A basket of blessings

Sometimes I just have a little to give. And many times I just need alot. This morning was one of those mornings. I didn't sleep very good. I woke up around 4 am and after a few restless minutes in bed... I decided to get up. There were many things rolling around in my mind. This seems to be happening often these days. One of the things rolling around in my head was the fact that we had no hot water. After I got my shower yesterday morning... I realized the hot water heater wasn't working. We all needed baths and the dishes needed washing. My heart is also heavy for a member of my family. Thoughts of this person had haunted me most of the night. My father-in-law is in the hospital and was scheduled for a heart cath this morning. AND... I had conferences scheduled with my middle school aged daughter's teachers. Before it was time to wake up my daughters for school.... I had enough time to pour out my heart's contents before the Lord. Only... then it was time to get up and start my day.

Within minutes of trying to wake up my oldest daughter... my eyes were stinging with tears. I thought to myself.... "this is ridiculous... what is the matter with me??" I felt the ache of that empty feeling inside. It was then that I realized that I had taken the time to pour out... but didn't take the time to allow God to fill me back up. As I rushed back down the stairs to get my Bible... I remembered an illustration that I have heard several times before. I was like a beggar... I had my empty cup out in front of me... begging for someone... anyone... to do something or say something that would fill me up. Something that would make me feel good. Something that would make me feel valuable. I have heard Beth Moore say that "if you allow God to fill you up... anything else you get all day will be gravy!"

I searched my concordance... I knew exactly what I was looking for. Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us (me) in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we (I) may sing for joy and be glad all our (my) days.

I kept repeating it... Lord, satisfy me this morning with your unfailing love. I want to sing for joy and be glad all day. It is your love that will satisfy me... your unfailing love.

Things got better. I didn't need to be vailidated by my poor daughters. It let them off the hook.

Tonight as I worked through my Bible study... it just happened to be about one of my favorite miracles of Jesus. Jesus feeding the 5000 with the little boys lunch. It is amazing how God will use the same story to speak to you at different times. The last time I remember reading the account in John's gospel... I was floored by the fact that they distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. I loved it that God used that story to show me that when I sit down... and position myself at His feet.... He will give me as much of HIM as I want. But tonight.... I kept thinking about no matter how "little" I have to give.... Jesus can multiply it beyond anything I can imagine. This morning... I had so little to give. When I went to him with my little bit... He multiplied it and supplied enough to make it through my day. He satisfied me with His unfailing love.... and the rest of my day was gravy!!

We have a new hot water heater. We all got baths and my dishes are washed. I cannot change my family member... so I just prayed for her. My father-in-law did well through his procedure... and received a new stent... he will not have to have by-pass surgery. And... I postponed the conferences with my daughter's teachers because of all of the other stuff that was happening. So I was able to sing with joy and be glad all day.

I thought about all the leftovers the disciples picked up after the 5000 ate... 12 baskets full. It must have looked a lot like gravy.

Then tonight as I was blog hopping.... I found this on Cricket's blog.... she gave me an award!!

Thanks so much Cricket.... this was part of my gravy today. You actually posted it on Friday, but God knew that I would need it today.

Also... I received another basket of blessings this past week from another blogger. It was actually a box... and it contained tons of Beth Moore CD's and DVD's. Gravy upon Gravy. My cup is overflowing. What started out as very little this morning... turned into more than I could imagine tonight. Glory to God!!

A mindful....

***update at bottom***

My mind is so full of stuff. God has been speaking to my heart about some issues lately... and I want no part of what God is showing me may be happening in my heart. Oh! how I want a servant's heart. Then yesterday, my daughter had some issues at school which caused many more things to crowd into my mind. Not to mention that my husband and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye on how to react to this new situation. So after a "not so nice" discussions with my husband.... where I defaulted back to language that I thought had left my vocabulary years ago... I went to bed with tears in my eyes.

This morning I woke up around 4am (because there was a needy little person standing there poking me). Those things started rolling around in my head again. I knew that God was inviting me to come on down to "our spot" a little early so that we could have a little "pow-wow". So I got up and headed downstairs. After pouring my heart out about all the things that were crowding my mind.... asking for His wisdom and guidance... I felt him draw me into His Word.

I just picked up the Bible and opened it... Psalm 51... here are just a few pieces of it....

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to you great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. (verses 1-2)

Just what I needed after that sailor talk I had last night. His love is unfailing!! Praise Him.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. ( verse 6)

Oh yes... I poured out my inner parts to you... and you will be where my wisdom comes from

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take you Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (verses 10-12

Oh yes Father... please create a pure heart out of this prideful thing that I have inside me.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O' God you will not despise. (verses 16-17)

A broken spirit... a contrite heart is what God desires... is that what I had given Him???

