Be Still and Know...Then and Now

One of the things I have learned in my walk with Christ is this, when I am in need of an answer or a solution or even a light bulb moment the best resource I have at hand is God’s Holy word. It never fails, when I find myself at a place in my life where I am in conflict or have a dilemma and I do not know what to do the best way to approach these situations is to ask God to confirm my course of action with His Holy word. God’s word is living and active (HEW 4:12) and it can and will meet our every need, we only have to ask. When I am faithful to place my life and the outcome of whatever is going on in God’s faithful hands He will show up with a resounding answer, whether it be in the affirmative or in the negative, God’s word never fails to be the beacon from which we can all set our plumb line (ISA 28:17). I know that nothing is impossible for God (LK 1:37), I also know that His desire is for everyone to come to know Him (2PE 3:9), but that did not stop my skepticism from blossoming i...

No I have not dropped off the face of the earth, I have been preparing for several workshops that I will be leading at our 2008 Women’s Day of Excellence. Most of my time over that past several weeks has been spent in preparation and pulling together all my resources, making handouts, copies and restructuring all my various continuing education stuff into something that vaguely resemble something cohesive. I will be leading a workshop on prayer and on one developing a personal prayer retreat and leading a workshop on exploring different forms of prayer. Needless to say have been covered up for some time. I have been enjoying everyones blog entries but have not had the time to make many comments. You all have fed me when I was overwhelmed with the detail of preparation, thank you all for your wise insights and daily gems of how God works in your lives. As well as preparing for theses workshops we have also has some very sad and unexpected news. I would greatly appreciate you prayers for...

I opened my bible this morning and began to read the passage selected for the day. There are times when scriptures fall into my lap and I want to just brush them off and look for an easier or more warm and fuzzy lesson. God, however has a way of knowing exactly when to place the comfort and the warm fuzzes in your path and when not to as well. When I am faced with a somewhat less than happy faced scripture, well it at time feels like a bitter pill to swallow, especially when I am in the mood for a warm fuzzy moment. I woke this morning not quite myself. My physical body was less than cooperative and I wanted comfort. I sought something…….. God’s word met me very quietly and said: HAB 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, HAB 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. My human translation is this,...

Being the math impaired individual that I am I was surprised by the comparison that kept washing over me. It was a perfect example of exactly what a common denominator is. I had to do a Google search for the words “common denominator” to get a refresher on exactly what this mathematical term meant. common denominator (plural common denominators ) 1. (mathematics) Any integer that is a common multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions 2. (by extension) A trait or attribute that is shared by all members of some category Retrieved from " http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/common_denominator " For this purpose I will focus on the second definition of a common denominator as being a shared attribute by a group or category. In the mathematical world there is usually either a correct answer on an incorrect answer, however in life there are so many shades of gray that it can at times make it very difficult to make the appropriate or correct choice. However if you are fort...

After waffling between frustration, puzzlement and down right disappointment the D.O.R.C. is proud to announce the first sitting of an open (and might I say rather loud and impatient) awaiting baby mouth poking out of the birdhouse located at the institutes main base of operations (A.K.A. my backyard). The researchers (A.K.A. as myself and my daughter) will endeavor to obtain the scientific footage in order to document this auspicious occasion A.S.A.P. The D.O.R.C. will continue to strive to maintain the highest standards of scientific research (which means that I will be pulling the dark blue sheet back out of my linen closet) so that it can provide it’s readers with the most current and up to date information possible. ********************************************* As soon (or if) I can get a picture of the sweet little things I will post it. Mamma Bluebird is not to cooperative and a bit camera shy. I was so excited to see the tiny head poking out of the house I had to dash off a po...

With each day that pass there is change, however there are things in life that do not change, traditions that continue on though out the years that hold us together and give us the roots that we cling to. For 176 years people have gathered for Campmeeting. It happens every year on the third week of July. I have been participating in this tradition for the past 14 years. For me it is simply one of the most amazing opportunities for worship, fellowship and true communion with God that I have ever experienced. It draws me back year after year. If you have never experienced a Campmeeting then in my opinion you are truly missing one of the most unique worship experiences available. In earlier times entire families would pack up all their belongings and trek miles and miles to participate in Campmeeting. It was the middle of the growing season and they did not have to be tending there fields, they would load their wagons with food, blocks of ice, butter churns, wash tubs with their cows tied...

