks ago it looked like all three boys, their lovely ladies and our grand babies would all be “home” for Christmas at the same time.  I tried to not get my hopes up for fear of something happening to stop it but I prayed and asked others to pray.  The one thing that kept coming to me to pray for was the Lord’s will so I did.  His will was to give me the desire of my heart with a blessed day.  Seeing my grand babies play together blessed me in abundance.  Hearing the boys talk about things they did growing up warmed my heart. Even though this house wasn’t “home” to Adam nor Paul and was only “home” for a couple years for Ben it’s where “home” is  right now for us.  I was thinking about how blessed we are with this home.  There’s so much more space than the home on Tannerville Road but we had so many good memories there.  Monday we made new memories here with all thirteen of us together.  

The Lord truly blessed this Momma’s heart with the day with answered prayers...

• I prayed for everyone to be healthy...they were
• I prayed for no emergencies or deaths to happen in the church...they didn’t
• I prayed for everyone to have a fun time...I think they did
• I prayed for physical and emotional strength to enjoy the day...I did

As I have said so many times throughout this month, “It’s not about the presents but about His presence.”  Living in His presence has allowed me to share with Him the desires of my heart in a different way.  Yes, He already knows them but I need to voice them to Him.  It is in His presence that I find peace, contentment, and joy.  Psalm 16:11 reads, You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Woo hoo!  The best present I could receive on this earth was having all of the boys and their families together.  That present was only because of the Lord’s presence in my life.  As I pray each and every day, more of You Lord and less of me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your presence in my life.  Thank You for the ways You show Your love to me.  Lord, I pray for those who are going through a tough time this holiday...those who are dealing with the death of a loved one, those who are dealing with an illness, those who are separated from family...all of those hurting.  Lord, touch them in a way that they will know You are there for them.  I also pray for today as my siblings and I gather at my Momma’s house.  Once again it wasn’t “home” to any of us but it’s “home” now because that’s where she is.  Lord, I pray for continued blessings upon her.  I pray for relief from her physical pain and the hurts of her heart. Father, thank You for being My Presence.  Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Why?"

Why is there so much pain in this world?  
Why are there be so many people going through loss?  
Why would an eighteen year old be killed in a car accident her senior year of high school?  Why would a family have to endure a second death within four months?
Why would parents wake to find their three year old dead?
Why would a woman leave her husband?
Why do parents have to go through their first Christmas without their child?
Why are there so many people struggling financially?
Why is there so much sickness, especially cancer?
Why is the young mother more addicted to drugs than being clean for her children?
Why do family members steal from their own family to support their addiction?
Why do some families go through so much turmoil?
Why is their fighting between siblings?
Why is the young mother faced with making some tough decisions for her physical health?

Oh my!  I told my hubby last night that I am so overwhelmed right now with all of the stuff going on in people's lives.  There are very few families who are not being effected by something right now.  Some families actually have multiple issues going on.  Yesterday in Doc's funeral message he read Proverbs 3:5-6.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

"Trust" was the word the Lord led me to yesterday morning.  I did just that to get through my day.  I trusted in Him for physical strength, mental strength, emotional strength and spiritual strength.  It was the only way I knew I would be able to "do" the day.  He was so good in the way He strengthen me.  As I was asked to pray for one thing after another I started feeling overwhelmed.  Then He gave me a quietness in my spirit and said, "Daughter, trust me and I will take care of these things."  I just about dropped where I was standing in the foyer of the church and cried when He spoke those words to me.  He is so good to me.  

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the strength for yesterday and for the strength You will empower me with today.  Thank You for Your direction on what to do and when to do it.  Father, I pray for each of these situations.  I pray for more people to trust You with their whole being.  Lord, thank You for answered prayer last night with the situation of being on-call.  Thank You for rest.  Father, I pray for more of You and less of me so that I may be able to be the servant You desire of me.  I feel so inadequate at times with the things You put in my path but I know You are there to lead and guide.  Thank You Jesus for being The One I Trust In.  Amen.