A Few Gifts

A few gifts......

The Lord has been showing me

ways to "guard my heart"

a little better!

It determines the course of my life!

wow~

 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to

strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

 You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.

2 Chronicles 16:9

I want Him to see me, a heart FULLY committed to Him~

(not sometimes, not usually, not 90%, FULLLLLY)

here

Walking the Tightrope~

pinterest

A few words from JESUS CALLING~

I want you to be all MINE. I am weaning you from other dependencies. (ouch) Your security rests in ME alone-not in other people, not in circumstances. Depending only on ME may feel like walking oan a tightrope but there is a safety net underneath: the everlasting arms. So don't be afraid of falling. Instead, look ahead to Me. I am always before you, beckoning you on- one step at a time.

Neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, can separate you from MY loving Presence.
Romans 8:39

Today, remember that feeling of walking a tightrope, hanging on, is really HIM weaning you from other things, distractions and He is WOOING you to HIM! Fall into His presence!
HOPE, HOPE, HOPE! you are not walking on that tightrope above a dark, bottomless pit!

Neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, can separate you from MY loving Presence.
Romans 8:39

Cracks

“Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.” -ralph waldo emerson.

little reminders of love

Don't be surprised when that courage
slips in the cracks, you feel like a child, dropped into
a unfamiliar territory, reminding yourself how to walk
...breath deep, long and wait for it to fill your soul!
Come on, soldier, you can do this!!
Strength of a soldier!
tb

A New Season~

Friday night thoughts:

Darkness falls,
a restless heart
calmed only by Your words,
Your promises,
Your sweet love
pouring on us as we breath
in another day, praying we
lived better than yesterday
Rid me of blindness that can
cause me to look to ways not from
You!
You, Father, are ALL I want,
Expand my territory, strengthen tired bones,
fill empty hearts with joy from YOU!
I love You,
(do I live like you know that?)
tracy~

I've got You when all I've got is gone

Oh Lord, I've got You, I've got You

Jesus, I've got You!

Shaun Groves

 

LOVE, LOVE these words!

Our family verse for the year!
The five of us read this together before sayin
good-bye to Darren in Cali!
Beautiful Promise!!

Hello, Class of 2012~

Source: windmillsnat.tumblr.com via Becky on Pinterest

Tomorrow I will be back in the office, ready for a new school year!

Wow, 2011-2012 school year! This will be my second year out of the classroom

and it still feels strange to not be setting up my room and getting ready for my 4th graders!

I'm ecstatic to be working with the class of 2012 this year, most of all because I taught this class

when they were in first grade 11 years ago! Amazing...time stinkin flies, ya'll!

AND, the best reason, my Miss Molly is a senior!

I feel refreshed after spending some sweet time in California. Helping Darren get set up and into the groove of his new job was priceless. I know we have quite a year ahead of us being
apart for 9 months, but

I also am ready to embrace it!

Source: flickr.com via Becky on Pinterest

My verse for the week!

 But you'll welcome us with open arms
when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
Stand guard over our celebration.
You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
for decking us out in delight.

Psalm 5:11

Delight us, Lord! For that is why You are famous,

You are so good at welcoming us and giving us a party..

YOUR love is AMAZING!

Still~

~STILL~

calm, hushed, peaceful, placid, restful, serene, quiet, stilly, tranquil



incourage.me

 1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word on the prompt, “Still.”



2. Link back here and invite others to join in.


3. Get a little crazy with encouragement in the comments of the five minuter who linked up before you.

JOIN!   InCourage.me

STILL

50 some houses and 70 some jobs..that's what our summer has entailed,

job searches, house hunting.

It's also been filled with bike rides, hikes, trips to Portland, lots of runs,

a day on the lake tubing, days of waiting, trying to be STILL

So true to the ways of God, it never quite turns out like you would think.

Always wilder and crazier than we could've imagined.

I see the limits to everything human,

but the horizons can't contain your commands!”

Ps. 119:93

Husband got a job, I'm sitting in our new home.

He is leaving to work out of state, Cali, to be exact.

We have always wanted to move back there,

it just came a year earlier than WE would've planned

BE STILL

I'm with the kids in an apartment.

Not what I would've imagined.

