Don't be led astray....

Colossians 2: 8&9, 16-23

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Happy Tuesday, and God Bless!!!

Sunday Scripture

Happy Sunday and be blessed...

Colossians 1 : 10-17
10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption,[e] the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of Christ

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Saturday...

Saturday, and yet this Saturday is not like the last. My husband is home!! And yet, I find myself with even more to do than I did last Saturday when he was not here. Quite the conundrum, but this Saturday just feels so much better with so much more to do.

Count it all as joy, my brothers and sisters! Realize that in the midst of loss, trouble, confusion there is always a light of hope, always "someone" loving you, praying for you, holding your hand and carrying you through.

Try to remember to find "What's right with this picture?" instead of what's wrong with it. Flip that old game around and discover a renewing of the mind that comes only from filling it with those things I've mentioned before. WHat is noble, what is right, what is good...

Good: My children are healthy, loving, cheerful, and learning to be filled with the Spirit of God, my husband loves me, is a fellow believer, and is full of sweetness, laughter, and music, my animals are healthy, obedient, and my vegetables are providing food. I have a roof over my head, there is food on the table, I have a God that truly loves me, I have a God that I truly love, I have a God that stands beside me through the trials, teaching me more and more about myself every day, I have a God who is preparing a place for me, I have a God who sent His Son for me to save me, I have the fellowship of other believers who are my brothers and sisters in every way. I'd say I'm truly blessed..

Bad: I work 50 hours a week, my husband is in search of employment, we struggle to make ends meet, and we are losing both of our vehicles...

I'd say the scales are definitively tipped in my favor! Hallelujah and Praise to my God and Father!!

At this point I've forgotten what the tally is, but I can definitely say,
Mark one up for God, because the world hasn't taken me yet!

Much love to you all, and happy Saturday!

I leave you with this scripture for today that reached me...

Philippians 4: 11b-13
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all things through Christ[b] who strengthens me.

Scriptures for your day...

In Today's reading there were a few that stood out...

Take them, read them, remember them, guard them..

Learn to leave yesterday behind for tomorrow is a gift from God.

Philippians 3:13&14
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Hope in times of desperation:

Proverbs 24:16
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

For though he falls seven times, he rises again, he rises again..

Much love to you all, and have a blessed day!

Guard Your Thoughts

What do you think about during the day?

An email response to your resume that said, "Thanks but no thanks"?
The driver who cut you off?
Your financial puzzle?
The pain of a loved one?
Someone's smile?
We are all thinking about something all of the time.

Our minds bring back pleasant memories. Recall facts. Store useful (and sometimes useless) details. And do so many other positive and helpful things.

But our minds also create pain and suffering. They focus on wrong things such as fear, greed, selfish power, envy, false escapes. . . .

Did you know that God knows all of your thoughts—as well as everything else about you? God is intimately involved in your life:

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?. . .

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
—from Psalm 139

Did you know that your mind is a spiritual battleground, and that what you put into it dramatically influences your life?

Music you listen to.
Movies you watch.
Books, magazines, and internet articles you read.
Mental images you play with.
What you keep thinking about yourself.
How would your list of thoughts stack up at the end of the day? Positive thoughts: 1,350; Negative thoughts: 2? Or the other way around?

What if someone gave you a dollar for every positive and uplifting thought you think and took away a dollar for every negative thought? Would you end the day with money left over?

How much influence do your thoughts have on whether or not you focus on the good? On how you think about the stress in your life?

How are you thinking about the people around you—a family member, a waitress in a restaurant, a person applying for the same job that you really want?

Paul, a follower of Jesus, knew about the battle taking place in our minds. He urged the early followers of Jesus to actively direct their thoughts toward the positive:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
—from the letter to the Philippians

With God's help, you can take control of your thoughts!

Make the closing words of Psalm 139 your prayer today:

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

*Taken from Biblica-guarding your thoughts*

S.O.A.P. for 09-30 To be or not to be....

S: Philippians: 2:1-4

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Take heed the words of that scripture. It tells us very succinctly how to be Christians. It's a beautiful way to live, and is filled with the knowledge of how to shine your light, and how we should look upon ourselves, and remove ourselves from those lofty places that make us think we are "deserving"of anything, and that we are "above" everyone else. For we are not. Even Jesus came as a servant and humbled himself to the world in order to show the most love, so who are we to think we know better than Him?

It won't be a full S.O.A.P. this morning, but I'll be back! ;)

Again, no time this morning.. My husband is home at last! It's been a long three weeks, and I slept so soundly , that I could barely wake myself up this morning! Amen and Hallelujah! Praise to God for small things!

Be Blessed! Be encouraged! And stay in the word, even if its only a little while every day. Every little bit counts, and it's a great way to start your day!

S.O.A.P. for 09-29 Wolves in Sheeps Clothing..

Are we??

S: Isaiah 58: 1-14

1 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!
2 Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting
when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves
by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

O: My observation is this: God is calling us out. He is calling us to meet Him at the table and He's holding a mirror. Even when we THINK we are doing right, how much of ourselves have we truly examined? It goes beyond our skin. He sees how we treat others, how we relate to the world around us, how we handle our "things", how we deal with the world around us, and then it seems we have the audacity to think we "deserve" something simply by having shown up to the party.

A: I must not forget to examine my own heart. I must not forget to examine my outward actions to others. Have I shared my bread? Have I shared my coin? Have I shared my home and hearth? Have I shared my love and my friendship in a real and personal way? Not thinking that I'll ever get it back, for then it is truly not giving. When I give and expect to get something in return that is not generosity. How do I treat my neighbors? My brothers and sisters in Christ? The man on the street? The friend in the congregation? The helper? How have I spoken of them to others? How have I stretched myself to help them? Have I said prayers to my God for help and release from oppression when it very well could be that I am doing the oppressing?
Are we being wolves in sheep's clothing? And who are we trying to fool? Certainly not God, for if we believe we can fool Him, then we truly are the fool.. How deep is He rooted in our hearts? That will answer the question of whether our worship to Him is true or false.. So ask yourself, are you being True? Or are you being False? There is only one answer, and whatever it is, act on it. Let it open your eyes so that you may see beyond the box and study that person in the mirror. For He wants to be your delight. And to me, what could be better?


P: Father God, I come to You with love in my heart and a prayer in my heart. Lord I seek to know You and have You truly change me from the inside out. Lord , please do not let me be a casualty of this false worship. Reveal my heart and open mine eyes that I may notice everything around me and respond to it in a way that is pleasing in Your sight. Lord, You are my strength and my redeemer, truly You must know this. Truly You must know the depths of my heart, and if I'm guilty of false worship, it is not intentional. Remove my blinders and heighten my senses. Lord, help me lead others to a true sense of worship, being honest in love, and careful to step lightly but with the word of Truth as my sword, that in my quest to Truly worship You as I should, with a pure and honest heart, behaving as a child of God, that I may steer others along the path of righteousness as well, Lord! Lead me always, Lord. I thank You for never giving up on me and loving me through my mistakes. I thank You for helping me learn to be more like You and being such a good Father.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

My heart and my soul,
I give You control,
Consume me from the inside out, Lord.
Let justice and praise,
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out!!
*Hillsong*

S.O.A.P. for 09-28 Are you thristy?

S: Isaiah 55: 1&2

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.


O: Isaiah's word here is speaking of the wonderful provision of our Lord. He is speaking of the bounty of living simply and living for God. God knows how best we may live and be fruitful, and be satisfied, for He created us! He knows! God is telling us what to fill ourselves with, what will truly make us feel "full".

