Lessons from Exodus 16:1-3

Exodus 16:1-3
1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt. 2 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Observation / Application:
VS. 3 And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Here they are 30 - 60 days after their departure and now they are already forgetting the hardship of life in bondage. Going back to Pharaoh seems far better to them then this unknown wilderness.
I see an interesting thing here 30 - 60 days in and now they are complaining. It’s interesting to me that this is so often my battle. When trying to depart from areas of sin that God exposes to me ( Idols) it’s usually around that 30 - 60 day marker that I to start feeling the tug to compromise what I know God has shown me. Why is that I wonder? I know in the beginning I’m passionate about what I need to do so early on it’s often pretty easy. My victory in doing the right thing carries me in encouragement but then somewhere along that 30 - 60 day marker, the passion begins to fade, the thoughts of compromise begin to take over my thoughts. To the point of actually being able to rationalize it. I think there is a pretty good chunk of wisdom here from God. The temptation to go back will come. Know it and make preparation for it. We don’t always have a Moses to push us through. So that must be the provision we need to make. We all need that Moses person who holds us accountable and helps fight that battle for us.
Right now with me and this med. for my RSL that I am taking, I did exactly this very thing. I talked to a couple of friends that I knew would be boldly honest with me to help me through this adjustment period. And I have a friend that when I can't stand it any more and I need to eat something that I’m craving I can call her and she will kick my butt. You see certain foods are not an option for me anymore my health / heart depends on me doing the right thing. All this stuff with my RSL med and my food allergies are key to living a life honoring God with His temple, my body.
So this should be the same with the things of God. We all need to have that person or persons that will keep us on that right road and when we begin to lose focus, they will boldly, lovingly guide us back. We can’t live without a Moses. If you have been then let me ask you, How’s that been working for you? To live a life for Jesus with only "yes people" around us will never allow us to grow very far. We need each other in that way God intended.
So who comes to your mind right now that is your Moses? Take a moment and thank Jesus for that friend.

Hebrews 10:23-26

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

Jeremiah 18:4
The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Yes i am marred but how grateful i am to a faithful, merciful Lord that will reshape me into another pot that will still be useful for His serve.

thank you Jesus!

Heavy on my heart - it's not going to be an enjoyable read. I just need this written down for myself.

Can you hear the Lord calling you to wake up, to stand firm? He is and we need to ready ourselves. Are you prepared for persecution? Are you ready for the Church to fall away? Are you ready for the most horrid of all circumstances to come flooding into your life? We pray and sing, 'Blessed be your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be your name', and 'Bring me anything that brings You glory And I know they'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain'. Are you ready to be a person of your word now? Am I?????



We need to stop being about our comfort zone and realize that the day is drawing near that our Lord is taking us up to meet Him in the Heavens. Life will continue to get more and more difficult before that happens. Are you going to let the offense of a friend, a family member, a church leader draw you away into self preservation emotions and sin, or are you going to keep your eyes focused on the One who is allowing the hard stuff to come. To bring wisdom into your life to draw you to that sweet place from brokenness, Surrender. Is your current hardship exposing your truth, your real hearts condition? Good then it's doing it's job. Are you repenting, I mean really repenting before a Holy God who died on a cross for those sins. Are you on your knees repenting asking for forgiveness - you know the kind of repentance that breaks that chain of suffocation around you. Okay maybe you don't know that kind of repentance. You better figure it out. There is no greater place of freedom in Jesus then when we figure out that real repentance.

Gods calls us to GO and make Disciples. Are we doing that, are we even one of those Disciples? Do you even know what it looks like to be one? My heart is greatly convicted this morning knowing that when I read what a disciple is my life just doesn't match up. So what the heck am I doing with my life. We (I) have become a generational Christian nation that is all about us. How everything effects us. The sound system at church acts up and I get completely irritated running around looking for someone who can fix it. Sure God cares about that but do you see what I am saying. Does He care more about that then the person who desperately needs Jesus and they are right in front of me. I get more emotional about the sound system then I do this dying, hurting soul. Somehow I (we) have made service about us and not about them, the lost, the hurting, the dying.

Lord Jesus what has become of us. We have become the Church in Corinth that you gave great warnings about.

1Corinthians 11:17-34

As Tony Huy so Spirit filled put it on Saturday night - the church in Corinth was doing more harm then good. It became more isolated then congregational. It was full of division. It became more about indulging its self then giving. They were going through the motions but it was so not their reality. They had made church about them. They had forgotten to really REMEMBER.



Wow does any of this seem vaguely familiar? I sit here and with regrettable honesty I must say Yes Lord I have made church about me. How did I allow such deception to dominate my life?

I have lived church with a greater purpose of isolation than anything else.

So what now Lord Jesus, forgive me for making church something you never intended it to be. This day Lord show me my error and get me back on the right path. I do Lord Jesus desire to be Your disciple.

1Corinthians 6:12 10:23
Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial nor is it constructive,
Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything.

"k" Group Leaders Appreciation Dinner - Darya's

Dinner at Darya's

Me & Melissa - she's my friend!!!!! - isn't she cute - I'm so glad we get to serve together.


Melody & Jenny - look at those perfect smiles - someone call Colgate!

Shelley & Dana - these are the nice ones of the group. I never knew people could be so nice.


Jennifer & Lyn - wait a minute these are the nice ones of the group. Am I the only one not nice?


Yes this is what they did ALL NIGHT!!!! ALL NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

Karen and Kim - Kim I didn't mean to put a handicap label by your head - sorry

Karen - I love the color of your hair - to think that was the color I was going for - - hhhmmm well at least it's in the same color palette - well sort of.

Susan & Linda - I think if you really could blend these two women that you very

well would have the perfect woman. Don't tell them I said that I like them to think that I believe they are greatly flawed.

Lori & Becky - They have started the short hair leaders club - I think they just wanted an excuse to hang with each other. I'm offended.


