November 30, 2010

First of all, I know I have to get on here more often. It's been way too long. It has definitely been a busy season....FOOTBALL! I love our small town Lamar Tigers Brotherhood and am so thrilled watching what God is doing in our community through football. Congratulations boys on your awesome playoff run again this year. They made it to the semi-final game again, just like they did last year.

I have really been counting my blessings lately. Remembering where we were over the years and thanking God for the miracle he's done in our lives. The most recent thing that has really impacted me is remembering the last extreme "wilderness" we went through in 2007. We were attacked all the way around. We contemplated whether we needed to move away from Lamar, and we were hit extremely hard in our marriage. You'd think after 18 years together we would have been past that. But it got us. After realizing what was happening, we didn't tolerate it and we gave it to God and we made it through stronger than we were before. We have some friends that got hit pretty hard around the same time frame, and they didn't make it. Every time we visit with one of them it brings tears to my eyes knowing that could have been us. Thank you Jesus for saving us!

Okay...here's my most recent "revelation." The day before Thanksgiving Glen and I were talking about healing and miracles. Discussing the difference between healings that happen from someone operating with a "gift of healing" or "gift of miracles," and those that we just pray for and have to be "walked out." We were also discussing all the miracles we saw growing up in church, trying to determine what the difference was from then and now. We grew up in a somewhat strict, non-denominational/pentecostal church that preached a lot of law and not grace and God's love. But, we saw so many miracles. Nowadays, we have really learned to understand God's grace and done away with "unnecessary" law. There are still people praying and fasting...why aren't we seeing what we used to see? I believe it's a level of purity and how much we completely allow God to saturate our lives without "junk" being in the way. That is the main thing I see...the "junk." Back in the 70's and 80's they didn't have the teaching all right....but they didn't have to filter out all the junk. They didn't live in a world overwhelmed by media at every turn of the eyes or ears. Their "rules" for no tvs or movies, were not "lawful" but it truly did help keep the junk out.

Okay...that part wasn't my "big revelation." It came Friday morning as I was waking up, after having watched "Kung Fu Panda" the night before. I'm a little behind....had never seen the movie before. LOL! So, as I was waking up I was remembering, "there is no secret ingredient" from the movie. And as I saw Panda seeing his reflection in the scroll....I remembered the verse I've been dwelling on that we've learned in our "Excellencies of Christ" class...2 Corinthians 3:18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.And here is what "The Message" says in verses 16-18: Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. So, I believe the key is that there is "no secret ingredient," in other words...no particular religious hoop that we have to jump through, or no formula to follow....we have to believe...and allow ourselves to be fascinated with God and as we're gazing on Him that is what changes us and therefore changes our "output" so to speak in our lives. I hope that makes sense to those of you reading this...and I hope it becomes a transforming revelation for you, too!

August 17, 2010

Well, it's been a while since I've been on here. It's been an interesting month. I believe there's a reason for me to be writing. After I started this, I was attacked physically. I had in issue come up that hasn't been a problem for me in a couple of years. In fact, it's a pain that the doctors haven't been able to identify. Seems to hit me most when I'm moving to a new level spiritually. So..I stood against it. I've learned that some things we won't stand against because we will just tolerate them. No more for me. I won't tolerate those things anymore. I received victory when I stood against it. Praise the Lord. In the last week or so I've had several "light bulb" revelations. I love it when God just pours into us like that. I'll share the most recent one. Remember singing the song, "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength?" I've known that scripture for as long as I can remember. But I never really got it like I do now. I'm down to the last couple pages of "The Call" by Rick Joyner. It was talking about what brings God joy. That Jesus died on the cross so through that we can bring God joy through worship. It's through us having that heart connection and reaching out to God in worship that brings him joy. I know I've quoted that scripture to myself many times and prayed that God would give ME joy...cuz that's where my strength comes from. I wasn't getting it! My strength comes from worshiping God from my heart no matter what my situation is or what I'm going through. Bringing Him joy brings strength to me! Isn't that so cool? I finally got it! Thank you God for that revelation!