A: How many times do I worry where my next meal will come from? How often have I been concerned if my children are eating healthy enough or not? How often have I worried at spending money on that which is not bread.....Everyone should have the capacity to see through this one. Spend money on what is not bread. We think about things, what they will do for us, how they will help us, how they will make life better. But the only thing I've found is that they burden us. The oppression of wondering how to afford, how to upgrade. And even then, the thrill fades, and the need to replace it begins. When will we cease this vicious cycle and truly learn what IS important to "buy". If we cease all the needless "needing", then we would truly have more leftover to provide for our families. I am learning this lesson firsthand with our vehicles. We lost almost everything when we left Arizona. It was a needed move. A move to change our life, a move to change our home, and a move to change our "lifestyle". But the pruning is not yet over. The wolf is at the door to now take away both of our vehicles, but the funny thing is.. I don't care. I feel RELIEF and the thought of not having to figure out where the money is going to come from. I feel RELEASE at the thought of finding something cheap that will get us from A to B that will allow us the money to get what we truly "need". The WORLD said we needed, and God is proving that we don't. How empty and stressful our life became because of worldly need. And how truly "filled" I feel at the thought of washing my hands clean of all of it. So what if our credit is shot. Credit is also a worldly thing, and My God will not measure me by that score, no sir! My God judges me on so much more and for that I'm thankful, and for that I separate myself from the things of this world that would tie me down and lead me astray!

Spend my labor on what does not satisfy. What DOES satisfy? You Lord, You Satisfy! And I know why You have created me, I know my calling, now to go and get it. Yesterday's sermon spoke of reaching out and walking on faith, and grabbing hold of the life you have intended for me. Lord I pray for the conviction to grab the bull by the horns and seek out the ministry You have developed me for. I pray Lord, lead me to Sing once more! I haven't sang since Arizona, and my heart is calling out to You! I want to sing for You, Lord! I want to lead worship for You Lord! I want to lead others to a deeper understanding of true Worship to You Lord! Lead and I'll follow, for that is the Labor for me that would satisfy.. Please help me. I already work full time Lord, help me figure out how to make it happen for You! I know I can do all things through You! And I know You promise to refresh and give me energy, so I know I can do this.. Lead and I'll follow Lord! Lead and I'll follow!

P: Abba Father, I come to You this day in praise and thanksgiving for everything that You are to me, everything that You've become, and everything that You've lovingly taught me. Lord the lessons are long, and I'm sure there are many many more to come, but I rest in knowing that You are always there... Lord, please lead this family to a place where we come to You when we are thirsty, come to You when we hunger!! Help us learn to trust in Your provision. Lord, teach us what we CAN live without and what we TRULY need. Lord I thank You for getting me to the place that "losing" something no longer hurts but is a blessing! For I KNOW you are in control, and I know You are teaching me a better way to live, love, and walk! Let me learn and let me be Your vessel! Lord, oh Lord, I pray that you guide me to where my soul will delight in the richest of fare! I am thrilled with anticipation and joy at this notion, Lord! I wait for You! With a smile on my face and love in my heart....(patience)....

In Jesus Mighty Name,

Amen

Your name is like honey on my lips,
Your Spirit like water, to my soul,
Your word is a lamp unto my feet,
Jesus, I love You, I love You..

Early to rise...

It would seem that getting up at 5:30 is no longer early enough for daily devotionals...
Ugh, the kids are already up, and I'm behind schedule in getting them going and ready for school..
Do I have the commitment to get up at 5? It's only 30 more minutes, (or 30 less depending on how you slice it)
So for today, I'm only able to share with you the scriptures that reached out to me, but really can't go into detail...hmmm, this makes me sad as I love to journal as it helps me study, and it buries His Word on my heart. But He knows my heart, and He knows I'm trying.. so in that I must be satisfied for my life is no one else's, and for goodness sakes, I'm certainly not perfect...
(yet) ;)

Ephesians 4:2-7 & 15%16
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift[a] through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Much love to you all, and I pray that He rests in you, and that you have accepted Him in your heart. I pray that you are Saved!! NO matter who you are...
Be blessed! Know Him, Love Him, Serve Him, and experience Joy and Freedom!!

When I Get Where I'm Going....

When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion,
And run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain

Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy,
And he'll match me step for step,
And I'll tell him how I missed him,
Every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck.

Yeah when I get where I'm going,
there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Don't cry for me down here.

So much pain and so much darkness,
In this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can't answer,
So much work to do....

But when I get where I'm going,
And I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light,
Of His Amazing Grace.
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
Yeah when I get where I'm going,
I'm gonna be in Heaven!
When I get where I'm going

*33 Miles*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i73m8CRnZUE&feature=related

S.O.A.P. for 09-22 On my Heart..

S: Isaiah 40:8....

8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.”

10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

He picks up the whole earth
as though it were a grain of sand.

22 God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
and makes his tent from them.

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

In Jesus Name:
Amen and Amen...

S.O.A.P. for 09-21 Doing Good

S: Galatians 6:9-10

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

O: Paul is encouraging us to remain steadfast in our deeds. To continue doing good at all costs, for there is a reward for us. We must not give up. He entreaties us to do good, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are there as a family to uphold, encourage, strengthen, and share the blessings of the Lord. It would seem in that statement, that he is encouraging us to always to good to everyone...friend or foe.. believer or non-believer.

A: I must remember that there is something good to come of this life. Something amazing and indescribable and I must not falter in revealing my heart to those around me. They must never need question who I am or what I believe in. It should be revealed in my actions, my words, my walk..Lord help me to remember this. How easy it is to be good and do good things for those who are good and do good things for us? How fulfilling and enriching it is to be in an environment that would nurture those things and make them almost "second nature" that it would just be a part of who we are..but what of the other side of the coin? I do know that there are people who I once considered friends who have revealed a side of themselves that forces me to pull back. They treat us maliciously , with malcontent, and vile words, Lord.. They behave as though we are beneath them. Lord, give me strength to show them goodness and love, despite how they treat us. I have noticed, that although I do not retaliate, I DO keep my distance. For I fear the words, I fear to be treated poorly. Who wants to walk into the lion's den of their own volition??


P: Lord God, Give me STRENGTH to see this through!! Lord, I pray for this man, you know who he is and why he's on my heart.. What have we done to deserve this treatment? We thought him a friend, Lord, and I think that is why it pains us worse and is harder to pull away. Lord, please reveal to HIM what he's doing, and temper his heart, Lord, fill it with Your love! Bring him to You Lord, for he does not know You! Help us remember to show good in all things, to shine Your light in all things, that maybe one day he will be won over. Lord, God, however, if his heart is hardened, only You would know this, please light a path to deliver us Lord!! Please deliver us! Reveal a new job for my spouse that he does not have to work under such oppression hostility... That situation is not nurturing the fruits of the spirit Lord.. I know that You know best, and I leave it to Your will and omnipotent understanding, I just ask that Your hand be upon it...and through this, give us the courage to keep "doing good"....

In Jesus Name
AMen

S.O.A.P. for 09-20 Free indeed!

S:Galatians 5:13-16

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.


O: The moral standards of the law are not discarded or violated by Christians who are free from the law. For "the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good" (Rom 7:12). Freedom from the law is not license to break the law and pursue every selfish desire. No, freedom from bondage to the law is experienced by those who believe in Christ and are led by his Spirit. They use their freedom to serve one another in love. And in that loving service the high moral standards of the law are fully realized in their lives. Though the law is holy and good, since it is God's revelation of his moral standards for our lives, the law provides no power to overcome sin.

Only the power of the Spirit at work in us can enable us to overcome sin and fulfill God's moral design for our lives through loving service to others.

A: Apparently God is really wanting this "message" to write itself on my heart...something must be right under my nose and I've not seen it...Apparently He's trying to get my attention. Have I been too "busy" with the "things I should do" to make Him happy? Other than focusing on the Spirit, and what comes next in this passage.?. Have my eyes and heart been blind to the freedom? It would seem so, even though I feel nothing but gladness in serving Him, I feel as though my heart would burst with joy in my love for Him, and to talk with Him brings tears to mine eyes..it would seem, as I said, He's trying to get my attention..

