Decree a Thing!

"If you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook [considering them of little worth],

And make the Almighty your gold and [the Lord] your precious silver treasure,

Then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows.

You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God's favor] shall shine upon your ways.

When they make [you] low, you will say, [There is] a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.

He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands." Job 22:26-30

You know, I was turning myself inside out, weaving ALL kinds of scripture to back something up that, once I took a little time away from it to get dinner, I realized I just needed to let God's Word tell the truth simply. Let the truth and the power in the scripture above soak in, read it, and read it, and read again, say it out loud, mark it in your Bibles.

Our Father Who art in Heaven, THY Kingdom come, THY Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. His will is GOOD. We need to be saturated in the knowledge of His will. To do that we must DELIGHT ourselves in Him, and one way we do that is to commune with Him in His Word. And practicing His presence, praising Him, worshiping Him, Thanking Him! The trying times that we have train us to turn to Him, trust in Him, Him alone, rejoice in Him. For many of us, 2009 has been a whole lot of that putting whatever our gold is down, and delighting in Him. NOW, He is leading us, calling us, instructing us to DECIDE and DECREE a THING and it SHALL BE established to you! Make your prayer known to Him for the coming year, and even include those in your realm of responsibility that He has entrusted to your intercessory care. Be it spouse, or son, or daughter-in-law, or sister, or niece. Pray His goodness into their lives, pray tenderness into their hearts. Bind the enemy from stopping their ears. Ask for the Holy Spirit to stir the hearts to seek the Lord while He may yet be found!

I believe with everything in me, He wants all who will, all who are inclined to take Him at His Word! Delight in Him and Pray, Decide and Decree and it shall be established! Take authority over your garden patch!

Clock's ticking! It's almost 2010! Decide and Decree!

Decree -

1.	a formal and authoritative order, esp. one having the force of law: a presidential decree.

2.	Law. a judicial decision or order.

3.	Theology. one of the eternal purposes of God, by which events are foreordained.

4.	to command, ordain, or decide by decree.

^"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]." Proverbs 18:21

The End of a Thing is BETTER than the Beginning!

^"11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
¹²For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55:11-13, King James Version)"

2009. Mmmhmmmhmmhmm. It's been a year. Not all, but many people that I know have been going through some paring down, some pruning, some refining. Yeah. Been going on in my house fo' sho'! Look around you at current events and think back over the past year's news stories. Companies, local governments, families, schools, hospitals all cutting back, streamlining, more carefully targeting growth. How about whole family's investments being lost in ponzi schemes (like Madoff). Not fair. Not just. Unexpected. No going back. How about the people of the local government in Indiana (I believe that was the state) who the court system broke the rules of law in order to accommodate the Obama Administration's desire to have an automobile company go through bankruptcy without honoring the hierarchy the law requires for secured creditors to be honored first. Their retirement gone - kaput. Vamoose. God doesn't like it when court systems are unjust. Read through Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. Not. At. All.

I could go on to say that the current Administration, and both Houses of Congress, they're probably all I know of not feeling pain this year. They are on the upswing....or so it would seem!

In my own family there were challenges in so many fronts. And the Lord faithfully kept us, taught us, healed us, provided for us, sustained us, covered us throughout it all! During all of it I felt He wanted me to Know, wanted us to know - He was our Church, He was our provision, He was our friend, He was our covering. That He does NOT have LIMITS! You name it, He was IT!

Me personally? He kindly let me recognize hardheadedness, pride, grudging on behalf of my family members, weird complacency where I should not be complacent.

I mentioned all these woes and troubles, to say that God has been bringing it to my attention that not ONLY have all these things been for our good, that we would wake up, that we would seek Him, that we truly, in every way which we can at this point, see Him as our provision, not our jobs - they are just a tool in His hand, not our stock, they are just a tool in His hand. He puts one tool down and picks up a new one, who are we to say otherwise? We go where He goes, we stay where He stays, and so on. Not only were these experiences and trials for our good, BUT, I feel in my heart the Lord pointing out and wanting me to see and ACKNOWLEDGE, REJOICE, RELISH how much we are better off for what we have learned, how much more rooted in Him, how much more trained to look to Him and Him alone, how much more ready and likely to praise in the midst of panic and watch an opening for Grace to move in. Important to recognize that as we say good bye to 2009, we leave it stronger in the Lord and the power of His might, in joy, in hope, in great expectation, in stability.

Only a stable foundation can be built on and remain strong, steadfast. I remember when I first found out that if a building is not built strong enough for the later second story to be added, it sometimes isn't possible, and if done requires MUCH renovation. He has been preparing us for things, opportunities, great feats, relationships, authority, prosperity, things that would have been harmful to us, caused collapse, if we had not undergone these experiences which have pressed us and caused us to KNOW His goodness towards us, KNOW His faithfulness. We have been going through PREPARATION! Makes me giddy!

"Better is the end of a thing, than the beginning of it," Ecclesiastes 7:8

And knowing that, I have recognized we have an obligation to speak into the upcoming New Year. Post coming tomorrow about that!

Wise Men (and Women!) STILL seek Him!!

