Spoon Fed

I had dinner with a sweet friend and as always we get on the topic of our kids! We hash out the why's, the what are they thinking, will they ever get it....and then we ask, "where is the manual"? When you bring your new baby home from the hospital, all is well. So you think! They go through a phase of having their days and nights mixed up, then you finally get them to sleep through the night...(please cue the Hallelujah Chorus)! They begin crawling, walking, forming little personalities; life is good. Then one morning you wake up and some teenager with attitude has taken over your child's body! All the while you are exhausted and have the thought, "will we ever make it through this stage"?

We go through their lives, praying for the next stage in hopes it will be easier than the previous. I can honestly remember the day when I thought, "well now; we have made it"! It is that stage when you can go through the drive thru of McDonalds, hand your children their happy meal and keep moving. They are beginning to be self sufficient. O WHAT A HAPPY DAY! I recall this as though it were yesterday, I didn't have to spoon feed them anymore.

As our children have grown, we as parents seem to struggle with letting go. For so long we have wanted them to be self sufficient and as long as it is the "Happy Meal" we are good, but when it comes to them becoming young adults, we want to continue spoon feeding!

Their whole life we have worked on preparing them for adulthood. We taught character through sharing their toys during play dates, faith through Bible stories and life circumstances, learning to pray for others, thanking God for blessing us with food, to care for the less fortunate and a work ethic through chores. They have been given the tools to become productive, God fearing individuals....BUT for some reason we expect perfection when they become young adults. Why? I still haven't perfected it!

When it comes down to it, we as parents must LET GO AND LET GOD! Okay, there I said it! They must feed themselves. I read once in Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, "When we pray, we relieve ourselves of responsibility. We let go and let God. We take our hands off and put our concerns into  the hands of Almighty God. And trust me, He can handle whatever we put in His hands."(45) In Luke 11, Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray. He speaks of being persistent and praying with boldness. In verse 8 it says, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet BECAUSE OF THE MAN'S BOLDNESS, he will get up and give him as much as he needs." Persistent and bold prayers is what must be done...then LET IT, I mean "THEM" GO! If I were honest, this is SOOO hard for me, I find myself in prayer continually, which isn't that what scripture says...to "pray without ceasing"?

As I reflect on this day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that God continually guides and teaches me through His scripture. I don't always learn the lesson the first time, but I am thankful for His PERSISTENCE AND BOLDNESS WITH ME!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Being Thankful

I cannot believe it is already Thanksgiving! Turkey, dressing, green beans, corn, greens, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, pecan pie..I feel pleasantly stuffed already! As I sit and reflect on this past year, I am blessed beyond measure. I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy, for salvation! There are those times that I didn't know exactly what God was doing, nor did I like what He was doing, but through it all He remained faithful. Gary and I completed our first year with college students, that in itself was a learning process, AND we survived! I started back to college and a new job all while, still homeschooling our 14 year old...God is faithful! Praying with expectation for 2015.

Be encouraged for another day, God is so faithful! Here is wishing you and your family a 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Be Blessed

With Lots of Love and Prayers,

Gary & Sherri Ard

2014

Psalms 100:1-5

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE; GIVE THANKS TO HIM AND PRAISE HIS NAME.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Rest of the Story

Psalms 139:13-16 (MSG)
Oh, yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Recently, I was asked to give a devotion at a bridal shower. I am a preparer with lots of notes, scripture references, examples and so forth. I had been working on this particular devotion for over a week. Like always, I prayed on the way up to the church and was trying to review what I had studied, but for some reason nothing was coming...I started to panic! I prayed again, asking God to give me a clear mind, empty me and fill me with you is what I asked. Sounds simple...well it wasn't!

My drive to the church is approximately 20 minutes, but it seemed like a drive you take with a 5 year old going to Disney World for the first time...IT WAS FOREVER! I continued to pray and rehearse...still nothing. I pulled into the church parking lot and I prayed again, in a begging manner; "GOD PLEASE HELP ME"! One thought kept coming up every time I would finish praying. "Tell her about the story I wrote for her". Are you kidding me! I just used those verses at a baby shower, I couldn't use them again.

I apologized to the group for what might take place, but I knew in my heart of hearts I needed to do what God had commanded me to do. I explained my ride to the church, sitting in the car arguing with God and how the whole devotion had completely changed in a matter of 10 minutes and I wasn't even sure what I was going to say. Let me tell you, I love how God uses this stubborn, broken vessel for His glory!

Psalms 139:13-18

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. 

ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand, When I awake, I am still with you."

For many of us, our parents started praying for our mates before we were even born. And before conception, God already had our story written. He knew the color of our hair, the color of our eyes, what our personality would be, what our career would be, who our friends would be and yes, he already had that special mate written in our book. BUT, I must say...because of the free will that He has given us, we choose whether or not to step into our story. For many, we have detoured from that precious story, we have added pages that He did not intend on, but because of His mercy and grace, He allows us...even with added pages to step back into the book.