My Hands His Glory tagged" me with a new meme (thoughts transmitted from one blogger to a group) and each member of the group answers the same questions/ideas and continues the process. Here are the tag rules: 1. Link to the person who tagged you. 2. Post the rules on your blog. 3. Write six random things about yourself. 4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. 5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. 6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up. #1 Random Thing: I love movies. I will watch a great movie over and over. I will watch a not so great movie over and over. I will watch any movie over and over. #2 Random Thing: I enjoy experimenting with recipes. I love creating new dishes and changes things up and trying new things. #3 Random Thing: I have the ability to kill any house plant, with the exception of a peace lily that I got from my grandmothers funeral, which is still alive and a small Christmas cactus which was...

I have decided that one of the reason that God has blessed me with this need to put words down on paper is to insure that there is an accurate record (at least where my life is concerned) of how faithful and great God is. When God shows up in mighty ways and even in small ways I feel Him prompting me to record the events so that they will be remembered by me and those who will read them. I can not help but draw some similarities in my own life to that of Luke’s, when things happen in my life that are very clearly the hand of God it is as if I must stop right then and get them written down. Luke possibly felt that way as he began his work to record all that Christ had done. LK 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to...

Having further restrained myself from actually setting my laptop on fire, my technical issues have been problematic. I am ceasing the moment to post while the planet are aligned properly and the gremlins hiding under my living room sofa are sleeping and all is well with my computer (for the millisecond). I was considering the term necessary evil the other day and I can find no better example than our reliance on technology. While our computer, cell phones, PDA’s, pocket PC’s and Blackberries all are wonderful tools, they also have the ability to suck the very life out of your day if they are not working properly. While being able to access the internet brings wonderful blog’s and new insight into how God is working it also is the doorway to the vilest filth imaginable. It’s about balance and harmony. It is about keeping things in perspective. When I feel like the world is out to get me simple because my laptop freezes at an inopportune moment then quite possible I have lost that perspe...

Over the past three years I have gone to levels of discouragement that I did not think I could over come. You see I took over the coordination of the prayer ministry of our church some three years ago. In that time I have done some serious questioning as to why this ministry has at times seemed to flounder. My dreams of a packed sanctuary for our twice monthly prayer meeting seemed to fall sadly short of my grand expectations. I would lament over the sad state of these meetings to my closest friends and weep bitter tears as each month I would show up with the worst kind of attitude knowing that no one would be there. However as I began to think and pray about this situation one of the things I began to notice is that no matter how many people show up for these meeting the power of God never ceases to be faithful. The word tells us that: MT 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For w...

Just to give you all a brief update, I have finally (I think) got my internet issues resolved. I am not so sure about my hardware issues. I am “holding my mouth right” and trying to maintain the proper system settings as well as making sure all my software updates, and 25 letter registration codes, and uninstall and reinstalls and upgrades and …….. Well you get the picture are in order. Needless to say I have restrained myself and have not taken a hammer to the laptop as of yet, and God has in fact kept a diligent hold of me and has thus far prevented me from placing my computer in the driveway and running over it with my mini van. In a simpler world I have noticed that my ball point pen has never once given me an error message, frozen up in mid function, asked me to enter a 72 letter security code, beeped, flashed or in any way shape or form told me that an earlier version is in conflict with a previous installed version and must me uninstalled , updated, restarted, registered on l...

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we lived in a world where things just worked properly all the time. I am ceasing the moment to post a brief appeal for prayer as I am experiencing some fairly regular and annoying technical difficulties with my laptop. It may at any moment decide to go live with Jesus in computer heaven. I am trying to remain calm, however I am also bracing for the worst and currently praying for system restoration.

Several days ago I was sitting in my living room and the world outside was transformed. It literally was transformed by these amazing hues of gold and orange. It was nearly time for the sun to set, yet there was a bright glow washing in my windows. If you have ever experienced the sudden shift in how the sky looks right before a nasty line of thunderstorms rolls though the south then you will understand. The sky takes on a hint of ominous color to it, almost like a small visual glimpse into what is about to happen. The smell in the air is even a bit different. Well given the fact that over the last several days we had been experiencing some very volatile weather, the night before as I lay in my bed waiting for my bedroom window to simply be blown of there casings, I was a bit concerned as I stood in my living room and watched the world outside shift into this amazing and strange color. I stepped outside and the humidity was thick and the golden color was washing over everything. There ...

Question from Internet Cafe' May 17 - What is one habit, negative pattern, or sin that has been passed down your family line from generation to generation that you do not want to pass down to your own family line? What steps are you taking to make sure the habit, pattern or sin is not repeated in your own family? ( View Post ) I can probably count on both my hands the number of times we went to church when I was growing up. It simply was not a priority in my family’s life. I have often thought about that time as I have begun my own family. When I think about this question, about the one habit or negative pattern or generational sin that has been passed down from generation to generation, my thoughts wander to years of dysfunction that a divorce brought into my young life. I think of the continuous struggle that my mother had to just put food on the table for us and I recognize that taking us to church was probably way down on my mother’s list of necessary things. In any event we di...

