Vacation with Jesus

July 2 2016
Festivities of the day before are over, but summer has started and the desire to relax and put aside the regular obligations, the constants of our regular days and embrace the full understanding of vacation is tempting.

I am immersed in family. I haven't seen my sister's and brothers and their kids in two years.  But I am surrounded when counting my kids too 10 kids 8 and under, 8 siblings and my mom and dad.... It is only going to get busier and I am loving it!!!

But today lacking sleep from kids not sleeping through the night and up till 12 laughing and playing games with my sisters and brothers I got up early. I spent time with Jesus. This is not me looking for applause but more so me confessing that it is easier to forget that I committed to Jesus that I would spend time with him. It would be easier to sleep in and chill out when I woke up, or not even get out of bed.
But instead I pulled myself out of bed, and here I am meeting Jesus and I am refreshed in more ways than a cup of coffee and family can ever do for me.

The word was challenging and hard, convicting and encouraging and pushing me into worship, repentance and growth.

I am studying Acts through #shereadstruth. How can we live in the boldness of our faith today when tolerance of everything but biblical Christian faith is acceptable. When speaking truth is not welcome even when spoken in love. When it is easier to live with a veil covering our "faces" then allow for the people to see the evidence of the spirit working in us outside of the safety of our church building.

Do you need to heaar this, do you need to see Christ today? To you need to allow Christ into your vacation time?
I pray that you carve the time out, surrounded by the attention of family and children and the beauty of vacation to invite the Lord into this time too.

Music tells a story

I have been finding myself longing for an album that sweeps me away. An album that takes me on a journey, keeps my feet moving and my heart dancing. 

Last winter I had the wonderful privilege of reviewing a friend of mine's Christmas album,go here Lingering.  It was hauntingly, beautiful, warm and comforting while speaking truth and life. If you want to read my review go here. 

When the opportunity came to review her new album I jumped on it. Karla Adophe has done it again! This time live. What I would have given to be able to see this in action. But I will settle for listening to it constantly on my headphones.

When I first played the album, I was quickly dancing and singing, drumming and thoroughly taken.

In fact so much that I looked up at all four of my kids staring at me!

Trouble Won't Go:

Right away you are carried away by the amazing beat, which only adds to the amazing lyrics and truth. Karla encourages you, and gets the lyrics in your head, for times when we can speak the truth to ourselves. Trouble doesn't go, but we have a refuge.

Magnolia:

This song makes you want to sing it at the tops of lungs! This is a song of freedom and break through!

Ice roads:

I have been walking through what it means to trust God, this song speaks what I have been walking through. Ice roads are treacherous, but I will trust that your strength will hold me. This song causes you to look into your own heart and find your own trust in the Lord.

No Grounds For love:

A pursuit for our souls. A song of desire, of longing for relationship, of never giving up.

A Child of The King:

A song of delight, delighting in our Lord and his creations. This song speaks to life in the arms of adoption with the Lord. 

Wait, if you have been listening just put the album on repeat, because it may start at song one, but by the time you reach song 5, the Christian life starts over again. This is an album that so clearly speaks to the constant walking out of a life devoted to God. We never conquer these issues, instead we walk through them again in a different situation. 

I have been a great fan of Norah Jones in her early years, and Karla fills that space now. Karla incorporates her love of Jesus and her amazing talent in a beautiful work of art that I will find myself playing over and over!

This album is released today! If you make one purchase on #newmusictuesday make it this one! You will not regret this. You can purchase here: http://karlaadolphe.bandcamp.com/album/karla-adolphe-live-at-the-space

If you leave a comment, there will be a draw to receive a digital download of this album for free. This draw is open to all readers, and will be closing Tuesday next week.

 You must comment on the blog and please like and share this post on your Facebook.

