Summer

Hi ladies!

     I'm really seeking the Lord about His will about some things, and this blog is one of them.  I'm taking a break for the summer, but check back every now and then to see what is happening.

Blessings,  Pat

Bob Carlisle “Getting Stronger"

 
I heard Bob Carlisle’s song, “Getting Stronger” the other day and have had this blog on my mind since then (website and lyrics below).  I thought of how the enemy lies to Christians saying because of their mistakes or weaknesses people will never see them as strong Christians.  The other lie he tells us is  you cannot be used because you don’t have it “all together”.  Whatever that means. 

I am here to declare…if you are on your knees (as the song lyrics say) and in God’s Word,  you are getting stronger, because the Lord is making you stronger – in Him, not in yourself.  

Maybe last month, or even yesterday, you didn’t feel strong. Maybe you gave in to discouragement, depression, or self-pity, or even sin. Don’t let the enemy tell you you are a failure.  Today is a new day. Ask for forgiveness for lack of faith and ask the Lord to increase your faith today.  Don’t allow guilt to keep you from the progress the Lord is making in your life.

Read Hebrews chapter 11.  It is one of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible on how to get stronger…by faith.

By Faith They Overcame

Hebrews 11:30-34

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

I know the Lord is changing me every day.  I believed it first even when I didn’t feel it, now I can feel it.  I can feel the strength and the change.  Not in strength in myself, but faith in His strength.

(This is the YouTube website to cut and paste into your browser).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E73XJl1oNfU

GETTING STRONGER by Bob Carlisle
I used to lay awake at night
Wondering was I wrong or right
I was a prisoner of my fear
Only you

I was a kind of man who'd build a wall
And be the biggest fool of them all
Had a hard time letting go
Till I was broken

Look me in the eyes
Tell me what you see
I'm not the same man
That I used to be

If you see me on my knees
It's not because I'm weak
I'm getting stronger
If you see me start to cry
You'll know the reason why
I'm getting stronger

Well I find myself face to face
In the presence of amazing grace
And I it's all I ever wanted to be
Only you

Look me in the heart
Tell me what you see
I'm not the same man
That I used to be

If you see me on my knees
It's not because I'm weak
I'm getting stronger
If you see me start to cry
You'll know the reason why
I'm getting stronger

Another song by Bob Carlisle is also a powerful encouragement is “We Fall Down”.  The YouTube I have below is very moving.  Just cut and paste it into your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saYYm1CkX3M&feature=plcp

Getting stronger with my sisters in the Lord!

Blessings,   Pat

Songs of Victory

In the New King James Version, verse 7 of Psalm 32 reads,

“You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance”.

The Living Psalms version reads,

“You are my hiding place from every storm of life;

You even keep me from getting into trouble!

You surround me with songs of victory”.

Psalm 50:6 in the Living Psalms reads,

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble

and I will deliver you.

You shall glorify Me”.

I’ve heard my husband (who is a pastor) on more occasions than one say, “I’m not hearing your faith”.  Or, “Where is your faith in this situation?”. He has even said that to me at times when I let the situation become bigger than it should be.

Some of you know the story of the “Giant” in my life. I had allowed a situation over the years to become a giant, just like the one in the Old Testament story 1 Samuel 17 of David and Goliath.  Remember it?  The Israelites were so afraid of Goliath, a Philistine.  Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall. His coat alone weighed 126 pounds.  Quite intimidating!

But…David was not afraid. He had confidence in the Lord.  Some of his quotes are:

“Let no man’s heart fail because of him (Goliath);

your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

and

“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. 

But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,

the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. 

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…” 

(Read the rest of the story.)

David spoke his faith in God. He didn’t go around mulling over the problem. I allowed this giant to overwhelm me. When the Lord showed me this about my giant, He said, “When you  did that, you diminished my power over the situation”.  That was over a year ago. And now, when I see that giant coming and taunting me, the Lord brings the story to my mind again.  That is when my faith speaks, “In the name of Jesus, I command you to shut up.” 

2 Corinthians 10:5 says we need to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

The enemy throws arguments at us and exalts the problem above God.  That is what we need to take authority over.  That is the Goliath we need to slay.  We don’t slay people, we slay the enemy.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Sometimes I think we focus and talk about the problem more than we talk about our faith in the God of solutions.  I know I have.  But, the Lord wants to change the way we think and talk. This is one of my “R”s, Renew our mind.

He wants us to thank God for the solution, not just pray the problem over and over again.

I read somewhere the other day that said, we need to go to the Bible and find out what the Lord says about whatever situation we are going through.  Then, pray His Word, which is His will and then we will have the confidence that He hears us.  Then we can thank Him for the solution.

So many Christians just don’t live in victory. We continually struggle with the same problems year after year with no song of deliverance in sight.  I know I have been one of those in the past. I’m still bringing down some of them. However, the struggles don’t last as long any more because I found the lyrics to the song, you might say – The Word of God.

Sing the song of Deliverance.  Our God is able!  

Blessings,  Pat

In 31 Days?! . . . Yup!

Why is it that we can read a novel of over 350 pages in one week, yet, cannot read 11-15 pages of the Bible in one day?

I did some calculating.  I took a Bible that didn’t have any study notes, or references, just the Word and found the number of pages the New Testament had in it.  There were 315 pages of that particular Bible.  I wondered what it would take to read the entire New Testament in the month of July and divided 315 by 31 days in July.  That works out to be approximately 11 – 15 pages a day – to read the whole New Testament.  Why isn’t that do-able?  I know I read that many pages of something every day…why not the Bible.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

How would our lives change if we read through the New Testament in one month?

