On the busiest day of the year...

God said, “I will be with you. (Exodus 3:12)
Today is the busiest day and I did not notice it coming.  Historically "the third week of the month" is the hardest week of any month, every night having something, always.  But for some reason, this first third week of the year, I let my gaurd down and forgot to not over commit - daily saying 'yes' too this or that, only adding on to my already long list of To Do's.

So here I am at 8:45 on Monday morning, trying to get a second cup of coffee in my system while I get my bearings in sync, my ducks in a row, to do lists made... yet I have not done the one thing that will ensure my success.... and that's to remember that God is with me in all I do.  Better yet, HE is doing all of this through me... He will order my day, He will give me the strength needed and He will open every door... if I let Him.  And He will be here with me all week long!  Through every second, moment, hour, task, event, and meeting!!  Thank you Lord Father, God on High!!

So instead of feeling stressed at these To Do's... I will choose to feel blessed He has so much faith in me to accept these responsibilities.  As a child of God, I come from an awesome ancestory of believers and leaders who have done more in one moment then I hope to accomplish today.  And I pray I am up for the challenge so God will continue to use me to honor His kingdom... after all, the year has just begun.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for having so much faith in me to be a shining example of your light and love on such a busy day, in the first of many busy, busy weeks, at the beginning of this busy, busy, busy New Year.  Lord, it amazes me that You hold me in such esteem that You know I can handle all of the adversities life and ministry will throw my direction... I pray I will remember You are doing it all, and let You, Your light, Your love shine through me.  Thank you for filling my vessel with your grace, power and love... that I maybe able to grow closer to you, learning more every day about steadfastness in Your promise to me - that you will are here, always, loving me, as you want me to love.

And how exciting, today in the Youth Correctional facilities, our little brothers who have spent the weekend hearing about You and seeing glimpses of You, will be introduced to the family of faith, possibly for the first time.  Oh Father, how magnificent it will be to see the smiles of joy on their faces to know You are real.  I pray they will the enjoy the excitement and glory as they continue to learn about all You are waiting to do for them, with them, and through them. May I be a good big sister, following Your example of love. 

All of the glory to God our Father, Amen.

It's all because of You

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, the world's Creator, my soul's Savior,

Today I pray thanks, always remembering how You have forever redeemed and transformed my life.  Always remembering the day when my eyes were open, and you could reveal yourself to me - the day you said, "Little one, I love you, I am here, I have been here. I have cried with you, I have smiled for you, I clapped for your success, and wept when you hurt. I will always love you, and there is nothing you can do to change this."

Lord, I pray in thanks for all you choose for me to do, the opportunities you give me to be your hands and feet on this earth.  I pray I will continue to strive to my vessel empty of all things which keep me from letting you fill me until I overflow.  You are my dearest friend, confident, supporter.... my king, my creator, my savior. How I wish I could stay in constant communication with you... yet, I battle daily with worries, fears, and doubts which threaten to flood my being, cloud my desires, dampen my spirits and steal my energy.

Lord God, may I always remember the light which fuels my fire, inspires my passion is YOU, heavenly Father - may my heart be ready to feel your comfort, peace and love in my life and use this as the fuel to press forward valiantly.  Lord, may my eyes always be open, ready to see you in every bit of your wondrous creation, heavenly Father - ready to be inspired by one and all to love more and more with each moment knowing you are with each and everyone one of us.  May my soul be ready to love everyone, knowing to love anyone is to love you more.

Lord, how I learn more and more each day of how you love me.  How the strength in my fingertips, the words which flood my mind, they all come from you Lord - You and You alone are my desire, You and You alone the one who creates in me.  Oh, how You care for me - so much that You created me individually, unique, especially for a divine purpose You have for me.  Oh Lord how I pray others can know how special they are to You too... Lord, how You have cared tenderly for each of us, from the beginning of time You have had a plan for us.

Lord, I pray I will always be ready and available to You, for Your purpose, and to the glory of Your kingdom.  May I be ready to serve, so that when the day comes I can stand proudly and say "Here I am."

In your precious son's name, Amen

One Year Later

While on vacation, during a beach side stroll my husband happened to see this.
It's nice to know Jesus is with you always, wherever you go.
01-01-2011, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville, Florida

In the past few years I have really grown to appreciate history.  History is... well, its just... cool.  Seeing the plight of the unsung hero versus the injustice of evil powers at work while delving into the effects of behavioral patterns and influential trends -- isn't that enough to make anyone happy -- cheering on the good, reviling the bad, anxiously awaiting to learn the story's resolve?  Isn't that all anyone wants in any good story - fictional or not - seeing who will come out on top?