I am addicted

Today is the first day where the weather has dropped below zero all day.
Today is the first day there was frost on my garage floor.
Today as I walked around my house and saw the light grey day with the dark clouds approaching. I knew it. I knew what I wanted. It is dark brown and syrupy, it is rich and unique and comforting. MOLASSES.
All i wanted in the house was the smell and comfort of molasses.
I realized that when fall arrives, truly arrives and sweater weather is here to stay I welcome it with loving arms and the smell of Molasses. Years ago I was given the Starbucks  Ginger Molasses cookie recipe. Not only does this mean I can have this wonderful cookie at home on the country but it is also a little easier to ignore them at the store.
So out of my Kitchen Aid came the dough after it was amply sampled onto the cookie sheets and in to the oven. Best part.... The aroma of these baking! I wish you could all come and have some.
Fall, means to me....
Wonderful baking
Beautiful aromas
Fellowship
Sweaters
Socks
Cozy times

Cookie recipe below....
Starbucks Ginger Molasses
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup Dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup (or more) of MOLASSES
BLEND TOGETHER TILL IT IS NOT CURDLED
Add slowly
2 1/4 Cup flour
1/4 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Ginger
MIX ALTOGETHER SCRAP SIDES WITH A SPATULA SEVERAL TIMES
ROLL DOUGH IN MEDIUM BALLS DIP TOPS IN SUGAR FLATTEN WITH FORK

BAKE AT 375F FOR 8 MIN
Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea....

Cleaning is Hard! #31daystoclean

February has passed, March is here and it has been here for a while.

At the beginning of this year, I decided I was going to commit to quite a few things when it came to me. My personal daily walk with Christ, my house, my mommy life, and my wife life. I want to provide for my family a home that is peaceful, not consistently messy or dirty, a home where we don't yell at each other and a home of peace, that my husband will enjoy coming home too.

So personal time with Jesus, became more deliberate and creative with #documentedfaith verse focusing, #ifequip daily devotionals, and #shereadstruth devotionals. I also want to dive in to a few books, we will see where that goes. If you want to connect with me through #documentedfaith you can follow me on instagram @jessncommunity

For my house:

I decided to buy a book back in November titled "31 Days to Clean"( See picture)

It took me till February to really crack this book open.

The author was doing a challenge and I knew I needed that kick in the butt.

It has felt like a long 31 days! Let's be honest, cleaning and organizing are not my forte...at all!

But, with the help of this book and my new friend the "Fly Lady"(if you don't know her, you need to!!)

My house is seeing progress!! I am seeing areas that normally build up and get in to piles that seem like mountains, not become mountains. I have a reference point for the last time I wiped down the front and inside of my cupboards, my closets are getting a regular cleaning and most importantly, I am less stressed and more relaxed in a positive way about my home.

I DEFINITELY NEEDED THAT KICK IN THE BUTT !

I wanted to do a bit of a summary of things I have learned so far with 31 Days to Clean.

I have learned that I want my house to be a refuge, a resting place, a place to come, sit and be. I have also learned it can't be that way unless I clean it, so I can properly rest.

I have been able to keep a schedule for the most part that does not make me feel suffocated.

I have learned and understood a real process of "His grace is enough for me" in my home keeping skills, not as an excuse to do nothing, or the least amount, but to do the most that I can and not beat myself up for it when I don't finish my list.

I have taken the time to focus on what I want my priorities to be, and how to walk through what I want to do about these priorities and verses to encourage me.

I have learned that this is something that I need to stay consistent in, continue to prod myself and keep on track with. That it is good to journal and keep these entries so that I can go back and remind myself.

It may have been a long 31 days so far, I am so grateful for the ways in which my house has seen rejuvenation, and I am feeling more on top of the day to day. And God is in the midst of all that!

Till next time, hopefully not too long,

Jess

soul amnesia

There are 234 references to the word remember in the ESV translation of the bible.

There are 25 references to the word remembrance in the ESV.

,

Definition of remembrance:

The action of remembering something

Definition of remember:

have in or be able to bring into one's mind an awareness of  something or someone that one has seen, known or experienced in the past.

Definition of memorial:

serving to preserve remembrance of or relating to a memory

 I have been reading in Joshua through the if:equip study. This is a great way to be involved and seeking after God, together through the scriptures. I have been continually struck by how often God encouraged them to remember, gave them commands to build memorials to remember in years going forward.

TO NOT FORGET.

Do you struggle with forgetfulness of what God has done for you? Do you forget in the hard times, how God was there before you, how he was there the last time with you? Do you struggle with Soul Amnesia? When things are going well, when the sun seems to shine and you know you are on the mountain? 