My oldest had a favorite thing to do at home with his father and I. He would hide. I think most children do. He did this A LOT! He scared me a bit, because I was concerned - were we paying enough attention? What if he got lost? I was a very young and inexperienced mother and spent much more time worrying than praying in his earliest years, and I grew as he grew. It turns out that he just LOVED to be found! He got such a satisfaction in the adventure of "hiding" and "seeking"! And the intimacy associated with us being in on the secret of his location! I do believe he liked knowing he mattered enough for us to seek after him. It's important to note that his goal was not to prevent us from finding him. The goal was 1) to be sought after, and then 2) to be FOUND!

The past few days I have been reminded through scriptures, that when we seek Him for knowledge, wisdom, truth, providence, direction, courage - He ALWAYS answers. We show our humility in seeking Him, and our desire for Him and His ways, and our faith in Him. In Daniel 2, Daniel didn't just quietly accept the execution order for all the wise men in the kingdom, he SOUGHT a reason why from the guard, and he received an answer. Then Daniel sought agreement and strength in his prayer partners in verses 17, 18. Here's an excerpt "So that they would desire and request mercy of The God of Heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." Verse 19 is the answer! "Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed The God of Heaven". (there's that THANKSGIVING again!).

This same pattern occurs in Matthew 2. The Wise Men are seeking Jesus, following the star to His location. As it came time to leave, the Amplified Bible tells us in verse 12 "And receiving an answer to their asking, they were divinely instructed and warned in a dream not to go back to Herod...". They sought Jesus, and they found Him. They sought direction, they received direction!

Every day for the past few months I have been making a prayer of a verse in Psalms "Show me Your ways Oh Lord, Teach me Your Paths". Because I am learning how very futile my thoughts and knowledge are, on my own. Truly, in every way, in the large and the small, the grand and the minute, I am needful of His grace, His light, His strength, His peace, His provision. Out of all these if I had to pick one - His light or direction/knowledge is one of the most valuable to me. Because without His light, I risk wasting, or misappropriating His rich blessings to me.

This week as I have been letting the beauty of the TRUE Christmas Story come to life and to light in me, I keep coming across this theme. The theme of seeking Him, the pattern of the Wise Men, back in Daniel's day and in the time of Jesus birth, as well as the BENEFITS of seeking Him! The fact that it pleases Him that we seek Him! I want to be that Wise woman! I want my husband and sons, one day my daughters-in-law, all my nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, parents and friends to have the wisdom and joy that comes from SEEKING Him always!

Listen to what Daniel said of our God, after the secret was revealed to him. "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him!"

May we ever seek Him and reap the rewards in living with knowledge necessary in these challenging times, which job to take, which one to pass on, which path of education to steer our child(ren) to and through? What to do with retirement stocks? Keep investing? move to something stable? What is stable now? Should I start that new class? Why are we still dealing with this? HE has the answers! He leads us by peace, day at a time!

A God of His Word - Words in red - Matthew 7:7 Amplified: "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking (reverently) and (the door) will be opened to you."

Seek
1. to go in search or quest of: to seek the truth.
2. to try to find or discover by searching or questioning: to seek the solution to a problem.
3. to try to obtain: to seek fame.
4. to try or attempt (usually fol. by an infinitive): to seek to convince a person.
5. to go to: to seek a place to rest.
6. to ask for; request: to seek advice.
7. Archaic. to search or explore

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day" Proverbs 4:18

Merry Christmas! Much love, ya'll! Maria

The GLORIOUS Disaster!!!

Some of my FB friends saw me joking about perspective based on my observations on Monday morning. PRIOR to being able to jest about it, I had to spend time pouring my heart to The Lord outside as I did the mundane chores that give me comfort, then I came inside and retreated to the "Bat Cave". As I lay in my room on my bed, with my Bible, phone, remote control and Fox News muted, so's I could read the ticker tape while I poured my heart out to God some more. I focused for a bit on Joseph and Mary In Matthew 1. Like so:

"18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹And her [promised] husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.

²⁰But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit.

²¹She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]."

As I thought about these Joseph's and Mary's perilous situation, I got a little taste of the very dire circumstances for each. Try to consider what a strict religious culture they were a part of. The power that women have today, non existent by our standards. Mary, by the religious and cultural standards would, ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, be worthy of the death alotted to an adulteress. Think for bit on that. All my life a weak spot I have is telling bad news. I would just about put myself in any imaginable Lucy and Ethel moment to avoid telling bad news. Ridiculous, but true. May the Lord forgive me and gently lead me. But can you possibly imagine Mary having this conversation with Joseph? The Lord provided of course, but, I wouldn't think that would nullify her fears, but instead give her the grace, strength and favor to overcome them.

Now think of Joseph. Clearly he did not "buy" what she was selling as her "story". Yet, he was a gentle man, because he didn't want her death. He wanted to do it quietly. Divorce her discreetly. Can't blame him. From a religious point of view, yes there were prophecies, about a coming Messiah, but, clearly it was like it is today, not in my lifetime, and even if it was, THIS isn't what it would look like.

It looked from every understandable carnal viewpoint like a disaster. A pity. A shame.