Melody & Nidia - perfect little Angels - see the folded hands - aaawwwweeee

This looks forced

Susan & Shannon - see shannon it's a good picture. You know I was hoping for one of those scary ones. When you are as cute as you are it's a great releif to some of us that you take bad pictures.

Jennifer & Joanne - yes I do believe Joanne really is that short. Or maybe it's that Jen is that super tall. WOW


Deanne, Rochelle, and Lyn -Lyn over here look at me. I'm wondering what she was looking at that was more intriguing than I ;0)

Melissa C and Lori - pretty smiles !

but don'tcha get the impression they are both thinking something about the photographer? (me)

Steph and Steph - good grief look at Finn she looks 20. It's gotta be the Avon.

Nidia, Steph and Joannie - see how short she is I told you. Yes I see that Nidia is too.

Aren't they adorable. I wanna be their friend.



And to think they run the office - frightening!!!



Danette and Lori - Wow they're really close.

Okay what's with all the attached heads?

Yes a Mohawk

Pictures of Donna's Kids

Every year Donna would get the kids pictures done and well I wanted to do that for Tony for Father's day this year. Here are some of them. Thank you Lisa and Jennifer for making this happen.

Happy Dad's Day!

Bobby -
Outside of my salvation you are the greatest gift I have ever been given. I could have never have dreamt up the quality of a Dad you are to Aaron. Your constant love, patience, and guidance with him is a beautiful thing to watch and I count myself most blessed having you as my husband. I praise our sweet Jesus for giving Aaron to us. You are a good man Bobby Richardson and I love you dearly. I pray your day with Aaron out there paint balling will be one of great fun and memories.

Daddy - Happy Daddy's Day !! I love you and miss you so much. If I could fly to Montana today to even just give you a giant hug and a kiss I would. I pray that today you feel that constant showering of peace, love, and joy knowing that you are an amazing Daddy. I love our long talks or better yet that you are so patient with me that you listen to my long talks (hahaha) You have always, my entire life made me feel like I mattered and what I have to say is important. Now truth be told I'm sure everyone else might want to smack your bum for that one because now I believe I need to be heard (hahahah) yes daddy you have created this monster!!!!
I love you Daddy - xoxoxoxo
p.s take care of Mom for us and love her up real good - I hear she is sportin quite the tan these days - I bet she looks HOT!!! - she's always been a hottie. I love it when people say i look like her.

Dad John - Happy Dad's Day!! today I pray you have sweet joy knowing that you have always been a kind, loving Dad. How blessed I am to get to have you. I pray you always know how important you are to me. Your love of my Jesus has always resonated loudly to me and I am so thankful for your example. When are you coming over so I can cook you up something really yummie? You know I love to feed you. I miss you and pray that we will see you and Di very soon. God bless you dad - I love you much!!!

What do you have for me tonight Lord?

So I'm sitting here in the CM office killing some time and I got to thinking about tonight's service and I wonder what God has laid on Tony's heart to teach from the pulpit. Tony Huy is one of our Pastors actually he is our Youth pastor and every now and then we get the privilege to have him take Bob's pulpit for a Sat/Sun service. If you haven't ever heard Tony well you are missing out, go to our Churches website and pull something up of his to listen to.
Calvary Chapel East Anaheim
Trust me you won't be disappointed. Tony has this way of bringing Bible people to life and making you feel like you are there living it with them understanding who they were and why they made decisions that they did. Very gifted / very insightful / and every time he teaches I walk away with a huge nugget to chew on for sometime. So tonight I eagerly await to see what God deems necessary to speak to us through this man.
I always approach each service with a question at the top of my note pad. Usually seeking God on wisdom for something that I need answers and His guidance with. It's a fun way to listen to service, not to mention that it keeps me focused on me and not sitting there thinking that so and so should be listening to this message. I love that I pretty much always get some chuck of wisdom that takes me to either complete answer or it gives me a spring board to which direction I need to be seeking in. So all day I've been praying about a couple of things and asking God for wisdom so tonight that will be at the top of my note page.
I was going to write the questions here then I realized that someone could very easily misunderstand the questions so I'm opting out of full disclosure. I guess i should be thankful God laid that on my heart before I hit publish now.

one last thing......

keep chasing righteousness!!!!

Where He Leads Me - I will follow (?)

What a difficult season this is right now. Of course can't we always say that from one season to another. Growth is His purpose and surrender should be ours so getting those 2 things to blend in perfect harmony is the real challenge. Well at least that's my story right now.
This is always the most busy time of year for me, which I love because it's VBS time. The rub right now is that I am taking this med for my RLS that is really messing me up. I'm giving it the proper time to level out in my body but I'm pretty much very anti anything that messes with your state of mind. I figure battling my flesh is hard enough let alone having to battle it with an uncooperative state of mind. Or it blocks out something that God is trying to get me to deal with, SIN so that I can be more devoted to Him. This is my thing, if we are anxious, uptight, stressed, whatever you want to call it, well it's from sin in our life, somewhere somehow we allowed this sin to stay and now it has caused issues that we can barely even recognize the original sin because we are so focused on our state of mind of the above mentioned. Then there is the part that it takes away the ability to deeply touch the Lord (intimacy) and that absolutely freaks me out because that is my craving, my source of strength is to be able to be intimately worshiping my Jesus in prayer, in worship, in quietness. Taking this med was an act of submission to my dear husband who desperately wants his wife to be able to sleep. The lack of sleep from my entire life had begun to take some drastic health issues on my body. My Dr basically said until we get you to sleep at night your body will not heal. So there in lies my challenge. So I'm taking this med, sleeping far better then I ever have in my intire life except when I was pregnant but now this intensity I feel through out the day is driving me crazy. So enough of this - God help me see even but one purpose for this during a season that I need to be so much about your work. Lord please show me that You are in this!
Then it began to come over me the past couple of weeks and when He began to speak to me I realized these are Words that He has been preparing me for all year long.
Meekness
Meekness is a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked.