Sometimes, I wish I had reminder, a piles of rocks from the Jordan River, an altar to see from afar, a reminder of where God has taken me, a reminder of where I have been. 

I have been constantly hearing a song over and over in my head, from Bethel Music( Author: Jeremy Riddle). A longing from my heart .

Fall afresh

Awaken my soul, come awake

To hunger to seek to thirst

Awaken first love, come awake

and do as you did at first

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me, 

come wake me from my sleep

Blow through the caverns of my soul

pour in me to overflow

to overflow

Awaken my soul, come awake

to worship with all your strength

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me,
come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow
to overflow

Come and fill this place
Let your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let your Glory now invade

That we would awake, that our hearts would be as they were at first. That we would be filled afresh, that our souls would no longer know amnesia.

Getting back in to it...

.Good Monday Afternoon!
 I am writing this with a big mug of coffee and a few "Bottle Caps" candies (childhood favorite)

Everyone has a Monday in need of a sugar pick me up!

It is a cloudy Monday over here in prairie country, in fact it has been a cloudy weekend. But clouds don't limit us, or what God wants for our time. I had the wonderful pleasure of leading 15 ladies from our church on a Ladies retreat this past weekend. 

The purpose was OUR STORIES. We wanted to hear each other's stories. The heart was to join in community together.

As I worked to prepare, I was so anxious and unsure, I was tense and felt like I was holding on the reigns of a runaway stallion, grasping for control.

Last week you saw me sitting in Starbucks, notebook out, coffee, colors all over the table. I think back on that day and I remember God showing me, grasping that stallion's reigns and having a hard time staying on the horse. 

But God told me, If I hang on so tightly, how is that TRUSTING Him?

Real Trust looks more like this...

(maybe not Cinderella) but without restraints, Real trust is me saying....I won't attempt to control you God. You take me where you want me to go.

And what a ride He took me and all of us women on! We can all say, Our God is Faithful!!

So that said, #31daystoclean took a little break and it has be hard slogging getting back in the saddle. As you can tell you are reading this after it was posted on Tuesday night, not Monday afternoon. 

As my kids Curious George storybook says " Even great explorers bump and crash sometimes."

But, here is my chance to land. The last few days we worked on the pantry and started into the bathrooms. Those can be SCARY places. But luckily a week ago, I was in to my cupboard and cleaning out spilled body wash with paint scrapers, so that I just need to do a weekly cleaning of counters, toilets and sinks. Good thing too, because tomorrow morning, is Ladie's coffee at my house!!! 

But on the 'mary' side of things, I am really enjoying how this book addresses the heart issues and the ways in which we can grow in community.

So in being that I am slightly behind, tomorrow I am working on my Priorites list, organizing my large pots cabinet, catching up on some reading, and working on...

Day 3 #31daystoclean

Ok, we are on day 3, but the last two have been hard ones for me. I was not home all day today. So, I loaded the dishwasher! I am keeping it real!! The day before was a hard, no energy day for me, I managed to keep my kitchen clean, make a few meals for the freezer and that's all folks. 

Two weeks ago, I was above my cupboards and had to vacuum them the dust was so bad! That was a sight to see!!! Here I am standing on the ledge of my counter to reach with the vacuum plugged into a counter plug and my two part vacuum in hand. The canister in one hand and the small hose in the other!! Oh the things we have to do, in order to clean cupboard tops that haven't been touched since I moved in two and a bit years ago!!! LOL

I loved this quote from Day 2... A good reminder and encouragement:

“Life-giving is about receiving from God in order to give to others.” Barbara Mouser, Five Aspects of Woman

“Who is woman? She is the redeemed Life-giver, enlivened by the love of Christ and continuously renewed by Him as she nurtures others.” Barbara Mouser, Five Aspects of Woman

In all this, I am seeing room for improvement and seeing room for growth, and room for more of God!

Yesterday and Today I am learning to trust God. He has been speaking to me about areas in which I have struggled in this. It is almost easy to trust God for other people's healing ( even over a period of time) then it is to trust for your own healing. Today I had the pleasure of taking time, just me and God and Starbucks to have personal time. It was amazing, but only after the surrender. With out the surrender it was hard slogging! The pic below, is what I was working on today!