But, it wasn't. Not. At. All. It was GLORIOUS!!!! The Lord was birthing something BEYOND ANYONE's comprehension in Mary. She humbly agreed to yield, to submit. She rose to the occasion. She probably came to understand by degrees, generally in my experience at least, that's how faith works. She wasn't stoned, she wasn't put away, she was loved. She lived, she gave birth.

Joseph heard the Lord, even in the heat of the moment where he was planning his discreet get away. He listened, he obeyed. he shielded, he protected, he lived to see the birth and THE Messaiah was born.

In Galatians 4:19 Paul tells the Church in Galatia "My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) in within you."

As I thought to myself and to The Lord on my bed that day I was aware that as His sons and daughters, we are NOT WITHOUT HOPE. We belong to a Father God that is GOOD to us. We live in a fallen world, we dance between carnal and spirit in our lives, which makes the ingredients for many GLORIOUS DISASTERS! Sometimes we help them them to happen, sometimes we are happened to, you know? BUT the GLORY? THE GLORY IS ALL HIM!!!!

Monday, what was being formed in me, and in Jason was for each of us our own separate resolves, each good and right. Additionally, for myself, The Lord I am quite sure, was teaching that what I was going through in that moment was not a matter of provision, which is what I was focused on, but a matter of an appointed time. He was very clear in His impression to me, and the way the situation worked out backed it up. He allowed unpleasant circumstances , did not cause them, allowed them to help Christ, the Mind of Christ be formed in me, and in Jason. That was my disaster - what is yours? It is not important that we know the middle, it is important that we KNOW The Omega! The Alpha and The Omega, The Beginning and The Ending!

Christ in YOU! and In ME! THE HOPE OF GLORY!!!! Hallelujah!

OH MY GOSH! As I finish this GAC is on and Bucky Covington just came on stage singing his cover of a Nickleback song! I'm in Hilly Billy Heaven, Ya'll!!! God Wink! This moment was JUST FOR ME!

Much love, Maria!

Ethereal Effervescence

Ethereal: 1) light, airy or tenuous: "an ethereal world created by poetic imagination." 2) extremely delicate or refined: "ethereal beauty" 3) heavenly or celestial: "gone to his ethereal home" 4) of or pertaining to the upper regions of space. 5) Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; intangible. 6) Highly refined, delicate. 7) a - of the celestial spheres, heavenly, b - Not of this world, spiritual
Effervescence: of several definitions, I choose this for today "to show high spirits or animation", the synonyms show the feeling I don't know how to describe, click here to see.

Yesterday I was running an errand for church early in the morning and on one of the little side roads that I chose in order to get to the Giant Super Mart that shall be unnamed, I experienced one of those scenes like from a movie, it was very surreal. There was a wonderful, whirling dervish of tinkling leaves, at once gentle and wild. It moved in front of me as I drove for a good pace, and when I came back through on the way back to the church, it met me again, always staying just ahead of me, as if in elvish delight.

I can't explain the thrill, the other worldness of that scene, that experience. I heard a term not long ago that comes close to it, it's called a "God Wink". Those little things, that are often sprinkled throughout your week, if only your heart is turned towards Him, and you look with expectancy. Not like seeing markings in cows, or in your French Toast. But those things that are akin to the wink between two people in a large group of people, say at a cook-out or meeting, the wink that conveys a shared connection in that moment, based on that thread of the conversation, that maybe only the two of you get, and you will never speak of it. My Daddy is famous for these, usually accompanied by a stroking of his mustache...

I was thinking of two things in the rush that hit me upon seeing and hearing the tinkle and whirl of the leaves. 1) That people miss these God Winks all the time. What a shame. And 2) That it reminded me of yet another verse which I love to ponder and never fully comprehend. John 3:6-8 'What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not (do not be surprised, astonished) at my telling you, You must be born anew (from above). The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

At the time, I thought of the verse for the obvious reason. But, once again, as I obediently heeded the nudge to try to tackle this post, I sensed something larger at play, another teaching moment as a gift from above...He's been reminding me that we are seated in Heavenly places and I am brewing some good stuff on that...and somehow I sense that this verse and that experience are woven together, with the concept of being seated in heavenly places. As in, to be born again, and seated in heavenly places, means there is and should be a very intangible quality, even buoyancy to us. You can't keep us down, the enemy can't grab hold of us, we bring an energy a zest that is contagious, that deposits into the people around us. We bring LIFE with us wherever we go.

Something about us is a bit like that wonderful experience where God met me in the whirl and twirl, tinkle and swirl of those delightful leaves on Sunday!

Much love, Maria!

The Gate Called BEAUTIFUL!!

"Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple." Psalm 65:4 Amplified (turning up the volume of the original KJV)

So many thoughts, so little time to choose and order them...trusting The Lord to order my steps (thoughts and words in this instance!). This year had some tough challenges and it wasn't pretty or comfy as we went through pruning and refining! The season seems to be changing! Fruit is popping up and it IS indeed luscious! But in the hardest, darkest times the golden thread that I would grab hold of from time to time was Thanksgiving or Giving Thanks...I'd like to say that I "clung" to it...that sounds so much more appealing to our Christian sensibilities. However, the truth is what will set you free! I most certainly did not cling to this truth, but God, Who is rich in His mercy, kept helping me to catch sight of the golden thread and when I did glimpse it, I indeed grabbed it...would indeed be refreshed for a while, and then as the dreary clouds would encroach again, I would then drop it and amble on the path weary and slowly, not having the means or the clear direction where to travel, just one day at a time.