Sometimes I think we dismiss the regular reading of the Bible because it seems so “BIG”.  But, think about it, isn’t that what satan wants you to think?  Don’t you think satan has something to do with discouraging us from reading just God’s Word?  What a challenge!

What if all of Christians decided to read through the New Testament in July?

Would you like to take the challenge?

We have a couple of weeks to get into the frame of mind we need to do it. Pray about it.  Ask the Lord to help you be able to do it. To make time in the morning, or at night.  To take a lunch break and read.  Break it up into three times a day if you need to. 

The goal isn’t just to get through it.  The goal is to get closer to the Lord.  He is the Word.

I can guarantee, when you first start, there will be some opposition from the enemy, but persevere, and eventually, the distractions won’t be as many.  God will honor your effort and your persistence. 

We need to promise ourselves, and the Lord, not to get bogged down in some of the “boring” parts, but just read through them just as we would to get through the first chapters of a novel, to get to the good parts. Why is it such a stumbling block to us?

Take a Bible with no study notes, no references and see how many pages are in the New Testament. Divide the pages by 31 and see how many pages you need to read to get through it.  Remember, it varies with the size of print, etc. But find a Bible that has normal print and no notes.  It is smaller than you think. (We are so used to Bibles that have a lot of information in them and the Bibles are huge.)
 
I am taking up the challenge. I know it seems scary.  But what is the worst that can happen?  We just won’t get through it.  But that is okay.  At least we would have started reading the Bible through and every Word you read will be going into your spirit to renew your mind and lives.

Blessings,  Pat

I know some of you are mom’s of little ones and just don’t have the time or energy to do this, but if you read for pleasure, give that time to the Lord in July. See what He will do! 

Freedom

One of the things I have struggled with for so long is, “Am I doing enough?”.  When I look at other women, they seem to have their act together.  They either have jobs and are professional looking. Or, if there are stay-at-home moms, their houses are beautiful, in side and outside.  They have routines they follow and seem disciplined.  They are groomed down to the toenails.  They, like I said, look like they have their act together. 

Then there is me, whose life is in no way routine. I get things done, and I like a clean house, but at times it just gets away from me. Then I beat myself up about it.  Is it because of the lack of routine?  Am I not disciplined enough.  Am I not doing the right things.  But every day is different and no matter how I plan how I want the next day to go, it never works out. Something always pulls me in a different direction.  Does anybody else feel that way? 

I had an aunt who I really looked up to when I was a little girl.  In her twenties, she was a model and she looked the part.  Her hair and nails and clothes were always perfect. She and her husband lived in a nice house where everything was immaculate.  Nothing was out of place. 

I know she loved me and loved me visiting her, but when I did, I was afraid to touch anything.  But I really thought she was everything I wanted to be. I wanted a perfect body, a perfect look, a perfect house.

Then I got married, had children and lost contact with her for many years.  One day I got a call from her saying she and her family were moving to the same city as we lived.  I thought that was great since I didn’t have any family around. 

After they moved to town, we visited on a regular basis.  That is when my eyes were opened and it changed my outlook on life.  She was a routine fanatic.  Everything was done with precision at a certain time and a certain way.  She had certain meals every week. There was never a mess around anywhere.  It was almost military like. And they were not a happy family. 

That is when I said I never wanted to be so rigid about my house or routines that I was not available to the Lord or people.  I know He can use routine and does.  He is a God of order.  But, the routine sometimes becomes the god and everything and everybody else has to work around it. There has got to be a balance.

So many times my house is messy, not dirty, just lived in and it embarrasses me to have people over because when I go to their homes they are always so perfect.

I remember times, and it has not been that long ago, when women had a neighbor over and folded clothes at the table while they were visiting.  Or, they sat together to string beans, or shuck corn or darn socks. If you didn’t have much money, they made due. So many were in the same boat. that it was not embarrassing to make ends meet, or say they couldn’t do something because they didn’t have the money. They were much more relaxed with each other and their life situations than we are today.  They lived and worked together without pretense. They didn’t try to “keep up with the Jones” as much as we do today.

I hear so many people in today's economy who feel "less than".  They feel embarrassed about not having a job, or losing their homes, or not have enough money for food.   And at times they are told they are less than. They have done nothing to be in this situation.  They have not been fortunate enough to start a job out of college and stay with that job until retirement, which makes consistency and that helps plan for a very comfortable retirement.  Those days are gone and have been for decades. 

What has changed us?  Why are we so ashamed and hiding our real situations? When did we start feeling less than others who have "it all together"?  Was it Leave it to Beaver’s mother who wore a dress and heels and had a perfect house, and hair, perfect family?  ( I am telling my age now.) Or, is it just TV, where everything is not real, but looks great?! Or, is it the façade we put on with each other. 

I don’t know, but it would be nice to be able to have someone drop by and see my mess and be okay about it. I’m sure they are okay, I’m just not.

I always accomplish a lot, but normally, it is relational not housework. I keep the dishes up, laundry done and cook, but I spend a lot of time talking to my adult children and daughter-in-law on the phone (and I am not a multi-tasker on the phone.  I need to sit still so I can concentrate on what they are saying.) I pray with people, spend time with the Lord, study the Bible, be with my husband, email, blog, do our finances.

Why is it that at the end of the day, I don’t feel like what I have done measures up to what other people do?  Or, what their idea is of what I should be doing?

Some women get up immediately and get the house done, or exercise before they do anything else. And that works for them and they have a close relationship with the Lord. 