I have been forced to be calm and quiet, well quiet for me ;0) desperately trying to not react to the things going on around me. I have learned many things along the way so far. I know I am far from really understanding meekness because my inner heart is far from being meek - so really what I guess I am currently living is false meekness. You know what I mean when it shows on the out side but so not the truth for the inside. It's just like humility. You can act humble but inside your acknowledging to yourself that you are humble - hahaha that cracks me up!
Back to meekness I read this radio broadcast everyday online and the past 2 days it's been on this very thing. She states it far better than I so I will share some of her thoughts.
Meekness matters to God. You can’t avoid that in the Scripture. Zephaniah 2:3 says we are to seek meekness. Colossians 3:12 says we are to put on meekness. First Timothy 6:11 says we are to pursue meekness.

Psalm chapter 37 tells us "the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (verse 11). Now that’s something I’d like to have. People who are not meek do not have an abundance of peace. They can’t have settled hearts and minds. But the person who is meek can be delighted with an abundance of peace. Peace of mind. Peace of heart. Peace in relationships.

Psalm 25:9 “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach his way” If we want God to guide us, to teach us the way that we should go, if we want to know good judgment, if we want to have insight and wisdom and understanding, we have to be meek.
Meek people are:
teachable people
humble people
open to counsel.


There was so much fantastic stuff in that message but the bottom line is this is me, this is where God has me, this is my training ground right now and He is using this season of me taking a med that provokes what is obviously already in my heart to be exposed to myself so that I can come to repentance, come to consecration and then grow in what God requires of me as His - Meekness!

I must say as I have been more silent I have been able to see so much more around me and this has given me great insight for prayer - so somehow I pray this makes even but a little bit of sense to you. Everything always comes back to God is desiring more of us for Him and the question becomes AM I WILLING TO WALK THIS HARD ROAD RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO BE MORE LIKE HIM???? I pray the answer to that is YEs but we will see.
The proof is in the fruit!

Our VBS theme song this year - God You Reign!

I'm stealing this from David Wilderson's Blog - it's to good not to post.

Recently I reread the life story of George Muller who, in the mid-1830s, cared for over 2,000 orphans in England – all by faith in God. Muller was a known as the man who got answers to his prayers. Before he died, he had listed in his journals over 50,000 answers to prayer.

When asked how he determined the will of God on any matter, Muller listed the following steps he believed were necessary:
1. “I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.”
2. “I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions. That can make one open to great delusions.”
3. “I seek God’s will through, or in connection with, his Word. If you look to the Spirit without the Word, you open yourself to delusion.”
4. “I consider providential [God-controlled] circumstances.”
5. “I ask God in prayer to reveal his will to me.”
6. “I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.”
7. “Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious mistakes.”
8. “I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on God with faith.”

Those who walk by faith, seeking only God’s perfect will, are often sorely tested and tried. More and more in my own life, I am finding out how important diligent prayer and Bible reading are. Sadly, not many of God’s people pray diligently nowadays. Instead, there is much TV viewing and very little of waiting on God.

When I give myself to prayer, my faith rises. And when I feed on God’s Word, my confidence in his power to lead and help me increases. The Lord becomes my banker, my advisor, my attorney.

May you find him doing the same for you.

We don’t think “God has things for me to do today”, we think we have things we need to do and so we go to God to help us.

He becomes the means rather than the end – Francis Chan

Exodus 15:22-25 Bitter waters made sweet

Ex. 15:22-25
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,


The Lord often uses unusual things to accomplish His purposes. This stick is something that can so easily be overlooked. Looks like nothing special in fact there are so many of them around that they basically look the same. No one but God would have ever known the potential in this stick just laying there in the dessert. But God sees it God sees the potential and He knew that this stick could be used by Him to save millions of lives. Even if you are not aware of the things that God has put in you, trust me He has and He will use you if you will only but be willing, be present. Just let go and let God. God has a purpose for you!
another little thing here - isn't it comforting to realize that the God of the Universe notices even this normal, nothing spectacular stick. He saw it and He used it greatly.
another thought on a more yucky side
Here we can see this picture of who we ( I ) can so easily be. We just come from a season where we have seen the wonders and love of God shown towards to us, then we come to a little pond (new circumstance/ trial) and what do we do, we complain. Good grief just days prior we were praising God for all that He is and all that He has done. But today we have a need and it just doesn’t seem like God will help us with this one. It does not matter that He has NEVER failed us. This time O No He Just Might. Good grief do you see what I am saying and how absolutely crazy it sounds. Yet we do it. In fact we always will. I think the prayer needs to be that even if our first response is slightly panic our very next thought will be “BUT GOD” . Truth is trials are meant for us to see our weakness, to see our absolute dependence on a Holy, Righteous, Loving God.
So let me ask what pond are you stressing over today? I have this really great way to make the stress go away. Ready you may want to take notes on this one. Here it is
Praise God!
Yep you read it right that’s it just begin to praise God, out loud. For all that He has done and all that He is – just praise Him. Gosh that’s good I wish it had been my original thought ;0)

I was thinking about this bitter water. Feeling the conviction of where my own heart is bitter these days. O sure it’s camouflaged by many things that most people would never even have a clue that there was anything wrong but who am I kiddin, surely not Jesus.
So I looked at this passage and read it over and over and over again. Thinking about what it looked like then, and wondering what it could look like now for us, for me in my heart today. To cry out to the Living, Merciful, Gracious God. He will give me a stick. A stick that represents Calvary. Where a stick and the blood that was shed on it become a way for salvation, forgiveness, healing, a way to be set free.
So today go ahead be set free - it is there for the taking.

Weekend Family Visit

Just a typical Josh and Aaron moment. These two are a mess but they are our cute mess.

xoxoxox

Can you see how he really felt about getting this picture taken.