As I took those steps day at a time, more light came and more revelation of the power of Thanksgiving and the purpose and power of Praise. I PRAY I never forget, never weaken in my resolve to continually let Thanksgiving pour forth, and when it doesn't want to pour, that I will shake my vessel and tip it on its head if I have to, in order to pour some out.

Do you have some places in His Word, that draw you, but you don't have full revelation of them, and probably never will. But you love to look at them, to think on them, ponder and mull, and let Him over time give you a little puzzle piece here and there? One such place for me is Acts 3.

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;" Acts 3:2 KJV

I encourage you to read verses 1-10 by clicking here, then come back! :)

The name of the gate...has always beckoned and always will beckon me. Inviting me to know Him more fully. Jesus said "I am The Way and The Truth and The Life No one comes to the Father except through me.". This one time, poor, lame man in Acts 3 was lame "from his mother's womb" JUST LIKE US! due to our sin nature. He was invited in by Peter, as we are to "In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Rise up and walk !", enter into the gate, the gate which is called Beautiful! He went leaping and praising, and I would imagine making a bit of noise as he went into the temple, through the gate which is called Beautiful!

The simple elegant golden strand which the Good Lord repeatedly put in my path to hang onto was just this, thank me that your name and those of your husband and your sons, and all that you are thankful for, that their names are written in The Lambs Book of Life. Out loud. So I would, as I performed the routine tasks in a cloud of pain, disillusionment and confusion, I would state my gratitude that indeed my name is written in The Lamb's Book of Life, my husband's name is written in The Lamb's Book of Life, my son James, my son Jason, I am so blessed that their names are written in The Lamb's Book of Life. More and more I would do this, and every time it was like walking on a bridge to a place where I would find JOY waiting for me! I would be refreshed and continue on the good fight of faith! I just realized yesterday that that truth, that mercy that the Lord showed me, was very crucial to where I am, where I will stay "Psalm 23 "...and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."! Where I will bring it with me wherever I go!

Psalm 100 again: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful to Him, and bless His Name.". Yes, there are still and always be challenges, but I have more tools, more revelation, I can fight smarter, and I KNOW Him more fully, which gives me rest! Blessed indeed "is the man You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts."

When He Was Yet a Long Way Off!

Last week I shared some GREAT news of a "suddenly" that God orchestrated. The person involved in this said as he went into the building and when he came out, "I feel like the prodigal son". He said it somewhat jokingly, trying to take the edge off of the jitters that accompany the commitment he was making. The next morning I heard the verse that captures the return of the prodigal son, and as the narrator read the verse, he said "while he was yet a long way off" the Father ran to meet the son! I've heard this story ALL my life, gleaned many lovely truths...

But right now the truth that makes me jump up and down, is how good and tender He is to watch for us, and any little step in His direction we make, at any time, He is waiting for it! He SEES it! And while we or our loved ones are yet a long way off, having much to be worked out with fear and trembling in our lives, He will RUN TO MEET US! RUN TO MEET OUR LOVED ONES!!!! Pray, Pray, pray with renewed vision, pray with renewed hope and confidence, be fully persuaded! Enter His courts with thanksgiving, thank Him AHEAD of time! Thank Him that they didn't fall any farther, thank Him that He kept them, and is making something beautiful out of us and out of them!, Thank Him!

My PCs woes continue, but, there is NO way to keep me from putting out what God puts on my heart!

Much love!

Enter Into His Gates with THANKSGIVING!!!

"MAKE A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations."

Psalms 100 Amplified Bible

Today is a run around crazy day! But, I didn't want to miss today on here, especially knowing I won't be on the PC again until Saturday. So much I want to say, but the MOST important thing I want to share is I wouldn't have the grace to type on here today if it wasn't for this Psalm, this mindset. He brought me out of a season through focusing on Joy, then understanding the "chokers" of Joy, and the need to FOCUS on our Source of Joy, and then the icing on the cake was THANKING Him, in ALL things there is always something I can thank Him for! I approach Him daily and throughout the day, and I approach Him in THANKS! Not deep and probably sounds condescending to say to you, but, I just had to leave you with these thoughts until I get on here and can go visit 'round the net! Because without them, I wouldn't be on here!

Much love!

Being With Jesus!!!

Sickness, oppressive government, bills, loved ones apart from Christ - these winds and waves seek to overwhelm us.

"God thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
For to the snow He says, 'Fall on the earth,'
And to the downpour and the rain, 'Be strong.'"
Job 37:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

Recently, as I read and then pondered the scene of Peter seeing Jesus on the water and then going to Him. I realized something that I really needed! There are many messages I have heard based on the verses of Matthew 14. All of them good and true. But we always focus on the "walking on the water". Our focus when we choose that is earthly, fleshly, and completely understandable. I realize now that Peter was not waiting in that boat all night for Jesus to show up, SO THAT HE COULD WALK ON THE WATER! NOOOO! Peter was waiting for Jesus! They all were. Jesus didn't show up until the 4th watch! It was the literal "darkness before the dawn"! When Peter saw and heard that the figure on the water was indeed Jesus, he wanted to go to Him! THAT was Peter's immediate, heart felt response! He wanted to be with Jesus!