As much as I think my house would be neater, or I would be more fit if I got out of bed and did that, I just can’t.  I have to have time with the Lord before anything else, first thing. (I do make my bed as soon as I get out of it because I can’t stand not having it made.) It works differently for others, but it just doesn’t work for me.

I think our goal is to just be okay with a clean, but messy house.  To be okay with what the Lord calls us, individually, to do. Not to be concerned with what other people think is “proper”.  And not to be moved by what other people say. We can strive to improve in some things as the Lord convicts, but if we are doing what the Lord and our husbands need us to do, isn’t that enough?

Galatians 5:1
[ Freedom in Christ ] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Gracie

Gonna be gone for a few days.  Our little Gracie isn't doing very well.  She developed pnemonia and they suspect her airways are not doing their job.  So, I am going down to be with her and support the family. 

Blessings,  Pat

Pilgrim’s Progress

Author: Bunyan, John (1628-1688)

Description: Pilgrim's Progress is a great work of Christian literature. Originally composed in the 17th century, this spiritual allegory has entertained and delighted innumerous readers for over 300 years. Part I tells of "Christian" and his journey to "Celestial City;" Part II tells of the journey of Christian's wife Christiana and their children to Celestial City. The two parts work together as a unified whole, which describes and depicts the believer's life and struggles. Pilgrim's Progress does not simply instruct readers with spiritual allegories; it entertains them as well, through Bunyan's creative story telling. Enjoyable and spiritually instructive, Pilgrim's Progress is highly recommended.

I can count the number of fiction’s I have read on two hands, over my lifetime, until this year.  I don't have anything against fiction, it's just I have always felt such an urgency to read the non-fiction Christian books.  Books on Prayer, the Holy Spirit, Believing God, Healing, etc.  My library if full of them. However, this year, I have given myself permission to read for pleasure, again only by Christian authors.

At the moment I am reading an old classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, a book I noticed when I was young, but just wasn’t interested in reading. What is intriguing me now I don’t know, but I was drawn to the "old books" in the church library and found it.  I encourage you to read it if you have some time this summer.  The type of writing is different and takes a little time (which is good for our brains), but it really makes you think. It also has lots of biblical references to look up later throughout the text.

In just the first two chapters, some of the character’s names are: Christian, Obstinate, Pliable, Worldly Wiseman, Legality, Civility, Help, Goodwill and Interpreter.

Some of the places are: City of Destruction, Sloth of Despond, Carnal Policy, Morality and The Gate
.
It is an allegory of the journey of a Christian to eternity.  You can download the entire book, FREE, by going to the website: Christian Classics Ethereal Library which is public domain. 

Their website is: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.html.

Check it out!  Hope you enjoy! 

Blessings,  Pat

Hands of Hope

Several years ago we had an idea or may be it was more of a question.  Would women want to gather together, share a cup of coffee, chat while working on their knitting, crocheting or other handwork? 

It was worth a try, so through the Women’s Fellowship Ministry Newsletter we sent out an invitation to come join us on Wednesday mornings for a time of fellowship.  That first morning was the beginnings of Hands Of Hope. 

We saw it as just a time to be around other women, sharing interests and having good conversation.  However, our God saw it differently, He saw what it could be and what these ladies could accomplish. 

In the first month of it’s existence, Hands Of Hope became an outreach ministry as we learned of the needs in our community.  We were overwhelmed with what we could do, starting out by giving hats to the children in a local school for their backpack buddies.  Since then we have been able to give away more hats, mittens, scarves, slippers, prayer shawls, baby items and much more.

Items have been given outside our local community, sent to other states and even other countries. All because of the faithfulness and hard work of the ladies in HOH, our church and surrounding areas.

It is amazing what the Lord can do with willing hands, donated yarn and a servant’s heart.  He took an idea and turned it into a ministry!

Through His leading we added a time of sharing prayer requests, with prayer and Bible study to our mornings. Not only have we been able to minister to others in these past few years but we have grown in our relationship with Christ Jesus and each other.

When God puts an idea in your heart, be obedient, take a step and go for it.  It  might fly or in the case of Hands Of Hope, it might soar!

Joann

Sigh...

I'm on Psalm 40 today and there is a lot to meditate on.  Yesterday, I read Psalm 38 and 39.  There were only two things that I could identify specifically in these two Psalms, however they were packed full and I think we all can identify with Psalm 38, "You hear my every sigh".

How many of us sigh every now and then because of weariness, stress, uncertainty, physical tiredness, etc.  We've all done it.  Isn't it wonderful to know God hears your every sigh?  I think it is and wanted to share that little bit of encouragement.

Psalm 39 went right along with that sigh.  It said, "You are my only hope."  When we sigh, it is sometimes because we are at the end of ourselves and can truly say, "The Lord is our only hope."

God is so faithful to tell us He is there for us at just the right time.  Oh, how we need to listen for Him.

Blessings,    Pat

God Does Answer Prayers

I don’t know why we are always surprised when the Lord answers our prayers.  Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  That is because the desire of your heart will line up with His will because you will know Him and His heart.

Oh, the desire of my heart is to be pleasing to the Lord. The 5 “R”s are the cry of my heart to the Lord.  (You will find other posts explaining them more.)

1) Renew my mind
2) Revive my spirit
3) Reinvent what I do, how I do things, etc.
             ( I am in my 60s. It is never too old to change.)
4) Reveal. Reveal those things in me that are not Christ like.
               The deep things that I have not acknowledged
5) Restore. Restore what is broken in my life. Restore the joy.

