Preparation: Vision for the Season

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ~Isa. 9:6

Today we experienced our first snow. It was light and lovely. I watched the snow flurries dance with the current of the wind, as I slowly sipped  my special blend of eggnog hot chocolate. The fire in our ivory-colored wood stove created a warm cozy atmosphere in my home. I felt perfectly at peace....full of bliss.

However, I know this season holds its own unique challenges: maintaining a budget, keeping up with meals, baking Christmas treats, getting prepared for company, laundry, church and ministry activities. Along with the daily commitment to schedules, the emotional highs and lows one may deal with: feelings of loneliness, decreased finances, loss of a family member or fatigue supplies its own spinning plate to our lives.

One of my challenges has been to stay focused on what really matters: my time with the Lord and my family. It's so easy to function off of a "TO DO LIST" especially if you tend to be a planner by nature. My heart so longs to be a good example for my children by putting Christ first everyday.

The scripture in Isaiah 9:6 states, For unto us a child is born... Wow! Think about that for a moment...a child.

One of the things I enjoy most is holding a newborn baby. I like to lay the child right on my chest and feel its little heart pounding. I'm close enough to breathe in that unique "baby scent" that's a mixture of Downy and Baby Magic. I'm there to protect him/her from the harshness this world has to offer. I bask in the moment. My heart echos my sentiments as I hold on to the child for just one last moment.

What then will I do with this child that has been given to "us"? How do I protect this son from getting lost in the ribbon and bows of this magnificent season? For me, I've discovered simple living, determination and preparation go a long way.

Before I make up my Christmas shopping list,  I plan spiritual activities for myself and my family.  I commit not to leave my bedroom without praying and reading my Bible every morning. Each year I purchase a new Christmas book our family can read together in the evenings. One of our favorites is One Wintry Night  written by Ruth Bell Graham.

I also have special  devotional books and audio recordings I use only during the holidays. The devotional times with the children are all centered around the scriptures relating to Christ's birth and we avail ourselves to minister to others.

As I enter into each holiday season, I purpose not to be entrapped with the superficial glitter and miss the joy of holding the child, the King of Glory, who waits for our fellowship daily in his courts. Dedicate at least the first five minutes of each day during this holy season to hold and treasure Him. Get close enough to smell Him!

He wants it all...

What is man, that thou at mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ~Psalm 8:4

I am still amazed by the love of God. Everyday, He continues to reveal His love to me. My heart simply melts before His Presence as I experienced His incredible love and forgiveness.  I find myself desperately desiring more and more of Him.  

The enemy of our souls (satan) has lied and seduced God's people into side issues that hinder them from embracing God's truth about who He is and the love He has for His people. He earnestly wants all of us, even our broken parts.

This song spoke to my heart yesterday at church. The lyrics are simple, but reflect the heart of God. He wants all of us.

Please take a few minutes and prayerfully read the lyrics to this powerful song. Don't dismiss this, simply because they are lyrics. Jesus used many visual images and props to convey the  message and the principles of the Kingdom of God. If you would like to listen to the song, there is a link available. 

My prayer is that God will speak to your heart as you listen to this song and your heart will respond in total surrender.  We can then say together with the Apostle Paul: 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ~ Philippians 1:21

Click to watch the video He wants it all

Music & Lyrics By Forever Jones  (A Christian Family Band)

There's a voice that cries out in the silence, 

searching for heart that will love Him, 

longing for child that will give Him their all, 

give it all, He wants it all 

There's a God that walks over the earth, 

He's searching for heart that is desperate, 

longing for child that will give Him their all, 

give it all, He wants it all 

and He says, love Me, love Me with your whole heart 

He wants it all today 

serve Me, serve Me with you life now 

He wants it all today 

bow down, let go of your idols 

He wants it all today (x4) 

There's a God that walks over the earth, 

He searching for heart that is desperate, 

longing for child that will give Him their all, 

give it all, he wants it all 

and He says, love me, love me with your whole heart 

He wants it all today 

serve Me, serve Me with you life now 

He wants it all today 

bow down, let go of your idols 

He wants it all today (x4) 

Oh oh oh, all of you, more of you 

wants it all today (whole thing x3) 

