II Peter 3:1 - "Great Are You, Lord"

I woke up this morning with a friend on on my heart. I started praying for her and then I checked the date and realized today is her hip replacement surgery. God is so awesome in reminding me of such things to pray for. He also is awesome in the way He gives me opportunity to pray for people I don't even know. The other day I had a lady I had recently met who needed prayer. I knew as I talked with her I was going to pray for a healing in her body but then before I had the chance to pray with her she became emotional and told me her son was in drug rehab for the third time. I was blessed in praying with her and in giving her comfort that she is not alone. Prayer is an important part of my life and I am so grateful to be in His presence throughout the day, and even during the night, where I hear His voice. I am also grateful for when He knows my heart and I don't even have to voice my prayers. I am also grateful for His Word that I have to read and ponder. In II Peter 3:1 we are told to have "minds in a state of undistracted attention." How in the world did Peter ever think this is possible? There are so many distractions in our world. We have families, jobs, children's activities, church activities, health issues, etc. How are we suppose to have "minds in a state of undistracted attention"? Plain and simple. We must live a life of holiness. We must be consecrated to Him so He is not only our actions but our thoughts. He is the One who directs our every word and step. Yesterday we sang "Great Are You, God" and these words really hit me...

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only

That is so awesome to think about....His breath is in our lungs! Woo hoo! When we live a life totally for Him, He is ready to work in and through us in some mighty ways. He goes before us and prepares hearts. He blesses people through us and at the same time blesses us. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for blessing me in abundance over these last few days. Thank You for the opportunities You gave me to be You to others...praying with and for people, making cookies for the linemen, sharing about "Loads of Love" to some of our district family...so many ways You have used me as Your willing servant. Father, today is a new day in a new week. I must admit it is hard to believe it was four months today since we moved into our new place. Thank You for the love that has been shown to us! Thank You for the new friends we have made. Thank You for more neighbors we met last night on our walk. Lord, continue to guide our words and steps to further Your Kingdom. You have brought us here for a reason and I pray Your will be done here in Beaufort, SC. Thank You Jesus for being My Attention! Amen.

Daniel 4:34 - "Great Are You, Lord"

I woke up during the night a couple times singing...

It’s Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise

It’s Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise to You only

Yes! He is the reason to be praised! No matter what we are going through on this earth, He is to be praised. He is to be praised through the physical storms of life like Hurricane Matthew. One might ask how He can be praised through the destruction of homes and the loss of life that many have seen through Matthew. It may not be easy but yet when one thinks about how He created us and He knows all then it becomes easier. He is our Hope in the midst of chaos. I told Doc yesterday if we didn't have 'storms' in our life, we would not rely on the Lord. We would feel like we didn't need Him. He knows we need things in life to make us aware of just how much we do need Him. King Nebuchadnezzar realized God was to be praised for keeping him through the 'storm' of life he went through with losing his mind.  He realized God was greater than him and had never left him even through the distraction of losing his mind. He realized the importance of praising God no matter what. This realization opened his eyes to a new way of living. He humbled himself before God and learned the importance of praising Him. As I walked around a friend's home yesterday taking pictures of fallen trees the tears started. I cannot imagine having to deal with what they are dealing with. Later as this song came to my mind I was reminded that no matter what happens in life we must praise Him. I like the reminder of the words "we pour out our praise" because it gives me the word picture of not just saying Praise The Lord but perhaps even shouting it. There is great depth in the word 'pour'! Why should we do this? Plain and simple. He created us and is with us through all aspects of life. He is to be praised! 

Dear Jesus,
I praise You for yesterday! I praise You for today! I praise You for tomorrow! I know You are with me no matter what happens and for that I am grateful! Lord, You know the things in my day and You also know the outcome. Once again, I am grateful knowing You are in control. Father, direct my words, my steps and most of all my attitude to be pleasing to You. May people see and hear You through me. Lord, I need Your strength in a mighty way today and I am thanking You in advance for it. Lord, be bold through me. Thank You Jesus for being My Praise! Amen.

