I have many scribbles, sticky notes, marked bulletins, study guides, and sheets of paper with references to specific verses in, on, or around my desk. I am a pack rat. I have a desire to put these tidbits all together in a devotional book or some semi-organized format. The random scraps of paper aren't doing anyone good.
On this blog, when I refer to the archives, it will be one of those scribbles, devotions, or notes from a sermon that touched my life in some way. There are only so many days in a year. If I can organize even some of these oddball papers onto this blog, I will be fulfilling the desire to share what God has spoken and done for me.
(LORD, I come before You laying my desire at Your feet. I pray that You will cultivate this desire if it aligns with Your will. I pray that You will use it for Your glory and honor. Thank You for making the way for me to know You. This I pray in Jesus name alone.)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Single parenting with the crazy flu
Well, the flu knocked me off my high horse this week. Yup. I've been struggling to maintain a complete thought since Tuesday. It's been a long time since I was this sick. My head has been in intense pain. The doctor gave me some great medicine and I'm on the road to recovery.
When I became a single parent six years ago, it did not come to mind to prepare for this. Someone still has to get the kids to school. Someone still has to clean the house. Someone still has to fix meals. Someone still has to pay bills. Someone still has to take out the garbage. The kids do a good job of taking up some of the slack but some of it they just can't do. And, they are not supposed to do it yet. They are still kids. Neither of them have a drivers license or job.
It's times like these when I really have to cling tight to Jesus. I'm hundreds of miles away from my family. God is teaching me to rely on Him through His family, the church. If it weren't for the church, I would have no support here. Yet, I find it difficult to call on them for assistance. My pride thinks I can do this all by myself. And we all know that pride comes before a fall.
(Lord God Almighty, thank You for the love You show me each and every day in the small and sundry ways. Thank You for the love You show each moment in the great salvation You so freely offered. Thank You for the flu which reminds me that I don't have all the answers but that You do. Forgive my pride, I pray. Thank You for being my Great Physician. I pray that Your will be done in Jesus name alone.)
When I became a single parent six years ago, it did not come to mind to prepare for this. Someone still has to get the kids to school. Someone still has to clean the house. Someone still has to fix meals. Someone still has to pay bills. Someone still has to take out the garbage. The kids do a good job of taking up some of the slack but some of it they just can't do. And, they are not supposed to do it yet. They are still kids. Neither of them have a drivers license or job.
It's times like these when I really have to cling tight to Jesus. I'm hundreds of miles away from my family. God is teaching me to rely on Him through His family, the church. If it weren't for the church, I would have no support here. Yet, I find it difficult to call on them for assistance. My pride thinks I can do this all by myself. And we all know that pride comes before a fall.
(Lord God Almighty, thank You for the love You show me each and every day in the small and sundry ways. Thank You for the love You show each moment in the great salvation You so freely offered. Thank You for the flu which reminds me that I don't have all the answers but that You do. Forgive my pride, I pray. Thank You for being my Great Physician. I pray that Your will be done in Jesus name alone.)
Monday, February 18, 2008
Mom and Blogging
My mom came to spend a week with us. It was wonderful having her here. It was a most special time because we did not "do" anything extra ordinary. We went shopping, had meals, talked, laughed, and spent quiet time together. It really doesn't get any better than that.
(Lord, please keep my mother safe. Draw her near to you and bless her. Thank you for placing me in her care so many years ago. Thank you for the wisdom that she shares with me. Thank you for the extended family she has found since Daddy passed away. You are truly awesome. In the name of Jesus, I pray. )
(Lord, please keep my mother safe. Draw her near to you and bless her. Thank you for placing me in her care so many years ago. Thank you for the wisdom that she shares with me. Thank you for the extended family she has found since Daddy passed away. You are truly awesome. In the name of Jesus, I pray. )
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Tired and wondering...
I haven't posted in a few days because I've been so busy at work that my mind is exhausted by the time I get home each evening. This evening, we went and had a great meal so I've got a bit of my mind back.
Please pray for Ashley tonight. She is in significant need of the Lord's intervention for her health.