Then yesterday, I stumbled upon a particular archive.  And I stopped in my tracks, dismissing the rest of my daily responsibilities to focus solely on these extractions of time.  Records I can only describe as intense, personal, very clear markers of my 2010 time line.  It was my "Sent" mail folder.  And as quickly as I opened it, I closed it...

 
You see last year was an interesting year, and as much as I am proud of myself for taking big bold steps forward in one direction, I remember vividly the trials and tribulations which led up to today.  And I think, if I'm honest with myself - and to be honest with you - what I fear most in looking back is seeing that in the end, the conclusion might be, I did not come out on top.

... and then I opened it again.  What do I have to fear?  It's the past... the past which has indeed... passed. So in the spirit of bravery, I am looking at my emails again... what was I doing a year ago today? Okay, really, lets do this the right way.... what was God doing a year ago... today?  Beth Moore, I hope you like this.

One year ago, today

In an email to a friend, on our first session of Beth Moore’s The Patriarchs:  

"Wasn't last night a great start?!  I can't stop thinking about the idea of time coming not going..... good stuff."

Today

I race to my book shelves, grab The Patriarchs and pull it open to that night.  

One year and one day ago

First thing written on the first page on that first night, one year and one day ago, in the top left hand corner.  
"You are not here by accident."

Today  

Whoa.  Wait.  Now I'm flipping to the study homework for one year ago today.

One year ago 

         The Patriarchs (p14) 

         My note : Hebrew 11:1 << again in the top left corner

         Beth's scripture reference : Hebrew 11:8

         Her question "Where did Abram think he was going?" 

         My answer "He did not know."

Now

Let's put all of the above together : 

You are not here by accident. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. (Heb 11:8) "Where did Abram think he was going?" "He did not know."

Today
I tell myself... I feel compelled to tell you...

You are not here by accident.  
You have a unique purpose, a special path, designed for you.  
A story for the history books awaits with your inheritance.  
Remember the past has passed, the future is coming your way!  
You can't stop it.  
Look backwards only to learn.
Look forward to live.
Know with confident expectation by living through faith in the love and will and promise of God you will be blessed. 
You have come out on top.

~ In Christ name, through His love

To Russia with Love, and all the glory to God (From youandmeink)

Originally posted at "youandmeink"

panoramic afternoon
панорамный день

Beginning Blogger Lesson #1:  NEVER check your blog stats.   (Yeah right!?)

By this point... I have maybe ten posts.  Really, not very many at all... a few pictures, a few comments, a few attempts at trying to be cool enough to be noticed.... if I can even be noticed.  My only known follower would follow me off a cliff (love you hubster) --- and a stalker follower, my dad, without whose support I would have never wanted to be a writer anyhow.  So when check my blog stats -- which are bleak to say the least and do little to help to build my confidence to continue -- I can account for half of the 27 views this month.

But the other 13....... from Russia........ umm........ what's this about?  Am I about to be hacked?  And, because I have no problems personally with Russia... if you are not trying to hack me... comment, please!

В Россию с любовью. Надеюсь, вам понравится мой блог. Прокомментируйте, пожалуйста.  :)

Beginning Blogger Lesson #2: Publish your posts

This started as a post which sat unpublished until now.  I mean - I could have had 11 posts.  But no... I never returned to my work, and lost the opportunity to give my Russian followers something new to check in on. Sorry Russia.  :(

Извините России.  :(

Beginning Blogger Lesson #3: Always have a message, always have a picture

Today's Picture

This was taken last week sometime when the weather was 84 degrees and the dog and I had a chance to go on a nice, long walk.  Subtitled : Aaaahhh.... peace.

Today's Message

From The Upper Room : "...take courage from remembering that God takes our efforts and blesses them, bringing results far richer than anything we can possibly imagine - and certainly far beyond any specific outcome we might narrowly envision."     ~J. Kearney (Tennessee)

Now to [God] who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Теперь, чтобы [Бог], который по мощности при работе внутри нас в состоянии выполнить гораздо больше, чем мы просим, или о себе, его слава. (Ефесянам 3:20-21)

He is an awesome God with a majestic plan for us all - each of us created unique and special for a blessed purpose.  All glory to God for our efforts and accomplishments.  Without Him I could not write one word, let alone 10,000.  Without Him working through me, this past year would have been all for naught... but with Him my dignity is in tact, pride in check and a large part of my true self revealed through missions and ministry.  Without Him, I would enter 2011 with my head held low, afraid of what it might bright.... but...