Aaron, Hannie, and Josh - we really do raise them to love Jesus

not sure what I'm supposed to say about this - just pray for him

Mommy and daughter - sweet kodak moment

Family Update

So how is the family?

Bobby:
Still working strong, praise the Lord for that. The recession is just beginning to touch his job, so like so many of you the future is uncertain. At least as far as his job is concerned. So each day I praise the Lord for another day of work and I try to be the best supporter / encourager to Bobby regardless of all the crazy hours he needs to work. Just thankful that our story is that he is still employed.
He is wrapping up this years Basketball league at church over the next couple of weeks. How he loves this season. Playing basketball and hanging with 80 plus guys at church each Friday from 6-11pm. Must say I love this season too as I get to be alone on these nights to do what I want. Which is normally NOTHING!!!! To sit in a room that is dim lighting, quiet for hours. AWWWEEE it is sweet. OOPS sorry this is about Bobby.
He is still serving in the same ministries as last update: Gospel Choir / Worship Team / Sports Ministry Leader / Children's Ministry whenever we have a need / Mr. availability to anyone who needs a helping hand. That's my man and one of the very reasons I so love and respect him so much. His genuine good heart that is blessed beyond measure to do whatever he can whenever he can is a real reflection of God's heart to Aaron and I. He sets the standard high in our home. This year for VBS he has once again taken a weeks vacation to come serve with me and run my sound system. He has acquired the name DJ Masta Bobby. If you saw him in action you would get it.
Paintball is still a passion of his that he shares with Aaron. These boys are out of control with this stuff. I have stayed true to my New Years resolution and I have chosen to see the good in all of it and rarely do I ever question any of it. Some day though I should head on out there to that paintball place and watch these boys play or fight or whatever it's called.
So Bobby he is good, running the race, trusting His God, fighting for his spiritual integrity each day as he battles the world, finding his rest and peace in a faithful Creator who already has it all figured out. Wholly devoted to his God, his family, and his serve to the Lord.

Aaron:
Days away from finishing up the 5th grade. Where in the world does time go. I look at this boy and barely recognize him except of course when he still comes to be held for a good 15 min. in the morning. O how I love that ssoooooooo much. He is 4'11'' and 91lbs. Basketball, paintball, skateboarding, and music is basically his only real passions right now. He loves to be at church all the time but this momma is not foolish I know it's more about the friends and not about the things of God. I just always have to remind myself that I can not make a christian that is Gods job. My job is to train him up in the ways I believe are right and the rest is up to him and God.
School continues to be such a big struggle for him. The learning challenges that appear to be a part of how God has created him is exhausting, frustrating and often very heartbreaking. We have some big decisions to make in regards to all of that and they need to be made soon. Daily I just have to remind myself that God does not make mistakes and that with each challenge we are ever given in life, like this one, it is there to build strength of character. Seeing that this only child lives a life of entitlement ( as most only children do) this little challenge of his just might be the key thing that God is using to build that strength of character.
Aaron is now wearing glasses for reading / school work. I have been trying to capture a picture to post so you can see how cute he is. He is currently in this I don't want my picture taken mode. I don't get it if I was that beautiful I would be beggin people to take my picture - just kiddin - sort of ;0)
Looking forward to summer these are his plans: basketball camp / VBS / dog beach ( did you hear that steph) / swimming at chads / hangin with friends / reading his new book that is 1000 pages. He doesn't know this but if he actually reads this over the summer he is getting a really big reward for that. Aaron is not a reader and seeing that over this school year he only accomplished ready 2 small novels with alot of pushing, this ought to be a giant accomplishment for him.
He got to go to Spirit West Coast last weekend and well that's pretty much Aaron's slice of heaven. All his fav Christian bands for 3 days. He was loving it. Thank you Traci and Steph for watching over my boy. Traci you are a gift and I am still so blessed that you were willing to take him. Thank you so much.
One last thing - he is trying out for a Jr. High football team. This is all very new to him. Football that is. These kids are obviously much bigger than him and well we will see what happens. I think it's great that he is trying so hard and even if he is intimidated by it he does not let it show. We should know next week if he makes it or not. ( there is a local Private Christin school that allows our home school group kids to participate in their sports program).
Geoffrey:
He's well a mess right now. Diggin holes has become his new fav past time. Waiting for 10:30pm to roll around to bark at the possum that walks across the fence (sure the neighbors love that). He is stinky, so in need of a bath. Today just might be the day as he has company coming from Arizona and I know he wants to look his best for HIS company.

Me:
same besides if you ever read this blog you basically know what's going on with me.

O wait let me just say I am so thankful this school year is done. Even thought i know taking the summer off school will make the fall absolutely miserable, I would much rather think that just maybe the Lord will rapture me up before that and I wont have to worry about that.
A girl can hope can't she!!!!!!!

always remember keep chasing righteousness!

My Birthday Wish List

Turning 43 in 2 weeks is pretty exciting. Not because I like to celebrate my Birthday, because I honestly don't but I have come to actually enjoy the fact of getting older. Sure I could do without the wrinkles and the other physical yucky stuff but wisdom in aging is a beautiful thing.

I was dared and I am so not to proud so here it goes.

My Birthday Wish List

* Cream Cheese - yes seriously and lots of it. I am into making my carb-free sugar-free cheesecakes these days.

* SommerSweet -
http://www.suzannesomers.com/Original-SomerSweet-2-Can-P36.aspx

* Havianas size 9 here are a few that I love but really I love them all.
http://www.havaianasus.com/womens-sandals/slim-peacock.html?s=10222
http://www.havaianasus.com/womens-sandals/summer.html?s=9485
http://www.havaianasus.com/womens-sandals/wonder-woman1.html

*Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf - Tea Bags - this makes the yummiest decaf. ice tea.
African Sunrise Tea Bags


That's pretty much what I want. So now all my friends who do facebook will really lay into me and point the yes you are self indulgent finger my way.