If you need a good study to follow, I highly recommend the ladies over at if:equip.com. IF you allow God, you will SEE BREAKTHROUGH.

It has been rather quiet over on this blog lately, but I find many things percolating...
My mind has been busy with the things of the new year and so today is a catch up day, a look at all the things that have been zipping around my heart and soul and challenging me in all the ways of God.

First:
I have been inspired, challenged and stirred in the areas of creativity.
A wonderful friend of mine started an Journalling Bible last fall and her instagram's are so encouraging. I have a very creative mind, but struggle oh so much in drawing it out. If Journalling Bibles interest you please check out Coralee's blog by clicking here.

Beautiful isn't it! I have been so inspired by her. Just before Christmas, my husband and were out with some friends. We were talking about devotional life and I started saying how my current journal, has been driving me crazy. I started to talk about what I preferred. Well, my hubby was listening so intently and purchased for me as a gift on Christmas morning a new heavy paper, coiled and beautiful journal. He also included a new set of Sharpie pens (he was careful to note that they do not bleed through). I was really excited, but as I continued to look at these large papers, I got discouraged.

In comes my good friend Coralee again. She not only inspired me through illustrated faith, but now also through documented faith. This is a group of people who have been joined together through art, a love of the word of God and the heart to journal. Coralee directed through her blog to a women named Stephanie Akerman. This woman has started Documented Faith. This I thought, this I could do. I think I can start here and then maybe after I am more comfortable move into a Journalling Bible.

So here goes, I am going to show you the first few pages of my Documented Faith Journal. I am continually stretched, continually pushed and continually meeting God in a new and expressive way this year.

Second:

31 Days to Clean

I have had this book on my IPad for a few months, having bought in November. This book is one to help all the "Mary's" out there clean their homes and still have time to sit at the feet of Christ. Sarah Mae, wrote this amazing book. I am looking forward to starting it this month. Tomorrow (Tuesday January 20th) there is a group of women, reading the book and working through the challenges together. I NEED THIS! If you would like to join us, pick up your copy on Amazon for $1.19CDN for the next 6 days! Then the cost goes up to $4.99CDN . (Click on the link "31 Days To Clean") Visit Sarah Mae on her blog, as she and other women walk this through together. 

Thirdly:

If:equip

A daily, free online biblestudy, that gave me so much life last year. I am going to thoroughly enjoy the time spent in the word. For the next 3 weeks we are studying Joshua. Join us!

 I pray for all of you who read this blog, that you will encounter God in a new and inspiring way. That we will journey together in to a deeper intimacy, knowledge and communion with our heavenly father.

 Be blessed.

 Snow drifting, temperatures dropping, Christmas lights light up my dark country lane.

December

Garland and lights, stuffed snowman and Christmas music fill my house

December

Advent readings, new traditions, baked good, and icing tasters

December

 Tonight as I wrap my hands around a cup of warm, spicy tea, and listen to a new album by a very talented friend, I can't help but linger...

Karla Adolphe is a very talented musician and a good friend. Her songs have a hauntily beautiful sound to them. They make you think of a light fluffy snowfall, and a walk in mild winter temperatures. They encourage you to fold into a blanket, warm drink of choice in hand and reflect on what this season's meaning truly is.

I love how when she sings "We three Kings" you are drawn in and it is personal, this is not an overly common Christmas song, but I become expectant and long to see the Star.

In the song " Do you hear, what I hear?" She encourages you so that you wish you could have heard and seen, she invites you to the precious serenity of the stable home of Jesus Christ.

There are three more songs on the album, one being an original. I can see this album playing over and over in my home this season as I linger with my Father.

Karla describes the songs as  "The songs express themes of pilgrimage, longing, hope, revelation, visitation and prophecy. I hope in them you find rest, linger with me and thank you for joining me on this journey." ( as quoted from her blog)

Advent means COMING

I invite you to come, linger here with me, pick up a cozy blanket, warm cup of choice, come sit at the feet of our God, meet Him as we have been beckoned to. Let this season be about HIM, his love, his sacrifice, and the greatest gift.(More on that inspiration from a favourite blogger and encourager Ann Voskamp tomorrow.)