Grace was the bride we were celebrating with on this particular night. I have known Grace forever, and I can still see her running around church in her wrangler's and boots! Although I did not get the opportunity to teach her in youth, I was blessed to watch her grow up loving God with all of her heart. As I viewed from a slight distance, Grace developed and began to live out her own faith. You see she had parents that trusted God with everything...when times were good and when times were bad. They lived their faith out in front of Grace and she took notice!

Even before Grace was conceived, God knew she would go to school for agriculture and that she would meet the man of her dreams...Jacob. God had already written this marriage in Grace's Book, and because of her faithfulness to Him, she stepped right into the pages of the her Cinderella story! I cannot wait to see "The Rest of the Story"!

I know this is long, but would you allow me to provide one more way that God has used this scripture in my life? Recently, I share this same verse with an abortion-minded client. She cried, I cried...she left our center that day as an "intends to carry"client...I rejoiced! A few weeks went by, she did not show up for her next appointment, we tried calling, but because of life choices and situations we were unable to get in contact with her. Prayers were lifted up, she called the center on a Thursday claiming that she needed to go through with an abortion. She stated, "I cannot care for this child. I do not have a place to lay my head, much less this baby." She was told that there were other options, please come into the center so we can discuss them with you and do an ultrasound to confirm that there is a viable pregnancy. She didn't come. Prayers were lifted up, this time through a massive prayer text! It took two weeks, but she called the center wanting to hear the other options, she knew she could not go through with an abortion. Today she is on her way to making an adoption plan! She is not only stepping into the pages of this baby's God story, but for two parents that she doesn't know. When asked what changed her mind, she said one of the things she took from our very first meeting to confirm pregnancy was the verse Psalms 139:16. She stated, "I have marked that verse in the Bible that you guys gave me and I read it every day. It gives me hope and strength when I am having a bad day." In Spring....I hope to bring you "The Rest of the Story"!

What Ground Are You Standing On?

Exodus 3:5

"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Can you imagine going for a walk and coming up on a bush that is on fire, yet it is not burning up?   You step a little closer to investigate and from the bush God calls out to you. Reading Exodus 3, my first thought was how cool would that be to have God speak in an audible voice...HOLY COW, or as my mission buddies would say, "VACA SANTAS"! Not only does God speak, but He spoke through a bush that was on fire! Here is God telling Moses to stop in his tracks, take those nasty shoes off because you are getting ready to get up front and personal with the Almighty God. Good night, I believe this is where God want's us to be, so close that we are standing on holy ground. Taking our shoes off, removing our worries, halting our plans for the day just so we can embrace the One True Living God.

This "holy ground" is not a special piece of land, but a special moment in the presence of God. I am so overwhelmed right now, to think that God would bring me to this very place. I know for me there are days when my quiet time is out of ritual. It happens just so I can put a checkmark by that "task" on my to do list. As I am writing this another verse came to mind and it is found in Matthew 6:6 (MSG), "Here is what I want you to do; Find a quiet secluded place so you won't be tempted to role play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God and you will begin to sense His grace."

Where is your worship? Do you experience the presence of "I AM WHO I AM"? (vs14)

One More Year; Then She Drives

Psalms 46:5

"God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day."

We are BIG on birthdays! Gary and I have always tried to make our kids feel special on their day of birth. Well, it is Jenny Beth's special day, maybe I should say month! She turns 14, September 22nd and it never really dawned on me how old she was getting until she said in an excited voice, "I can drive next year"! What?! Although I do not carry her on my hip physically, mentally I still do. Where in the world did the time go? I can still see her laying on the floor with that curly hair all amiss, her feet propped on the tv stand watching Barney.

She is my artist, my reader, my child when she has had enough of stupid...she let's you know! Jenny is fun loving, she loves hugs and she always tells me, "have I told you how much I love you" or "have I told you lately that you are beautiful"? I know, I know...she melts your heart! Mine too!

I look at her and I am in awe of her character. She is very mindful of others and their feelings, she is an encourager. You see Jenny Beth has a heart for others. It is funny how God uses your children to teach you or remind you of a quality that He wants you to work on. Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like it; 'Love your neighbor as yourself'." 

Happy Birthday

to my 

Brown-Eyed

Girl!

The King is Enthralled

Psalms 45:11

 "The King is enthralled by your beauty"

 Enthrall, to hold the attention of as if by a spell (http://www.merriam-webster.com). Good night, I love this word! God is enthralled with us! Mesmerized, we have His full attention, He is consumed with you, with me! Isn't that a beautiful concept? Can we truly wrap our mind around that? 

As I sat with a client, Psalms 45:11 kept running through my mind. This young 18 year old cannot see how beautiful she is. She does not know that the God of creation, the God who called her by name before she was born (Isaiah 49:1) is completely and utterly enthralled with her. As I listened, she is just one of many who are downtrodden because of a life full of mistakes. She doesn't know that life should and could be different. Feeling trapped, uneducated, being unwed, without a job and expecting a baby, she is overwhelmed. She has never heard the creation story, of Jonah and the Whale, Zacchaeus...the wee little man, the story of Esther or that Jesus loves her so much that He was a willing sacrifice....just for her. 