Isn't that what all our hearts cry? What we all crave? Deep calls to deep, He desires to meet with us, and He won't be outdone, if we draw near to Him, He WILL draw near to us! He will overtake us!

Peter walked on the water, because his focus wasn't to walk on the water, his focus was to be with Jesus! I believe that as we draw near to Him, and trust Him for the rest, one day one minute at a time we will rise above the waves, overcome the winds and when we occasionally do begin to take our hearts off of him, and begin to sink, we have but to once again call out to Him, and He will once again draw us to Him. He's faithful like that!

P.S. As I wrote this post I got a message to call someone from Church, long story short, my youngest is going back to church today! AND going back to drumming for Jesus! HALLELUJAH!!!!!

Thanks, Sharon!

Look at the cute header that Sharon from Sit With Me Awhile made. She just seemed to instinctively know what I might like for a springy/summery header. What a gift!

She just had a root canal, so drop in and say hello & a prayer for a quick recovery!

God bless!

MUCH!

There is congestion in my mind, too many things want to come out at once! I did want to drop in and say a quick hello. I pray all is well with you all!

I have been much stirred in my heart about what is afoot in our country. There are so many bills in various stages of being passed that it boggles the mind. There are at least 6 that will either likely or potentially will greatly impact our country through violating the Constitution, curtailing our God given freedoms. Expect that will be a post within the next day or so. A list. Since MSM doesn't tell the things we need to know, if you don't aggressively seek out news on-line, and listen to FOX News sometimes, you won't know what you have lost until too late.

My Mama and I have been having conversations since last fall about the spiritual state of our Nation and the Church at large. We have felt a tremendous need to pray for an Awakening of our Nation. Interestingly, back in March I happened to catch some dear ladies on a Bible teaching show (TV) sharing how God had impressed one of them back in their home church/prayer group (back in June last year - in the midst of the LONGEST election ever!) that the "election would not save America, but that an Awakening would" in other words. Pray for America to awaken. They explained the differences between revival and awakening and gave illustrations through history. Oh, it was sooo exhilarating to hear what your heart was already telling you, backed up with historical supporting facts!

And may I say if you have ever had to awaken someone who was sluggish, and slow to respond, it is not pleasant. I have not had much experience with this, because we all wake up promptly around here (Thank you, Lord!) but, I have had a couple of friends struggle with family members who suffer this lethargy, it is NOT fun to struggle to wake-up sleepy heads.

America is a great big distracted, comfortable, self righteous sleepy head. I love my country. And because I love my country, I am VERY concerned. I am also concerned that the Church wake-up. If we really truly engage and are the salt and the light, we should dare, we should tred, we should be exceedingly uncomfortable at times, yet ALWAYS in grace, always in faith.

I am a bit bothered that so many wonderful Christian people are quietly going about their lives knowing that they have voted and that God's Word has indeed told us that it would be like this one day, sort feeling that they must leave the rest to see what the future brings. I find myself in this regard to have reached my Martha zenith! ;) In my life with Christ I have always felt much more like Mary. Now I get to know what Martha felt like! While I know my approach is not perfect (of course) I do trust that God will continue to lead and guide me each day to do what I can to encourage others (that's my gift - I reckon - don't see much sign of anything else!) (well except hospitality) who are trying to make a difference, to pray, and to write, shine the spotlight, make phone calls or whatever else I can do to sound the alarm that America is somewhat on fire. We might want to wake-up.

I was led to spend the last 5 days on household matters, with family and with the Lord just in the quiet moments - which for me means I am not chatting so much on-line. Maybe observing a bit, but, that's about it. In the stillness of my heart the Lord was so good to me to refresh, and encourage me, as well as confirming and clarifying somethings for me. You ever notice that in the Old Testament that when Godly people cried out to God in the Psalms or just about any other book, it was often about either the wickedness of their Nation, or the results that the wickedness had wrought in their Nation. God was not separated from their political life, He WAS their life. How the Nation lived before God, impacted all, and there were Godly people who were NOT content to be passive about it.

In the past few years my life of faith (which I find should be somewhat messy) required trusting God daily for sustenance in many ways familiar to you my friends in Christ. As a former career woman, turned part-time clerical worker and home school mom, we had many financial challenges. As a parent of a child gone wild for a period of time - we had many reasons to trust God for his care daily. As a home school mom period, I had many reasons to trust God daily. There are many other things I could list, but I find that I STILL trust the Lord DAILY in these matters and yet, He is hinting at a further growth and likely discomfort. To trust Him as I stand up and speak up when I would many times prefer not to. Prefer to stay in my cocoon. And just like as a home school mother and as a part time (and then 100% sahm) I often struggled feeling that my contribution was not sufficient. The Lord always, always added His grace to it. He MADE it sufficient! And now as I feel what small pip-squeak voice I can add is seemingly insignificant, I find that the Lord seems to say, "use it for My purpose, my glory and trust me for the results".