Please follow this link and be blessed this season,

Lingering

dreams being unlocked

old paths being forged again

NEWNESS in the AIR

Creativity being unlocked

Oh LORD your Grace is overwhelming...

On repeat here...

SEEK AFTER THE GRACE GIVER....

The sky is awake.....

Quiet midnights

Wind blowing the trees over head

A sky that's awake with stars

An opportunity to sing my sweet beautiful daughters to sleep

Breathing in the fresh air

Tonight I count my blessings, name the one by one

Tonight I take the opportunity to see what God has done

Tonight is the first night of holidays....

It definetly could have gone better, it absolutely could have been worse. 

 So I will thank God for all the beauty in the mess of today, and be expectant oh how He will show up tomorrow....it is past midnight...so I guess what he will do today. 

Good night bloggisphere tonight I sleep under the stars....

What is quiet times and how do I get them??

This is one of those learning posts...as I am still learning but talk as I learn.....

I recently put up a post of a cup of coffee, books, bible and a candle. If upon checking out my instagram or Facebook, you will probably see what I am talking about. 

My cousin-in-law asked how I get time like that. This is not the first time this question has been asked of me. 

 I am a mom of 4 busy kids, a Pastor's wife and in charge of feeding and cleaning my house. Time can always seem tight. A few months back I posted about the "good portion" and my cleaning being a huge weakness for me. It still is. That is a construction zone in my life, always improving. 

But I want to talk today about our spiritual lives, male and female alike. About 4 years ago, my husband was challenged to get more into the scripture. After that weekend he didn't look back. He pressed into God's word. He got up early morning to have his time with The Lord. He became a different man in the next four years. He spiritually grew more and more each day. 

HE HAS CHALLENGED ME

Mornings and I are not the best of friends. Even when I arise early, everyone gets up and needs me. So mornings first thing are a very hard thing for me to maintain.

I find time, where I find time. Sometimes that means my kids watch a show or movie(like right now), sometimes they are playing so nicely they do not need me. 

Housework is done in a dedicated 2 hrs a day(most days)

Sometimes dinner is a little later, sometimes things are not as tidy

But as I told a friend earlier this year...."I am a bad mom without Jesus." 

Without me in the word, I am a grumpy, moody, snappy mom and wife.

Without God, now can I lead my children to follow Him, if they never see me follow Him.

Something's my kids go without something while I meet with The Lord, but they are not suffering.

My children know that Mommy reads her bible and during that time to not bother me. 

BOTTOM LINE:

They know Mommy is reading her bible.

Summer is here, and I am fighting against stagnant water. Yesterday, I didn't read the word for very long, I didn't allow it to be apart of my day....I kept thinking I was missing something all day.....

Same today, I went on Facebook  before reading the word.....truth be told, it took till 3:00 for me to meet with The Lord. I need to learn to put down the devices, meet with my saviour instead of the current news feed. 

I need to feed my soul, I want to be one who refuses to allow the things of this world to crowd my heart. I want to be like the Gentiles in Acts 13:48-52

I urge you, as I urge myself do not let stagnant water be the image that depicts your personal spiritual life this summer....it may seem selfish to say "not right now" to our children, or our housework or dinner, but what may seem selfish is In fact putting Christ where He belongs. First and foremost in our lives. 

May your summer be a rushing river, overflowing its banks, touching areas you never know or guessed it would. May your summer be fruitful. May you look back and say, I have grown so much from this summer. May God be our Everything.

Where I have been...

So, I have been absent for a few weeks. As Facebook tells it I have been away for a month. So this is a post about musings...

What have I seen in the past month?

      So glad YOU ASKED!

I have seen relationships restoring

I have seen God provide money for a flight, wonderful people to help on said flights. Sophia dear Sophia an Ukrainian Christian Grandma, playing with my dear baby, holding toys, help put my baby down for a much needed sleep and helped carry my bags, advising me to TRUST IN THE LORD, AND HEAR HIS VOICE, covering me in prayer, all on the confines of a plane. And that dear Grandma in the airport in Calgary watching my luggage, so I could feed my screaming baby, helping me carry my bags to the plane. And I cant forget any of the stuards,  very helpful. Thanks West jet for another great experience!

I HAVE SEEN TRANSFORMATION

I have seen what God does, when someone says Yes! And I am addicted to OBEDIENCE!