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Fruit of the Spirit, I know of them, I've memorized them, but where am I with them?

P:
Love - Oh yes there is love. It is evident in every fiber of my being. Love for my Father, in how I live my life for Him, worship Him, Praise Him. Love for my family, my children. The deep and abiding love I have for my husband, who I feel more in love with now than ever, and I know it's because of the foundation we share. Love for my neighbor, love for my church, love for the needy, the poor, the downtrodden. My cup runneth over in love, and I thank Thee Lord!!

Joy - yes, joy is very evident in my life, I have truly found a way to find joy in all things.. There is much laughter, and much smiling, and delight in my family, and delight in You. For this I thank You Lord!

Peace - Peace, I would say I'm close...because it's not always evident. I would confess that my human side lets the troubles of this world "get to me" and I forget the peace that can only come from Him.. SO I will pray for more peace...

Patience - whoa, now this one is a tough one. I've prayed for patience, then had to put the brakes on, lol... Patience is hard!!! Patience is challenging! So apparently, more patience is needed. This too, will I pray for, but one at a time, there's only so much one can take on at once.

Kindness - Kindness makes me smile, kindness fills me, makes me happy. Could I use more of it? I'm fairly sure, because something very sad that I've noticed, but is very very true, is that we are kinder to strangers than we are to those closest to us. I do not want to be that way anymore. I don't want to feel "comfortable" with being "real" with my children and spouse. They are more deserving of my kindness than anyone else. How easy it is to let go of that with the ones you are most comfortable with and claim to love the most.. I must pray for this to be completely and not just partially fulfilled in my life. I think I would like this first...

Goodness - Inherently I feel that I am filled with goodness..I look inside and I know it is not perfect, but it is there. It is part of the love I feel for others, for the love I feel for my family, and for just taking this life as a way to serve and show God how thankful I am for all He's given me, by taking care of it, by nurturing it, and by loving it.

Faithfulness - Yes, faithfulness, just saying it makes me heart smile.. I search for more faithfulness. I pray for more faithfulness. I want more faithfulness. For here is something indeed I feel that I have, but in completeness? I would have to say no. For I know there are times when I lose sight of "who is doing the doing"...when I think "where are you Lord, in this thing?".. SO yes, another aspect revealed to me of something I definitely need more of... Okay Lord! Not too much at once, now, okay? But a healthy dose of Faithfulness would please my heart, and I pray for the Spirit to instill in me a stronger sense of Faith. And I pray that the Spirit never cease on this until I have achieved the Faith of a Mustard seed, for it would seem that this much even, I do not have...but apparently this much would be enough to great things with You... Lord I am not saying that I would stop there, only that it would be amazing enough to get to that point, and if and when I ever get there, Lord, we can bring this topic back to the table :)

Gentleness - Yes gentleness is at work, and I've seen changes over the years, but they've been slow... AHH!!! See? There it goes again, not gentle. I am a fiery spirit, I have energy, and joy, and excitement abounding, so how does one reign this in? Lord help me "understand" this thing before I ask for more of it. Help me see HOW You would have this be evident in my life..and help me see exactly WHAT gentleness is, for I'm afraid I've not been exposed to it, not seen it very much. Maybe I have it and don't know it? Maybe it's okay to be as exuberant and as most people reference it "bubbly and infectious". As long as infectious is a good thing I guess that's okay, but that's up to You. Lord, bring me a greater understanding here, because I truly need to know where this would take me, and what it means...

Self Control - Ahhh yes, self control... I would have to say that above and beyond most of the others, this is the one that has become the most obvious change in my life. No longer am I easily "distracted" by things.. No longer can I be swayed without it going to my "heart" first for a decision. Lord I Thank You for this, but at the same token, You have made me look inside once again, and see that not all is as it should be. My Anger Lord. It has come a long way, blame it on my Hispanic blood, but I have a problem that when I see something wrong, I am quick to flare up. Not against me, Lord, but when I see people wrong each other, or my children wrong each other, I fear that I do not have Self-Control in those areas, and I run in with both barrels blazing, ready to "nip it in the bud" and "lay down the law"... Did I just say the law?? Seriously... ok... I'm getting it..
More love, more understanding, less law...
Lord I pray for Self-Control to handle situations that need "discipline" according to Your will, Your way, Your grace, and Your love!! Lord I pray for this in Great supply, as these little children are Your children Lord, and I want Your help in raising them to be strong men of God. Do not let me mess this up, God!! You only give me one chance...help me in this area that You have once again, lovingly revealed to me.
All Honor and Glory to You,
Your faithful and "learning" servant,

Amen.

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly
*Sanctus Real*

Today....

Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice!!

Trying hard to remind myself of that today as I run down the list of things I must do....

Saturday, and I'm on my own around here with the boys, so I will just have to gitterdone!

First, I have to get everything trashworthy to the dump. No "City services" here, no sir! We do it ourselves, so I've got to get it all ready, and load up the truck...

Then, oh my word, the house... too many hours worked during the week, means not enough tidying was going on, it's not too bad, but it could sure use a good once over.. *sigh*

*He will bless the works of my hands*

Then, water.. .have to go to town to fill up our water...maybe I'll try to do that at the same time as the dump..we'll see what fits...

Ok, then I have to see to the plants and the animals... I picked up goat feed earlier in the week, now have to remember to unload it and put it in the shed..

Then there's the fence in the back yard. It's not broken or anything, it's just that the gaps in the fencing are too big and our puppy keeps slipping through the holes (sneaky little stinker)... so I'm going to see what I can do. We have extra fencing, so I'm going to see if I can overlap it and keep the little guy from escaping anymore..

What's next? Oh, well there's meals and laundry of course. The laundry is washed and dried, it's just in a pile the size of the astro-dome, and at some point have to fold it all and get it put away....

Maybe thats it.. that's not too bad, I s'pose... Going over to a friends house tonight so our kids can watch a movie and I can have someone to talk to for a little while...

Not much else to say about today, just going to pray my way through it and keep smiling, as always..

Read my bible this morning, but nothing major jumped out at me...so no SOAP for today, so I started my day right, with my daily dose of Him, so I know all will be well..

S.O.A.P. for 09-18 The Rock

S: Psalm 62:5-8

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.

O: My safety, my hope, my protection, my salvation, my refuge rests in one thing. One thing that cannot be changed, one thing that cannot be moved, one thing that cannot be compromised. That is my God, and through Him I can find things that truly make me whole, truly make me confident, truly make me steadfast. He is my rock. I will not be shaken , I will not be moved.

A: I must remember that it is not on the reliance of people that can make me feel "sure". It is not on the dependence of worldly things that makes me feel like it's going to be okay. I must remember that I can not put that pressure or expectation on another human. For I will be putting myself in line for disappointment. I must remember to love my brother/sister for who he/she is, and not look to them to help me be strong, for they have their own struggles. Yes we should be there for each other, but not on that level. Not on a level that only God can handle. He is the only one that can truly fulfill me, so I must remember to seek HIM first in all things, so I can build that fortress within me where HE can reside, so that I can truly feel, I will not be moved...I will not be moved... I will NOT BE MOVED!!

P: Father God, I love You, and thank You for new wisdom that you reveal to me each and every day. Lord, I see that my stability comes from no one but You. Not my friends, for they offer me nothing past this life. Not my husband, for he, too, is for this life.. and I must learn to love everyone for who they are, and that alone is difficult in itself, but then to put higher expectations on them, that my happiness and strength come from them? That is just not fair, considering we are all prisoners of sin, and I would just be setting myself up for failure. But YOU are truly dependable, infallible, and truly worth placing my hope, my trust, my fears, my heart, my life. Lord I thank You for Your word that continues to steer me, sometimes with that huge left turn at Albuquerque, and sometimes with a gentle nudge. You are my Rock. I pray that I continue to remind myself of this so that it becomes "written in stone" upon my heart.