I have had the opportunity to wait with friends in hospital waiting rooms on several occasions. However as I sat with friends and family members yesterday we were pleasantly surprises with the arrival of a woman pushing an interesting looking cart. My curiosity was piqued as I saw her approaching awkwardly maneuvering her cart. Upon this cart she had a small harp. It was anchored in place with what appeared to be a bicycle rack and jutting up from the base was a music stand made from what looked like an odd assortment of plumbing apparatuses. I comment to a friend that it rather looked like an invention from a Dr. Seuss story book. She took a few short moments to properly position her self and her harp and then began to play. We continued to share conversation and wait for the surgery to be over, but there was the wonderful undertones of the soothing harp music playing in the back ground. I thought to myself that this was a rather a unique experience, the harp music turned what can be ...

My missionaries returned home today. In thinking about my week I have to say that the opportunity to spend seven whole days alone in my house was a unique experience. I had total control of the remote. I left my cloths on the floor. I never cooked, not even once! I did not load or unload the washing machine or dryer. Went the entire week with out having to take out the trash. Found joy in watching the blue birds in my back yard. Opened the doors to the Dacula Ornithology Research Center (How much of a D.O.R.C. am I…..HA HA) I did not vacuum or dust! OK, I did dust, but that was only because when I moved the furniture in the sun room to set up the observatory for the D.O.R.C. I was horrified at the layer of dust on the floor under the wicker love seat. In the pursuit of science I deemed it necessary and made the sacrifice and went to get my floor duster. (Bummer) I only had to make one unplanned trip to the grocery store. I ran out of coffee, a necessary requirement in order to avert a ...

From “Streams in the Desert” on June 5, 2008 As I opened my small devotional book this morning and read the few short paragraphs some of the words kinda flew off the page and whacked me in the face. ISA 7:10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." taken directly from today's devotion “We must continue to pray and “wait for the Lord” (Isa 8:17), until we hear the sound of his mighty rain. There is no reason why we should not ask for great things. Without a doubt we will receive them if we ask in faith, having the courage to wait with patient perseverance for Him and meanwhile doing those things that are within our power to do.” I have to say that each morning as I lift my son up in prayer I don’t think I am necessarily praying for great things to happen. Right now I am mainly focusing on prayer for his physical safety, and no grandchildren to spring forth from his romping’s. I also pray ...

Today is a banner day in the life of the newly established Dacula Ornithology Research Center. Later today in a press release they plan to share vital information with the general public regarding their ground breaking scientific findings. However this exclusive preview is being brought to you, the ever faithful blogging community with the exclusive permission of the director of the institute, who is herself a member of the blogging community. Her desire to share these scientific findings on their in-depth study of the Blue Bird (Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis ) is to date one of the proudest moments of this newly formed research facility. As a result of their highly scientific and ground breaking research techniques they were able to acquire this astounding footage of the blue birds in its natural habitat. What you are witnessing is the results of hours of arduous effort and patience by the research director’s diligence as well as her tireless effort for the pursuit of scientific...

No deep or profound spiritual truths tonight, just a bit of a dilemma , sotrta ! I have to briefly share with you my internal dilemma. If you have been reading my blog then you will know that I am on a mini me vacation as my DH and DD are out of town on a mission trip. I have been enjoying myself immensely and indulging my every whim, mostly. However tonight as I prepared to take my shower I was presented with a rather unique dilemma. You see my DH is a bit of a neat freak. In fact he is a much better housewife that I am. He can clean better that any one I know. I could quite possible go the rest of my life and never push a vacuum or mop ever again and live quite contentedly. So here was my dilemma. Since we have moved into our new house we have in our master bathroom a separate shower as well as a bath tub. This shower has these clear glass doors. This was a slight flaw in the house but I was willing to overlook this in favor of my nice bright large kitchen. Well my hope is that it w...

I have to share the latest bit of excitement at my house. As some of you will remember from a few weeks ago I wrote post about the Blue birds that were courting in my back yard. I was so excited with the flurry of activity and animated swooping and calling back and forth they did. I was looking forward to the possibility of a tiny blue bird family setting up house right outside of my sun room window. My excitement was short lived as for the flurry of activity only last but a few days. I was very disappointed. Well much to my great excitement, it seems that the love story has been rekindled. I am not sure if this is the same pair of blue birds, but I think it is. Quite possible they had a lovers spat and took a break from each other to borrow from an episode of “Friends” but I was very happy to see that the nest building activity has stated back as of a few days ago. The interesting thing to watch is that both the male and the female are participating in this activity. They will alterna...