I’m adding a 6th “R” as the Lord reveals things I need to have done…Regenerate.  Regenerate those things in me that have lost their strength and power.

After getting back into town this past Thursday, I was so emotionally exhausted that I almost didn’t go to the Don Moen concert we had tickets for for over a month.  Many from our church were going to be there, so I didn’t want to disappoint them, nor my husband, so I went.

The concert was very good and my husband and I both felt washed of the stress and exhaustion we have been feeling.  However, one other thing happened that, at the time was so insignificant, I didn’t think about it until I got home. 

One of the biggest Christian radio stations was there hosting and promoting one of their programs and were giving out little flyers with a free ebook.  So, I picked one up during intermission.  No big deal, right?!

When I got home I read the title of the ebook by Randy Carlson. He has a program on the radio called, Intentional Living, a ministry of Family Life Communications Incorporated and Parent Talk, Inc. with a mission of transforming the world through the power of living an intentional life
in Christ.

Now remember one of my 5 “R”s was “reinvent”.  The name of the ebook was, “Really Live – When Getting By Isn’t Good Enough”.  That has been the feeling inside my heart, I don’t want to just “get by” and settle in to the same old routine and being comfortable.  I want God to really change me and reinvent what I do in this life.  To make my life make a difference now and the rest of my life.

So, He is giving me insight on how to take one more step to renewal and reinvention through this ebook. (If you want a copy of it and go on the journey to really living, with Randy Carlson, go to his website: http://www.theintentionallife.com/.)  Join the journey to renewal and reinvention.

God does orchestrate our lives, in ways we don’t expect and at times we don’t expect, to answer our prayers and to help us.  How I thank and praise Him.  Look for His leadings and His answers.

Blessings,     Pat

Baby Gracie update

 
I've been out of town being Grandma this week. I was getting my two granddaughters ( 10 and 11 years old) off to school in the morning, then going up to the hospital to see my daughter-in-law who was in the hospital with an infection (doing better and is home now), then going to another floor to see her baby (my granddaughter), Baby Gracie.

She has been in the Infant Intensive Care unit for five weeks. She was born at 34 weeks with an omphalicele (her liver outside her body) and her lungs underdeveloped.

She is still struggling with her breathing, but she has gained weight. She was born 4 pounds 1 ounce and is now 5 pounds 11 ounces. So, she is thriving, but through a feeding tube.

She does not have the sucking reflex and has acid reflux so they have to feed her through a tube inserted into her intestines. She is a fighter, but she has some bad days still.  She seems to take one step forward and two steps back.

We believe she is going to make it and believing God's faithfulness.

This is yesterday morning’s picture of her.

Please pray for her mother (Billie) and Baby Gracie and the family who is pulled in every direction right now. This will be a long journey and is indeed “uncharted territory”.

We were ministered to at a very needed concert with Don Moen last night, who wrote an album called “Uncharted Territory”. He shared some of the journey in song and I thought of my son and daughter-in-law and their family who are on this long journey.

We never know what life will throw at us, but we do know God is faithful and will be with us as we walk through whatever we have to.

Blessings!   Pat

Another R

I've added another "R" to the last post.  RESTORE!  Restore the joy of my salvation.  I haven't lost the joy, but there are some things in my life that need restoring. And the Lord is showing me those things and asking me to let Him restore.  It is part of the journey I am  on.

This morning in my time with the Lord, the verse from Psalm 51: 10 and12 (KJV), came to mind,

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

No matter where we are in our relationship with the Lord, there seems to be a daily opportunity to be made whole and to "be changed" in some way to be more like Christ. We can't do it, but God can...if we let Him.

By reading the Psalms, you will learn to trust the Lord to do everything and be everything you need. There is one condition...that you have accepted Christ as your Savior.  He is the way, the only way to be restored to God.  He paid the price for that reconciliation.

On the sidebar on the left of this blog I will put what I am finding in Psalms.  Maybe it will help you see Psalms in a different light and see the mighty, wonderful, loving God we serve - Our Heavenly Father. 

Blessings,    Pat

The 4 “R”s

I have been so wanting God to transform me.  As I was praying about it I felt that He showed me three things that were the cry of my heart – three “R”s - Renew, Revive, Reinvent.  That is what I want the Lord to do in me.  I pray, that over the next 21 days, He would change me in all those areas. As the week has gone on, I added a fourth “R” to the list – Reveal.

1) Renew my mind
2) Revive my spirit
3) Reinvent what I do, how I do things, etc.
                ( I am almost 63 years old. It is never too old to   change.)
4) Reveal.  Reveal those things in me that are not Christ like. 
                   The deep things that I have not acknowledged.

Then I sensed Him telling me to read the Psalms and over the next 21 days write down who He is in each Psalm.

Example: Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

After reading Psalm 1 - Write down – He watches over the way of the righteous.

Sometimes you will only get one or two direct references. But really meditate on who He is.  Then there will be Psalms, like Psalm 31 where you will come away with many.

Look at Psalm 32 for example:
¹ Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  (You forgive my disobedience.  You put my sin out of sight.)

² Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (You cleared my guilt.)

³When I refused to confess my sin,my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.

⁴ Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 

⁵ Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (You forgave me. You took away my guilt.)

⁶ Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

⁷ For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.  (You are my hiding place. You protect me. You surround me with songs of victory.)

⁸ The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.(You guide me. You advise me. You watch over me.)

⁹ Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

¹⁰ Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. (Your unfailing love surrounds me.)¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!


Also, as you read, if one particular verse pops out at you as being just what you needed, write the whole verse out.  Make it personal as it applies to you, such as, “You are my protector.  You are my refuge”…etc.