Recently, God directed me to First Coast Women's Services. FCWS is a faith based pregnancy crisis center and I, of all people get the privilege of working there. I am humbled! I get to share Jesus with girls that have no hope...I share the HOPE that I have, JESUS! Never in a 100 years would I have placed myself in this ministry, but here again scripture does NOT return void. Psalms 139:16, "Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." My story has already been written, can you believe it...a story about me! God can use broken vessels after all... for He is the potter and I am the clay! Let's just say there is a lot of molding going on.

Having worked with youth for over 10 years, I have experienced many girls who do not realize their potential through Jesus Christ. They cannot fathom anyone, much less God being enthralled with them. Song of Solomon 4:7, "All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you." Not only youth, but adults as well get "hung up" on their past sins, past mistakes and regrets. BUT friend, I am here to tell you that in Isaiah 43:18-19, God says, "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Satan wants nothing more than to defeat, for "he is like a roaring lion, roaming to and fro seeking whom he may devour". We have to claim God's Word as truth, but we must share His truth as well. Be intentional today. I know there is someone who needs to know that God is ENTHRALLED with them.

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely. He loves  every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken." 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

FCWS is looking for volunteers to love on these girls. We even have a Men's Ministry! If you would like information, please feel free to contact First Coast Women's Center at (904) 259-2585 or visit our website http://www.fcws.org.

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.

Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61: 3

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Circumstances, losses, and even affliction are allowed into our lives so The God of heaven and earth,  our Creator may be glorified! So many times, when we are in the midst of a trial, we struggle to find the beauty in it.  I have to say I love the way  scripture sums it all up.."to give them beauty for ashes".

In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of mourning; as displayed by Mordecai in the Book of Esther, repentance displayed by many prophets for the sins of Israel, and you just have to love Job! Job 42:1-6 states, "Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asks, Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me, My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." How many times have we "heard" of God, but our eyes have not "seen" Him? 

We will never be able to wrap our mind around God. His ways and thoughts are so much more than we can comprehend, but that is where our faith, His grace and mercy steps in. God has taken our sins, our mourning, our depression and has made them into something beautiful! Our inadequacies, our unfaithfulness, our gluttony, our adulterous hearts, our pridefulness, our arrogant spirit, our unwillingness to forgive and He...YES GOD because of His mercy and grace is offering beauty for our ashes! We have to be willing participants in His mercy.

At the Foot of the Cross

At the foot of the cross

Where grace and suffering meet

You have shown me life

Through the judgment you received

And you've won my heart

And you've won my heart, now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty

And wear forgiveness like a crown

Coming to kiss the feet of mercy

I lay every burden down at the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross

Where I am made complete

You have given me life

Through the death you bore for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EtAiFJDHSAg

(copy and paste the address above in your web browser)

Has God won your heart?

Romans 10:9-10

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Peek-A-Boo

Jenny Beth and I are doing homeschool a little different this year. We decided to be part of a Co-Op, which has turned out to be a wonderful decision. Our Co-op meets every Tuesday. Each Mom has a class that she teaches and then other chores she must complete during the day. My class is Algebra 1, I help setup for lunch and THEN I get to help a very sweet friend in the nursery. The nursery is at the end of the day, so you can imagine how tired these little ones are. Through a small consensus...okay,  it is for our sanity, we decided the kids should go outside for this last hour. They run, play with bugs, expand their imagination with sticks, count leaves...you name it they do it! One of their favorite games is peek-a-boo!

Peek-a-Boo is very mundane with two and three year olds, but it is what makes them happy! Our game is played behind a large magnolia tree. Usually, they will stand behind the tree and we will call out their names..."Where are you"? The game usually starts with one and then the other 3 want to get in on it. It never fails, there will be one who stands on the side of the tree where we can see their little body. They turn their eyes away from us and because they cannot see us, they think we cannot see them! 

HOLY COW! How many times are we that little kid on the side of the tree playing peek-a-boo with God? So often we have this thought process, that just because we cannot see God Himself with our eyes, He cannot see us. It never ceases to amaze me how God uses small things to ever so gently remind me that He is God!  Hebrews 4:12-13 states, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. NOTHING in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." You may not see my heart or even some of my actions, but God does. As Hebrews says, "nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight"!  

As a child in Sunday School, I can remember singing, "Oh be careful little eyes (hand, mouth, feet) what you see, for the Father up above is looking down below, oh be careful little eyes what you see". Wow...and I thought it was just a song to sing when I was little!

Outfit of the Day

Have you ever stood at your closet and said, "I don't have anything to wear"? I know I have... or you go through 5 outfits before you find one and then you still aren't happy! PREACH!! Oh and by the way, the picture above is not my closet. If only I could be that organized. I figure if you cannot see it, it is fine!