I will close with the parable of the Good Samaritan as I was impressed to study it a bit this weekend. I feel that America is the neighbor. I want to be the Samaritan. but we need LOTS of neighbors! Luke 10:26-37

"26 Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it?

²⁷And he replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

²⁸And Jesus said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live [enjoy active, blessed, endless life in the kingdom of God].

²⁹And he, determined to acquit himself of reproach, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

³⁰Jesus,taking him up, replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way, [unconcernedly] leaving him half dead, as it happened.

³¹Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down along that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³²A Levite likewise came down to the place and saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].

³³But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along, came down to where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy [for him],

³⁴And went to him and dressed his wounds, pouring on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

³⁵And the next day he took out two denarii [two day's wages] and gave [them] to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I [myself] will repay you when I return.

³⁶Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?

³⁷He answered, The one who showed pity and mercy to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise."

Thanks for dropping and and listening to me ramble! You are kind to indulge me! Much love! Maria

Faith Outside the Box

Greetings! I pray all is well with you, and that no matter where today finds you that your hope is in The One who redeems, sustains and upholds us, the only Christ the King!

I have a confession to make. I am passionate about political issues. It's funny, the world does not like us to be passionate about our faith. Too bad. It's essence of who we are and why we are here in the first place to grow and develop as we learn of Our Lord. But the Church nor the world really cares for people who are passionate about political issues.

I was raised to be passionate about both, though I did not and have not always done so. It's been a process for me. Doing without Christ drove me to Christ. Then as I grew and life moved forward, I happened to begin homeschooling 6 months prior to September 11 2001. Studying history with biblical perspective was such an eye opener and a gift to us. It gave rich perspective to the history making times we were living in.

I won't take you through the blow by blow here, because really, who cares? Suffice it to say that something happened last August which made me unable or unwilling to compartmentalize my life from faith and politics (twin passions). It began to seem that to live my faith I must apply myself to day by day, in whatever ways I can find appropriate for my family apply my efforts to keeping myself aware, finding ways to encourage and inform those around me (family) and friends on the 'net. When opportunity presents to do more (donate, make calls, sign petitions, etc) do so. And always, and in all things pray and give thanks!

It's tempting to say forget it, my efforts are inconsequential and politics attracts so many "me-me-me people" (yuk factor). But, my conscience won't let me turn away. Until I am led in a new direction I better run with determination the road set before me.

I finally made peace with this transition during the last few days. I am hoping that I can keep two blogs going by posting and cross posting from time to time. I haven't been doing much of either because I have been struggling with what strange thing was happening to me. My faith and family and relationship with the Lord was just as strong as always, but I struggled with why was I so driven to political things.

Finally, I just relaxed and had PEACE! It's OK to be who He made me! I can TRUST Him! How novel! ;) He gives us GOOD gifts for His glory and His purpose! Who am I to kick against the pricks!?!

Yesterday there was a successful (well behaved, highly motivated and about 300+ btwn hours of 12:00 5:00) Tea Party in my hometown of St Augustine. I chose to go to next door Jacksonville (4,500+ from 12:00-2:00) with my parents, and the party THRILLED my heart. So many different types of people, different ages ALL of 1 mind and 1 accord. When God was mentioned no one was offened or ashamed but all cheered and gave honor. There was no hate but lots of wisdom and insight from young children, young adults and adults in the middle of life and adults who have been there and done that and know what they are talking about!

I have some encouraging words to share with you all my dear sisters in Christ, and am looking forward to visiting and checking in with you all. This was an important "Bird" Housekeeping matter that required tending to first!

There were a couple of times that when we sang "America, America God shed His grace on thee...and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea..." and when we prayed that I had a flash that God was pleased, that we were taking steps in the right direction and it made my heart happy!

Whether America shines or falls, God's people must trust in Him, look to Him, put our hope in Him. The Word is filled with accounts of Nations falling or pulling back from the brink, in either case there is always a remnant that looks to Him and is provided for even in the midst of trials.

If you would like to know more about where I have been dabbling check out Minorcan Maven. I will be around to visit over the weekend and catch up with ya'll! Some of the posts I have written there explain what I am speaking about better.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14

ABC's of the Word - G

From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together and I will give them water."
Numbers 21:16

I was facing a situation that was pressing me over the weekend. Still pressing as it evolves...through it all my spirit keeps singing this song :

"God will make a way, He'll make a way, He'll make a way,
God, will make a way!"

Then my spirit took it further and started changing it up -

"God has made away, He's made a way, He's made a way, He's made a way
He gave water from a rock,
God has made a way"

"God has made a way, He's made a way, He's made a way, He's made a way
He made manna fall all around,
God has made a way!"



"God has made a way, He's made a way, He's made a way, He's made a way,
He gave us life and made us clean
God has made a way!"