I have learned to be expectant, and ACT ON IT.

side note: I was on a mission trip to Guatemala 14 yrs ago and after being there almost a month we went to McDonalds and I ordered a Big Mac. That Big Mac was so unbelievably good! I still think about it, secretly dreaming for it. THAT'S HOW I WANT TO EXPECT GOD!!!

I have spent 48 hours with only 8 of those sleeping

I have seen one of the greatest bands, NEEDTOBREATHE!! In an incredibly intimate setting, where the POWER OF GOD fell during the song Multiply

I have seen my daughter feel the ocean, held my baby niece, touched my sister's pregnant belly, witnessed my beautiful older sister get married, unwrapped heirlooms from my precious Grandma Fortune, spent valuable time with my Aunt and Uncle(baby genius's), drank fantastic coffee(lots of it, thank you Mom, Peter and Donald), seen many sunrises and beautiful mountains, embraced my Grandma, looked at old photos, made new memories,became sleep-deprived for all very good reasons

Now today on the longest day of the year, I am going to make the choices to be joyful, enjoy children, to see my God in unexpected places, to seek to be used and obedient when called....


Your love is like radiant diamonds
Bursting inside us we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wild fires singing Your name

God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied

 Thanks for checking in, lets be EXPECTANT TOGETHER!

Summer Mornings

today i invite you to camp on the beauty around you...to rest in our God.
to rest in the Word....
to reflect on the beauty around you...
to worship in the good and the bad...
to Be BRAVE
to OBEY
to TRUST
to BE BOLD

The Lord is My Light | Joel Case | Live at Home (+playlist)

I invite you to soak.
I invite you to open the word and let it wash you.
Wash the stress of being a mom, wife, employee, father, husband, away.
I invite you to hear God
I invite you to receive the FREE GIFT of the Holy Spirit

I once heard a testimony, that this person poured an extra cup of coffee for Jesus each morning. Not that He would actually drink it, but as an invitation.


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1Peter 5:6-7)

He cares, He cares, He cares...
We can't do it all....
Humble ourselves....Lord Take This....

and soak...

motherhood

when I think about this day, like all women I can't help but think about my mom.

Laurel Evangeline Fortune, is truly a gift from the Lord for me...

She has raised 10 kids, in the North of Canada, Whitehorse Yukon
She was a Pastor's daughter and a Pastor's wife
She balanced the home while Dad worked to provide for us,
many times doing two separate jobs at once

I don't have bad memories of my childhood, even with all of us to care for I remember..
Mom, caring for my friends, our church family, our family friends, and even taking in people in need of a loving family.

I remember Mom, wholeheartedly loving and serving her Heavenly Father and teaching us to do the same.

One day when I was (probably grudgingly) vaccumming the couch, I  found a list and on it was all the names of us kids and notes beside each name. When I asked my Mom, she said it was her prayer list. I later found out that before she started each day with all of us, she would start each day with God.

Mom is the woman I look up too, the woman I hope to emulate. Mom's favorite words are "Yes!" and "Obey!" They have become mine as well.

Thank you Mom, for all that you are, for being obedient to the Lord and teaching and encouraging me to do the same.

Do you need to be encouraged to say "Yes!"? I encourage you to get your hands on a copy of Rhinestone Jesus #Yesinmymess by Kristen Welch.
This lady has read my heart.
Trust Jesus, Say Yes, and take the ride of your Life.....you won't regret it.

Outside of me....

Today I am sore, today and last night my body hurts. With little to no voice, constant headaches, back aches, everything aches.... I am choosing to look outside of myself.

It is easy to sit and mope, to complain, to find reasons to not clean, mother and be a good steward of this home.

Today it is easy instead to hide in myself, play games on my iPad, put off needs of my children, and the call to SURRENDER my needs and wants to Christ. It is easy to spend no time thinking of HIM. 

easy.....but life draining....

instead today I am going to choose CHRIST, not myself...

Today I am going to enjoy the giggles, laughter, and color that the girls bring to my life

Today I am going to worship through the aches, through the sore throat... 

Today I am going to hear Christ, surrender me, and focus on HIM.

Through the housework, and the lunch times, through the happy kids and the whiny moments, the color of my home, through the rain clouds outside, through the storm clouds that threaten to hide Christ from my own heart.