Then I felt led to go ahead and start on my Bible study work... Luke 8:40-56

The story was of Jesus heading to Jairus's house to heal his daughter... and being interrupted by the poor woman that had been bleeding for 12 years. After her touching the hem of His garment and being healed immediately... Jesus continued to Jairus house to find his daughter dead and bunch of doubtful people at the door. Not deterred in any way... He walked in and brought the girl back to life.

Jesus's power is not limited to one miracle work at a time... He has more than enough to go around. He can take on my prideful heart... break it.... purify it... and then move on to all of these other issues that are at hand.

I still don't know what we are going to do about the issues at my daughter's school... we are scheduled to go for a conference on Monday. But, I do know what I am going to do with all the stuff that was rolling around in my head.... I took it to the Father... and I am leaving it there. I will hear His answer when He gives it. Hopefully it will be before Monday... but I trust who God is even when I don't understand the situation. And I know that I am to submit to my husband's authoritiy. He made that clear as well.

Pray for me... and my family. I do not want to do one thing that is outside of my Father's will.
Also... I have a friend having a lumpectomy this morning... say a prayer for her too.
Thanks... Lots of love,


***and if this wasn't enough... as I was trying to proofread my post, my husband called out from the living room that it was time for Beth Moore to be on Life Today. I jumped up and ran in there just in time to hear her teach about TRUST... Her scripture verse was Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
She talked about a spewing mind... a mind that is spewing over all kinds of things... and those are the very issues in which I am distrusting God. When I trust God... my mind will be in perfect peace. Thank you Father that you are such a personal intimate God.

A thin line.... real or pretend?

I don't have a lot of time. I want to finish this post and my house cleaning before my sweet man comes home from taxi service. He is picking up our youngest at one birthday party and delivering her to another one. Such a busy little life. What a sweet man to do that so that I could stay home and clean the house... or blog.

I have been thinking about something since last Wednesday night. Actually, I have thought about it before... but I haven't come to a conclusion yet.

I believe in being real. I have learned that God desires for his people to be real. The world is hurting... the world is struggling... and if they look at us and think that we are "perfect"... then they will never think that they can measure up or be "good enough" to be a christian. Does that make sense??? So... I believe in being real. If you have read my blog much... you know that I have allowed God to use our struggles to show His power and what He is doing in my life. The inside is what counts. Eternity is what counts.

Anyway... with that said, last Wednesday night as we left church... I could sense there might have been a little problem when I got into the car. I could tell that my man was a little "undone". As it turns out... my teenager was a little too honest and critical when asked by the childrens' pastor how she thought youth group was going now that we have a new youth minister. Her sweet answer was, "boring". Now... I am sorry... I want my children to learn to be honest and real. I don't want them to learn to "pretend" about everything in their life... to make others think that things are just hunky-dorey... when they are not. I think that pretending leads to more pretending... and I don't like that. BUT.... neither did I like the humiliating feeling that came over me when I found out what she said. I gave her a little "talking to" about only saying things that are nice.... keeping her negatives to herself. To put that beautiful smile on her face and act like she loved it. To be happy while she was there.

Gee... I realized I was telling her to wear a mask while she is there. What??? That doesn't sound like what I believe in. But first of all.... everything short of text messaging 8000 times per month is boring to her. So... boring is probably not an accurate description of what is going on in youth group. But... the whole time I was talking to her... I kept feeling my insides cringing because I want my chidlren to learn to be "real". There I was telling her to put on a mask and pretend. Maybe.... I just want that later in their life. But can practice pretending for 20 years and then change cold-turkey and open up and be real with others?

Does that make sense?? I think there is a thin line between being "real" and pretending. I guess I want the real to be about their lives... not their opinion of others lives.

I was quite embarrassed. I wanted to just crawl in a hole. Maybe... I won't see the childrens' pastor for a while... and he will forget about their conversation by then.

This is just a quick thought on the matter.... I will continue to ponder it. I just think that it is a thin line trying to teach this to my children. When to be real... and when it is okay to pretend.

Thoughts??

Willingness...

One of the things that I love most about God's Word is that it speaks to you differently at different times in your life. While I was working through my Bible study this week, I read a verse that I have read so many times before. Only... this time it didn't just speak to me... it screamed at me. It was a loving scream... but it was loud.


In Luke 5:12-13, this is what I read...

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leporsy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.


I thought about the man's statement...


"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."


The questions wasn't IF He could heal Him... but was He willing?? He knew that Jesus COULD heal him. He knew He was ABLE. The question was.... "you are willing". We were asked in our study to complete the following sentence...


Lord, if You are willing, you can ____________________________.