I'm wondering if those of us calling ourselves Christian know what we are doing in this election cycle. Are we educating ourselves to the true nature of the candidates? Are we scrutinizing the candidates for honesty and consistency? Do we believe that we will never be persecuted for our faith? Are we asking God to raise up a righteous man to lead our nation? Are we asking God to forgive our national sins?
I'm wondering what our lives will be like in one year? Will the LORD have raptured out His bride? Will we be hiding our Bibles to keep them from being confiscated and burned? Will we be holding church in basements to keep our faith from being discovered? Will our fellow church members be killed or imprisoned because they believe in Jesus Christ? Will the tares among the wheat be turning us in? Will we be that close to the tribulation time? Are we that close now?
(Lord God, please forgive me for not memorizing Your Holy Word more fervently. I pray for focus to do that now. Please forgive our sin as a nation. Forgive us for putting other idols on Your throne. Thank you for the salvation that you so freely gave to me. Raise up a righteous and God-fearing man to lead our country. For when a righteous man leads, we will rejoice. I praise Your Name. I pray in Jesus name alone. )
Please pray for Ashley tonight. She is in significant need of the Lord's intervention for her health.
I'm wondering if those of us calling ourselves Christian know what we are doing in this election cycle. Are we educating ourselves to the true nature of the candidates? Are we scrutinizing the candidates for honesty and consistency? Do we believe that we will never be persecuted for our faith? Are we asking God to raise up a righteous man to lead our nation? Are we asking God to forgive our national sins?
I'm wondering what our lives will be like in one year? Will the LORD have raptured out His bride? Will we be hiding our Bibles to keep them from being confiscated and burned? Will we be holding church in basements to keep our faith from being discovered? Will our fellow church members be killed or imprisoned because they believe in Jesus Christ? Will the tares among the wheat be turning us in? Will we be that close to the tribulation time? Are we that close now?
(Lord God, please forgive me for not memorizing Your Holy Word more fervently. I pray for focus to do that now. Please forgive our sin as a nation. Forgive us for putting other idols on Your throne. Thank you for the salvation that you so freely gave to me. Raise up a righteous and God-fearing man to lead our country. For when a righteous man leads, we will rejoice. I praise Your Name. I pray in Jesus name alone. )
Friday, February 1, 2008
Today, I saw the face of God...
Now, someone might say, "Huh? That's just Nathan."
God says He knew me before I was knit together in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 44:2). He says that He loved me before I knew I needed His love (I John 4:10, Matthew 6:8). He says that He loved me so much that He was willing to die in my place (2 Corinthians 5:21, John 3:16). He joyed in me at His salvation (Luke 15:7, Psalm 105:43, Zephaniah 3:17).
I was so helpless, so tiny, so small when I sought Jesus with my heart. My age didn't matter. What mattered was God's love for me. I wasn't perfect, mature or even big enough to be on my own, yet He overlooked all that to see something more. I was His creation, fashioned in His image. He knew I wouldn't do everything right. He knew there would be times when I intentionally sought things not good for me. He knew. He still loves me.
I see these beautiful pictures of Nathan and Gwyneth and wonder. Do you think God snuggled each of His children like that? I do. Do you think He holds each one and looks down in love? I do! Do you think He looks through tears of love and joy at us? I do! Do you think He carefully, gently wraps His hands around us and pulls us up close to His heart? I DO! Ahh, dear friend, I saw the face of God today. Did you?
(Dear LORD, thank you for showing me this side of You. Thank you for putting it in Nathan's heart to share this journey so that You might encourage me and so many others. I pray now that You will continue to bless this young family. Continue to use them for Your glory and honor. Thank you. In Jesus' name alone. )
God says He knew me before I was knit together in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 44:2). He says that He loved me before I knew I needed His love (I John 4:10, Matthew 6:8). He says that He loved me so much that He was willing to die in my place (2 Corinthians 5:21, John 3:16). He joyed in me at His salvation (Luke 15:7, Psalm 105:43, Zephaniah 3:17).
