It's NOT multiple choice

Yesterday I shared how worry & prayer don't mix.

Here's another thing Jesus has been speaking to me... 

and changing in me.

"Praying specifically" isn't about giving God several
specific ways to answer a prayer.
It's presenting specific needs to God. Period.
And letting Him do the answering.




Phil. 4:6
"Don’t worry about anything; 
instead, pray about everything. 
Tell God what you need, 
and thank him for all he has done.


If we get it into our heads that we must come up
with ways for Him to answer...


- it'll keep us from praying cuz when
we "don't know what to ask for"... 
- keeps us frustrated
- keeps us from experiencing miracles
- causes worry


Don't worry... INSTEAD... pray.
Tell God what you NEED.... and thank Him.


My prayers have turned from "not knowing what to
ask for" into something like this...


"Lord Jesus, we have _____ need and only you
can help us."
and
"Jesus, this ____ is so difficult! Please Help!"




Does this lesson from Philippians ring a bell with you?

It Can't Be Both

This entire month many of us
at Real Church have chosen to read
through Philippians over & over
again in our personal Bible
reading time... and it's so cool.

One of the many things Jesus
has spoken to me through
this book is this..

"Don't Worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything."
(Phil 4:6)

It's an "either/or" situation.

You can't worry AND pray.
You do one or the other!

Worry kills prayer.
Prayer kills worry.

Which one do you do most often?
Why?

(Jesus also spoke more to me about why I tend to NOT pray
as much as I think... check tomorrow's post for more.)


(Above photo was taken years ago of my daughter, Mariah)

God Spoke Through My Iron

Jesus speaks to me in a language I understand.

This week He spoke through my iron... more or less.

(and I hardly used it all week.. hee hee)

Paul said...
"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the 
heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
Phil. 3:14


PRESS 
The greek word means "aggressively chase, like a hunter pursuing a catch" 


I don't relate to hunting. Nor do I usually chase after anything too aggressively.
(unless my kids are hurt, then I may bust into a sprint... don't laugh!)


But thankfully I speak the language of the other kind of press...

      IRONING!

1. Ironing - takes what's already washed & improves it
Yes, Jesus washed away my sin, but He's always wanting
to change me & make me better.


2. Ironing - flattens puffiness... pride


3. Ironing - smoothes the bumps & creases...
the inconsistencies in my life & character


4. Ironing- requires heat that is "ouchy" but totally

necessary.  Painful times are needed.

5. Ironed Garment- reflects the one who is inside of it... 
JESUS! 


I will not fight against difficult times, but walk through them
knowing that Jesus is ironing me into a reflection of Him.




(Now, take one of these points and insert it into the verse above
in place of the word press.  For example, #2, 
"I will flatten my pride so that I will reach the end of the race...")

Has God spoken to you through anything usual lately?

The Right Order

(Cute Shepherds)

Angels told them the Great message...

and then sang...the first Christmas Carols!

Then Shepherds go, "Hey, The Lord just told us

something great. We can't sit around. 

We've GOT to go see this baby!"

They sought Him out... and found Jesus.

THEN... they rejoiced & spread the news all around.

And people were amazed at their words.

-------

Don't try to tell people about Jesus & expect them to

be amazed at the Story if you haven't

first spent time seeking Him out, seeing Him, Face-to-Face..

being with your Savior & Lord.

Only when we've been with Him first will other people

take note of our words (and our life).

Have you spent time with Jesus today?

What did you do?

Where was it?

What did He say to you today?

A Strange Fast

The first week of every month our church has fasting & extra prayer.

Sometimes God asks me to fast:
- sweets
- carbs
- Diet Coke (Oh, that's a tough one)
- a particular meal every day
- etc...

This month was different!
One evening BEFORE the Week of fasting our family was sitting
in the dining room & I asked my husband, "What color in that
 'inspiration painting' over there do you think I should choose to
paint the walls of this room?"

His reply:  "Please, can we stop painting & redo-ing things &
just live for a while."

Ouch!

It was at that point that God asked me to fast...

ALL things associated with home decorating & improvements...
which included-
- HGTV (tough, cuz that's really the only TV I enjoy)
- Home magazines of any kind
- All decorating blog sites & websites
- All e-newsletters regarding improvements or projects
- conversation & thoughts about "what project to do next, etc"

The result...
I had NO idea how much of my time & energy has been spent
on this.  All week long I was catching myself starting to think
about all this... numerous times a day. Numerous.
Now, we just moved, and it's OK to improve your
home... but I was thinking about it ALL the time!

My brain was constantly pondering, deciding, planning,
calculating, etc... it was ridiculous!