Matthew 6:10 - "Thy Will"

The Lord woke me at 5:20 this morning to pray for a family who is in crisis. I have never been through what they are going through nor do I ever want to endure such heartache. I honestly do not know how I would handle what the wife is dealing with in her husband's life. The Lord is her strength and for that I am grateful. I do not believe this season in their lives is a test from the Lord because of the great sin involved. I believe the enemy has found a way into his life and has set-up house. Oh how my heart breaks for this family. I have prayed and prayed and it seems like nothing has changed. There has not even been a glimpse of change. I must remember He will answer in His time and in His way. We, as humans, may not understand all of the ins and outs of life but we can have peace in knowing He is there for us no matter what. He is there when we allow the enemy an open door to play havoc in our life. He is there when we turn away from Him. He is there when we make choices that are breaking His heart. Plain and simple. He is there for us no matter what. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the way You provided physical strength for yesterday. Thank You for the way You will provide whatever I need today. Thank You for the way You will provide strength for tomorrow. Lord, You are so awesome in the way You show Your love to me. I praise You for all You do to let me know You are there for me. Father, today is a new day. I am not sure where You will take me but I do know I am Your servant. I pray for an abundance of You to be in me today. I pray You will ooze out of me in a mighty way. Father, cleanse me of anything that is not of You. Lord, I also pray my friend will feel Your strength today in a mighty way as she deals with this issue with her husband. I also pray for another friend who is dealing with separation from her husband due to sin in his life. Father, restore these marriages. I pray today "on earth as it is in heaven" for these dear ones. Thank You Father for being My Strength. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "Broken Hallelujah"

Yes! Ecclesiastes 3:1...there are so many seasons we go through in a lifetime. When I hear young mothers complain of their little ones not sleeping or eating, it brings back memories of my boys growing up. As I see a Momma watching her son going to Homecoming or some big school event, I am reminded of my boys and their events. Those seasons of life seem to pass so quickly. There are also seasons in life that seem to never end. The waiting for a miracle in a loved one's health or the anticipation of a birth are ones that seem to last forever. This last week has been one that seemed to go forever as we waited for the Hurricane to hit. Then we waited to see where it would hit. Then we waited to see when we could go home. Waited and anticipated but most of all prayed. I am so grateful for so many things that happened over this last week. God's protection and provision upon us was so mighty. My heart breaks for the money that was spent for food and hotel. I see the money for my trips back to see family dwindling. I am so grateful we had the money there to use and also grateful for some friends who provided too. Money is not everything but when it is a must in order to see family it is very important. God will provide and I know that. Maybe this is a test for me on trusting Him to provide. I am grateful how He has provided in so many ways since we moved. Our new home, new friends, etc. He has provided. He has opened doors that need opened and closed some that needed closed. He continues to give direction on His will. That is the only thing I want...His will. "To everything there is a season..." This season is tough but I know I will persevere and be triumphant through His strength. As the tears fall, Doc asked if I was crying tears of joy or sadness. I don't really know the answer to that. I am so sad yet I am determined to be joyful in Him. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the protection over us and our home. Thank You for all of the people that were praying for us. Father, I pray for all of those who are in less favorable circumstances due to the outcome of Hurricane Matthew. May they find Your peace in the midst of the storm. I pray for Your strength to be their strength. Lord, use Your people to make a difference in their lives. Father, You already know how I am feeling today...the sadness I am feeling. Yet Father You also know my heart wants to be filled with Your joy. Please fill me up to overflowing with more of You so I can be a beacon of light for You. Thank You for my friend Tiffany who gave us this picture and for the reminder this picture gives me that this is just a season I am in. Thank You Father for being My Strength. Amen.

Hebrews 6:19 - "Eye of the Storm"

The Lord woke me up at 5:08 this morning with the song "Eye of the Storm" going through my mind once again. He particularly had me thinking of...