He wants it all today, He wants is all today 

so give it all 

There's a voice that cries out in the silence, 

searching for a heart that will love Him, 

longing for child that will give Him their all, 

give it all, He wants it all

A Personal Note: Holiday Posts

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. ~Proverbs 16:3

These are the words the Lord whispered to me during my personal devotion time today. I love the way it reads in  the Amplified version:

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and thrust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, ans] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

One of the "works" I've been praying about is the time commitment for the blog.  I love writing, sharing the heart of God and my journey. I spend time praying about each post and especially for each one of you. My prayer is that you will be drawn closer to the Father and seek Him in a deeper way. He is indescribably rich: full of love, mercy, compassion, wisdom, and strength. Oh! I could go on and on...

As I discover more and more about Him, I've come to understand why it will take eternity for us to get to know Him. He is so worthy of all the glory, honor and praise! One stanza in Amazing Grace bears my thoughts:

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun!

As I prayed the Lord impressed upon my mind to write two to three times per week during the holiday season. If you have signed up to be a follower or on the email list, the posts should come directly to your email. If you haven't signed up, perhaps now is the time to consider that option.  If you have been encouraged and ministered to, please share the blog with your friends.

May our prayers, worship and adoration to Him continue to be a sweet smelling sacrifice.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. ~Isaiah 55:6

Distractions! Distractions! Distractions!

I enjoy watching the changing canvas of the seasons. The autumn palette will soon conform to the silvery whites of winter's icy brush. In the days ahead, the routine and rhythm of life will be challenged by the demands of the "holiday season". As I was praying the other day, the Holy Spirit reminded me to beware of "time snatchers". The scripture from Leviticus 6:13 popped into my heart:

The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

This scripture is a powerful visual picture of God's heart. This commandment of the Lord was God's specific directive to those whom He had called to serve Him.  Matthew Henry says it best:

By this law we are taught to keep up in our minds a constant disposition to all acts of piety and devotion, an habitual affection to divine things, so as to be always ready to every good word and work. We must not only not quench the Spirit, but we must stir up the gift that is in us. Though we be not always sacrificing, yet we must keep the fire of holy love always burning; and thus we must pray always.

During this sacred and festive time of year, my spiritual antenna is keenly aware of the potential of my fire going out.  Please note, that this is personal and not corporate. It's easy to "feel" as if we are keeping the Lord the focal point when we include Him in corporate worship, family devotions and group activities. He is glorified when we gather to honor Him corporately, but He's always looking for our personal intimate worship and devotion.

So I prepare, plan and have checkpoints to make sure I keep the "fire of holy love" burning to my King. First, I assess my heart, life and daily routine to see if I have over committed to projects or allowed any bad patterns of behavior or attitudes to creep in that would pull me away from my personal ministry to the Lord.

It can be something as simple as staying up too late, causing me not to be able to get up on time for my own devotions, which then causes me to feel rushed. Once I identify the "time snatchers", I pray and ask for forgiveness. Then, immediately I turn my attention to focus on the primary spiritual culprit. In this case, going to bed at a decent hour so I can get up. This requires discipline and diligence, but Jesus Christ, the King of Kings deserves it!

I'm far from perfect, but my heart's desire is to please Him. My heart beats with Matthew Henry:

"we must keep the fire of holy love always burning; and thus we must pray always."

My Secret Weapon

The Old Testament is one of my favorite books to read. There's lots of drama, incredible miracles, suspense and history displayed right before one's eyes!  As you read, one can't help but notice the cycle of God's chosen people, Israel. Jehovah God watches as His beloved Israel goes from believing and trusting Him, to falling into idolatry. Repentance takes place, the people serve the Lord for a couple of generations and then they fall into idolatry again.

The commandments and directives of the Lord were loud and clear.

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.~Deut.4:23

 
One of the life lessons I've gleaned from the Israelites is the invaluable art of remembrance. It's one of the most basic, foundational, spiritual disciplines that we should employ in our spiritual lives, yet it is often neglected. The Israelites failed to remember the LORD and His commands. They became unthankful, discontent and fell into unbelief and disobedience. My choice of weaponry against the Enemy of Forgetfulness is my journal and pen.