I want to encourage you to try this as your daily devotional time with the Lord for a 21 day period and see what the Lord shows you! You can take 10 minutes or longer if you want. Don’t let “no time” be an excuse. You will be blessed.

Read as many as you like or can digest in one day.  But, don’t rush through these.  Really think about who God is and who He is in your life. 

Over a few days you will notice your mind being renewed and your spirit being revived…by His Word.  I have noticed subtle things in the “reinvent” area. He has definitely “revealed” to me things that are not suppose to be in me. I am praying about those and He is working on them.


The Lord is changing those who have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, to be transformed into His image. He will not leave us the same. Although, we cannot do it, He can and will. Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. Amen!

I’ll keep you posted occasionally on how this is going.  I would love to hear your testimony on what the Lord says to you along the way.

Blessings,  Pat

No Waste Day

Wouldn’t it be nice if our refrigerators looked like this all the time?  Well, if yours is like mine, before no time at all, food I was planning on using for something, ends up pushed back behind something else and I forget about it.  Then, it is no longer consumable. 

I really got tired of throwing food out, especially when there are others with no food, and with the price of food escalating at such a fast rate. 

So, some time ago, I started thinking about having a “no waste day”.  On that day, once every week or two, I would look through the frig and see if there was anything hiding. I would either freeze it raw or cook it and freeze it.  (You do have to make sure to date it and write it on a list somewhere that it is in the freezer or else it will get lost too.)

Today was the day.  This morning I found some mushrooms that were still good, but maybe not for long. I had no immediate plans for them because of our hectic schedule. so I better do something with it.   I also had some fresh blueberries and strawberries that had not been touched. And some celery stalks.

Not knowing when I would get around to using them, I rinsed the berries, drained them good, then put them in a freezer bag, sucking the air out with my mini vacuum freezer tool my daughter bought me a couple years ago. I labeled it and dated it with a permanent marker.  The next time we have ice cream I can stir in some sugar and make some fruit topping.  Or, it is good to use in smoothies, or jellies. No waste! 

Then I turned to the mushrooms.  I knew if I cooked them they would last a lot longer than sitting in the frig fresh.  So, my intention was to just cook them up and freeze them as I did the fruit.  Well, this is what I did to them.

I put a little olive oil in a small fry pan, about 1 tablespoon.  Then I added three cloves of peeled garlic (smashed but whole) just to flavor the oil.  Then I put 1/4 cup of wine, crushed red pepper flakes, maybe 1/8 tsp. Add 1 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar. Then I put about 1/4 cup of chicken broth.  Let that simmer for 15 minutes.

While that was simmering, I took the stems off of (about 9 big button) mushrooms, rinsed them off (I normally just brush them but I was going to cook them down anyway). Then I sliced them in fairly big pieces.
I added them into the hot liquid, added salt and pepper and sautéed them on medium heat,  stirring frequently (don’t leave them) until they had shrunk in size and were soft, about 15 – 20 minutes.  Then I turned them on simmer for about 20 more minutes.  I turned the stove off and just let them sit and soak in the juices which were a beautiful rich brown. 

I was going to let them cool and put them in the freezer, however, they were scrumptious.  So good in fact my husband and I sat down and had a bowl of them.  That was our satisfying dinner.  No waste! 

There is not  much you can do with celery, except to chop it in small pieces and freeze it to use in soups or some stews. 

I know it is just my house that is trying to save a little here and there, but it is one way to be a good steward of all the blessings and provision the Lord has given us. 

And I hear my mom every now and then say, “Waste not, want not”.  The older generation were a lot more frugal and could turn nothing into something.  As for me and my house, I just want to make a little difference in a “waste not” lifestyle. 

I am praying to get a lot better at it. 

Blessings,  Pat

every day life

That is what this is…just every day life as the Lord walks us through it.     Things we do or learn to do from cooking,sewing, crafts,family events, relationships, financial ideas, entrepreneurship, family, etc. 

This blog has changed because we want the whole package. We feel it is important to not only have the devotional things the Lord shows us, but everything women have going on in their lives and how they handle it in light of their faith in Christ.
We will see how this goes.

Hope you enjoy!  

Blessings from all the women at the Fellowship House!   

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

Remember that phrase? 

When I was young and one of my five siblings was telling a “fib” I would say, “Liar, liar, pants on fire”.  I don’t know where it came from, but seemed to be a non-combative way to say you knew the person was telling a lie.

Well, my 18-year old granddaughter has had a struggle with accusations from satan about her weight or the way she looks.  I was utterly amazed when she first told me about it and the guilt she has when she eats anything.

It makes me so mad at satan who lies to these beautiful, teenage girls, and they buy into his lies.  Then they become bulimic or anorexia and are tormented constantly.
The other day she called me and asked me to pray for her because the tormenting was back.

The Lord said to tell her that satan is a liar, the father of lies and why would she believe a liar.  How would she treat any other liar?   She would confront or ignore him/her.  So, I told her when he starts lying to her to say, in the Name of Jesus Christ you are a liar and have no right to lie to me.  I command you to shut up!” 

Later on in the conversation I remembered that phrase and I told her to say to him, “Liar, liar, pants on fire…and they really are!” We both laughed. She got it!  Praise the Lord!

If we know God’s Word, we know if something doesn’t line up with it.  We know when something is a lie.  So, why do we even give it the time of day.  God has given us discernment. 

It seems so simple doesn’t it.  I just pray the Holy Spirit reminds me the next time satan lies to me. 