In Jesus Name,
Amen..


On Christ the solid rock we will stand,
All other ground is sinking sand,
ON Christ the solid rock we will stand..
We'll climb on your back, take us to higher ground!!!
*Delirious*

S.O.A.P. for 09-17 The Law

Galations 3: 19+22

S: What then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed of whom the promise referred had some. *Is the law therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come because of the law. But the scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through Faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe...

O: My observation on this is that the Law that was created in the Old Testament was a set of laws to help bring us into a place of righteousness, if we were but able to follow them completely. However, after God watched us for a while, He could see that as a whole, as a society, even then we fell short of the mark, fell short of the Glory of God. He could see that there were but a few with the steadfastness and strength to fulfill these laws and that we were and still are prisoners of sin. So He devised a truly beautiful plan that would save us. Save us from sin, save us from ourselves, and lead us to Him... He sacrificed His one and only Son...to be the curse, to shed the blood, that would save us all, if we would only believe...

A: Here I see that it is by Faith, alone, that I have been saved. Yes, the old laws do mean something, they are vital, and teach us how to live, but living by them alone is not what will save us, no matter how "to the letter" we learn to abide by them. I must focus MORE on just having Faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and less on "do this, do that, and do the other or you're not good enough"... I don't know where it came from , but I do think to myself, if I don't do this, then God won't be happy...if I don't do that, God won't be happy, if I DO this God won't be happy... If I DO that, then He will be pleased...and then I measure others I see by those standards I have placed upon myself.. It's almost like I created my own set of laws to be worthy of Him..and have somehow made my own life a prison, instead of being able to revel in the joy and freedom that comes from knowing and loving and believing in my God. I must let go.. not to behave differently, for just having accepted Him into my life has changed my life, and I would never go back..but I must let go of the "standards" that somehow hold me captive more than they give me peace... It is by Faith in Jesus Christ that I have been saved and I must remind myself of that. This doesn't give me carte blanche to do whatever I want and to go, "Hey, I'm saved, what do I care?" NO, the bible reminds us that the laws are STILL important, it's just that they have taken second seat to the one thing that superceded them, that would lead us to salvation, where nothing else could, Jesus..Even Jesus still spoke of the laws, and upholding the Sabbath, so they're still there..

P: Father God, I pray to You with joy and thanksgiving that I am Saved. I am grateful for my salvation, and I rejoice in the fact that You knew that we were weak... You knew, and yet You never stopped loving us.. You KNEW and yet You still figured out a new way to save us. Your love must be so unimaginable, that to know I am loved that much by anyone is worth celebrating, and worth offering my life to. Father God, help me to see what truly matters in my walk, and the walks of others, and not get stuck and mired down in the details..so that I may shine and rejoice with You!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

What has washed away my sin...
Nothing but the blood of Jesus..

S.O.A.P. for 09-16 My Child..

Proverbs 23: 15-16.
My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.

O: How connected we are to our children, that when they behave negatively, oh how it can hurt our heart! Not only do we have to correct them, but we have to hurt for them as well. And it somehow makes us feel as though we've missed the mark somehow.. Oh, but when they get it right! Oh, when they get it right! Our hearts feel as thought they will explode from our chest, and our smile widens, and we just look up to You, Lord and say Thank You for that one! But do we remember to share that moment with the one that got it right? Does he/she know how you felt right then as a parent? Or did you look on, but hold it inside? How will they know? How will they know to do it again?

A: I need to remind myself always, that with the good comes the bad and vice versa. I am quick to "nip it in the bud" when something is wrong, but how quick am I to celebrate it when it's right? I need to keep myself in check with the positive re-enforcement as well. I know I try to, but what is the ratio? If they can feel the joy and gladness that they create when they do something right, won't they want to be in that place again? I do not want to let them down and leave them feeling empty for something truly well done, or well said. Let my tongue be quick to praise my children in nurturing the positive. I understand the need for discipline, but I can also understand the need for praise and encouragement as well. I must try to make the positive out-weigh the negative so that my children don't feel that is all they hear.
For I know that my God loves me, but His word doesn't speak incessantly of discipline, it speaks of His love, and His mercy, and His grace, and His sacrifice. Yes the rules, and "hopes" for us are in there, along with a wonderful, amazing, love. I an only hope that I make My Father's Heart Rejoice one day as well.

P: Abba Father, I come to you with Praise and Thanksgiving for who You are and for what You are doing, and for creating me to be a living vessel for You. I honor You and love You so very much. Lord, please help me to raise my children in a way that You see fit. Lord, touch my heart and remind me when I need to respond to something good in them. Sometimes, wrapped up in the business and chaos of life, I know I just "accept" the good and think to myself, whew, ok, at least they're being good right now. But did I say anything? Did I respond? Or did I just think it to myself, more as a relief that there were no problems at the moment. Once the bad happens, I'm quick to jump up and take care of it and verbalize...so what am I dishing out more of? Oh Lord, impress this on my heart that the scales should weigh much more on the positive, if that is the kind of person I want them to be. I beseech You to help me not be a burden to them, but an encouragement! Open my eyes and my heart to be responsive in all things...as You are responsive to me in all things.. Oh How I feel You rejoice within me when I've gotten something right. Oh, Lord, to be able to give my children that feeling... I'm truly sorry, and I thank you for revealing this need in our family. I know I do it, but Lord, I have to admit, I know I've not been doing it enough. Busy-shmizy, it's no excuse and I accept that and admit that and ask for Your forgiveness and Help.. Thank You for listening to Your child, and I pray to commit to being more Christ-like in "raising my children"...

In Jesus Name,
All Glory and Honor be Yours,
Amen

Getting my feet wet, once again....

Well Good morning... Almost 6 a.m., almost time to wake the youngens... and yet.. Here I am.. First off, let me apologize, I've been gone much too much too long. But it seems that I finally feel settled enough and compelled enough to get back in the saddle.

There's no excuse, to be entirely honest, considering my blog is Faith based, and tends to be directed at my Father, so for that I ask HIM for forgiveness from His child, who has been "busy" much to long.

So why now, you ask? I've no idea. Right now is possibly the worst time, but I feel it in my gut. He is calling me, asking me where I've been, and I just have to answer when my Father calls...

Right now, as most of you know, I am in the great state of Texas, in a tiny little, quaint, beautiful, conservative town called Utopia. We have a little house in the trees, where we have a few animals and have been growing some fruits and veggies... Trying to be more self-sustaining for a few "somewhat obvious" reasons.

Frankly, what's going on in the world scares the life out of me. Frankly, I am against almost everything that our government is trying to shove down our throats as if we were naive little children incapable of coherent thought and needing to be force fed. They behave as though because they've achieved the status that they have, that no one else is capable of "rational" thought as they are. Something to me feels...smells...looks fishy.. And you know what they say... if it looks like a fish, and smells like a fish... (sort of :) )

Anyway, back to life...my life...the one that has MY family in it, the one that has MY GOD in it, and the one that matters... Kind of why we're here. So the outside world and it's JUNK could affect it less, and I could allow My Father to affect it more... Without being compared to the neighbors and the kids at school, and "why do I have to do it this way? Johnny doesn't"...
Ladies and gentlemen, I have one shot to raise my kids and lead them along the paths of righteousness...I can NOT turn back time, I can NOT protect them from everything, but I can darned sure make wise decisions when it comes to how/where they will be raised. I CAN ensure that our ideals are the majority, not the minority, so that they grow strong and steadfast in their beliefs. Will it turn out as I hope?
Who knows, no one but GOD knows, but what I DO know is this.. I DO have to be pro-active, and not "let" life happen.. I DO need to live in such a way that reflects my beliefs and surrounds my home and hearth with His protection. And I DO need to rely on the Faith , that as long as I'm fighting, God is fighting with me, and that, my friends, makes it all worthwhile..