In my spiritual journal, I document the lessons the Lord is teaching me. Flipping through the pages of my journal one may find: prayers of repentance, scriptures I'm studying to replace carnal thoughts and bad habits, lyrics to songs I sing to the Lord, prayer requests, topical studies, book studies, directives the Good Shepherd has given, dreams He's placed in my heart and prophecies. By documenting God's   instructions and answers to my prayers, I am able to remember God's faithfulness, His correction, love and record my own spiritual growth.

As I return to the worn pages of my old journals, I cry as my eyes scan the counsel of God. God really LOVES me. I'm so grateful I took the time to capture the treasure of His heart! Armed with pen and journal, a thankful and believing heart, I now stand poised to trample the Enemy of Forgetfulness!

The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119:72 NAS


 

God's Gentle Reminder

This morning has been a spiritual struggle for me. The Lord has called me to the night watches again, which simply means I get up around 4am to worship, pray and listen to the heart of my Father. The time spent with Him has been so rich that its difficult to pull myself away at times.

I usually write these posts after I have spent time with Him. They are just a natural outpouring of His heart as it relates to the lessons He has taught or is presently teaching me. Since I never intended to write posts daily (it just kind of happened) I thought I would discipline myself and write them in the evenings before I went to bed. Usually the Lord would impress upon my heart a truth to share, so its been easy.

This morning was different. I went to church last night with a friend and got home late. I could barely keep my eyes open and decided to wait until the morning to write a post. Putting pen to paper or in  this case fingers to keyboard wasn't easy. The smooth rhythmic flow of my fingers tapping the keys escaped me. I closed the keyboard and spent time with the Father.

His simple message to me was this. What I experienced this morning is what a lot of believers experience. Doing good or even noble things without spending enough time with the Father makes life's work hard and does not yield the fruit He desires.

In varying seasons of life, each one of us, with different life demands must continue to seek Him.  He wants to write our script for the day, the months ahead, and in fact, our lives. Thankfully, He also is a Redeemer of lost time, dreams and destiny.

He's still calling for His Beloved. That's you and me: The church of Jesus Christ!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:2

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ~Matthew 6:33

Day 2- International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

As our family prayed last night for converted Christians Hocine and Salem in Algeria, I wanted to remind (and introduce) my blog readers to the concept of praying for those that are risking their lives for their faith in Christ. Gathered in the loft of our home, I made a personal commitment to the Lord to pray for His bride: The Persecuted Church. My daughter, Katrina, made a copy of the 14 days of Prayer  issued by Voice of the Martyrs, so she can have her own personal copy to put on her bulletin board. The posted photocopied paper is a visual reminder she can reference to pray at other times than during our family time. My thirteen year old son, Jason and I, secured a map through Google images, located Algeria and did a quick lesson on Bible history and geography.

I could have easily prayed alone, but this prayer event is critical for my children to understand the times in which we live and develop a heart for other believers. The kingdom of God "suffereth violence" and I want the Lord to impress this burden on their hearts so that they are willing to continue to pray for them long after this fourteen day period is over.

It's easy to fall into the protective mode and not expose our children to these "horrible incidents". Yet children across the world are eye witnesses to persecution and some of them have experienced the brutalities of torture and intense physical and emotional pain.

There are some who read this blog and don't have any children. For you the mission is simple: share this information with another brother or sister in Christ and pray together. All of us need to be awakened to the sacrifices of these 21st century martyrs.  As a gentle reminder, please visit The International Day of Prayer website for further information and take a few minutes to  pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.~Hebrews 13:3

Scripture Reference: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. ~Matthew 11:12

The Five Minute Challenge

My three year old grand-daughter, Nyel, gives the best hugs. Every time she sees me, she runs with her arms open wide, screaming "Me-Me!" When her small arms finally meets mine, I scoop her up, and with legs dangling, I spin her around in one large motion. The loudest screams and giggles just ooze out of her mouth, one right after the other until I finally put her down.

As she saunters away looking for one of her aunts or Daddy-cakes (Granddaddy), an overwhelming sense of pride and joy washes over me. One of life's simplest and greatest pleasure is to have a child demonstrate their love for you.  Our Heavenly Father desires our love and praise.