Blessings,   Pat  

Baby Gracie

Meet my new granddaughter, Gracie.  She was born April 16th and weighs 4 lbs. 1 oz.  She was born at 34 weeks by C-section and is our miracle baby. 

The mother’s water broke a month ago and has been bed-ridden in the hospital since then.  Gracie was diagnosed some time ago with a omphalicele, which is the liver outside the body. 

Her lungs were extremely underdeveloped so they were concerned that she would not make it.

BUT GOD!!!!!  So many prayers have been prayed for her and she is a testimony to God’s grace, thus, her name – Grace. 

She is doing so well.  She is being kept sedated for intubation to lungs to start them working. Her omphalocele condition is much smaller than originally diagnosed and may not require surgery. PRAISE GOD!

I have been busy being a mother-in-law, mother and grandmother to the family.  Gracie has two sisters, one 11 and one 10 who are anxiously waiting for her to come home, which won’t be for a few months. 

We are praising God for bringing her safely into the world with all the complications that were taking place. 

Blessings to you all.  I have missed you!   Pat

Taking a little break!

I am taking a little break to be able to focus on some priorities in my life.  Resurrection Sunday is coming and I really want to spend every extra minute I can on what Christ did on the Cross and that He rose and lives!!!

Bless you as you seek Christ in a deeper way this season!

Pat

In a Moment

Imagine walking on a frozen river. The ice starts cracking all around. Our footing is unsure. Add to this physical exhaustion and an emotional meltdown. In the midst of this, we might question, “Can God use us in our bad times?”

May 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had good days and not so good days. In my good days I was positive and energetic and productive and thought, “God can use me because it’s a good day”. In the not-so-good days I tended to withdraw into my own little cocoon so no one would see me, thinking God wouldn’t use me like this.

One weekend, not too long after I started chemotherapy, and before all my hair had fallen out, I found myself in the observation unit of the hospital in pretty weak state. Once I was stabilized, I thought, “Lord, how in the world can you use me here…like this?”

In the middle of the quiet unit, the night shift nurse was making her rounds. As she took my blood pressure, temperature, and changed my IV bag, I asked her why she became a nurse. She told me she realized if she did not make a change in her life; her children would not have a stable home or have the opportunity to go to college.

She said she made a choice to pull herself up from the memories of a bad childhood, two failed marriages, a poor financial situation, and went back to school and got her nursing degree. At the time, she had two very young children. Now, she is employed at a very reputable hospital, has a home of her own and is “in a good place”. Her story was remarkable and she was and should be very proud of her accomplishments.

As I listened to her, however, I noticed a tough, uncompassionate edge to her. She said she did not have a lot of sympathy for some people because if she could do it anyone could. I asked her if she had anyone supporting her during this difficult time in her life. She quickly mentioned two people who supported her financially and emotionally and helped with the children.

That was my “opening”. “The Lord really sent the right people to help didn’t He,” I said. She looked at me strangely, thought for a moment and said, “Yes, He did.” Then she lovingly patted me on the foot and said, “You need to rest. Say your prayers and go to sleep”. I laid there in such peace, realizing God had, for a brief moment, brought her to a place where she acknowledged Him as being present in her life. I did say a prayer and fell asleep.

The next day, they wheeled me into another room to wait for another test, I was watching the news. They wheeled an elderly woman in to sit beside me to wait for hers. She had such a sad countenance. I asked her if she wanted to watch something else and she said she did not really care. I switched it to the weather channel (Who doesn’t like the weather channel?). We had been watching for a few minutes and she made the comment that we had been lucky in the area because we had not experienced any major weather affects.

I asked her how long she had lived in the area. “Since 1959,” she said. I said she probably knew of our little church and she said yes. She said she had attended another church a long time ago. She was quiet for a moment, then told me how, when her grandchildren were very little, she took them to church. One would come up from downstairs in the middle of worship and stand in the hall and yell, “Grandma, I love you!” She smiled and said, “I think he just wanted to make sure I was still there.” Her whole countenance changed. Again, I watched the Lord bring her back to a place where He was part of her life – even for a moment.

That weekend the Lord sent two other staff members who shared their stories and how the outcome worked out far better than they had ever imagined. All I injected into the conversation was, “Wasn’t the Lord good to you?” or “The Lord really orchestrated things didn’t He?” All they said in return to those comments was, “Yes, He was.” or “Yes, He sure did.”

This gave me a new insight for what it means to “spread the Good News of Jesus Christ”. We do not need to take a course in “Evangelism 101” or go to seminary or be a perfect person in a perfect situation. There was not a time while in the hospital when I felt good enough to be perky. Most of the time, I was either laying down or sitting in a wheel chair. I was in a gray hospital gown, my hair was flat and I did not have any makeup on. (I could not wait to get home and take a shower, wash my hair and get in my own bed.)

Back to the question: “Can God use us in our bad times?” The Lord showed me very strongly during the hospital stay that He could use any situation to bring people back to Him if I was willing to be used in an imperfect, unlikely situation.

We do not know where people are spiritually. Only God knows. So, let Him direct the conversation. Maybe they do not know the Lord. On the other hand, maybe they have just gone through so much they have forgotten and become hard or crusty. Maybe they just need to be reminded that the Lord is still in their lives, especially when they are going through difficult times.

The morning after I got home, I sat and prayed about it all. The Lord showed me 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5. Paul wrote this to congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. Therefore, it is for us.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows (NIV).

Another way to say it:
“ God comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too”. (Eugene Peterson, The Message)

The obvious answer to our question is, “Yes!”. Yes, indeed, God can use us anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance. Simply be available. Let God do the rest.