BE STILL

Excited about the new possibilities for Darren,

(looking forward to some income)

Excited for the new school year,

letting Molly finish her senior year at the same school she

started kindergarten. Blessings~BE STILL

“What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up. Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered—you set the earth going. If your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came. But I'll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words. Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom.....I'm only concerned with your plans for me. I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands!”

Psalm 119:93



Half-Way-2011

~ABIDE~

Right now, today, this week, heck, this month, 

I feel too weary to even write out what is going on in our life.

It's not a fun season.

I will put words to it all soon enough,

but for now, I will continue to meditate on the word

ABIDE~

to remain stable and fixed in a state!

When I chose this word in January for the OneWord2011..I would've never have imagined what the first half of 2011 would hold for our family of 5! Wow!

I have enjoyed reading Melissa's blog and was wrecked by some of her thoughts on OneWord2011. Her description of what God is teaching her these first six months of 2011 line up so much with where my heart has been. Here are a few thoughts from her OneWord post that I loved!


Melissa's words: 

Things that I felt were necessary in my life became the things that God was asking me to let go of

Sacrifice without abiding is a weary trudge…

.... let go of my expectations, assumptions and control so that I can rest more fully in the presence of God and the knowledge that it has nothing to do with me.

While I ABIDE, He is always doing a new work in me, taking me to place I never thought I could go, stripping me of things I would've never thought HE would take, all the while, whispering in me ear..ABIDE! So, I take these words, I take God's promises, I keep my eyes on the prize and know there will be brighter days ahead! The ABIDING has drawn me on my knees as I no longer just seek HIS hand but I SEEK HIS FACE..HIS FACE ONLY!! He is beautiful beyond description!

Radical~ Because We Are Called to Love Our Enemies~

 Looking for a good, rock your world, shake up your faith, change your views, renew your mind, draw you in, dig deeper, cry for more, surrender it all, ask for more, work toward change type of book this summer? 

RADICAL is for you!

I started this book weeks ago and I'm still reading it! 

I have to take it in small doses, ponder it, chew on it, put it down

and think about it! Do some of us really

have the wrong view of church?

Wrong goal, motivation, method? YES!! Including me! 

I am only on Chapter 4 but I highly

  recommend it!

"If we were left to ourselves with the task of taking the gospel to the world, we would immediately begin planning innovative strategies and plotting elaborate schemes. We would organize conventions, develop programs, and create foundations… But Jesus is so different from us. With the task of taking the gospel to the world, he wandered through the streets and byways…All He wanted was a few men who would think as He did, love as He did, see as He did, teach as He did and serve as He did. All He needed was to revolutionize the hearts of a few, and they would impact the world."
— David Platt (Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream)

Flashback~



Journal Flashback~

Written in my journal June 15, 2010

How Great Thou Art,

Your hand provides and Your love sustains! 

my soul sings for You!

My heart cries for You!

Genesis 11 & 12 (The Tower of Babel and The Call of Abram)

*Faith means acting on our beliefs.

 God give me the strength to ACT!

*We have only the Lord's WORD as our guide

A life of faith is not a life of mounting

up with wings but a life of walking and not fainting!

There is healing & salvation,

comfort and joy,

tender mercies,

IN YOUR NAME!

Lord, all that I have is yours!

------------------------------------------

I love going back and reading through my journals.

I'm not sure what my heart was feeling when

I wrote this hodge podge of thoughts and prayers,

but today, I write it again....IN YOUR NAME, JESUS, IN YOUR NAME!

Setting up Camp~

"Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go."
Deut. 1:29-33

Our family is looking for a home and needs one sooooon! We might set up camp along the river and call our tent our home for a bit! Not really..but if we lived in warm weather, I would consider it : )
We have great family and friends in our life and we will always have a place to rest our weary head.
I am trusting that the Lord is "searching out places for us to camp and He will show us the way"

tent

God delights in using ordinary Christians who come to the end of themselves and choose to trust in his extraordinary provision. He stands ready to allocate his power to all who are radically dependent on him and radically devoted to making much of him.

 —David Platt, Radical

at the end of myself

I trust you

show us Your power

Depending on You

Ready to make much of YOU, Lord!

Breathing~

I read this inspiring, thought provoking post this week over at INCOURAGE! It was a post that I could so relate to in this season of life. JUST BREATHE! That is where I am living...a "just breathe" mode. This post may not make much sense if you haven't read the article. Be sure to stop by INCOURAGE and read...soon!