As Christians, we should get dressed everyday with confidence. Colossians 3: 12-14, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." It should never be a question as to what I put on in the morning. Just like I choose the right outfit from my closet, I should also choose to get dressed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

If I do not make compassion as part of my daily wardrobe then how do I expect to be kind or show patience to another person? I know for me, I have to continually get dressed with these qualities throughout the day. Look at verse 14 again, "and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity". Love is that final accessory that brings the whole outfit together. 

If you have ever watched What Not To Wear, you know that Stacy and Clinton always talk about bringing the outfit together with accessories...a purse, shoes, necklace or bracelets in a contrasting color. They have said that it finishes the outfit and makes you look like a million dollars! Well, let's just think of compassion as our deodorant, it keeps us from stinking, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience is our outfit of choice, forgiveness is our belt, which tightens the clothing, then it is time to accessorize! We must put on LOVE as our splash of color. ACCESSORIZE...it is what pulls the whole outfit together!

It is just as important to get dressed spiritually every morning, as it is to choose the "outfit of the day"! 

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

As I prepare to write this post, my mind wanders and drifts away to so many other things going on in my life. My baby is in 8th grade, she will turn 14 in a little over a month. The oldest daughter is leaving for college to begin her Junior year, my son just returned from a mission trip in Africa and is working with my Dad and all while I am trying to figure out God's plan and direction for me. The season for me to be a stay-at-home-mom is coming to a close. Tears well up as I think of all the good times we have had, but I am overjoyed by all of the good times yet to come! Gary and I are blessed far more than we deserve.

I am reminded in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God." I will begin a new phase in my life...a job outside of the home and I will be finishing my college degree! Yikes, talk about "don't overwhelm yourself". Although, I know this is a God thing, I am still anxious. Am I doing the right thing? Is this the best thing for my family? God, is this truly your will for my life? I know, I know...I completely overthink things! Thank you God, that you give direction in your love letter to me, words of comfort, words of guidance and most of all words of your love for me.  

As I am experiencing all of these "firsts", I think about the moms who are dropping their child off at school for the first time. There are mom's who are sending their child to school for their last year, some are attending new schools...so many firsts! Yet, God in His infinite wisdom instructs us not to be anxious. I am thankful for a God who directs me to just the right scripture when I need it, whether I like it or not! If you find yourself stressed and anxious, go to the Word...God's Word! He has something just for you!

Ecclesiastes 2:26a states, "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness...". Aim to please God, embrace the new season and pray about EVERYTHING! 

P.S.

Prayers are graciously accepted for this old gal who is intimidated by change.

Fifty Six Years and Counting

1 Corinthians 13:4-8b

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

LOVE NEVER FAILS."

July 26th, my parents will be celebrating 56 years of marriage! My brothers and I have been blessed with godly parents. They have shown us the true meaning of commitment to one another and to our Lord Jesus Christ. Mom and Dad have lived 1 Corinthians 13 throughout their marriage, even when they did not have Jesus as Lord of their lives and marriage!

The joke in our family is that Daddy raised 4 kids...my mom, my two brothers, and me. They were married when she was 16, YIKES! The phrase "they didn't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of", summarizes the beginning of marriage for the two of them. There were not enough chairs at the dinner table, so Mom sat on Dad's knee to eat. Although she cooks better than Paula Deen now, it was not always that way! A lot of hot dogs, gritty greens and burnt meals, but Dad did not care. Mom was still in high school and Dad made sure she finished and then encouraged her to go on to college. They literally lived from week to week and sometimes the week lasted longer than 7 days. Throughout their marriage they have endured many obstacles, from finances to health. Dad has had stents placed in his heart and underwent open heart surgery. Mom had a partial thyroid removal only to find out it was cancerous, but through each incident it was even more evident of their love and commitment to one another and to God. I am so thankful for the example God placed before my sweetie and I!

In spite of the rough start, they always persevered, trusted, hoped and loved. Couples like this need to do seminars on what marriage truly is.......COMMITMENT!  Love, although the dictionary may refer to it as a noun, it is most definitely an action verb. Love is something an individual must do. A person must choose to love and it is shown in their commitment and actions they do for another person! 

If we were to look at the statistics of divorce in America, we would see that 50% of marriages will end in divorce. There is a divorce every 13 seconds, over 6,000 in one day and throughout the course of the week over 46,500 couples will call it quits! You cannot tell me that we do not have an epidemic! People are not committed. We need to see more examples like Mom and Dad!

Marriage is a commitment! It is a covenant between two people and God that should not be taken lightly. Marriage is not easy, it is a lot of giving. It is so sweet to listen to them, Dad tells Mom how pretty she is and that she is his "sweetie pie"! If you have been lucky enough to know them, you have been able to experience the love and respect that they have for one another.  They always want to make sure the other is happy and content, they go above and beyond what the norm is in today's society....we could all learn something from them!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!

THANK YOU FOR THE PRECIOUS EXAMPLE 

OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

LOVING GOD!

It's Independence Day!

"WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"

The Declaration of Independence signifies our country's freedom. Did you know that on July 4th, 1776 the final draft was approved by the Continental Congress. Fifty six Congressional Delegates signed this document with Benjamin Franklin being the oldest person to sign. A committee of five were chosen to compose the declaration, they were as follows: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. Although independence was declared on July 2nd, the final draft of the declaration was not approved by Congress until July 4th and it was not signed until August 2nd! 

As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, I do not find it coincidental that my quiet time consisted of 2 Kings 19:30, "Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above." Revival can happen! Our nation has fallen so far from God and it it my duty, our duty to lift this great country up in prayer. Not only do we need to pray for our leaders, our soldiers, but we need to pray for the people of this nation.  It is our responsibility to share Jesus! I have not doubt that revival can happen in the United States of America. We are in desperate need of another GREAT AWAKENING!

Although tomorrow is not the National Day of Prayer, please join me in praying for our country! On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy said in his Inaugural Speech, " Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!" What can we do for our country? Pray for God to tender the hearts of the people, for us to have boldness and intentionality to share Jesus with our neighbors and with people we encounter, lastly pray for us to represent Jesus in every facet of our lives. Sometimes we are the only Jesus that people see!

What's in a Leader?

This past week I had the privilege of going white water rafting with our middle school from church.  Our youth pastor has been doing this trip with our youth for as long as I can remember. It is one that all of the students talk about for years later. I know, I for one am thankful for a youth pastor that pours his heart and God's love into these students, into my children! He truly wants to see them succeed as leaders and he does an outstanding job at providing the tools for them to be leaders in their school, community and at home.

Through out the week, the students are encouraged to  participate  in many challenging  activities. Each activity is a build up to WHITE WATER RAFTING class 4 rapids down the Ocoee River. The first of the week they are provided an opportunity to be servants to an Appalachian family by doing repairs or building an addition around their home site. The middle of the week they venture into repelling and rock climbing a wall that is at least 30 to 40 feet in the air. This my friend is a large feat for this old gal! Once I get the nerve to climb the ladder to repel, I must rest a few minutes because I am so out of breath....I still am not sure if it is from the climb or the aroma (and I use that term very lightly) from our repelling guide who is "one with nature" if you know what I mean. I have been on this trip five time now and each year I think the stench gets a little stronger! BUT, as the week progresses it is important for the students to learn that there are challenges in life and either we meet them head on or we sit back and let life pass us by. 

We studied along with our students the importance of becoming a leader with conviction in this society that we live in. A Christian leader is one who soars like an eagle! One who is not afraid of the storms that life may bring, but one who is willing to fly directly into the storm to make an impact.  

John Maxwell once said, "The first step to leadership is servanthood." What greater example do we have than Jesus! John 13:14-16 states, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." Humility....being humble, yes that is what it takes to be a leader; a servant-leader! A servant-leader is one who leads by seeking to meet others' needs first. We must remove our pride, insecurities, lack of love, laziness...I could go on and on, but you get the point. When I think about how Jesus humbled himself, first of all to come to this earth as a human, but to live a lowly life while here just to be a sacrifice for me, I am blown away! My prayer is that I do not take that for granted. 

Oh dear parent, it is crucial that you are an example of a servant-leader to your children! Remember they learn by the examples put in front of them....YOU! Be their mentor, encourager and their protege. How can we ever expect our children to be all that God wants them to be, if they do not see us being ALL that God wants us to be!

"The most challenging step of any journey is the first step."

What's Your Jordan River?

Joshua 3:5
"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you'."

How the Israelites must have felt when they came to the Jordan River only to see the waters raging and at flood stage! They had been told this was their next move; they had to cross the river to get to Jericho. For some, it must have been the craziest thing Joshua had ever said, yet to others who had a strong faith this was like taking a stroll through the park. Do you have a "Jordan River", a situation that seems almost impossible to get through? Has there been a time when you have felt so overwhelmed and you did not know which way to go? We all have experienced it! Just like God parted the Jordan River for the Israelites to pass through, He will make a way for us to pass through our obstacle as well. 

The Old Testament is a wonderful book of History! What is so amazing about the Old Testament is how relevant it is in life today. The struggles the Israelites went through are just as prevalent for us today. They walked in circles for years because of disobedience and their lack of faith....sound familiar?

Through the course of marriage, kids, homeschooling...life in general there have been many "Jordan Rivers". There were times we thought we would never see the other side, but through them all God  remained faithful. He, in His sovereignty was teaching us different spiritual and life lessons. For instance; "consecrate yourselves" in other words separate yourself so that you are completely dedicated to God. Don't you think we do not hear God sometimes because we have not consecrated ourselves? Think about it, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." Maybe we are still waiting because we have not obeyed the first part of the command!

I absolutely love this part of History! Joshua 3:15-17, "Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. YET as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." I do not know about you, but I feel a Hallelujah, Praise God coming on! Our God is so amazing, even when our Jordan River seems impassable, God, in His Love, in His Sovereignty, carries us through.