James McDonald

http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Walk_in_the_Word/archives.asp

He is one of my very favs to listen to. The message titled "Are You Saved" is a must hear message. Listen and you will understand why. I love the boldness and the conviction of this man to teach the pure Word of God.

Something hard in my inBox

I was going to post a piece of my study from this morning, then I got this and WOW this was some good, hard stuff to chew on.

Diabolical Wisdom
Nancy Leigh DeMoss:
Our culture rewards ambition and makes a hero out of the super-achiever who gets ahead of everybody else.
It’s a good thing to pursue excellence in whatever you do, but do you know if you are motivated by selfish ambition, the Bible calls that demonic!
James said, “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast . . . . This . . . wisdom . . . is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
The solution is to do everything out of love. The Bible tells us that love does not envy. We work hard, not to set ourselves apart and get ahead of the pack; instead, we do what He’s called us to do with all our might because of love for God and a desire to serve others.
Ask God to examine your heart. Are you motivated to do what you do out of selfish ambition or out of genuine love and a servant’s heart?

so of course I really sat with this and and contemplated it in my own life. Lord search my heart expose this ugliness. I know that I can not bear the thought of going to heaven and thinking that I did this or that for the Lord in the name of serving only to get there to see that God never recognized it as anything other than prideful, selfish ambition. What are the warning signs I asked and this is what I came up with.
- Have you really sought the Lord in fervent prayer for all of it?
- Are you irritated by others suggestions or even questioning of your ideas?
- Do you feel you are owed respect for your ideas and position?
- Are you full of joy and peace while serving or is it irritation and burdened?
- Do you own your ministry and not allow for others input because you feel like they have nothing to do with YOUR ministry?

So all these questions came to mind because I have been somewhere in all of them at one time or another. Ugliness that God calls DEMONIC.
I want to sit here and say that I have grown from all of those past mistakes and can recognize the signs when they are rearing it's ugly head. But one thing if you are anywhere in any of this You can not do this on your own. You need someone to hold you accountable. I pray you all have someone or ones in your life that care more about who you are in Jesus than who you are as a friend. If not I urge you to begin to pray that God will bring those relationships to you. I honestly believe that without true loving accountability we can not stay away from this very dangerous pit hole.

Here's a question for you:
How's your real hearts condition in your 'serving' these days?

Exodus 13:17-22

Exodus 13:17 - 22
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you." 20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.


Observation / Application:The harder longer path was best for them. I wonder if they complained a lot about this. Most of them would have surely known that they were seemingly going the “wrong” way.
How often this is my hang up. I see what I deem the best way to get to point A to B and often I find myself getting frustrated if others are not doing what I think is best. I am always reminded of this place in time when the COI wandered in the wilderness for such a long period of time. But of course we can see the whole picture and why it is best. Not to mention that it clearly states that God was the one who lead them this way. In this long journey they had to come to that breaking point over and over again of depending on God for everything. They had to follow the voice of a man (Moses) that was saying he was hearing from God. They had to learn more then ever how to need one another and care for one another regardless of how irritated they would become with each other. This longer path was there to break them to bring them into a right relationship with God. Yes it says "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt" and that is huge because this is what we so often do. We pray for one thing and then when it comes about and we start to experience the difficulty of what that brings we so desperately want to return to the other trial from which we came.

One thing I have come to learn through the years ( of course admitting not with complete ease) is that God cares about ALL hearts involved and He will allow the most difficult situation to happen to bring about as many totally surrendered hearts to Him as possible. So if that means that I yet again get to stand and rest in the beauty of watching God love on others then surely that is good enough. If only I would do it with a little less resistance.
Currently I am in the middle of yet another one of these situations. Looking at this piece of scripture corrects my heart and once again makes me see God's love towards all hearts involved and that He is asking me to walk this with grace, compassion, and love. God forgive this heart of mine that looses this focus to often. I don't want the situation to change because I am uncomfortable. I want You to work in full power to bring about Your Glory - whatever that will mean.



Observation/Application:
vs 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

The pillars of clouds and fire where pictures of how God leads, lighting the way igniting the zeal that should be present in their heart, souls and minds for God. Today we still have this pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, we have the Word of God. It is meant to do this very same thing. Day and night our Lord is still doing the very same thing. All we have to do is use the source that He has so graciously given to us.

Ps 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Ps 119:130
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

It always perplexes me that people are asking for prayer for some really hard things and direction and yet if you ask them if they are in the Word they will say no or not much. How can you know what God wants if You are not going to the source, The Word of God. I just had a friend tell me that people no longer want to ask me for prayer or advise because I always ask about their time in the Word. At first I was slightly offended, yes I know that is my pride that was hurt but then as I sat with it I realized well if that’s what people know of me even if it means they don’t care much about me then that’s not really not a bad thing at all at least not in the eyes of God. I guess I just don't understand, O sure I get that this is one of the key places the ENEMY will attack to keep us from being in the Word because even he knows the power in it and the ability it has to ignite a heart for Jesus, to guide us in the ways of our Lord, to strengthen us in times of heartache and confusion, to bring peace and comfort to a weary soul, to grow our faith, and to bring that zeal in our hearts that can start a revival - O he KNOWS ALL RIGHT so the other part of that is DO YOU?

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing

by the Word of God

he is Yours Lord

Exodus 13:2
2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine."

Consecrate: to sacrifice – to consider something as belonging to God.
Of course I can’t read this without seeing the importance of giving Aaron over to Jesus once again. This is my ever present battle: I give him to God I take him back - over and over and over again.
How timely this is for me to have this reminder to really think about my son and All that is currently going on with him and to say, ‘Okay Lord He is yours and you have fearfully and wonderfully made this boy. He is Yours and You have a plan. Work in Aaron all that You deem important. Give me the strength to be obedient to Your wisdom in trials for Him. Give me the courage to surrender Him to You even when the times come that things look really messed up, help me to walk in the truth that he is Yours and You alone will save His soul. It is my job to raise Him without hypocrisy. To raise Him in the truth of who you are. Showing Him the joy of serving You. Showing him that everything is brought to You in Prayer. Showing Him that in Your Word is where faith grows, guidance is given, and knowledge with wisdom is shown. Showing Him a Holy Reverence for You a Holy God. It is not my job to make a Christian. It is Yours and Yours alone
So today this day I give Him back to you. Trusting that You my God are with him.