I came up with many things that could go into the blank space. I could have filled up the whole page. I know that my Lord is able to do all things... even the things that seem impossible. Nothing is too hard for Him. It really all boils down to... "are you willing?" So then I was pressed to think about what would influence His willingness. Will it serve His purpose? Will it bring the biggest glory to Him? Will it grow me for future Kingdom work? Will it fit into His perfect plan set into place before the foundation of the world? His will.



Unfortunately... God didn't just leave my thoughts there. He turned them around on me to say...


"Lynn, if you are willing, you can___________________________.


I can be the wife that God wants me to be... IF I am willing.

I can be the mother that God wants me to be... IF I am willing.

I can make a difference on my street... IF I am willing.

I can put my husbands needs before my own... IF I am willing.

I can love difficult people... IF I am willing.

I can minister to others... IF I am willing.

I can love unconditionally... IF I am willing.


His list just kept on going too. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead... is the power that enables me to do God's will. (Ephesians 1:18-20) He will give me the power to do what He wants me to do... through His Holy Spirit... IF I am willing. So there the question remains.... Am I willing?? Oh... I want to be willing.


I know that God could fix our financial problems.... if He is willing. If it will accomplish His eternal purpose.


I know that God could turn my angry teenager into a loving healthy young lady... if He is willing. If it will serve His eternal purpose in her life and those around her.


I know that God could give my friends the baby that they long for... if He is willing. If it will serve His eternal purpose.


I know that God could have healed my friends mother of cancer... if He had been willing. If healing her here would have served His greater purpose than taking her home.


I know that I can do the things that God has planned for me... if I am willing. Oh... again, I want to be willing.

Up and running...

Yahoo!! My computer is up and running again. Brian the computer guy worked a little miracle on it... and here we are.

I am on my way to bed now... I worked all night... and boy am I tired. Hopefully I will be able to get back on for a regular post soon.

God is good.... all the time!!

Where did my joy go ?

Well... actually I still have THAT joy! But the joy that I get from sitting at my computer reading my email... other blogs... and posting on mine... well, this is the joy that is missing. Oh how I wish I really understood computer stuff. For the last couple weeks I have noticed that everytime I log on the computer there is a pop-up window that comes up telling me about a threat to my computer. Something about a Trojan Horse???? Sounds like a history lesson to me. I just ignored it, until this past Saturday when my one little pop-up window turned into a full size desk-top window and two other small ones. So.... I broke down and called Brian, the computer guy. He sounded a little distressed when I described my problem to him. He really didn't give it a good prognosis. He will try his best. So... without a computer at home... well.... I feel so out of touch with the world. Right now my only computer time will come while I am at work. (that just sounds... "not right", doesn't it??)

Hopefully I will be able to get back on soon... till then...
Blessings,

I've got the joy, joy, joy.......

Gee... its been a long time since I have posted. I'm not quite sure what I have been doing... but the computer has obviously not been a part of it. I am sure that my family wouldn't believe that.

My Tuesdays and I started a new Bible study on January 6th. We are doing Jesus The One and Only. (Of course it is Beth Moore.) Today I started on Week Two... and I nearly had a fit when she led us to this scripture.... that is... a Holy, Hallelujah fit. It was soooooo good.

One question was,

Why was Christ not sent for the nation of Israel alone??

She sent us to Isaiah 49:6... this just thrilled my soul.....

"He says, It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Okay.... did you catch that????? It was TOO SMALL A JOB for Him to come only for the nation of Israel. Now, that just sent me into a Holy Fit!!! I just squealed. I could picture all of those old beat up pick-up trucks that drive around our town with signs that boast of their services... saying.... Handy Man... no job too small! Please tell me that you love that.... it is not just me is it??? Well.... maybe it is just me... me and the Father. We had a great time with it!!!!! Beth's next statement was....

"It would have been too small a thing for so great a Savior!"

I also love it when Old Testament "stuff" is shown in the New Testament in Jesus. And my study was full of that too. It was a great day in the Word.

Also... I just want to share something else that God has done for me. If you have read my blog ever... you know about our financial struggles. And... no, we didn't win the lottery or even gain anymore income. BUT.... I have gained a much closer walk with God... and if that is not enough.... He is now laying ME on the hearts of His other children in order to bless me. I received the sweetest email the other day from another blogger explaining that God had put me on her heart and she is sending me a set of CD's by Beth Moore and two other teachers. I was absolutely thrilled..... God is the only one that knew that I needed that exact thing that she is sending me. I also received a gift card from my Mother-in-Law for Christmas.... and I have been trying to decide between a couple different sets of CD's and DVD's from the Living Proof website... soI decided to ask her for advise.... and she told me that she has those too... and will send those as well. Well.... that just blesses my socks off. God is so good. Ya'll... He brings me to my knees in praise.

I spent my of my ride to work tonight thinking about His goodness. I just kept saying to myself... ummm... ummmm...uummmm. Praise you Father!!!