So here I am....once more.... SOAPS will be returning for your viewing pleasure ;)...along with any "special" stories that happen to my family along the way...
(Like the day we decided to drive home in reverse) LOL! But you'll have to be patient...as I said.. I'm just getting my feet wet.. :)

S.O.A..P. for 04/30/2009 Content with Who I Am.

S: John 1:6-9 & 26-27
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

O: John was fully aware of who and what he was meant to do, and he was content with that. People wanted to give him more credit than he deserved, and rather than be lured by that temptation, he remained firm. I feel proud of John in that moment, for many people in this day and age do not accept who they are and how they are bent. They continue to try and be something more, something that they're not..and it's sad to see for they will never feel truly happy. John understood he had a great commission to fill and he was steadfast, unwilling to be distracted or tempted. And therein, in God's eyes, was a truly great man. Even though he shared the Word, and was highly regarded, he never wavered from the thought and knowledge that he would be ushering in someone much greater than he. And he was good with that. As so should I be.

A: How do I see myself in the scheme of things? Have I been tainted to want to feel special? Or to be like everyone else? To have what they have? Do I take credit for things that only God should be deserving>? Do I say, thank you, when complimented for an achievement? Or do I say, Praise God... If my life is a constant battle to be "better" than who I think I am, then I'll never find contentment in who GOD made me. HE made me, HE designed me, and HE knows how best I can feel complete. Who am I to say I can go one better?

Do I realize that without Him and without honoring Him as I should and giving Him the credit for all the good things my life produces, that I'm robbing myself of true blessings? I must remember that I am who HE made me, I am made for the purposes HE gave me, and that all I do is for Him.

P: Father God,
Let me not ever take credit for things You have done in my life. You gave me life, breath, a beating heart. So every beat should be offered up to You in thanks. Every breath in thanks. Let me offer every note I sing up to You in honor of You creating the voice that would sing Your praises! I am just the vessel for it. I did not create it, You did. I pray I never take credit and want more than You have in mind for me. Let me be completely confident in who You've created me to be, and help me fill the shoes and play the role... I pray I do find the roots You have me seeking, that I may shine the most possible light for You and be Your lampstand.

My heart, my soul, my life, my family, my voice, my hands, my feet, I give to You, Oh Lord, My strength and My Redeemer.

In Jesus Name,
Amen


I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul
In the boondocks

I can feel that
Muddy water runnin' through my veins
I can hear that
lullaby of the midnight train
And it sings to me and sounds familiar

I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul
In the boondocks

I can taste that honeysuckle
And it's still so sweet
When it grows wild
On the banks down at old Camp Creek
And it calls to me like a warm wind blowin'

I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul
In the boondocks

It's where I learned about livin'
Its where I learned about love
Its where I learned about working hard,
And having a little was just enough
It's where I learned about Jesus
And knowin' where I stand
You can take it or leave it
This is me
This is who I am
Give me a tin roof, a front porch, and a gravel road
And thats home to me, feels like home to me

I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul
In the boondocks

You get a line I'll get a pole
We'll go fishin' in the crawfish hole
Five card poker on Saturday night
Church on Sunday morning
*Little Big Town*

S.O.A.P. for 04/26/2009 Who Am I?

S: Judges 6:15
"But Lord", Gideon asked, "How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Mannaseh, and I am the least in my family."

O: Gideon asks the Lord probably what anyone will and has asked the Lord. Who am I? I am no body. I am not powerful, nor do I have a place of status that people will listen to me. Gideon felt unworthy and too unimportant to be inpactful in any sort of way. How often do we feel the same>?

When God calls us or convicts us of something, how often do we say - "I can't do that!", or "How am I supposed to be able to pull that off?" or "They won't listen to me", "That's going to take more time than I have", 'That's way beyond what I'm capable of, "

Excuse me here, beyond what WHO is capable of?... It's not US He's asking to do something. He wants to do something THROUGH us, and because of our humbleness HIS greatness will be revealed!!! He is a genius! He's asking us to be His willing vessels so that HE may do those magnificent things and still reveal that HE is among us! So who do we think we are?

Have we robbed Him of HIS thunder & power when we toss something we've felt called to do aside? Have we prevented HIM from showing Himself to a world that needs Him? Have we accidentally kept more people from coming to Him because we haven't allowed Him to do what He wants to do? When did we start thinking it was us that did anything anyway? Have we forgotten that we can do ALL things through Him that strengthens us? Have we forgotten how to be His vessels and let Him do the impossible? Have we put Him in a box?

A: I MUST remember, I must FORCE myself to remember that nothing is too big or too small for my God! If I feel called to do something, then God has simply chosen me to be His vessel. So who am I to think it can't be done, when I won't be the one making the "magic" happen in the first place. Yes I need to be willing, and go forth in His will, but the greatness, Oh the greatness of that is ALL HIM!! Am I going to give up an opportunity to let God do something because I didn't think I was good enough to be the one to do it? Who IS good enough, for that matter, for we all fall short. How sad to think I may be a culprit for having prevented HIM from revealing Himself in His Glory somehow. How sad, indeed...

P: Lord God,
Forgive me when I doubt. Forgive me when in doubting myself, I've ultimately doubted You. How can I say I truly believe You capable of anything, when I won't let You show me!? Forgive my fear, and help me let You lead me. Help my heart be courageous enough to be Your vessel when You call, and help my Faith to remember that it is YOU and not my own knowledge that will put me where You want me.

How honored I am that You would also pick me - someone of little consequence to the world, and love me enough to want me to be Your vessel. How awesome, that You can take someone of little consequence, and make something Glorious happen! What genius to pick the lowly that Your light and Glory may be revealed and that no one could possibly think that Your humble servant could have done it without You! I love You and I hope to one day hear You say, "Well Done"...

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Who am I, that the Lord of all the Earth...
Would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt...

Not because of who I am,
but because of what YOU'VE done,
Not because of what I've done,
But because of WHO YOU ARE!!!!!

S.O.A.P. for 04-13-2009 Money Money Money

S: Luke 16:10&11
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust true riches?

O: When we handle what little we have according to God's will, be it money, time, family, walk, etc, then more will be added to us as we prove our ability to be good stewards. However, if we fail Him, we run the risk of being "downsized" and becoming unworthy.

A: Our character can often meet its match in money matters. God calls us to be honest in even trivial matters that we try to rationalize away. A new this, a new that, a better this, a cooler that, an improvement on something we already have that works perfectly fine.. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth, but if we are untrustworthy with our time, talents, or treasures, no matter it is, we will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom. Do I really want to feel as though God has declared me unfit? or Undeserving? Does that speak of the character I feel that I should have? What can I do differently to be considered a "good steward". What am I doing with my "extra" anything??? AM I sharing, helping, or am I immediately looking at what "I" can do with it? Next new handbag, nicer shoes, better tv, time to myself, catch up on sleep...versus a friend who's down and out, or someone that just needs a hug, or a hand, or an ear..... It's obvious which is of greater importance, but which springs to mind first? How could I possibly overlook those in need for my own selfish desires?

P: Abba, Father,

I humbly confess that if I have done this thing, please forgive me. I have not recognized it, but do see it as a heinous way to live with what you call "unrighteous mammon". You already know how lethal having it can be, and You call us to something better in the way we handle it, the way we spend it, the way we work to obtain it..because You DO want to bless us with more, if only we'd obey. Father, show me Your ways, and help me to never overlook a need when I am able to meet it. If I have surplus, then let me share. Father, please don't let me be that statistic that may never know Heaven's true riches. I pray that I have not let you down in the past, and please do not let me do so in the future. Help me keep my blinders on and never seek for more than I need, that I may always have something to share....

In Jesus Name,
Amen

S.O.A.P. for 04-04-2009 Martha Martha Martha!