So now...
well, I still have lotsa things I want/need to do with our home,
but I'm gunna put "obsession" on a self, lower the number
of things I read, keep my thoughts in check... focus on what
is lasting!

My home is TOOL in God's hand.
I work for God!
I don't work for my house.

In the OT, when God blessed people they'd sometimes
turn that blessing into a shrine & worship it instead of the
Lord who gave them the blessing. When I read that I think,
"Wow, how dumb is that?"
Then I started doing it.

I will not do that.
Thank you, Jesus (and Chilly) for pointing it out to me!
I serve JESUS!

Sometimes people...

Sometimes the very thing people fear
 is exactly the thing they run to 
while trying so hard to stay away from it.

The only way to avoid this is to truly know the author of love
... JESUS!

 (I John 4:16-18) 

Run to Him.

But I followed the Rules...

People of every surrounding city were afraid of him.
Kings' hearts melted in fear.
He was takin the Promised Land by storm...
JOSHUA!

One of my favs.
He took on a big job and just DID it!
God directed, he obeyed.

But then there was that ONE time...

That time in Joshua 9 where he was super
aware of God's rules -
"Don't make a peace treaty with any country that is nearby!"
but... still broke'um.


Here's how he did it:


- Joshua used his own wisdom  By looking at the enemy
it appeared that their story checked out.
HUMAN Wisdom... faulty!
(Josh. 9:14)

- He failed to ask God about the situation. (vs. 14)


Just following the rules with our own human insight is NOT
enough to get the job done... and those following us will
pay a price.

Whether you're leading a ministry, a family or a group
of friends, your choices will leave a mark.
Sure... OBEY God... of course.
But TALK to Him.
ASK for His insight.
LISTEN to His specific leading!

I'm sure Joshua (and all the Israelites from that era)
would tell you the same.

Talk-to-Myself-Tuesday

My family teases me often because they say I talk to myself...

I prefer to think of it as "thinking out loud!" :)

Either way, here's some of the things that have been

going around in my head...

(and have probably leaked out my mouth!).

- When you compliment or criticize a child you're doing the

same thing to the parent. It's two for one... be careful.

- I really like Carbs... in a multitude of forms! sigh

-Snow is nice... but NOT in March. I'm done with it.

(and just for the record, I did NOT pray for snow much this year!)

- Can I still make lotsa soup even when warm weather hits?

- Some people spring clean... I get the urge to just paint everything.

But my schedule doesn't usually allow my springtime promptings.

- One really honest, quality conversation is WAY better than a

dozen stupid remarks about weather, snacks, traffic, etc....

- A nice, hand-written note trumps an email on most days.

- Cute glasses on cute little kids = Double SUPER cute!!!

- I really like loose tea.

- Exercise is never fun to me.

- I realized that my hair is in grave need of my hairdresser

when my 3 yr. old son volunteered to "do" my hair & grabbed a

brush and his Handy Manny TOOLS! Help, Ginger!

- Home schooling seems to get harder as spring approaches.

(are we done yet?)

- SO so thankful that daily lesson plans for my two oldest girls

are finally done & printed out! Yippee!!!

- When I sleep longer than planned I will quickly (happily)

give up my work-out and even the morning news, but not

my cuppa tea and...

NEVER my time in The Word & Being alone with JESUS!

Do you recognize it?

Can you tell what this is?...

"Hello, Daddy!"

We want to know you.

And be close to You.

Please show us how.

Make everything in the world right again.

And in our hearts, too.

Do what is best - just like you do in heaven.

And please do it down here, too."

"Please give us everything we need today.

Forgive us for doing wrong, for hurting you.

Forgive us just as we forgive other people when they hurt us.

Rescue Us! We need You.

We don't want to keep running away and hiding from you."

"Keep us safe from our enemies.

You're strong, God.

You can do whatever you want.

You are in charge.

Now and forever and for always!

We think you're great!

Amen!

Yes we do!"

___________

It's beautiful, huh?

Did you figure it out?

(go ahead, leave your comment below!)

It's a quote from THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE!

Max got it for Christmas and we all just LOVE it!

My eyes fill with tears as I read him (or he reads to me)

the familiar stories in a whole new language.

Everyone - all ages- can benefit from this wonderful book...

hey, a twenty-something- guy told me about it and he had a sample

of it on his computer! (Thx, Tom!)

It's prompted me to write some of the scriptures out

in my journal in my own words. Maybe I'll post a few

of those soon. A great way to make the words hit

home & become more personal.

Maybe you should try that today as you read & pray!

(click on the book for a link to purchase this great book)

(Oh... and I'm not getting any kickbacks or freebies for

promoting this book... I just really LOVE it!)

Will you just...