Good Thursday to you all! I know God will bless you for seeking Him through His Word and fellowship with other believers! What I hope you take from my thoughts on His Word today, is that if He has to make water flow from a rock for you, He will! If he didn't hold back His one and only begotten Son for us, He won't fail you now. Whether in His Sovereign wisdom He knows we need more time, more favor, more mercy, more grace or just plain and simple physical HELP and needs met, He will move Heaven and Earth to meet our need. What will we move to meet His need?

Lord, sometimes I feel like that rock, hard, unyielding and flinty and lacking fruit. Make your water (Spirit) flow from me I pray! Lord, Sometimes I feel like Moses - who struck the rock in anger the last time he had the opportunity. When He should have just spoke in authority to it. Help me to speak with love, patience, wisdom, authority in the power of Jesus Name , to the rocks which You have given me stewardship over. In Jesus' Beautiful Name - The Name above ALL other names! Amen

Please visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffy for more!

Lord, I have Been Here Before..Really...AGAIN? Can you Hear Me Whining?

How was your weekend? We had a great time with family this weekend. Missed my oldest. He was supposed to be able to come with his fiance'. But, he had to cover for someone at work and couldn't get away. But there was lots of fun with the nieces and nephews at a birthday party, and good times with my father-in-law and his wife yesterday. Bunch of other stuff too. God has blessed us greatly.

In the midst of that, I began last Wednesay taking on a new project that may or may not be a waste of time, but I HAD, as in HAD to try it. We shall see! Nothing ventured nothing gained!

And at the outset of the weekend, I was faced with a situation that was oh so familiar to me, as to make me want to just stay at home and put the covers over my head, because it just made me weary to comtemplate the SAME scenery AGAIN! Sheesh! Enough already! But, I did not! I hung on to the hem of His garment and said "I can't do this. I. CAN. NOT. Do. This. Please. Take. This...."

And He did. Through the weekend, since it was a busy time, (and many times I just wanted to escape and be alone with Him, My Father, My Savior, My King) when I was maybe in the truck driving by myself to run a quick 100th errand in town, or in the shower, or feeding Roto (our pig)...there was this song that I would sing - and it stirred my faith, and kept the enemy at bay. I don't know if I have heard it before ,or if it just was my spirit initiating a call out to the Lord. I just know the ministry of The Holy Spirit through that song blessed me and kept me going.

I am determined to not see this scenery again. I press on, and I don't look back. I trust Him!

How about you? If He's bringing you through - say so! Happy Monday, Ya'll!

ABC's of the Word - F!

5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:5-6 Amplified Bible

In the strange times we find ourselves living in, it is important more and more that we remember where our hope comes from, and Who we place our faith in! He IS faithful. He is more than enough - at all times, whether in times of plenty or want - He is MORE than enough. The world will increasingly need to be able to see that God's people are not afraid. We are secure and assured. Our children need to see it, our in-laws, our customers and our co-workers, sometimes even our spouses. It need not be a front. It should be and can be real. Lights on, groceries in the 'fridge - He's my God. No money in the bank, lights off, pink slip - He's my God. At all times, He is my God.

Lord, help us to be faithful to You like You are to us! Thank You, Father that You never leave us nor forsake us! We love You, we adore You! Fill us, Father with more of You! That we may lives lives useful to You! In Jesus' matchless and wonderful name! Amen!

For more ABC's of the Word, please visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie - you will be so glad you did! Toodles!

Come to Me!

Where oh where does the time go? I remember so often a season that occurred 5 years go last fall. It was our youngest's season playing football. The coach was a real good guy and SUCH a character! He had this thing he would say to the guys on the team that just rung in my heart like it was words from God everytime he said it. I STILL think of it. His nickname for my son was "Head" and he would say "Head! COME TO ME! COME TO ME!"

The news is frustrating, I know I am not alone....could we get some real people in Washington and have the place to ourselves for about say oh, 48 hours? We can straighten it up in the Name of Jesus, pretty durn quick...but I digress...grim and frustrating news..HIGH grocery prices, children who need much more than the little $5 dollar prize from the local Supermart, workplace politics that make the job so much harder than it has to be, a scale that just really is NOT kind. No. Not. At. All! ; ) Yikes!

But, we have a friend, who sticks closer than a brother! A friend in high places! He can make that dollar stretch, give us favor, grant us peace and the ability to be gracious. He gives me focus, the RIGHT one! Purpose and right motives. His ways are OH SO MUCH higher than my ways!

He gives to us, but our hands, our hearts, our very heads - must have room for what He gives! Empty your hands at His feet, pour out your heart to His ever present ear, clear out your head and make room for His thoughts!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. Matthew 27, Amplified Bible.

The Answer to Questions in the Dark

This morning I want to share a little thing I wrote 7 years ago next month. In March of 2002 our oldest son moved out in his 11th grade. His grades were in dire straits, but he had turned the much ballyhooed age of 18 the month before. He was surrounding himself with friends that encouraged him to ditch his family and go his own way. He was on a collision course with us, his parents. There was toxic relationship at the root of it all. And he was just completely focused on how to maintain that relationship. We were completely focused on how to get through to him. The night he told me he had made his decision and that he was moving out, I could feel the gut wrenching pain. Then came the night he came with two friends to remove his things from his room. You could feel the hostility radiating from his friends, because they had this impression of us as the overly strict parents who made their friend miserable. The two friends came from extremely dysfunctional homes and had much reasons to not respect or trust authority based on their relationships with their own parents. But these were young men we had been kind to, shown sacrificial love to and prayed for - how did they, how did we become strangers? The darkness.