S: Luke 10:41&42
And Jesus said to her,"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

O: Jesus was not blaming Martha for being concerned about household chores. He was only asking her to set priorities. It is possible for service to Christ to degenerate into busyness, tasks, and distraction that is no longer full devotion to God.

A: My life is in a whirl wind right now, I can't blink because my eyes burn in their tiredness. By back aches from tiredness. I was being a Martha. My head hurts from the stress....and I realized that I wasn't spending enough "quality time" with Him this week. So what to do? What to do? How do I set those priorities? , and then I stumbled on this scripture that I'd annotated to go back to, and just never found time to. Til Thurday night. Then it hit me. Just make it happen and all will be well. His Yoke is easy and His burden is light. I took it upon myself to be as simple as possible on Friday. I informed my boss that I would catch up, but unless something urgent came up, I'd be unavailable. I spent the morning reading my bible... I spent the next few hours outside at the picnic table with my kids, coloring eggs, talking, planting flowers, and just being "us". The rest of the day played out simply, stress-free, and wonderful. I thanked God at the end of my wonderful day, and I thanked Him for making me stop and smell the cacti.

P: Father God,
Thank You for Your constant reminders of what it is to live in step with You! Everything is so much more peaceful when it's all just about living in a way that would make You and my family smile. I must remember to not let my job, no matter if their is "extra" to be made, get the best of me. YOU and my family deserve the best of me, and how dare I offer You table scraps?! If I truly believe, then I KNOW that You will refresh, You will lighten my load, You will give me the energy when I think I won't have any left. How refreshed do I already feel after stepping back into Your light! How lovely is Your dwelling place!! Thank You so much.. I'm sorry that I allow life to get in the way sometimes, but I am also so very thankful that You don't let me wander too far before pulling me back in.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Cause it's not who you knew,
And it not what you did...
It's how you live...

*Turn up the music!!*

Thoughts on today

Thoughts on Today.....
I'm going bananas,
And I feel like my poor little mind is being devoured by piranhas,
For I'm going bananas.

I'm non compos mentis,
And I feel like a tooth being drilled, a nerve being killed by a dentist,
For I'm non compos mentis.

Who knows?
Could be the tropic heat
Or something that I eat,
That makes me gonzo.
I do carry on so, for I'm going bananas,
Someone book me a room in the hot hacienda with all my mananas
For I'm going bananas.

I'm going meshugga
All day long there's a man in my brain incessantly playing "Booga wooga",
But I'm going meshugga.

There's bats in my belfry.
Won't you make sure this straitjacket's tight,
Otherwise I might get myself free.
Yes, there's bats in my belfry.

Who knows?
Could be the wine I drink
Or it's the way I think,
That makes me gonzo.
Oh, Doctor Alonzo says I'm going bananas,
Someone get me a bed in the "Casa de Loco" for all my mananas,
For I'm going bananas.
Yes, I'm going bananas.
Si, I'm going bananas.

( I concur)

S.O.A.P. for 04-01-2009 UNITY

Unity

S: Luke 9:49&50
John said to Jesus,"Master, we saw someone using Your Name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't in our group." But Jesus said,"Don't stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you!"

O: Jesus was explaining that if the focus is on Him, it doesn't matter what group, what church, what clique, what town, what race you belong to. Don't fight or create dissention amongst yourselves when your goals and beliefs are the same. No group is better than the other if the focus and heart is on Jesus.

A: I must remember to love my neighbor and encourage my neigbor, even if he is not in my circle, or does not go to my church. If he is a believer, then he is my brother, no matter his status, his church, whether he attends the same bible study, listens to the same music... If his walk is in line with mine, then we should be united, whether or not God has placed us together... He is on my side. We are not wrong.... just different. :) We should honor and respect each other in those regards.

P: Father God,
Please remind me that if I know a believer, and that believer is "living the life" just as I am trying to, I must remember that it's okay that we go to different churches or are in different groups or associations. We can't just have one tremendosusly large group of like minded people or we would lose our diversity, and we would stunt our growth!! Neither of us is better than the other and we are on the same team so who cares about the "details". Help me to see in that light and respect and honor that person for their Faith. Help me to remember to "rejoice" and not try to sway to my way of thinking. There is beauty in the diversity that you've created and one person does not have it all "right". I love You dearly, and thank You for everything You bring to light, everything You offer, and everything You share with me.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

*They call us Diverse City, we're color for good,
It's like a freak show.. in your neighborhood.
SO if you wanna praise, you can come on down.
Cause this freak show, is leaving the ground*
Toby Mac

S.O.A.P. for 03/30/3009 Holy Example

S: Psalm 71: 7+8
My life is an example to many, because You have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare Your glory all the day long.

O: Everything I do...my words, deeds, moods, and actions are visible to many people, each and every day, and they set an example for those around me of the depth that God's presence has in my life.

A: I must remind myself at all times that all I do is a reflection of God in my life, and I have a HUGE responsibility in that I also have very young eyes looking to me to see what that should look like. I must figure out how to keep myself accountable and always show my devotion to Him so that I can be a GOOD example for those who would learn from me, or even simply be affected by the presence of my life in theirs.

P: Father God,
Help me to always keep You close so that all I do is a good reflection, a good example of Your influence ON me and IN me. Let it complete me so that You pour out of every orifice, showing everyone that You are a part of me, and I of You...That all I do is because of You, and all I have is because of You. Let me emote that in such a way that is an appealing thing, a magnetic thing, that would draw those around me to also want to walk in Your ways. I pray Lord, that I never act as a hypocrite, and never accidentally push someone away from You because of my example.
I pray that not only this applies to random people in my life, but more importantly , to my children, who will one day make these choices for themselves, and I can only hope and pray that You have enabled me to pave the way that they may have an even stronger, better relationship with You. I pray that through me and the way I live, they can experience an even better walk with You, giving You all the Glory, and living in ways that make You proud!

In Jesus Name
Amen

I wanna be just like You,
Cause (they) wanna be just like me.
I wanna be a holy example
For (their) innocent eyes to see.
Let me be a living bible Lord,
That my little (boys) can read...
I wanna be just like You
Cause (they) want to be like me..

*Phillips Craig and Dean*

S.O.A.P. for 03/12/2009 Friends

S: Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me how has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man, my equal; My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God together in the throng.

O: David here reveals our hearts. He understands that our enemies can hurt us and they will, but in a way we can quickly recover from for there is no bond there. We can quickly recover from those kinds of attacks. The TRUE hurts come when we are ignored, betrayed, or hurt by someone we thought we could trust and someone we share the same walk with.

A: I do understand that as a part of human nature we are kinder to strangers than we are to those that are close to us. We give our best to strangers so they can think how kind and wonderful we are and see our "best side", and in a matter of moments we can bare ourselves, and "quit" trying so hard when it's someone we do know. Why is that okay? Why is it okay when it's someone we know, to immediately turn our backs on them , when we know that their character speaks more strongly that their intention was NOT how we may have taken it? Shouldn't we have more faith in those we DO know, rather than in those we don't?

We don't apply that to marriage, and to me , that is what a friendship is, a marriage. What is takes to get someone to "marry" you, or to bring you into their circle, is what it takes to STAY there. If we quit trying all of a sudden, and begin to let words slip just because, or pride come in the door because we want to see if we're "better", or feel that because I had a bad day, it gives me permission to "vomit" - how is that other person seeing us? Do they feel like we care? Do they feel like we have been faking it this whole time just to prove to OURSELVES that we could get them to like/love us?? Did we really like THEM to begin with?? What message are we sending unintentionally to those we say we care for?

Have I changed in MY fervor to BE someone's friend? Have I quit trying and am just waiting on the other party to do all the work now? DO I feel like I've done my part and it's all smooth sailing from here? Am I the one creating the division by sitting idly by and not helping to fix what might be wrong? Am I getting my hands dirty and being real to those I love, giving them the benefit of the doubt in times of misunderstanding because I know the depths of their hearts??!! Am I forgiving 70 times 7?? Have I shut people out wrongly, slamming doors in faces, without trying to fix it first? What kind of friend am I? What kind of friend CAN I BE?