"Mommy... I want a cuppie."
"Mommy... can I have a snack."
"I'm hungry."
"Can I go outside?"

Wait, Baby. Hang on. I'm taking care of you.


"Hey Mama, You're pweety."
"You're nice, Mommy."
"Wow, you're so cool, Mommy."

Thank you, Baby. But will you please
just be really quiet and listen to me for a minute?"

___________________________________

"Jesus.... I need this situation taken care of."
"Lord, please help me figure this out."
"Jesus, can you please do this for me?"

"Wait, Child. I'm taking care of you."

"Lord, of course You are. You're so great."
"Jesus, I love you & you're so awesome and cool."
"Wow, Lord, you do the most amazing things."

"Thank you, Child, but will you please just
be still and listen to me?"


Ps. 46:10

WAKE UP!!!

School's in full force.
Getting outa bed earlier, in the dark everyday
is no longer optional... it's a MUST!


Here's a few silly but helpful things to do that
help WAKE me up, open my eyes (at least one)
& gets me going... cuz I hate coffee!

















- stretch while you're still in bed
(there's something about folding your feet over your
head that can really get your blood flowin'!)

- brush through your hair
(it's a tiny head massage)

- gulp down some cold water

- walk barefoot on the hardwood floors

-peak out the window to see if your cars are still there
and then praise God that they weren't stolen!

- start thanking JESUS for regular things like...
"Thanks for this carpet cuz the blue stuff that was
here when we moved in was horrid!"

- try to remember this day/time last year... and ask
"How has God changed me?" Then thank Him!

- a lovely cuppa hot tea w/milk & sugar (well, Splenda)
cuz I told you I don't like coffee!
(all my Belfast friends say "Holla!")

- and NOW that I'm awake, the REAL stuff that
keeps me alert all day....
Time studying THE WORD and conversation with JESUS!

- then get ready, dressed, apply make-up, etc..

Now, the rest of day begins & I'm ready for it!


What do YOU do to WAKE UP & STAY AWAKE?

just wanna tell ya

Chase, 2, runs inside from front porch just to tell me
"I'm going back outside Mom!"


That's kinda like some peoples' prayer life...
"Lord, I'm really gunna pray more. Amen"


??

CAUTION!

Character always wins out over potential!


Your talent, abilities, training, connections
mean NOTHING if you're not actively
pursuing a deeper relationship with JESUS
and allowing His Holy Spirit to develop
the character of CHRIST in you!

If you're not purposely making choices
to KNOW Jesus then you're choosing
to move away from Him.

What it IS & ISN'T

REAL FAITH isn’t ordering GOD around & getting OUR way.

Praying in FAITH doesn’t mean you try to conjure up
some positive feeling in hopes that your desires are
for sure gunna happen.

Instead, praying in faith means being at peace with
WHATEVER God chooses to do,
because we trust HIS wisdom & goodness!


Reading....

The Alert

There's it goes again.
Pounding in my ears.
I'm trying to ignore it.

It's so loud. So constant. So right.
Telling me to, "Get up! Get going!"

I push it aside. Telling it to quiet down.
But, moments later it wakes me again.
"Get up! Get going! This day has purpose!"

My eyes are closed, attempting to think of something peaceful.
But I know it's there.. waiting to alert me again.
Waiting to get me up & out.
Big SIGH...
My eyes close tighter.

Yup. There is goes again... ringing out.
I think it's LOUDER this time.
It bids me to stop laying here, thinking & start "doing."
It's SO LOUD!

I grab it quickly. Can everyone else hear it, too?

OK! OK! I'm up! I'm "doing!" I won't relax anymore.
I give up.
Here I am! Getting Up & Getting going!!!

That little alert system sure does work.
I think I'll carry it with me today.
Somewhere close-by.
Somewhere like... say... my heart!

"Oh, that sounds weird"... you must be thinking...
But you thought I was talking about my alarm clock, huh?

No, not at all.
I was speaking of my BIBLE!

(you may wanna read the post again, now)


Currently Reading
Thompson Chain-Reference Bible-NIV

The Point is Mute, Idol

"We can do it!"
"We can take this city for Jesus!"
"We can make this happen!"

All true... and yet such a LIE!

God can do anything! NO DOUBT!
He choices to work through us. TRUE.
But WE cannot do anything on our own....
except maybe mess it up!

You & I have learned over the years how to "minister" and
"do the work of the Lord," by clicking into our
"smile-hug- be-interested-in-others-&-tell'um-about-Jesus" mode.
But if that isn't fueled by true, daily relationship with Jesus
then it's just a "mode" that's fueled by an idol... ourselves!

I said "IDOL"... but not the show! The "worship thing!"