Do you see my Branding

Chapter 12
13 'Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations.

It's the blood that saves me from death. Is the blood of Jesus worn with honor and complete visability in my life? Can everyone see it?

His eye has always been on me.

Chapter 11
vs 1-3
And the LORD said to Moses, "I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. 2 "Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold." 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.

Observation :
vs.3 Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.
Interesting thing happening here - These people obviously could see that Moses’ God was more powerful than their gods and somewhere along the line for each one of them they lost respect for Pharaoh. Who knows maybe it was just simply that they saw that he was driving out their slaves and now were they gonna be expected to take care of everything? So what would motivate them to go with the Hebrews? To uproot their lives and follow? I know there are alot of things to see in this. The fact that their are always tares among the wheat. / People make emotional commitments, not always wholehearted commitments to the God of the Universe. People will move with the next best thing of the moment. and so on and so on BUT....
Personally I just love the simple yet beautiful picture here that it has always been God's plan to save the gentile.

Crazy Love

So I'm not typically one to tell people about books that they need to read. Mainly because I know that most people struggle to read the Word of God and to put anything in it's place because I recommend it just really does not sit well with me. So this is me treading lightly on that fine line to tell you that you absolutely NEED to read, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. One thing I do believe though is after you read it you will so want to pick that Bible up and read it if for no other reason than you must know more about this perfect God that is Crazy in love with you.

This book is so fantastic. So much so that I have told Bobby that when I die if any one comes to my memorial service, he must pass out copies of this book. This is everything that is in my head that I just don't have the ability to eloquently get out of my mouth.
- Do you need a reminder of who our God is?
- Do you need to have a deeper understanding of His love towards you?
- Do you need to have complete clarity on what lukewarm is and what the Bible really says about it?
- Do you need a crazy intimate love affair with the creator of the Universe?
Well then you better run and get this book. it's an easy read, like sitting down with a great friend and talking about Jesus. But trust me you will find yourself slowing it down as to not ever wanting it to end.
Go get it
Hurry up
You will not be disappointed
This is where I have acquired my new catch phrase~
Overwhelmed by a relentless God

A little knock upside the head

I found this in my Inbox this morning. Now I just had this very conversation with a dear friend last night about how easy it is to make things seem like we are really doing the right thing on the outside yet all along on the inside we are wrestling with God, having no peace, begging for our situation to change. The very thing that He has allowed so that we will come to that place of realising we have NO RIGHTS and all He wants from us, His beloved is complete surrender.
Anyway just found it interesting with a smile attached that this was in my InBox after that convo. I hope she reads this and gets that little knock upside the head like I did. ;0)

Wrestling with God
"I was tossing and turning all night, trying to figure out what to do about this illness in my family. Finally, I said, 'Lord, I don’t like this situation, but I trust You. I can’t handle it on my own.’ And then—peace."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: That sounds like the biblical story of Jacob. He schemed and manipulated his way through every problem, until one night when he got alone with God.
In the stillness of the long night, Jacob wrestled for all he was worth. He refused to give up the struggle, until finally, exhausted, he realized he would never be able to control God.
His will was broken; his hip was out of joint; his name had been changed, and he was a new man.
Is there some circumstance you’re trying to manipulate or control? Maybe it’s time to get alone with God and surrender to His will.

Exodus 11:1

Ex 11:1


And the LORD said to Moses, "I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether. "



Observation / Application:
vs.1 he will surely drive you out of here altogether

Even once it comes to leaving it will be under hardship – this is an interesting thing to look at. It’s not like he said, ' ok I surrender you can leave' and they do so with some sort of ease – no it’s apparently with a heavy hand ( drive you out ). People who assert authority in the flesh will go down fighting to the very end.
To look at this is terms of serving the Lord in ministry.
What does it look like to be serving in the flesh VS the Spirit: I pulled out the comparison list of a prideful heart vs a broken heart and put my heart before God. I did a little evaluation with this sheet. I did this one before and to compare the two to see where there has been growth and what has stayed the same. Very telling for me, I could also understand more why the trials I am currently in, what God is desiring to strip away in me.

Dare to evaluate

Proud people focus on the failures of others. Broken people are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need.

Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope.Broken people are compassionate; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven.

Proud people are self-righteous; they look down on others.Broken people esteem all others better than themselves.

Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit.Broken people have a dependent spirit; they recognize their need for others.

Proud people have to prove that they are right.Broken people are willing to yield the right to be right.

Proud people claim rights; they have a demanding spirit.Broken people yield their rights; they have a meek spirit.

Proud people are self-protective of their time, their rights, and their reputation.Broken people are self-denying.

Proud people desire to be served.Broken people are motivated to serve others.

Proud people desire to be a success.Broken people are motivated to be faithful and to make others a success.

Proud people desire self-advancement.Broken people desire to promote others.

Proud people have a drive to be recognized and appreciated.Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.

Proud people are wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked.Broken people are eager for others to get the credit; they rejoice when others are lifted up.

Proud people have a subconscious feeling, “This ministry/church is privileged to have me and my gifts”; they think of what they can do for God.Broken people’s heart attitude is, “I don’t deserve to have a part in any ministry”; they know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives.

Proud people feel confident in how much they know.Broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn.

Proud people are self-conscious.Broken people are not concerned with self at all.

Proud people keep others at arms’ length.Broken people are willing to risk getting close to others and to take risks of loving intimately.