Anyway, as you know if you visit regularly - that was 7 years ago, and life is dynamic flowing forward thank goodness, and praise God!!! Our family made it through that awful time intact, healthy and vibrantly. Were there rough times? Yes. But, God sustained us so sweetly. He kept my son. He went with him into the "darkness". He kept my youngest son, who this marked greatly. His one and only brother, his "big" brother, leaving in rebellion - prematurely, yeah it made an impact. He kept the little one as well, in the "darkness". His father and I experienced God's sustaining grace and "peace that passes understanding" through that period. I remember thinking at the time, "this is why it's called peace that passes understanding". The sheer grace, unexplained, and breathtakingly comforting. He kept us in the "darkness".

During that time for about 6-8 weeks I wrote several songs that just overflowed from my heart. I call them songs, but mind you I can't play or write music, so it's just lyrics that had music in my head to go with them! God knows the tune! LOL!

Anyway, lately I have been thinking about these particular verses and the times peope are going through all over this nation, and our nation as a whole. I hope you enjoy these words.

The Answer

He is majestic, mighty and holy

Lovely, and righteous and pure

He is deliberate, awesome and wonderful

He is Lord! He is Lord

He is light in the darkness

And shade in the desert

He is The Answer to the questions in the dark

He is The Answer to questions in the dark

When Your Call Comes - Shaving!

I have been ever so blessed by beginning a reading plan on January 15th for reading through the Bible in a year. Do you know that as much as I LOVE to study the Word, and get little and big treasures out of it, and to have wisdom imparted to me for being a more effective servant in everyday life, I have never completed such a plan? I only started my first attempt last year. I was really enjoying it and it got me out of a bit of a rut I was in. Once my wheels got turning though, I was off "chasing butterflies" in the Word. But this year over at Karen's blog, Surviving Motherhood, when she mentioned a plan she had used, it just clicked for me. This time I believe I have the grace to complete the plan. I like this one the most, because it is chronological, and I have always been interested in reading in that order.

Anywho, as I was studying Joseph's life during the read through Genesis, something I have studied more than a few times, I came across a phrase that just seemed to "pop" for me. I felt immediately like sharing it here.

The Set Up: We all know that Joseph suffered much painful, egregious and harsh injustice from age 17 for a period of about 13 years. We know that the scriptures tell us that he enjoyed success and favor, in all that he did, as a slave, and as a slave accused of rape and tossed into prison - still favor and success, still the presence of the Lord with him always. However, false accusation, slavery, imprisonment - the sting, the loneliness, the injustice were not evaporated. No, those feelings were something Joseph most likely had to daily render unto God, as he took up his cross and followed Him.

The Promise: Joseph had been given a promise and it called to him, it simmered at times, it gave him hope, hope for a future, hope for good, hope for a life of liberty, peace, restoration, and kingdom authority. There came a day about 11 years into his dark period where he gave the interpretation of a dream for each of two fellow prisoners. One of the men would be restored to his rightful place in service to the King. He asked for the man to remember him. The man forgot him instead. Two more years went by.

The Call Came! "14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh." I don't know if I can explain why this excited me so, I am not even sure I know why it excited me so. But, it did, and does. And I really immediately wanted to share it here. The idea that we can wait and wait in seeming obscurity. But, to the eyes of God we are not obscure. It seems like the years are ticking by and our "chance" has been devoured by the enemy, but it hasn't, because God has a perfect time!

One Day: One day our call will come, our child's call will come, our spouse's call will come, and when it does, we want to be clean shaven, dressed appropriately and ready to stand and serve in the manner which God's perfect clock work has been moving us towards, inch by precious inch, day by grinding day. We are made to shine! We are made to come forth like silver - smooth, shiny and serviceable!

Joseph's day came and he was never a prisoner or slave again. He served in the way God had uniquely prepared and placed him to serve., and it saved all of his entire family, all of Egypt and many peoples surrounding Egypt. Exceedingly, abundantly beyond ALL that we could ask, think or imagine! Our Father loves us too much and is entirely too wise by far, to give us the authority and influence our hearts tell us await us, until we can handle the power and influence without being overtaken in the sins of pride, fear, lust, and a myriad of others. And that takes preparation. That takes refining. Strengthening. Chiseling off the superficial layers of what you thought was your faith, until all that remains gives glory to God! And when it does, the fires of hell can't burn it, the waters of the ocean can't drown it, the winds of the storms of life can't snatch it away from you. He IS the author and the finisher of our faith!

Shave & change clothes! When the call comes make sure you are groomed and dressed for it! Make sure you have your stuff ready and waiting! If you need an outfit for that interview, if you need money set aside for that trip, or maybe that passport, or that wedding present for a child, or a degree for a job, or the house painted ready to sell it - get it ready for your call! Pray, be with God, believe and do your everyday part. And tell me when you get your call!