THE MIND! I think we all battle the "dungeon of the mind" I also think what I battle with the most is feeling disconnected from who I am.... how did I get here, who am I and how did I get here so fast. I don't even recognize me sometimes. (like she described in JUST BREATHE) Alot of it is normal life changes, getting older and things so different from what I used to call normal- a child in college (I don't really "mother" tim) I'm not an elementary teacher after 16 years of teaching, I'm not a pastor's wife, after 20 years of ministry,  I have no church family and in a few weeks, we won't even have a home!! Who am I?

BUT it in an odd way, some things feel right..Tim is supposed to grow up, I was done teaching and I love my new job,  we knew we were done at our previous church and we WILL have a home.
I want to end with..I do have that deep ABIDING peace, I do have deep ABIDING joy, don't lose too much sleep at night and look forward to a new day! We are literally resting in the palm of His hand right now! JUST BREATHING!!


Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!  People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.  Isaiah 30:18-19

ABIDE still

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.  Jude 1:22-23 (more thoughts on this passage next time, but read it again..so much "meat")

Even in times of frustration and waiting, I try to remind myself that God is still thinking about me. I KNOW that He is working everything out for our good. His delays don't necessarily mean denials. So, on those days when your spirit is encouraged, His presence is evident, your day seems brighter, rejoice, it’s a sign that He’s near, He's working, He's a calm in the storm and good things are about to happen. Remember my word for 2011? ABIDE!!

ABIDE in HIM..that's what I am doing!

here

......and still be calm in your heart!

PEACE

Did you leave me a sweet comment recently on my Dove's Eyes post? Tell me who you are because I want to tell you how much I love you :)

Never Grow Old to Us~

GOOD FRIDAY~

Amazing Love how can it be, that You my King would die for me!

Oh that the cross and the resurrection would never grow old to us! I never want to be calloused to what this weekend means. I want to live it daily! We shall be like Him, raised from the dead, in a blink of an eye! That is the foundation of our life! JESUS, the One who was and the One who is to come! HE IS RISEN! I listened to a great message today by Beth Moore on LIFE Today! Listen to it if you have a chance..it will make you EXCITED for the Easter weekend and ready to celebrate our Risen Savior!

Oh, that the cross should NEVER grow old to us!



LIFE TODAY

Beth Moore Message

On the menu this weekend...

I came across this delicious, (http://www.bestbites.com/) easy recipe
that I will be making this weekend.

Well, Haley will probably be making it. So glad to have a girl that likes being

in the kitchen more than me :)

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLED STRAWBERRIES

Look how easy this looks!

What's on your menu?



ENDURE~

When I see you, I see mercy You call me worthy,

you see beauty, you see purpose, you see value,

you see who I am! (misty edwards)

"I have PROMISED to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches, Your deepest, most constant need is for MY PEACE! I have planted PEACE in the garden of your heart where I live; but there are weeds growing there too;  pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of these weeds.....sit quietly with Me, trust Me...PEACE will flourish! TRUST Me even in the troublesome situations, THANK Me even in the trials, the PEACE  they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure!"

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Thank Me for troublesome situations, the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure!

Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17

"And I will meet all your needs

according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus"

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving

for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Holding fast to these words, saying them all day,

writing them on my forhead, on note cards on my mirror

even singing them, ; )

here

Light and Shadow

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The love becomes stronger
but weakness still present
the Laugh becomes louder
when the JOY has been released
(daily thanks, in all things)
and freedom has been sought
and life begins again

Love deeply,
 like the soul next to you depends on it
 the hands are dropped
fists open
heart screaming
LIFE begins
Grace washes
we are covered!

thankful~
tb
------------------------------------------

When the shadows fall on us
we will not fear

When darkness falls on us
we will not fear

Yet will HE bring dark to light
We remember the cost and we rest in HIM
Resting in the shadow of the cross~
*David Crowder Band*
SHADOW

All we need is YOU~

Seeing Through the Fog

Yesterday I went for a run in the rain. Nothing new in the NW.

Actually, we have had nice weather lately and my runs have

been dry and clear. 

 Someone told me that during a long run, it's

good to find a "focal point" at every turn

(I'm new at this, remember, so I'm not trying to sound like I know anything about what I'm saying,ha)

I have pretty set run that I do. I know when the 3 mile mark is,

how many more blocks to make it four and how many minutes make it 8! 