There have been times when a situation did not turn out how I thought it should, but after being moved through it, I was able to step back and see that His ways, His thoughts are so much more than mine could ever be! In our marriage, we started trying to conceive at the ripe age of 22. It wasn't until we were 28 that God saw fit to give us the desires of our heart. Looking back, I am so thankful! I was no where ready to be a Mom at 22. I will be the first to tell you that infertility is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. It put our marriage to the test, it put my faith in God to the test, but there again God is faithful...even when I wasn't!

Life is full of trials and tribulations, but just as God dried up the Jordan River for the Israelites to pass through He will do the same for you! Joshua 4:24, "He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." In the words of Madea, "Amend and Amend!" 

Come Sail Away!

David prayed in Psalms 51:10-12; "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and RENEW a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." With the hustle and bustle of life, this is a prayer that is always refreshing. We all need a time of renewal and what joy it is to know that we have a God who will renew us, physically, emotionally and YES, spiritually.

What better way for that to happen than to go on vacation, better yet a cruise. No cell phone, no Internet, which means no Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter...let the angels commence their singing!  I have such a love/hate relationship with social media. What in the world did I ever do when I was a teenager? Oh wait, I actually interacted with my friends in person or by the phone that was on the wall (where you just prayed that the cord would reach to where my parents could not hear my conversation) we didn't have these impersonal ways of communication. We actually had to have verbal dialect! Our texting was by way of a pen, paper, envelope and a postage stamp. Good night what dinosaur I am!

Our family decided to take a time of renewal this past week. We went on a 4-night, 5 day cruise to the Nassau and Coco Cay Bahamas! We actually had time of interaction without the kids  responding to text messages, checking Facebook or Instagram. Now do not get me wrong, I love the convenience of the cell phone just like anyone else, but it becomes such a distraction!

After all of the transitions that we as a family have encountered this year, we needed a time to reunite.  It was not easy at first, but as the week went on we were able to have talks and time of reflection. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing your kids laughing together. Our prayer is that through their shift into adulthood, they will stay close to one another and to God. I know for me, I may not see my brothers every week, but I know if I need them they are there for me! There is a wonderful feeling in that and I may not hear from God audibly, but I sure see His hand in everything!

I think we all experience a time of drought spiritually and it is so important for us to persevere. It is hard to keep reading and praying when you feel like God is not listening, but the fact of the matter is that God never moves. He is always listening, moving and working in our lives. He may not allow things to happen how we expect them to, but  remember when we pray it is not about changing the circumstances,  it is about allowing God to change....renew us through prayer!

Something I have learned about prayer these past few weeks is that I must stay humble, patient and focused. Satan wants nothing more than for me to lose sight of who God is and what He has planned for me. My prayer for you is that if you are going through a drought, God will renew your spirit, give you a clear focus and the strength to keep on keeping on!

You may not be able to take a cruise, but turn your cell phone off, do not get on the computer. Open up God's Word  and let Him renew a steadfast spirit within you!

You Can Lead a Horse To Water.....

Isaiah 55:1
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."

"You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." How many times have I heard this saying? Yet, I never really gave it a second thought until I started teaching youth and also in the fact that I have three teenagers at home.

In Sunday School and at home God's Word is presented and I know that His Word does not return void, but the blank stares you get when you are wanting them to "GET IT"....ugh! They have been led to the "Water Source", but have decided not to drink the water.....YET! Oh my, I suddenly have the urge to call my youth pastor  and apologize for the times I gave him THE blank stare. He was leading me to the water, but I just wasn't drinking. So I remained thirsty!

In John 7:37-38, Jesus States, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

There are times that we cry out to God and proclaim His promises, yet many times our lives do not reflect what we are saying or what we say we believe. You know the little saying, "Practice what you preach"? James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS." Simple, right?

When you get up in the morning, does anyone have to tell you to eat breakfast, brush your teeth and get dressed? Maybe for some of you.....but for the most part; NO! We do not have to be told to do those things, because we were taught at a very young age. Remember when you first started wearing deodorant, if not; your mom sure does! She had to remind you everyday...."Did you put your deodorant on?" And hopefully  asked before you left the house, because if it was after school, she asked because of the foul odor that greeted her in the car when you arrived! God is the same way. He reminds us daily through His Word what we should do. Colossians 3:12-14, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, CLOTHE (GET UP AND GET DRESSED) yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievance you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Just recently it was said, "Either God is Lord of everything, or He is not Lord at all!" God is leading us to the Water....He is the Living Water Source. It is our choice whether we are going to drink or remain thirsty. 

Dazed and Confused

At the end of the school year it never fails, I always feel a little dazed and confused. I am trying to get the End of Year testing completed, which makes me nervous. What if I didn't teach my children everything they need to know? What if they completely bomb the test? Does that mean I didn't do my job? What if we had entirely too many "field trips"? Not to mention that after Spring break, the kids and I have mentally checked out of school!