Sometimes I actually feel sorry for God. I thought about how many prayer requests (good and bad) He listens to continually day and night. Then the thought came to me, to spend some time daily with Him  not asking for anything, just hugging Him. By letting Him know how much I love and appreciate Him, I am giving Him pleasure.

Revelations 4: 11 states..

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelations 4:11 Wow! That's me!


Everyday I have the opportunity to "hug" my Heavenly Father. Sometimes I sing to Him, others I just verbally express how much I love and appreciate Him. I tell Him how beautiful He is to me.  Daily I  run to Him with open arms to express my love, gaze in His eyes and be swept off my feet.

P. S. Please join me as I commit to "hug" my Heavenly Father every day. If you are taking on this five minute challenge please post in the comment box and pass it on to your friends. Be blessed as you hug your Father today!

The Aroma of Worship

On my way to a meeting yesterday, I noticed an object lying in the middle of the road. As I sped down the recently paved highway,  my eyes discerned its distinctive markings and my nose quickly recognized the putrid odor. The black and white road kill was, of course, a skunk. I maneuvered the car as far away from the creature as possible without veering off the road to escape the disgusting aroma that now filled my nostrils. After traveling several yards past the road kill, the scent that had been released from its crushed body still invaded my car.

Traveling south toward my destination, I couldn't help but think about my worship. Was the fragrance of my life sweet smelling to God? Or when I'm crushed (like the skunk) with the adversities of life, is the fragrance I emit sweet or foul?

I smiled and thought how God would use such a disgusting animal as a skunk to challenge me spiritually. Everyday, I have the opportunity to allow the worship that flows from my heart permeate the heavens with the sweetness of the love I have for Him. Because He demonstrated His great love to me, I am the recipient of His love gift.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:8

With this amazing spiritual truth, I sing and release worship...

Take My Life and Let It Be

Verse 1:
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.


Verse 2:
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.


Verse 3:
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.


Verse 4:
Take my silver and my gold:
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.


Verse 5:
Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.


Verse 6:
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Words: Frances R. Havergal 1874.

The Desert Places

I have gone through some very hard times spiritually. I especially remember the times when it seemed as if I was going through a spiritual desert. Although I was desperately seeking God, it was as if, He couldn't be found. I examined myself over and over again to see if somehow I had some covert sin I was refusing to confess before the Lord. My heart ached for Him and yet  He seemed so far away. I cried for a drink of the Living Water.

I crossed the desert trusting in His Words alone, knowing that He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Along the way, I thought I found Him, but it was only a mirage. As I traversed the barren wasteland, seeking for a sign of Him,  He was shedding the extra baggage I had inadvertently picked up.

Neatly packed backpacks labeled: The Cares of this World & Have No Other gods before Me, were slowing my pace. The daily demands of my life seemed to scream for my immediate attention and left my Beloved waiting for my leftover energy and time.

You see, it was necessary for me to go through the desert. I had to feel the weight of the backpacks, so I could repent, toss them aside and return to My First Love, Jesus Christ. Without the desert experience, there would have been no blistering sun, fierce winds or desperate thirst to drive me back to Him.

When I sought Him out of a pure heart, He heard me and let me drink deeply of Him. I can still hear His voice...

  Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. ~John 7:37b

Life as Ministry

Have you every felt guilty for not doing enough "ministry" or being "spiritual"? It's funny how we tend to segregate our lives into little neat compartments. When we read our Bibles, spend time having devotions, pray or go to church, those actions are neatly filed under the areas of "ministry and/or spiritual life".

A friend of mine, Dr. Dee, made this simple but yet profound statement, "Every aspect of life is ministry."

Not once did Jesus ever separate any aspect of his life into that which was spiritual versus non-spiritual. Walking along the road to Emmaus...that was ministry. Breaking bread with the disciples...that was ministry. Stopping to hear the cry of someone distressed or sick...that was ministry. He loved and cared for the people around Him, changing their lives by His touch and life giving words.  His entire life was poured out as a drink offering before The Father.

 It's important for us as the people of God to understand that every part of our lives is spiritual. The Apostle Paul literally begged us to get this understanding:

 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.    

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
~Romans 12:1-2 Amp.