P: Father God,
There is honesty is my words as I confess that I have been more kind to those I don't know well, and have turned my frustration and hurt towards the one's closest to me. I am truly sorry as those should be the one's I love the most and give my best to. This doesn't mean that we can't be "real" and help each other in times of need, and resolve problems together, it's more in how we go about it. Help me to have a pure heart in everything I do.

If I am a friend of You, dear Lord - how can I manifest that better to others? I shouldn't get "lazy" just because I know my friends will forgive me, and I shouldn't vomit on those dearest to me with the excuse, "it's just me and I'm going to have to deal with it". No, Lord, I now see that when I behave that way, it's THEM that has to deal with it, and if I've caused pain to those I care about, Lord I am truly sorry, and I pray that they forgive me as well. I shouldn't behave badly just because I think "they'll understand", or that I can apologize later. If it's something I could have prevented, I shouldn't be having to say I'm sorry.

Lord, this takes me back to where I talked with You about giving me reminders in my life to keep my focus on You. Help me to place those reminders, as You are revealing my need for them in so many ways! Remind me that my love is an action, and I must never think, "we've made it" and stop giving it out because I've achieved something. A house not tended to will slowly fall, pipes will rust, paint fade. I must remain steadfast in my friendships, thank You for revealing that to me!

Lord also, as SOON as an ill feeling befalls me, get my attention Lord!! So that I may release it to you before behaving unjustly, and before reacting poorly. Let me give it to YOU so that I may respond to the situation in love! Please help me put the brakes on so I may not let anyone down unintentionally, Lord. I have little eyes in my life that are ever watchful. Help me to be a good example, and help me to never behave in a way that allows them to see me as lesser than I should be. Lord I love you, and I am walking in Your way more and more each day, and it takes effort, but the result is so joyful, and so meaningful. Let me apply that to my friendships and marriage Lord! Father, most of all, I pray that you never permit me to be that friend that David was speaking of.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

And a friend's a friend forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
For the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go,
In the Father's hands we know
that a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends..
*Michael W Smith*

S.O.A.P. for 03/23/2009 Traveling on....

S: DEUT.1:6-8a
The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: "You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; GO in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers."

O: God was telling them that their time in the desert was done. They were to obey Him and move on to what was promised to them. They were to demonstrate their Faith and obedience and just "go" because the Lord said it was time. God was reminding them of his covenant with them, telling them that it was time. These people now had a responsibility to simply obey & follow through so that God could also follow through Himself. They were expected to just have Faith and see what wonderful things the Lord would give to them if they would just obey, believe, and follow.

A: If God prods me to move, how tightly do I try to hold on to the things I already have to try not to? How diligently do I fight to stay right where I am , when maybe there's something more, something bigger, just around the bend, but instead of seeing it as an adventure, in my selfishness to hold on to what I have managed to gain at this point, I've become more "chicken", then strong. It takes more strength and courage to sacrifice what I call "mine" to obtain something bigger!!! God expects so much more from me, and He has great plans, and holds great promises for me, if I would only go where He sends me...if only I would trust and obey.

How hard do I work to keep things the same, when God may be shaking His head at me because He has so much MORE to give me that I may be ignoring by not being "willing". What if God is telling me I'm ready for something more? When God tells me to break camp and move out to face a challenge that He has given me, will I be ready to obey? For just the chance at something bigger, something more wonderful, even if it's just a lesson that helps me get that much more closer to Him, will I be able to let go of what I've been clinging to so tightly? Is what I've been clinging to worldly? And does it really matter in the whole scheme of things? I need to heed the Lord's call on my life and be willing to go "where He sends me" no matter the cost, because the reward could so easily outweigh the cost! Praise God! I must be willing to sacrifice what I have in order to make room for what may lie ahead!

P: Abba, Father,
Glorious, loving Father. I love You so very much, and I thank You for the careful and sometimes uncomfortable leading. I thank You for always bringing fresh opportunities for growth into my life, I pray that I may never miss out on one for the sake of staying "safe". I pray that my heart may always be courageous enough to go when and where you lead me. You have a great plan and a great reward for those who would but trust and obey. My life is just training for something bigger and more wonderful than I can even comprehend!!

I pray that I never lose sight of the prize, and that I never hold on too tightly to things of this world, so that I may easily let go in order to follow You. Help me learn to obtain real treasures that I may take with me into eternity with You, Father! Let me never hold on to things that will turn to dust, and let me ever keep my eyes up and focused on You, that I may follow You, and never be distracted by glitter. Father, I pray for the Faith to know that wherever You take me, there You will be...

In Jesus Name,
Amen

I will follow Him
Follow Him whereever He may go
And near Him I always will be
For nothing can keep me away
He is my destiny

I will follow Him
Ever since He touched my heart I knew
There isn't an ocean too deep
A moutain so high it can keep
Keep me away
Away from His love

I love Him, I love Him, I love Him
And where He goes I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow
I will follow Him
Follow Him wherever He may go
There isn't an ocean too deep
A moutain so high it can keep
Keep me away!
*Leslie Gore*

S.O.A.P. for 03/11/2009 Reminders

S: Numbers 15:37-41
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord, instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord, your God!"

O: God was teaching them a way to remember Him and His commands through living daily life when not in His presence. He knew they would falter and knew they'd need ways to refocus on Him constantly throughout living daily life. What he offered was genius. A real, touchable, visible reminder that would be close to them, that would be with them all through their daily chores, tasks, living, to "keep them in check", because as they glanced at this item, it would force their thoughts on Him. He knew we'd need these tools, and knew we'd falter without something because He had already states "as we are prone to do". He knew the human condition, and was trying to offer tools to fight against that to be better people.

A: What can I bring in to my life that can help keep my focus on Him? I need to think of valid, "user friendly" ways of forcing my mind to refocus on him throughout my day. Maybe I can place index cards with scripture on my bathroom mirror, and over my visor in the car. Maybe I can choose one "odd" thing to bring into my world that will have no other relevance than serving as a reminder of Him. I don't know that I'll make tassels and start attaching them to my clothing, but what can I replace that with? Food for thought here, but very applicable, and very smart.

Wow, I'm continually amazed at how well our creator knows us, and how difficult He knows it is to apply something to your life continually, especially something that goes against our sinful nature! But He offers us tools! He offers us second chances! He offers us His Word! How can I NOT try to find ways to force His presence into every moment of every day, that even in the smallest moments, washing the dishes, I can be fellowshipping with Him! What a smile that brings to my face to know I can take every step of my walk with Him, if only I figure out how to make that happen! It's right there!

P: Father God,
How amazing and wise You are! You share these pearls of wisdom with us, that after reading, I sometimes feel like slapping myself in the forehead with a big "duh!" "Why didn't I think of that?" Lord, You know me and my nature, but You also know my heart. You know the depths of my heart and You know I long to serve You, I long to abide in You, I long to feel the joy of a complete walk with You, in Your presence, according to Your ways!! Oh just to know I've made you smile at some point along my journey would give me such peace and satisfaction! But Oh, to make You smile over and over again!

Lord I pray that You would reveal to me viable ways to bring You into my life every moment of every day. Lord I also ask for You to give me the tools that will serve as the reminders through my day to keep my focus on You! Lord, help me to think of the things that can make this happen! Bring into my mind the ideas that You would offer to me, a willing heart, who wants to share every part of my day with You, and who knowingly does NOT do that as well as perhaps I could, and for that I'm so very sorry.

I confess I do not abide with You as I should, and I confess that I haven't figured out how to make myself refocus on You, or have things to serve as reminders about me to help me with that task! My request is for Your wisdom to shine on me so that I may discover ways to keep my eyes on You. I thank You for listening, I thank You for loving, I thank You for teaching, each and every day , through Your living, breathing Word.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

S.O.A.P. for 03/10/2009 Denial

S: Mark 14:71+72
Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!" A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept.