With Him I know all things are possible! (Phil 4:13)  
С ним я знаю все возможно! (Фил 4:13)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for having the confidence in me to do great things for the glorification of Your Kingdom.  I pray I am able to do as You ask, when You ask, with humility knowing it is You who are working through me. May I never back down, knowing you do not call the prepared... you prepare the called.  All glory and honor to You.

In Christ's name, Amen.

Дорогой Отец Небесный,
Спасибо за то, что доверие ко мне, чтобы сделать большие вещи для прославления твое царство. Я молюсь я могу делать, как Вы спрашиваете, когда вы просите, со смирением зная, что это вы, которые работают через меня. Могу ли я никогда не отступит, зная, что вы не называют готово ... Вы готовите называется. Вся слава и честь для вас.

Во имя Христа, аминь.

...let us run with endurance...

Hebrews 12:1b
... let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Training exercise:

Say a verse (phrase, mantra, whatever) and repeat it before and during any and/or all daily activity.


A typical workout routine:

You wake up, begin to get ready for the day, and say to yourself "and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Then as you get headed off to work you repeat "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us", while sitting in traffic or dealing with a bad driver "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us", then while walking up to the door for work "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

The day begins.

Throughout the morning, lunch hour, afternoon you continue to repeat your phrase "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us"... just whenever you think about it... or maybe as stress arises... or because you are just staring off.. just whenever, repeat "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us"

The day ends, night begins.

As your start your nightly jog, or dishes, or getting the kids in the bath, say it again "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." When you are tired and feel like giving up, say it once more "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

The night ends, go to bed.

Pray thanks to God for the gift of endurance He has again given you.

The results:

Hopefully (or better phrased with confident expectation) all the successes from your day become associated with the phrase "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (or whatever you decide to say like "I can do it" or "I am loved") -- and vica versa, your tough times associated with your success. Eventually instead of thinking "I just can't do it" you will begin to think "I know I can do this because I've conquered so much already today, yesterday, this week, this month... etc"

The proof:

Almost one year later and here I am... still writing... still smiling... still broke, and happy... all because I know I am running with God, using the endurance He gives me daily... knowing He will carry me across the finish line.

I Came for the Cookies... I Found God

Do you recall the Eureka story of Archimedes? Without getting into any scientific detail I'll begin at the notable part -- Archimedes is drawing a bath, climbs in without noticing the water's level, and a great majority overflows onto the floor. In this situation, many of us would be mumbling and grumbling at the mess needing cleaned -- but Archimedes did not. Instead, he was suddenly able to answer a very tough question about mass and density which so thrilled him that he jumped out of the tub and ran through the streets of Rome, undressed, shouting "Eureka! Eureka!" -- translated to mean "I found it!"

Archimedes was overwhelmed, just as the Three Wise Men were when they came up on a divine manifestation of their own - baby Jesus. Can you imagine the joy they must have felt when after years of studying the heavens, God used one star to beckon them to witness firsthand our King of Kings? Matthew 2:11 tells us "... on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him." But don't you think, maybe, a small part of them wanted to run into the streets screaming "We have found Him! We have found Him!"

What a glorious moment it is to find God is, was, and will always be in your life. One we pray, in God's timing, will happen for each Kairos participant. I wonder what their first glorious encounter with God might be like. It could be initiated by a kind welcoming handshake or seen in a peer joyfully working hard as a Servant. Maybe the 50th cookie will accompany a sense of peaceful satisfaction, or a particular name signed to a prayer chain may act as the heart softening agent. Through the Kairos Prison Ministry programs there are plenty of ways you can be an example of Christ through agape love. Time spent serving on a Team, baking a cookie, or even providing a financial gift are all acts of sacrifice and examples of God's hands and feet at work, showing love to each participant.

Though I was not present in the stable, or a towns person in Rome, I do know this... our Eureka moment , our divine Epiphany is unique to each of us, and inspiring for others to witness. If you have never been to a Closing - come and see first hand the joy when someones declare "I came for cookies, and I found God." Some may jump for joy, while others may humbly bow - but it is guaranteed all will be blessed.

To read more about Epiphany : Matthew 2:1-12, related commentary

More information can be found online about Kairos Prison Ministries International, or for Units and families being served in the Dallas Fort Worth area email kairos@friscofumc.org