2 Cor. 8:11 says to finish the work God has called us to do
with a completion that matches the willingness we started with.

Back in verse 5 (2 Cor. 8:5) it says we must
GIVE OURSELVES TO GOD first! THEN, do His will & ministry!

LOVE GOD! Be with Him, talk, listen, read, pray!
You know...the stuff we teach everyone else to do!!!

We can become our own idol, made by our own hands
as Ps. 115:4-8 states, if we try to do it ourselves.

If we minister under our own strength & ideas then we're
just like an old wooden idol because....

1. We only have our own strength... nothing more
2. Our words are mute! pointless!
3. We're blind to the real needs & situations around us
4. We're deaf to the real cries for help
5. We are without true senses and feelings (kinda numb)
6. We & our ministry will do no where; it's without legs

Continue to love Jesus!
Continue to wake before your family/roommates to be with my JESUS!
(or whenever you can be alone with Him!)
Choose His strength & plan, not your personality,
to do the work He's called you to do.
Continue to place your relationship with Jesus
above ALL else.

Don't be your own idol or your efforts are mute.

Noxema

As a preteen I was introduce to this facial cleanser!

My Mom instilled in me the importance of
daily cleansing, morning & night.
My complexion was a reflection of
good, basic skincare.

As I got older I tried fancier stuff...
and now that I've turned... older...
I've tried a wide assortment
of "anti-this" and "anti-that" creams & cleansers.
Nothing has changed, really.
They're all just more expensive.

Then... a couple of weeks ago I bought another
blue tub of Noxema for my girls only to be told...
"We don't need anymore right now, Mom."

Oh... um... I'm nearly out of my "You're-fighting-getting-
old-and-wrinkly-cream" ... perhaps I'll just use it until
I can get more of mine.

As I opened the jar, the refreshing smell of basic,
uncomplicated cleanser hit me... in the heart.

This is the story of our lives!

We give our lives to Jesus and fall in love with Him.
Pure, uncomplicated cleansing repentance... daily!
We can't live with out that clean, fresh-hearted joy!

Then we start to mature (not a bad thing), unless when
we forget that daily, simple relationship....

-reading the WORD with no preconceived ideas...

-praising Him because He saved us by His Grace
(not cuz we got what we had hoped for that day)

-taking responsibility for our sins.. .and repenting!
(instead of blaming someone or something else)

I'm in LOVE with JESUS!
The fresh, honest, real relationship with Jesus...
that's not just for "baby Christians"...
It's the basis for it ALL!

Yes... bring on the DAILY cleansing, Jesus!
and you, too, Noxema.

(oh, and by the way...
my skin looks & feels great!
Eat your heart out beauty industry!)

I'm takin' this call

After a week of that annoying occurrence we call
"phone tag," I'd finally connected with my dear,
sweet, hilarious childhood friend, Jodi.

Between her 4 kids and my 5, it's hard to have
an actual conversation. You know, every few
seconds we interrupt each other to say,
"Hey, put that down." and
"Stop hitting that... where did that come from?"
"No! I said no more snacks and I mean it."

This phone call was great! She only had 2 kids at
home and so did I! Her's were silent.. wow!
My boys & I were outside in our "pool" (the
6 inch deep plastic circle). We were talking
and catching up! Talking! At last! Yippee!

But, soon into that wonderful call, it started.

"No, Max, put that hose down!"
"Hey, HEY! Stop squirting me!"
MAX, No, I don't want my hair washed!!! STOP IT!"
and then, after I towel dried my HEAD...

(Still talking to Jodi)

"Hey, stop feeding the dog... that's your snack!"
"No, you can't have another one."
"Please, look out, that's Dog...poop. ick."
and then, after cleaning up the ickiness...

(Still talking to Jodi)

"Max? Chase? Where are you guys?"
"Max, come back outside? What in the world?"
"Hey, put your swimsuit back on... Stop running!"
"You CANNOT be outside naked!" sigh
and... all the while.. still talking to Jodi!

NOTHING WAS GUNNA KEEP ME FROM
TALKING TO MY WONDERFUL FRIEND!
DISTRACTIONS WILL NOT WIN!
so... we kept on talking! So worth it!

Yeah... great friends are worth it.
How much more is GOD WORTH BEING WITH!!!!

We can sure put aside and push through anything
to hang out with a person, but we're super quick
to wimp out on God.

"Geez, God, I was gunna read The Word, but my
kids started fussing!"

"Um, yeah, Lord, I meant to pray & read, but my
phone kept ringing and then I started cleaning up
the mess in my livingroom. It's so hard for me to
concentrate when the house is messy."

We MAKE time for what's important.
TALK TO GOD!
READ THE WORD!

He's THE friend!