Today I am going to prepare my heart for all Christ has for me....

Today I leave on a ladies retreat and Satan doesn't want a victory this weekend for Christ...

There is much a battle going on over here, and I do suspect in the hearts and minds of the ladies getting ready to attend this weekend....

So today we say "NO!" To ourselves

Today we say "YES!" To God's plan for our families, our hearts and our spirits and HIS GLORY!!

No voice mama

Today is day three of no voice. My throat is so sore, and I find out that with out a voice being a Mom is difficult at best. It is harder to address behaviors, break up fights, tell them how beautiful they are, help with meals, it is hard to function. 

This makes me think of the church...

As the church we have three resources of our Heavenly Father that we can access...

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

what a gift we have! 

Not only do we have the God the Father, our creator, our Beginning and End, Yahweh, Alpha and Omega...

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  

"He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."(Psalms 103:8-12)

But we also have the GIFT, the expression of His Great and Powerful love, his Son. God gave us His son. Not to just save us from Hell, not to only ensure us of our entrance into Heaven. Do you have a Son? I do....Samuel is a most precious gift to me, he is giving, loving, affectionate, passionate, my first-born, my gift from God. 

Can you imagine saying "Son, I love you, I walked with you from the beginning of everything and now I am sending you to fulfill the Scriptures, you know what I need you to do. I am asking you to surrender yourself for our people and for our glory, to allow yourself to be tortured, cursed, beaten, and then I am going to turn my back to you, when you most need me, I will turn from you, because of the filth that is upon you I cannot be around you.

This is thee ultimate act of love... And we have this gift! The gift died, but then was resurrected with the hope and the Glory of new life, LIFE OUTSIDE OF DEATH, LIFE OUTSIDE OF SIN, LIFE OUTSIDE OF MYSELF

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:24-25)

Not only do we have a Father God that loves us to cleanse us of any wrong, but He also gave his Son for his to cement it. His only Son. What amazing gifts we have received.

" Because He was full of Grace and Truth, from HIM we all received one gift after another." (John1:16)

Unfortunately Christians like to stop here.

Unfortunately  as Christians there is a lack of knowledge/pursuit of the third gift...

How do we function without number three

How do we move, grow, and know The Lord deeper without the THIRD PART OF GOD

God  is NOT COMPLETE without the HOLY SPIRIT
           like a mom with no voice....no ability to influence and guide, to comfort, to encourage


do we know God, do we know Christ.... do we know them through our heads, do we have all the knowledge and yet not understand his love for us, his intense love?

do you know you are BELOVED, TREASURED, DESIRED, WANTED, PURSUED?

You have met God, you have met Christ, have you met THE HOLY SPIRIT
Have you encountered the wholeness of GOD

"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."(Luke 24:46-49)

"But the Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."(John 14:26)

Oh Helper, help me that I may see you, that I may always be in remembrance of all Christ has taught me, that I may be clothed in the power from on high....

"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the COMFORT of the HOLY SPIRIT, it MULTIPLIED" (Acts 9:31)

Oh Holy Spirit work in me, so that I may know the comfort of you, so that we will see the church multiplied.

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD'S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT who has been given to us." (Rom 5:2-5)



oh Holy Spirit, fill us up afresh, baptize us anew, that we would now the fullness of your love for us, that we may further your name, your glory, that we might have the joy that can only come from you....

I have long said in my personal life, in my spiritual walk, and in those around me, that I stand alongside the below quote from Michael Brown. My heart is grieved! "His Disciples remembered that it is written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." (John 2:17 ESV) Oh Lord, that a zeal for your people will consume me! A passion for your word, your church, that I will stand!


"In short, those who want to revise biblical sexuality and morality have moved away from the Word of God, and if they have any sense of integrity, they need to renounce their claim to be evangelicals—and that includes Cobb, if he personally claims to be one—and say, “We are liberal Christians who no longer hold to the authority of Scripture, because of which we embrace homosexual relationships.”- Michael Brown

To read the article click here

For this morning, Easter Sunday Morning.....
I post songs that have been on repeat at my house...
May you meet with OUR RESSURECTED SAVIOUR
this Easter Morning...