July 10, 2010

I'm almost finished with the current book I've been reading, "The Call" by Rick Joyner. It's the second in a series. It's been really good. They are a series of visions and prophetic experiences that he had and recorded. It has definitely spurred me on to want to go deeper in my relationship with God. Not only this book, but several I've read lately, and the Bible study I've been doing on my own. Some days I feel like I can't get enough. Then other days seem to go by and I didn't even pick anything up. Why is that? I really seem to be relating with the Apostle Paul....doing what I don't want to do and not doing what I want to do. I so much want to be able to live in the "real" world and not just operate in this temporary setting with all it's limits. But then, when I do feel like I'm beginning to access that realm....I feel like I look like a fruitcake to everyone around me. Oh well. I think I'd rather be seen as flaky, or way out there, than to miss out on what God has available for me. I read something in that book today about our "armor." In this picture he was painting...the armor that was being worn was "made to fit." I know whenever I've thought about putting on my armor as it says to do in Ephesians 6....I get the picture of what knights wore...seems kinda big and bulky. Not convenient. But it shouldn't have to be like that. It should be a natural fit to us. I should be able to be graceful and maneuver in my armor without ever having to take it off. Just something else for me to think about.

July 8, 2010

Thursdays are always fun for me. I made a new friend last fall. She knocked on my door and wanted to talk to me about God. So we did. And she came back the next week, and the next. So I started inviting her in. Her name is Pam and it's been an interesting journey. You probably have guessed by now....she's a Jehovah's Witness. There have been others who have knocked on my door over the years. I always steered them away. Told them I believed and attended church and I didn't need to do a Bible study with them. But, this time was different. I felt God encouraging me to do this. I wouldn't suggest that to just anyone. You really need to be grounded in your faith...they can be very persuasive. At first I wasn't so sure I should have taken on this task. But now I can truly say I look forward to our time together every week. It was either the first or second week that she brought a scripture out to me that I had never looked at closely before. Proverbs 2:4..."If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;" (KJV) Their translation says..."if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it,"....I now LOVE this scripture. It's become one of my favorites. I enjoy reading many different translations of the Bible...but some don't do this verse justice. She asked me why did this scripture refer to wisdom as silver, and not gold? You see, gold doesn't take much work to find....when it's there...you just find it by panning for it. Silver is another issue. You have to dig down deep to find silver. Much work involved. Needless to say...I've been doing a lot of digging over the last several months. I have so enjoyed getting into God's Word and finding answers. There are some issues I'm still digging into that I haven't come to a conclusion yet. Other answers are very cut and dry. The one thing I do know, I have built a friendship with Pam. I would definitely miss her if she didn't come by anymore. We don't agree on many doctrinal issues. But, we are both after the truth. And I can truly see how much she loves God. I don't know where this is going to go in the future. I pray that we can remain friends no matter what happens. And, of course, I'm hoping God will use my little light to shine some new truth into her life.

July 7, 2010

Okay, I finally did it. I've been thinking about doing this for awhile now. I remember when I was a little girl I wanted to be an "author and illustrator." Funny, huh? I've always felt like I wanted to write...but always thought that someday in the future God would line up all the thoughts in my head and I'd write a book or something. The Lord knows I've had an interesting life. But now that I'm 40 I wonder how long it will be til all those thoughts line up and God tells me what to write about. Decided it isn't gonna work the way I thought it might. I just need to start writing. About what? Who knows? I guess just the day to day stuff of what I've learned being a mom, and wife, and all the little things that God shows me daily. God has never failed me, that's for sure. 25 years ago I never would have thought my life would be what it is. We didn't always choose the right path, or the easy way, but we've made it. Where did we make it? To today...and then tomorrow. Ha ha! I've been married to Glen more than 21 years. Wow! And we've raised 3 boys who are absolutely amazing. I couldn't ask God for better children. And I'm grasping a little more every day just how much Jesus loves me! I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Him. I just want to live life everyday so those around me can see Him in some way or another.