I was so helpless, so tiny, so small when I sought Jesus with my heart. My age didn't matter. What mattered was God's love for me. I wasn't perfect, mature or even big enough to be on my own, yet He overlooked all that to see something more. I was His creation, fashioned in His image. He knew I wouldn't do everything right. He knew there would be times when I intentionally sought things not good for me. He knew. He still loves me.
I see these beautiful pictures of Nathan and Gwyneth and wonder. Do you think God snuggled each of His children like that? I do. Do you think He holds each one and looks down in love? I do! Do you think He looks through tears of love and joy at us? I do! Do you think He carefully, gently wraps His hands around us and pulls us up close to His heart? I DO! Ahh, dear friend, I saw the face of God today. Did you?
(Dear LORD, thank you for showing me this side of You. Thank you for putting it in Nathan's heart to share this journey so that You might encourage me and so many others. I pray now that You will continue to bless this young family. Continue to use them for Your glory and honor. Thank you. In Jesus' name alone. )
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Encouraged
Yes, today God encouraged me through the two blogs that I follow a bit fanatically. Both had awesome answered prayers. (Thank you, LORD.)
Well, my birthday approaches. If you have a December - February birthday in Oklahoma you'll know what that means. You can plan a party but expect rain or snow if you do! As a child I would be so excited that I was having a party. Yes! No! If it was cold enough, it would snow and no one would venture out on the hazardous roads. If it wasn't cold enough, it would rain so much the creek near our house would flood and no one could get in (or out). After a while I just quit trying. I really don't remember if I ever actually pulled off a party or not. I'm sure there had to be at least one.
Somewhere along the line, God finally got it into my head that just like my birthday plans, I can plan my life but if it doesn't fit into what He has planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11) it might be washed out or frozen over. Have you ever read that verse with the surrounding ones? (Jeremiah 29:10-13) Wow, God is great!
Well, my birthday approaches. If you have a December - February birthday in Oklahoma you'll know what that means. You can plan a party but expect rain or snow if you do! As a child I would be so excited that I was having a party. Yes! No! If it was cold enough, it would snow and no one would venture out on the hazardous roads. If it wasn't cold enough, it would rain so much the creek near our house would flood and no one could get in (or out). After a while I just quit trying. I really don't remember if I ever actually pulled off a party or not. I'm sure there had to be at least one.
Somewhere along the line, God finally got it into my head that just like my birthday plans, I can plan my life but if it doesn't fit into what He has planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11) it might be washed out or frozen over. Have you ever read that verse with the surrounding ones? (Jeremiah 29:10-13) Wow, God is great!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ever had one of those days...
... where you couldn't even complete a thought? I've so much going on in my mind that nothing gets to completion.
I am so thankful that our God is not that way. He is perfect - perfectly just, perfectly good, perfectly loving, perfect. Everything He does gets completed. It shows in the way He creates a life and fashions it to His glory. It shows in the way He provides salvation for each one willing to accept it. Those are complete things. They are done perfectly.
I also am thankful that He doesn't require me to be perfect. Today was a shining example of how far below the mark I really fall. Even now, there is a struggle to complete this writing.
(Dear Lord, I pray for a focus now to get down this God Moment. I have no strength or power of my own to accomplish it. You and You alone can bring it to fruition. In Jesus' name I pray.)
Wow, look at that! He completes. When I turn to Him, He completes. There is nothing more that I can add.
I am so thankful that our God is not that way. He is perfect - perfectly just, perfectly good, perfectly loving, perfect. Everything He does gets completed. It shows in the way He creates a life and fashions it to His glory. It shows in the way He provides salvation for each one willing to accept it. Those are complete things. They are done perfectly.
I also am thankful that He doesn't require me to be perfect. Today was a shining example of how far below the mark I really fall. Even now, there is a struggle to complete this writing.
(Dear Lord, I pray for a focus now to get down this God Moment. I have no strength or power of my own to accomplish it. You and You alone can bring it to fruition. In Jesus' name I pray.)
Wow, look at that! He completes. When I turn to Him, He completes. There is nothing more that I can add.
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