Proud people are quick to blame others.Broken people accept personal responsibility and can see where they are wrong in a situation.

Proud people are unapproachable or defensive when criticized.Broken people receive criticism with a humble, open spirit.

Proud people are concerned with being respectable, with what others think; they work to protect their own image and reputation.Broken people are concerned with being real; what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows; they are willing to die to their own reputation.

Proud people find it difficult to share their spiritual need with others.Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs.

Proud people want to be sure that no one finds out when they have sinned; their instinct is to cover up.Broken people, once broken, don’t care who knows or who finds out; they are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose.

Proud people have a hard time saying, “I was wrong; will you please forgive me?”Broken people are quick to admit failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary.

Proud people tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin.Broken people are able to acknowledge specifics when confessing their sin.

Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin.Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin.

Proud people are remorseful over their sin, sorry that they got found out or caught.Broken people are truly, genuinely repentant over their sin, evidenced in the fact that they forsake that sin.

Proud people wait for the other to come and ask forgiveness when there is a misunderstanding or conflict in a relationship.Broken people take the initiative to be reconciled when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationships; they race to the cross; they see if they can get there first, no matter how wrong the other may have been.

Proud people compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor.Broken people compare themselves to the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for His mercy.

Proud people are blind to their true heart condition.Broken people walk in the light.

Proud people don’t think they have anything to repent of.Broken people realize they have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance.

Proud people don’t think they need revival, but they are sure that everyone else does.Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.

I betcha all thought I was still waiting for Stephnette and Tammy

It's such a bummer to be so busy that I don't get to blogging. I realized today that it's coming up on my 2 yr. anniversary of blogging. WOW and I've never made my blog all fun like everyone else. O well I'm pretty boring anyway. SO let's catch up.

I did make it to retreat. Now keep in mind that Debbie Alsdorf is one of my all time favorite Bible teachers. In fact she really is one of 5 that I will actually listen to any chance I get. If you are not familiar with her then you need to ck her out or better yet book her for your retreats. I promise you will not be disappointed. Retreat for me was really great. I had 2 defining moments that filled me to overflowing.
1. What I believe when something happens will determine how I walk through it.
2. I am blessed beyond measure to be an 'everyday vessel' - nothing special just someone who loves Jesus and that I love to serve Him anyway I can. To hear Debbie put words to my heart was so rich for me.
Debbie also talked alot about finding the "sparkle" in everything. This was so great because ever since I walked along side my sweet Donna in those last couple of months I learned this most valuable lesson of looking for Jesus everyday. It's like a treasure hunt. Everyday I find Him and everyday my heart smiles and is filled with so much love, joy, and hope. So when Debbie was talking about the 'sparkle' i so got what she was saying.

GLASSES GLASSES GLASSES - yes 3 times for 3 pair. Aaron and I are now both 4-eyes. this is a long story but it would only lead me to complain about an incompetent eye Dr. and I need to be more focused on praying for her salvation then in her horrible bedside manners.

School is soon to be over!!!!! can I get a big loud HALLELUJIA on this one. We are in the home stretch and soon it will be summer break. So let's see Aaron's greatest accomplishment this school year, he memorized 76 Bible verses. Sure he learned math, language arts, science, history but WOW 76 verses is pretty stinkin impressive.

MY Heart Issue: let's see if i can summarize this. about 9 weeks ago now I had a hard racing heart for about 6 hours one night. Very scary. Through that night I prayed / read the Word alot. Begging God to speak to me and help me in this awful feeling that I was having. He began to show me my sin. How I have dishonored His Temple, my body eating things I know my body is allergic to and with that carrying to much weight / being foggy headed all the time / felling chronically tired / just basically feeling all around yucky all the time. Then as I was in His Word I started so see how much I have become a person that worries and is stressed out. This whole season that our country is in and knowing that things will never get better that we are in those last days before we deny Israel and become a nation greatly judged by our God, really started to freak me out. Instead of finding hope in Jesus knowing that we are living in the prophesy of the end I was instead terrified. Secret sin. Praising God with my mouth over seeing the end in sight but terrified as to the kind of life we will be soon living. Terrified that my son is so ill-equipped to live in a socialism country that will be at war with it's self once again. Where we will really begin to know real persecution for our faith. I was and in some ways still am terrified. Sure I can block it out and keep myself so distracted with other things but it was always there nagging me. So that night I began to break, to sob before my Lord as I realized I was living in such gross sin. I made commitments to the Lord that night. My life changed that night. how I would like to say that is the end of the story well it's not. weeks later after my heart was 70% better I ended up in the ER. After many test and many more test to be done by my Dr. we still can not see that there is anything wrong with my physical heart. Most would be thankful for that but somehow for me it is bitter sweet. You see if this is all my spiritual heart then this means I am living in sin still. This is a hard thing for me to wrap my mind around. It's just as bad as having to have heart surgery especially when i really am not sure what I am doing. I know in time God will show me but right now were I stand I am struggling with this.

Missing Donna - so this is where I really only talk about this. well I'm not gonna there really just isn't any words right now. I am just sad -sad alot - sad through the smiles and laughter just sad. Some people don't understand why I don't talk about it but what they just don't seem to understand is I don't know what to say about it. I'm just really sad, missing her like crazy. In a couple of weeks it will be the anniversary of Peggy passing away and I've been thinking so much about her too. so this is me missing my 2 friends and being sad in that hidden part of my heart that just doesn't know how to come to the surface. How lucky they are to be in Heaven with my Jesus where there is no sadness, no pain - but the whole in my life still isn't closed up with Jesus yet and with that I'm JUST SAD!

EXODUS STUDY - this one has been fantastic. We are studying the life of Moses and talk about the perfect book to go through while living in the day that we are under our govt. I'm gonna post separately some of the applications that I have been getting since I'm sure by now I have lost most of the readers on this one.