O: According to scripture, Peter indeed denied Christ 3 x's in a certain span of time, not long after having said He would die with Jesus! After having denied Him, Peter recalls Jesus' words and the pain and guilt of what he'd done became evident.

A: My App is this: How quick are we to condemn Peter and judge him for something that we do so easily, almost on a daily basis! What I notice here is that Peter is strong when in the presence of Christ, but weak when separated from Him. Much like us! When we are in the presence of God, in His Word, daily, abiding in His presence, how much easier it is to be joyful, loving, strong, and committed to walking in His Ways to glorify Him! At the same token, when we are NOT in the Word, NOT seeking Him, NOT wanting to be in His presence whenever we can, how easy it is now, intentionally or unintentionally, to deny Him by our thoughts, our words, and/or our deeds! We are just as guilty as Peter.

Peter is the prime example of seeing what happens to us when we fall away from His presence (reading, studying, journaling, praying) daily, and when we separate ourselves by feeding ourselves worldly pleasures and let the Evil One lead us astray, even in small ways. Are you inviting Him in as much as you should? Or are you inviting the things of this world to take up residence in your heart where Christ should be moving in? By not "following the rules" we, too, are denying our Lord and Savior, Our God, in small but very evident ways, for what is in us spills out into others around us, and most times, if it is worldly coming in, what's coming out is not loving.

When I feel angry by a sin I see, most often times it is because I have not addressed that sin in myself, and want to remove myself as far away from it as possible. Unfortunately, we must admit, that we ARE like the disciples that we are so quick to become angry with, because all of us have been guilty of denying Christ in vital areas of our lives.

Take an account of yesterday. Did you say something you wish you hadn't? Did you spend more time for yourself than for Him or someone you love? Did you go out of your way to do something "nice"? Let your life speak in ways that do not deny the One you've chosen as your Savior.

P: Loving, Merciful Father,
Please forgive your servant! Lord, I'm getting better, but I do recognize the difference in my behavior when I've not been in Your presence, and for that I'm truly sorry, and confess with my mouth this thing. I pray for Your forgiveness for behavior that is not befitting the "Bride of Christ". I DO love You and seek You and seek to walk in Your ways all of my days, so Lord, help me to commit to entering into Your presence daily, so that I may never be far enough from You to let my behavior reflect that.

Lord, hold me close, for it is never my purpose to deny You, but intentional or not, You still see it as sin and I must learn to focus on staying close to You. I must not falter! I've come so far, and there's still so far to go, but I notice and love the changes in myself, I feel You more and more! I pray that I never open a window for the Evil One to climb into the gap I've provided. I confess that I have been like Peter, Lord, but I also vow to grow beyond this, and in this lesson You've revealed to me, may I completely learn to abide in You, and You in me, that I may never deny You again! I'm sure I may still stumble, Lord, but just know that I will always try to get back on the right path that leads back to You.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

I will stumble
I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes
I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved
*Natalie Grant*

S.O.A.P. for 03/09/2009 Where is the faith?

S: Numbers 13:31-33
But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

O: These men lost their faith in God's promise to lead them to the land promised to them, and they did so very quickly! All it took was a glance at the people currently living there and they were ready to tuck their tails and run! God lead them to a land HE promised them, and yet they still lost faith and refused to believe that HE would see it through! How great is the human paralyzing fear that even freezes us from believing someone ALL Powerful, who placed the stars in the sky, who delivered them out of slavery, who created the heavens and the earth may not be able to deliver them in to the land HE promised them. They even began to gossip and spread rumors to spread the fear among all the peoples so that all of them would lose their faith in God!

A: How quickly we lose faith when the "going gets tough" when what we really should do is be MORE faithful! God never said the road ahead would be easy, He did promise to be there with us. God's promises are not mere words to be tossed aside, they are true everlasting covenants. If there's anyone whose word means everything it is His. He is all powerful and our creator, so who are we to doubt His abilities, when we wouldn't be here without His mere desire. How can we doubt that He will not fulfill His promises when He leads us somewhere. If God leads me / compels me to do something, I must have the faith that He will help see me through, and that together we can make it happen if I remain faithful. He alone can make the impossible possible. I must simply believe that and have the faith that He can do what He says He's going to do.

P: Father God,
I know You to be all powerful and magnificent. My love for You grows and grows each and every day. I value Your precious Word and Your promises. Father, help me to never doubt Your leading, or Your call on my life. Even mores so, help me to never doubt that You'll see me through anything that gets in my way. Lord, let me be courageous and never want to run away from the "tough times". Lord, You are capable of all and You know what I'm capable of. Lord, I pray for a brave heart that has the faith to always trust and obey! Lord, grow my confidence for if I believe, I must wholly believe, and in so doing, it will come to pass according to Your will! That is glorious, Lord!

Forgive me for the times I question You and falter, Lord. Forgive me for the times that I think the challenge is too hard, and remind me that You are by my side, each step of the way. Just help me step strong. Let all I do be according to Your will that our paths may run together to glorify and honor You and I pray I never run away.

In Jesus Name
Amen



When all around me starts to fall and when my faith it seems so small
Even in my darkest hour, I will believe
Even if the sun begins to fall, even when I feel nothing at all
Even if I'm all alone, I will believe
*Mainstay*

S.O.A.P. for 03/08/2009 Sweet Fragrance

S: Mark 14:3-9:
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating,[a] a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

O: This woman had done something truly beautiful, touching, personal, for Jesus, whom she apparently loved dearly. The disciples, however, didn't see the "heart of the matter" and were more worried about the money that could have been made off of said sacrifice. Jesus reprimands them, reminding them that he would leave them soon, but they still did not understand. He understood the offering, and felt the love that was poured out from this woman, as her perfume was poured out on Him. He goes on to ensure that this one task, this one act of love, would be recorded and remembered throughout history! She would leave a beautiful legacy behind just by having played such a small part in the greatest story of all time.

A: What prompted her to do this? Maybe even she didn't know how significant this act of love was and yet, here Jesus proclaims that her story would endure. Maybe Jesus is expressing to us that what we do doesn't have to be big to be remembered, that maybe it's the smallest things that can mean the most, the one's done out of pure love and affection for our brother that will be more remembered that just a hand out. Yes, maybe she could have sold the perfume and fed everyone for a week, but would that have been AS special as something personal and truly affectionate? Would that have been worth remembering? Jesus could have fed them, but he couldn't have anointed himself for burial. She felt compelled to do so. How can we express God's love to those around us in real, physical ways? How can we literally touch someone? I feel as though it has become too easy to do something from a distance, rather than rub the shoulders of one who has had a tough day, hug someone dearly, "wash someone's feet". Somehow the "person" has been removed from the word "personal" and we see that more as of leaving a note, slipping some cash in, sending an email to just one person. hmmm.... Something is wrong with that picture.

Proverbs 29:7 says Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of friends counsel that comes from the heart.

P: Father God,
I love You so much, and cannot comprehend how it even grows day by day, when each day is just so glorious when walked in Your sight. I pray that I may learn to live my life as a sweet fragrance of Your grace, so wherever I go, I leave a piece of that fragrance in other's lives, building a true legacy, a story that will remain and teach other's of how they too can leave a fragrant mark reflective of You! Lord, help me be as this woman, help me to pour out my all to You, in all ways. Let me be a fragrant offering to You. You poured Your grace on me as a sweet smelling perfume, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere! In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ, that exhales into God, discernible and different in aroma to those who are saved, and those who would perish; to the latter it is an aroma as death to death; to those who are saved, it is an aroma of life to life! And who is qualified for these things?


You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped His love all around me.
And you don't know the cost of the oil in my Alabaster Box.
*Cece Winans*