Pat

Fear Was My Giant

                                                 Written by Joann

Hard to believe that a parent can become a “giant” but they can. Maybe it’s not them directly but the situations concerning them. My giant reared it’s ugly head when this fall I suddenly was responsible for my father’s finances, assisted living care and well-being.

In a matter of a few hours, fear gripped me and stood before me as a giant of huge pro-portions. My whole life began to revolve around this fear. I was afraid of phone calls, especially if the area code started with 517. Even mail delivery became a source of dread, what new crisis would arrive that would need my attention to resolve.

God’s Word says not to fear or fret about anything, but my days were consumed with both fretting and fear. My mind raced ahead to all the “what ifs”.

Then, I was reminded of young David in the Bible and his giant, Goliath. Like a light bulb going off in my head it opened my eyes. I had made this whole situation a giant! My God was bigger than my circumstances, more powerful and able to smack this giant down. Be-sides, He loved and cared for my dad and would help me do what was best for him.

When I handed this giant over to the Lord, all fear and dread were demolished, I was free. At times, the giant tries to rise again; it is very slick and knows how to stir up the old fears. But, I know my God, His power, and I quickly turn it over to Him. In God’s hands, this giant fades away to nothing.

Joann

Facing Any Giants? Part 4

 
The following days I noticed a peace I hadn’t had for a very long time.

My husband and I went in, as scheduled for my fifth chemo treatment ready to tell the doctor I didn’t want another treatment. The doctor came in with the test results of the PET scan. He sat down and said I was all clear of any cancer after only four treatments.

We cried and thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for healing me. We praised Him for a few minutes before we gained our composure. There was no necessity to have that fifth treatment, but the doctor wanted me to have it for “good measure”. I did, but praised God the whole time.

We thanked the church and all our friends for praying.  We have people in our church dealing with cancer and other illnesses and I struggle when others are not healed. I'm embarrassed to talk about my healing. But I praise and thank God that He healed me. 

I do not have any answers why some are healed and some are not. I do not have any formulas. God is not a respecter of persons! I am not special!!

I just know, in my particular case, the giant I was focusing on had a lot to do with my cancer and slaying him and focusing back on Jesus, had everything to do with healing my cancer. 

The peace and joy I have is from keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus who has the power to slay giants. I do not want to allow anything to become a giant in my life again. We allow our feelings and situations to become giants when we take our eyes off Jesus and His power.

What are the giants in your life?

They come in many forms: fear, worry, anxiety, stress, depression, loss, alienation, relationships, finances, our habits, habits of others with whom we live. Any little or big thing can become a giant “if we” let it.

When Goliath and the other Philistines lined up, they cast a shadow of fear over the Israelites. Remember, “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified”.

Doesn’t that describe a lot of us in many situations? The enemy will use anything to keep our eyes off the Lord. He knows God is the only one with the power to fix the situation.

Remember also, Goliath threatened them for forty days. The enemy is relentless. Every day things happen that want to throw us for a loop. And, sometimes they do. But, we simply need to choose day to day, moment by moment to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus instead of the situation.

We do not need to remain afraid or stay discouraged for long. Two things we can do. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ we can:

1) Slay the giants we face.
2) Refuse any new giants.

It is important that we remember:
“...we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT).

Isaiah 26:3 says, “He will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in You”.

This is God’s promise. We believe. We trust. We have God’s peace that passes all understanding.

Blessings, Pat 

Facing Any Giants? Part 3

 
I went to 1 Samuel 17 and read the story. Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall. He was quite intimating and that is exactly what he wanted to be to the Israelites. Many of you might be familiar with this story.

“Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” .

Verse 16 said, “For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand”. But then came David, who said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (verse 45)

All David had was a slingshot and five stones. He slung one stone and it took Goliath down. It wasn’t the stone that killed the giant, it was the power of the Lord.

So, I told that giant in my life, “in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Heaven, you are coming down!” I threw a spiritual stone at him—The Word of God and he came down.  Praise the Lord!

Part 4, the conclusion continues tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pat

Facing Any Giants? Part 2

Before the fourth treatment I was looking at the schedule for my chemo and realized they hadn’t given me a date for the fifth treatment. I asked the scheduling nurse and she said, she didn’t know why they hadn’t scheduled it and that it was an oversight. She would have to check into it. I needed to know, because before each treatment I needed to have a blood work done to make sure I could handle the chemo.

When she didn’t have it, I started thinking maybe the Lord had healed me. So, during the fourth treatment, the nurses and I were kidding around and I said something about not needing anymore treatments because they weren’t scheduled. Of course they laughed and disagreed. I didn’t know why, but seriously something (someone) was telling me that I wouldn’t need any more.

After the treatment, I went home to let it do its thing. I just kept wondering about the “coincidence” that they had not scheduled more. I called and asked them if they could schedule a PET scan before the next treatment. They agreed that was a reasonable request.

So, a week before they scheduled my “fifth” treatment, I went in for a PET scan. The results should be in the day of my fifth treatment and I would get them then.

That same week, during my regular quiet time with the Lord, He showed me something that changed my life.

He brought the story of David and Goliath to mind. I didn’t have to wonder why for long. I had been struggling with a situation for nine years with no resolve. I had become anxious and angry and it was eating me up inside because I couldn’t fix it.

Lovingly, God said, “You have allowed the situation to become a giant and when you did that, you diminished my power in the situation.”