So there it is the ups and downs of my life over the past while. But the greatest thing ever is that the God of the Universe loves me like crazy - oooooo that reminds me I need to post about the book I just read. Crazy Love. - look for that later - trust me you will want to know about this book.

always remember.......
keep chasing righteousness!!!

Sitting here waiting for Stephnette and Tam to get here to head to Retreat. Wondering what the Lord has for me this year at the Ladies Retreat. Will I be reproved, will I be exhorted, will I be encouraged, will I get to be a blessing, will I be blessed. Seems to me I'm a bit overly obsessed with "WILL I" - good grief I"m not even out the door yet and I'm corrected.

Well Jesus order my day order my weekend

Duties of a Shephard

I recieved this via email from a dear friend and new it was worth a blog post.

Dear Friends,Many months ago in our Sunday school class, a question arose: What are the duties of a shepherd? Most of the adults quickly flipped to favorite passages concerning shepherds; a slapdash discussion ensued both as to why the shepherd does what he does, as well as to the application of each of the shepherd's duties in our lives today.Both because we have previously owned sheep and because the discussion seemed to be heading down a somewhat predictable path, my mind ambled merrily away on its own. But instead of wandering toward thoughts of lunch and my Sunday afternoon novel, that day my mind stayed somewhat on topic as I considered what the ultimate duty of a shepherd is. Why does he work so hard to feed, water, shelter, and protect? In many cases, his goal is not merely to keep the sheep safe and contented; it is to prepare them to die.We do our church and families a disservice when we end the discussion of a shepherd's duties at his kindly provisions, with no mention of this additional objective. Much of what the shepherd does is in the end focused on a sheep being fully prepared to die. How much richer will our experience be, in those moments that we feel called by God to shepherd another, if we see beyond the temporal need for protection or nourishment and seize each occasion as an opportunity to prepare that child or adult for death, for eternity. If each moment of every day were considered in terms of how it is preparing us for eternity, instead of what fleeting pleasure it will allow us, would we use our time differently?Jesus is not only our Good Shepherd; He was also the sacrificial Lamb. He knew, like we will never know, how to live in such a way that when death came He was wholly ready. This week, as we prepare to celebrate the wonder of what He did for us, we also look forward to the day when we will be united with the One who has lovingly shepherded us to the end.

His is risen indeed!

- All of us at Timberdoodle Co

What's in your hand?

I was originally going to post this application from Exodus Chapter 3. Then I got focused elsewhere and never did it. So yesterday Pastor Bob was teaching in Matthew about the donkey and swung it around to this very thing I had as my application a few weeks back with Exodus Chapter 4. I knew God was speaking to me, how faithful He is to give me another chance to not "disregard His Word". Shareing always seems to help me be accountable.
Exodus 4 1-9
1 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' " 2 So the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." 3 And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 "that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." 6 Furthermore the LORD said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 9 "And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land."

vs. 2 God is asking what is in your hand Moses? now am I to seriously believe that God didn't know what was in Moses hand - no way! of course he knew so why the question.
GOD CAN DO GREAT THINGS WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE IN OUR HAND. Whatever you have in your hand, however small it might be, if you will let go of it and give it to God, He can do great things with it. He wants total surrender of everything. I love how at this point Moses rod becomes God's rod. Giving God that "thing" allows God to use it greatly for His use. In asking that question one would think, 'o it must be something grand in his hand' no it's a stick! and the God of the Universe says that will do. And look at all the great miracles God did through that rod. So I ask you , I ask myself: What is in your hand? A rod? A jar of oil? A sling? A few loaves and some fish? ..... A child? A car? an extra room in your house? The ability to mow a lawn? To cook? A mind that is super organized? The love of housecleaning? A singing voice? Time on a Sunday morning to serve holding babies? 1 hour a week to bend your knee in prayer? What is in your hand?! What do you claim as yours but God wants to use it and make it His?

I read this this true story that really brings this home.
There was a little church in South Africa. The pastor challenged the people to just take what they had and to try to do something with it for world missions to raise funds to help reach the world for Christ. All one lady in the church had was a recipe. She knew how to make rusks. So she started making her rusks and selling them to some of the neighbors. Word got out that they were really good. She started having to bake more and more and more, and she sold them and collected that money for missions. It became a small business. Today you can buy those Ouma Rusks on different continents of the world, and they are amazing. I’m sure by this date millions of dollars have been poured into the gospel. It all came because somebody said, “Well, God, here is a recipe.” What is in your hand? Do not underestimate what might happen with it if you give it to God.

Disregard for the Word of God

Exodus 5:1-15

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.' " 2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go." 3 So they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days' journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor." 5 And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, 7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words."
Observation/Application
Vs.9 let them not regard false words.
Pharaoh is so arrogant he is clearly showing his negative evaluation of the Word of God. Much like today we see that this is all to common. People put themselves in a place of high superiority and disclaim the Word of God all the time. Geez we even make laws that support the lifestyle of daily disregard of the Word of God. I had to stop and think about this more personal and close to home. Do we as a born again christian society, as Leaders in in a church body, do I? Of course we would hastily say no way~ but what about our actions? What about my actions, my life. What would others say of me? What do we think and say of each other? I think about how many times I've listened to a great message. And for me this is all the time as I am greatly blessed to be apart of a church with an exceptional anointed Pastor who is clearly called to teach the Word of God. I listen and am moved to action while listening but how often I have walked away and done nothing with it. Humbly I admit it happens. This is not not a comfortable thought process if we are honest with ourselves. Even as I sit here and write this I feel uncomfortable and slightly irritated wanting to give excuses. So I ask myself what is the root issue here because I could sit here on this and write for hours but really what is going on? How can it be that we as "solid Christian believers" live in a manner like this and have even allowed "THEM" to turn our Country away from God's Word?

Lack of Fear of God .
and we wonder why God is putting His judgment on our Nation, our stability.

2 Chron 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.