On each turn, I do have a mark that I keep my eye on while trying to breath :)

It helps me stay focused and strangly enough, I am able to pace

my breathing. I love the feeling of watching that focal point get closer and closer

 and before I know it, I'm there.....Ready to re-focus, feeling accomplished and

ready for more.

Yesterday, the rain and fog were so thick, I could barely see one foot in front of me. So,

that is what I did, watched my feet. Not good running tactic, I don't think, but I needed to meet my goal and not take a day off. So, despite the rain, I went out.

(with my awesome running partner, my daughter)

Throughout the entire run, I looked at my feet, watching each step,

 trying not to fall, trying to miss huge puddles and pot holes.

Many times during that hour, I would get my bearings and realize that I was

much farther in my run than I realized. JOY! Also, my ipod was stuck on WORSHIP music, slow worship music.  Again, not too motivating for my run. As I ended my run, I realized how sweet my run had actually been...focusing one step at a time, while emmersed in worship.

So much like our walk with the Lord. Sometimes we can see the goal in front of us and other times  things can seem so foggy, we can barely see our own two feet. Whatever the view, I want those words from Jesus echoing in my ear;

Keep your eye on the prize, trust in Me, I'm in control, this is the way walk in it

(Isaiah 30) 

SOMETIMES GOD REQUIRES US TO FOLLOW A FAIR

AMOUNT OF REPETITION FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL

 HE DEEMS A SEASON COMPLETE! 

Beth Moore

HERE

A Lovesick Worshiper

here

On Christ the solid Rock I stand, why do I wonder if I'm sinking?

He will never leave you or forsake you, why do I wonder if I'm alone?

I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, why don't I operate in it?

He commands us to WATCH and PRAY, why do I moan and worry?

He leads me to the Rock that is higher than I, why do I run the other way?

IF God is for us who can be against us?

 I lift my eyes to the Father and cry,

ABBA~

Lift me up

so I can show

the whole world

who you are!

I am here to do YOUR business!

Bring rain to this drought stricken land and re-align my heart to love YOU more!  

-Your Lovesick Worshiper~

Predictions for 2011~ His Word Endures Forever~

Ten Predictions for 2011

With so much uncertainty in this world it's easy for fear to overtake me sometimes. Walking through the tough stuff of life, watching friends deal with the unimaginable situations and realizing again and again that we have no control over what life holds for us. This is my first memory verse for 2011

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps. 73:26

I did not write these but a friend sent these to me. Powerful, truth, comforting..on Christ the solid Rock I stand!


1. The Bible will still have all the answers.


2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.


8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn't It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control,

And that;

"the Word of the Lord endures forever."

 1 Peter 1:25

Trophy of Grace~

here

We talk about GRACE often in my 8th grade Bible class.

We all need grace, we all need to learn to extend grace,

no matter what age we are, but there is just something about

being 14 years old and NEEDING grace and

needing to learn how to EXTEND grace.

 Junior High is tough and I love talking

with these girls about God's amazing grace and acceptance!

This quote from Rick Warren nails it!      

·         When criticized unjustly, think of the legitimate things they COULD criticize if known, then rejoice you are a Trophy of Grace! rick warren

  

here

ABIDE (trust, love, faith and more)

In 2011 I will:
ABIDE:
 to remain stable and fixed in a state! 
I like the sound of that.
To press in,
To draw near,
To stay close,
To ABIDE! 
That is my word for 2011
and in 2011 I will.... 

*Look for the Holy in the ordinary moments of my day!

*Work on being present!

*I will view each day as an adventure, planned by God, my Guide.

*Instead of staring into the day, with my check list of things to get done, I will be attentive to HIM and all the HE has prepared for me!

*I will trust that He is with my each moment whether I sense His presence or not.

*Be more thankful and trusting! Life lived close to Him is never dull!

*ABIDE..no matter how long and hard the road is, the safest place is right next to HIM! ABIDING!

*Store up relationships, not treasures.

For 2011 I will

*Live like I serve a God that makes the ordinary life extraordinary and live like I serve a God that is capable and waiting to pour that out upon me!

Paul, in his letter to the Romans talked about becoming a “living sacrifice.” The translation of Romans 12:1 from The Message says it nicely:

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.


This is our family verse for 2011! As a family, we are thanking God for what He has brought us through in 2010 and looking ahead for what He has for us in 2011~

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”
Thornton Wilder