Ouch! He was absolutely right! Of course God is always right. Why hadn’t I realized that truth? I felt horrible. I had grieved the Holy Spirit for focusing on the situation, instead of letting Jesus deal with it. I diminished the Lord’s power.

I repented for three days. Not because of condemnation, but because I felt so bad I had allowed it. Then the Lord showed me what to do.

Part 3 continues tomorrow.

God is faithful,
Pat

Facing Any Giants? Part 1

 
May, 2010 I was diagnosed with stage 3, follicular lymphoma. I was tired, and had lost ten pounds (which I was ecstatic about) but I didn’t have any reason to think anything was the matter. Then I found a lump on the back of my neck that would not go away. The biopsy confirmed it was indeed cancer but appeared to be slow growing.

So, my husband and I decided to not do anything until school started. I just didn’t want to deal with it during the summer. The doctor told me to get another PET scan in August and we would start treatment in September. After the scan, the oncologist office called me and wanted me in right away. The cancer had become aggressive and they wanted to start treatment the next day. Wow! I didn’t see that coming either.

The doctor decided on an aggressive “recipe” of chemo and how many I needed, which were eight, 8-hour treatments. I was scheduled for one every twenty one days. I got my “port” put in and started treatment the next day.

After the first treatment, my hair started falling out. I know it sounds vain, but the chemo didn’t make me sick, losing my hair made me sick to my stomach. At times I would withdraw to my room and cry. I even screamed into my pillow one time, “I hate this!”.

Then I settled down. I never looked in the mirror at my bald head and never let my husband or anyone see me without a hat or a wig, even while sleeping. Call it vanity, but I just couldn’t deal with it. I really admire women who are brave enough to go out in public with no wig or hat. I just didn’t have that courage.

After losing all my hair during that first month, I was a little fearful of what else the chemo was going to do to my body. The Lord knew my heart and anxieties. He gave me a scripture verse to hang on to and I did – Romans 8:11. The way it came to my mind, through the Holy Spirit, was in the King James version, which in itself was amazing to me.

It said, “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

My personal paraphrase was, “The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. And that same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, will quicken your mortal body.”

I wasn’t sure what the “quicken” process meant, but I hung onto it. I thought maybe He would hurry the process of healing, but, I really didn’t know.

The story continues tomorrow – Part 2

Blessings,  
Pat

Facing Any Giants?

Beginning Wednesday, March 1st, I want to share the story of the slaying of my giant in a four-part series called, Facing  Any Giants?

In sharing what the Lord has shown me through the journey of my particular trials, I hope you will glean some important insights to help you. 

This isn’t a story of cancer, but one of giants. Please don’t stop reading because you do not have cancer.  The giant in my life was not the cancer, but God used the cancer to help me focus on other issues He wanted to deal with in me. Once I dealt with that, the cancer was healed.

What the Lord showed me can be applied to your life and give you the peace you may be looking for in the midst of your trial.

This is a unique story and I know not all cancers are caused by giants, or lack of faith. Nor that they are all healed by getting rid of the giants.  But, some are.  Mine was and I praise God for it.

In His Hands,
Pat

Hands of Hope

We have a wonderful group of women in our church who have a ministry called, “Hands of Hope”.  Starting over three years ago, these women have used their gifts of knitting, crocheting and quilting to bless others.  They have made hundreds of hats, scarves and gloves for little ones in elementary schools, who could not afford them, prayer shawls for women who need comforted, and lap quilts to keep the elderly warm in their wheel chairs. 

They have been so faithful to use their talents to glorify the Lord and have given them all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to wherever He leads them.

I just wanted to show you a few of the women in Hands of Hope meeting in our Fellowship House. They have become so close over the years through some of the trials each one has gone through. 










Joann, the director of the ministry, had a vision for this group before it started.  We set a time and place for them to meet and sent a newsletter out inviting over 200 women in the community to come.  We were amazed at how many came that first year. 

Women came with their yarn and needles and just started working and talking.  It was such a confirmation that the Lord had led these women to be in this ministry.  They pray together and talk about the Lord as they work on their projects.  They are indeed examples of things the Proverbs 31 woman accomplished. 
Blessings, Pat

Blessed

 
I know this post isn’t too inspiring, but this is what I have been doing over the weekend and I thought I would share it instead of just not putting anything.  Hope you enjoy it.

My two granddaughters (Katie 11 (right) and Haley 10 (left) just left after having been here since Saturday. No school Friday or Monday. They were so excited to see their cousin Allie (middle), my 18-year old granddaughter who is staying with us for a while. I am so blessed to have such a close-knit family even though we are hours away from each other.
 
We got into sewing while they were here. They both wanted to design a bag to carry their hobbies in. 

Katie is into string art for bracelets and has so much thread she didn’t know what to do with it.  So, we went to the fabric store and picked out vibrant fabrics they liked. 
 
 
Katie wanted something to put all her strings in, so she designed this little bag that folds up.  It took a while to figure out how to do it with no pattern, but it was fun to work with her. 

It has twelve pockets and folds up into thirds and then in half so she can easily carry it.  It is also lined.

Haley wanted a bag to put her art supplies in. She had a big drawing pad that she couldn’t find anything to carry it in.  So, she designed this. 











What a joy to be able to pass on my “once love” for sewing.  I don’t have much time or desire to sew much anymore, however, it is a wonderful skill to have and I’m tickled that four of my granddaughters want to learn.

 Even my eighteen year old granddaughter is learning to make her own summer dresses while she is here.

It takes a lot of energy and time to teach them, but I feel it is important to pass those things along that we have been taught, whether it is sewing, or my first love – Jesus Christ.

Blessings,  Pat