Homeschooling is one of those tasks that you have to be called into. Although with all of the resources out there, just about anyone can do it...but you have to be disciplined; otherwise your whole school year is like you have just come off of Spring break! When God called us to homeschool, I was a little apprehensive, okay a lot  apprehensive! This is probably the only time that I have put a fleece out for God. You know.... "God if this is what you are telling me, then.......", you fill in the blank. I needed a direct answer, after all a child's future is based on their education.

There are fundamentals that I can teach, like 1 + 1 = 2, or that an action verb is the word in the sentence that is doing the action, or that the Declaration of Independence was signed July 4th, 1776. Then there are life lessons which are taught by observation. YIKES! Our children are imitators, now if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will!

I remember as a teenager seeing my Mom study God's Word every morning. When we would get up for school, her Bible was always open on the kitchen table where she had been doing her quiet time. Now at the time I didn't think anything of it! It was routine, but now as an adult what an impact that has made on me. I began imitating that same routine as an adult. I can only hope that my children will do the same. Proverbs 22:6, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Sin in our life makes us dazed and confused! Here's the catch, do we live as though sin defeats us? If we are new creatures in Christ then we are free! Although children may not know the details of our sin, they see how we react or live according to sin. Do they see me living as if I am defeated or freed from sin? Scripture tells us in Psalms 103:10-12, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." If God doesn't remember my sins, why should I? Remember, our children imitate us! We are their examples and encouragers, how can they learn to live being free from sin if we can't? Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Jesus Christ is our ULTIMATE role model and we are to be imitators of him. With the weight of our sin, He did not remain defeated, the grave had no bearing on him. Therefore, our sin should not have any bearing on us! LIVE A LIFE THAT IS FREE, ONE THAT IS ABUNDANT! That is what we want for our children.....right?

Romans 8:34-36

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, 

YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED'."

What is in a Name?

Choosing names for our children was a daunting task. We wanted the name to flow with our last name and of course we did not want nicknames. Being the sentimental people that we are,  tradition was a must. Our son Tyler, received his Dad and Papa's middle name (Boyd) and of course the last name would be carried another generation. His twin sister received my middle name (Lynn) and her first name is Sara after Abraham's wife in the Bible. At the ripe age of 27, I felt like I was going to be Sarah's age, somewhere in her 90's before I had children! Our third daughter, Jenny Beth is named after two incredible ladies who are very dear to our hearts. Funny thing is, some of their personalities  come out in her and when they do,  we giggle and say, "Yeah, we named her with the right names!"

I say all of that to say this. When naming our children we put a lot of thought into names and their meanings, but do we ever think about ALL of the names of God and what they mean? He is God, Creator, He is Lord, He is Jesus, Jehovah, Abba, Father, Yahweh, Adonai, Jehovah Jireh, our Comforter, Redeemer, Forgiver, Sustainer, our Protector, He IS THE King of Kings, El Shaddai, El Roi, Elohim, Prince of Peace, Savior, He is the GREAT I AM! The list goes on and on, but do we truly get it...get HIM? A few years back when I had a scare with cancerous cells, those names became real! He is my Refuge, my Rock, my Strong Tower; for in Him I will not be moved. 

As we are coming upon the day that we celebrate Jesus' resurrection and the fact that He is ALIVE, take a moment to remember ALL of who He is and what He has done for you!

Psalms 50:1

"The Mighty One, God, The Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets."

Psalms 62:6-7

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge."

Psalms 63:1

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is not water."

Isaiah 9:6b

"And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 41:4

"Who has done this and carried it through, calling for the generations from the beginning? I, The Lord with the first of them and with the last, I AM HE."

Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Isaiah 48:17

"This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go'."

If you need some help with your worship go to UTube and search for:

Kari Jobe - When I Speak Your Name

Daddy's Hands

Psalms 96:1-3

"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, Praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people."

Every year at this time, I get an itch to have the Southern Homes and Garden landscape in my yard. I am not exactly sure what seems to transpire from the time I visualize this decadent and colorful garden in spring to the end of the summer. At the end of summer I still have the same weeds, they have just multiplied and I have no sign of that beautiful garden that I dreamt of. I have even tried having a vegetable garden...let's just say if we had to depend on my gardening skills, we would starve.

My Dad on the the other hand loves to garden. Man do I love to watch him! He begins preparing his garden rows early in February and on Good Friday he will plant. With every seed being placed in a small hole and covered, he reminds us of how God produces many vegetables from one seed. He will then proceed to tell us that he needs help when it its time to weed the rows and pick the harvest. He begins with an army while planting, but when the real work begins.....the army dwindles. What an analogy! We as Christians are a lot like the army, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few". 

Dad is also a Timber Producer and has been for almost 60 years. He is the most godly man I know. He uses his garden, the pine trees and all of creation to teach us of God's love for him and for us and he does it so subtly! When I was a little girl Dad always reminded my brothers and I to pay close attention to the pine trees around Easter and he still does to this day. 