And Colossians 3:17 instructs us ...And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

This amazing truth stopped by subtle fragmented thinking. No matter what I may do: caring for my children, loving and being attentive to my husband, washing clothes, praying or standing before a group teaching God's Word; it's all my spiritual act of worship and dedication to our beloved, Jesus Christ.

Profound...but true! All my life for Him!

Treasuring the Father's Heart

I was thinking about my father, David, the other day and how much I miss hearing his voice. He went home to be with the Lord in 1988 and I thought I wouldn't be able to live without him.  He was the pinnacle of wisdom and my love reservoir. Just a few words from him made my world right again.  Knowing he was there when I needed that extra touch of reassurance was like honey to my heart. He was literally the backbone of my life.

My heavenly Father was gracious to give me a loving earthly father that mirrors His heart. Desperately longing for my earthly father and his words of wisdom gave me the idea of going back and revisiting my old spiritual journals to see what words My Heavenly Father had spoken. 

Armed with several old journals, from spiral to leather bound, each one of these books held the treasures of my Father's heart. As I began to read through the pages, our times of intimacy were unveiled. I could hear His still small voice directing me as I read over the scriptures He had given, life lessons He had taught, pain He had healed and truths He revealed. I also took note of the times I failed to follow His instructions in the simple things.

I asked the Lord for forgiveness and made a list of the directives He had given that I simply failed to do. Not intentionally disobedient, but yet disobedient still. Our God desires obedience in the simplest matters, they too are His heart.

His correction, gentle, yet sweet, filled me with gratitude that I took the time to record the treasure of His words. As for me, I will treasure His heart, lay down my life and allow Him to be glorified in the simple things.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.~IICor. 4:7

The Call to Intercession

It's easy to become content with our everyday routine. The familiarity of the rhythm of life brings comfort.  Soothed by the aroma of fresh coffee brewing in the morning and the customary sounds of our households wakening to a new day add to our sense of well being.

For some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the routine of their lives has been brutally interrupted. By confessing Christ as their Savior, they have literally put their lives and their children in harms way. Sunday, November 14, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. As I was reading through Voice of the Martyrs web site, I was arrested by some of the images and life stories I read. These are modern day heroes and heroines of the faith who have literally given up everything to follow Christ.

As I sat nestled in my favorite Queen Anne recliner, the tears welled up in my eyes, as I read about the testimony of a family from Somalia.

 "Christian Osman Abdullah Fataho was shot and killed in front of his wife and four children last July by Al Shabaab rebels, who have stated their goal of killing every Christian in Somalia. Fataho’s four children were abducted by the rebels to be trained as jihadists. PRAY for Ali (5), Fatuma (7), Sharif (10) and Nur (15) to remain strong in their faith and be reunited with their mother."

Reading about this family I couldn't help but think about my own. With six children and a four year old granddaughter, the security and safety of my family is vitally important to me. I can't imagine the heartbreak and mourning of Christian Fataho's widow. 

The first word in Hebrews 13:3 is REMEMBER...

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. ~Hebrews 13:3


Let's take this opportunity to not only remember but to pray and tell our children about their other brothers and sisters in Christ globally who are literally laying down their lives for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom. Starting November 14, IDOP, will begin 14 days of prayer for our persecuted brethren. Please join me as we literally fulfill Hebrews 13:3 and pray. Visit The International Day of Prayer  website to download the 14 day prayer plan. Let's spread the word and may our prayers rise together in a sweet smelling sacrifice to our Savior.

My RSVP to God

I love being invited to special events: weddings, luncheons, afternoon teas. Each one has its own unique emphasis, ambiance, decor, food and fellowship.  My calendar, which often is full, is checked immediately to reserve the date and time to share in the celebration.

While reading James chapter 4, I took note of this verse. In the midst of the instruction, correction and spiritual turmoil, the Lord gently sends an invitation.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. ~James 4:8

"Come close to Me.", He calls in the midst of all the struggles and adversity of life. Instead of running and hiding from Him as Adam did in the garden, we need to stop and run to Him. He knows our frailties and weakness', yet He is desirous of our company. The song Draw me Close to You is the cry of my heart, my personal RSVP to the greatest invitation I've ever received. Please take a few minutes and allow your heart to respond to this very personal invitation from God to you. Before you play the video, turn off the music on the side bar.