You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn

I was thinking about that part of 'my sails are torn' and what that looks like in my life right now. We continue to be evacuated due to Hurricane Matthew. Many were able to go back home yesterday but we continue to wait for the word that we can go. Yesterday I fell on a spill in a store and hurt from head to toe but no injuries. Over the last fourth months we have moved many miles away from family, I had surgery and we are adjusting to what our new 'normal' looks like only to be taken out of it for this time. So yes I feel like 'my sales are torn' and a bit tattered from time to time. But once again I am blessed in knowing He is my anchor. He amazes me on people He has brought into my path here at the hotel...

• Military wife whose husband is deployed and she had to evacuate
• Almost ninety year old lady who evacuated and we had a conversation about God with over breakfast
• My new friend Diane who I have prayed with and loved on
• The awesome worship I was able to here by the church meeting here

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for yesterday! Thank You for today! Thank You for tomorrow! Father, I don't know when we will get to go home but I pray You will continue to bless me with opportunities to be You to others while here. Father, I pray for an abundance of You to ooze out of me so people will have the desire in their heart to be in relationship with You. I also pray for You to overtake my spirit so I won't be crabby in this day You have given me. Thank You Jesus for being My Anchor. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Eye of The Storm"

I was awake throughout the night praying for...

• Pastors who will be preaching the Good News today
• Pastors who are in an area where their church is closed today due to Hurricane Matthew
• Finances of the churches that are closed today and the impact losing a week of offering will have on them
• Churches with storm damage such as the one in the Bahamas
• Those who have lost loved ones during this storm
• Those who are evacuated from their homes...the emotional and financial impact on their lives
• Those who 'survived' Hurricane Matthew and still have not given their heart to the Lord

So many prayers...so many people to pray for...so many sad situations. No matter what we are going through, we must trust Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 was our memory verse last Sunday in Children's Church. It was so fun watching the children learn this, piece by piece. I pray they have it in their hearts for the rest of their lives. Trust. A simple word that is so hard to do in our humanness yet is so much easier to live out in holiness. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for yesterday, today and tomorrow! Thank You for loving on us so greatly with so many people praying for us. Sometimes I get to the point where I do not know how to pray yet You are always there. I pray for my friend who is feeling so alone in her situation. I pray for little Liam's family who have watched their little guy leave this earth. I pray for three family members who are dealing with issues in their physical bodies. Lord, I pray for You to be so real to each of this ones during these tough days. May Your Spirit of Peace come down upon them in a mighty way. I also pray for Your Spirit of Peace to come down upon me today. I pray for more of You to encompass me so I am not crabby. Lord, I praise You for all the ways You have shown Your greatness these last few days. Thank You Jesus for being The One I Trust. Amen.

Romans 15:13 - "Eye of the Storm"

Today I am choosing joy over sadness. I am choosing hope over discouragement. I am choosing life over death in my words. I am choosing God over the enemy. Why? Because I am living in His Presence! I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, if our home is damaged or gone He will be my strength. He provided this place for us to be to be safe because He has work for us to do. Right now it is in this place but hopefully soon we will be back in Beaufort where He has called us. I am so grateful for so many things today...

• the opportunity to pray with the lady doing breakfast at the hotel as she was so stressed and overworked
• a room becoming available here so we do not have to move to the other place today
• the note from a neighbor who stayed home that said the trees have not come down onto our roof
• the financial blessing of friends

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for yesterday! Thank You for today! Thank You for tomorrow! You are so great and powerful! I pray for those who have lost loved ones during Hurricane Matthew. I also pray for those who have lost homes. Lord, this place we are in is full of people evacuated. Open doors for Your love to flow from me. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so they see and hear You in me. Father, You know what is on my heart. You know I want to be back home in the greatest way. But Father most of all I desire Your will. I pray You will lead and direct me throughout this day. I pray You will give me opportunities to be You to those hurting so greatly. Thank You Jesus for being My Choice. Amen.