Scripture tells us that ALL of creation will praise God, The Creator. Psalms 96: 1-13a, "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns.' The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for he comes." Even creation recognizes Jesus' death on the cross, His burial and it celebrates His RESURRECTION! You see, the pine trees sing glory to God by producing crosses in the tops of the trees. It is one of the most amazing things to take notice of and yet so humbling.

Those crosses are a reminder of God's grace and His mercy to me as a sinner. A sinner who has been forgiven, redeemed, justified and free of condemnation! Romans 8:1-2, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." I am so thankful for an earthly Dad who has been so encouraging and who has taught my brothers and I and now our children to stand in awe not only for creation, but the CREATOR....GOD, all by working with his hands. I have watched him through the years rejoice and sing praises to God, I have watched him being a laborer for the harvest of God's Kingdom. He is a simple man and a man of few words, he works with his hands, but I am telling you His love for God SHOUTS! 

I challenge you to pay close attention to creation...especially now with all of the newness! How many tomatoes can you harvest from one seed? How many crosses will you notice in the pine trees? God is is at work all around us, make yourself aware of God's goodness, sing to the Lord....just like Dad!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

OMG! I cannot believe it is Tyler and Sara Lynn's Birthday week.....let me take a moment and cry! What a special gift you both are! You will be 19 Friday, April 4th. Wait......I need another moment...sniff, sniff. 1 Samuel 1: 27-28 says, "I prayed for (these children) and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give (them) to the Lord. For (their) whole life (they) will be given over to the Lord."

I remember the frustration and heartache Dad and I went through when trying to conceive. All I wanted was a baby and I was willing to do just about anything to get one! As I look back, our faith was not strong, but God still chose to bless us with Baby A and Baby B. The "Gift Procedure" that we had in August of 1994 turned out to be two of the BEST GIFTS we ever received! We have not always made the right decisions as parents, nor been the best example for you and  there are things that we would most definitely change, but God has truly BLESSED us, He has been our Refuge and our Rock!

Psalms 127: 3-5

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court."

This is your first birthday that we will not be spending with you, but we want you to know as your parents, WE LOVE YOU and could not be more proud of the young people you are becoming. We realize this year has been a huge adjustment. You are learning how to trust God and claim your faith as your own. That's HARD STUFF! Heck, even Dad and I struggle. Even in the times we  have been faithless, God has always been faithful.

If you would allow me to give you some advice, memorize 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." For me, this passage is referring to my daily walk, my testimony. It is our prayer that you both lead a life that pleases God, not one that conforms to this world. It is so easy to be caught in the snare of Satan, all he wants is to see both of you defeated. BUT....you must remember, Ephesians 3:20, (MSG) God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." Although, we are celebrating your physical birthday this week, your spiritual birthday has given you the "power" that is being spoken of in Ephesians 3:20, YOU HAVE IT, He can do IMMEASURABLY more!

Happy Birthday Tyler and Sara Lynn! We love you as far as the east is to the west.

 

Get Fit!

A few years back I trained for the Gate River Run. When you first start running you think your run will never end and then all of a sudden something clicks with you and you actually love it. Running for me is a stress reliever and actually it is a time that I can reflect on God's creation and God Himself. It is a great prayer time!

While studying this week for my Sunday School lesson, God reminded me that a race has been placed before me. It is not a physical race, it is a spiritual one. Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." 

I can remember when I first made the decision to start running how daunting the task was. I started with a walk to warm up and then I would run for a quarter of a mile. I thought I would never get to the point of running a mile without walking. I was winded, I was tired, my calves hurt, I had blisters...I could go on and on, but you get the picture. There were times I just wanted to stop, but I had a goal set in front of me that I wanted to accomplish. I had to persevere! My body had to be trained to have the correct posture, a proper breathing pattern and most importantly I had to train my mind.

Our lives spiritually are conducive to the same type of training. When the decision has been made to enter into a relationship with Jesus, our training begins. I think so many of us including me, expect our lives to be hassle free because we have Jesus. This is not an accurate assumption. James 1:2-4, states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Paul says in Romans that we must "rejoice in our sufferings", because through these sufferings we will yield, you guessed it perseverance! Not only perseverance, but character and hope.

What am I doing to train for the race set before me spiritually? Do I realize the goal....the PRIZE? When training for a race like the River Run, there are definite benefits. You have more energy and you will see your body transform! It is the same when you train spiritually, you have increased endurance, AND your life is being transformed in the likeness of Christ!

When training, there are several obstacles that can be a deterrent. When getting up early to run, I can be hindered by the weather or muscle aches and it is no different for spiritual training! Galatians 5:7-8 (MSG) says, "You were running superbly! Who cut in on you deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the ONE who called you into the race in the first place."There are hinderances that are occur in our life, but we must persevere, keeping our goal in front of us. We are sure to have the proper equipment when running; running shoes, clothing that is comfortable and sometimes we go the extra mile and purchase a pedometer or an awesome application we can add to our phones to help motivate us. The same is indicative in our pursuit of becoming spiritually fit. The training equipment to help us endure the race spiritually should involve  time spent daily in God's Word, find an accountability partner, and fellowship with fellow believers!