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

First Sunday ~ Do This in Remembrance of Me

I still cry on First Sundays. No matter how I  try to restrain the tears they still fall each time. At our church on the first Sunday of each month we celebrate The Lord's Supper.

Sitting as still as I can, I carefully hold the broken cracker and communion cup in my hands. My mind always takes me back to the days of my childhood. I can see the altar at the front of Bethel AME Church where I was allowed to kneel for The Lord's Supper. On first Sunday, the deaconess reverently draped the wooden altar with white linen. The ministers adorned in their white pastoral robes signified the holiness of this Sunday. My aunt, who played the organ, began her melody of hymns that reminded us about the precious shedding of Jesus' blood. 

As I knelt at that altar, I watched as Rev. Harrison served the bread of Christ to each child repeating, "This is His body broken for you. Take and eat in remembrance of Him." As he got closer to me, and those familiar words rung out,  I knew that he was placing a treasured item in my hand, the broken body of Jesus Christ. Mixed between the joyous singing of "Oh, the blood of Jesus", the pastor served the "wine". His words, "This is His blood, that was shed for you. Take, drink all of it, remembering that Christ died for your sins." were engraved in my heart.

As I rehearse those sweet memories and the scriptures which speak so clearly, I bow my head once again, asking God in prayer to forgive me of my sins. I take, eat and drink, remembering the horrific beating and sacrifice He made for me. So the tears still fall, as I exercise the power of remembrance and honor Him once again.

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying,"This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. ~Luke 22:19,20

Creating a Place for Him

When we moved into our home I asked my husband to build a Prayer Room for me. Years earlier, I had met a older godly woman who greatly influenced me. She had a Prayer Room where she went and met with God everyday. It was filled with books on prayer, hymnals, tissues for wiping her tears and a tiny chair where she knelt and meet with her Saviour. Somehow in the midst of raising her children and being a pastor's wife she created her secret place for meeting with the Lord.

My prayer room is similar with a few added touches. I created a prayer board from the French Memo Boards you can find at your local Hobby Lobby or craft store. Family and friends adorn the creme colored board that serves as a reminder to pray for them. A well worn index card serves as a resting place for the names of children from my church who have gone away to college and still need a prayer covering.

Sometimes I'm unable to retreat to my prayer room so I've had to "sanctify" the kitchen sink and allow it to become my altar. While I wash dishes and prepare meals, my heart whispers prayers of praise and intercession to my Father. The Laundry Room transforms into my altar as I pray for each child when I fold their clothes!

You know, He has always wanted to meet with us. From the beginning, He came to meet with Adam in the cool of the day to have sweet fellowship. When He found that Adam was not in his usual place of meeting, he called for him, "Adam, where are you?"

Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9 NAS

Those words still echo through the ages, as Adam represented all mankind. God is still looking for us. He desires to have sweet fellowship, intense intimacy and share His heart with you. You may not be able to construct a Prayer Room to meet with Him, but your heart is still the best meeting place of all.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  James 4:8a KJV

 Have you ever read a good book and dreaded when your eyes skimmed across the last few pages? You quietly say goodbye to the characters you've come to love as you tuck the book in your bag or carefully place it on your family's bookshelf. There's something absolutely amazing and powerful about the written word. It can captivate your imagination, inspire, console, instruct, strengthen and even challenge you. It can leave you exhilarated or completely puzzled.

How we respond to what we read is also a journey. We are compelled to go through the steps of processing the information we receive. Sometimes this part of the journey is done subconsciously.

The most extraordinary and exceptional words we will ever encounter are the ones that come from Scripture. They demand a response. Sometimes we politely put them aside and continue to travel on the same path. Other times we gently allow the doors to our hearts to swing open and saturate the truth that only God's Word can provide.

We don't have the privilege of regulating God's Word to a good novel we've read...for His Words are living and active!

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharperthan any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What we often fail to understand is when we encounter the written word of God, we encounter God Himself!

This blog is the journey of my heart, documented by my pen, when I have encountered Him in the middle of the night, in the midst of a sun filled day, on a blustery afternoon...I hear and see Him. Join me in the search for Him.

Psalm 27:4
One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.