midweek check

well...how's the power going? If knowledge exudes itself (is that the right word there?!) in thankfulness, what am I thankful for? I'm glad you asked, here are a few things that come to mind:

• fresh sheets, clean towels (that smell so nice!), a warm bed to climb into (though recently mine has been pretty cold--where did summer go?)
• family
• hope that rests in something and somone other than myself
• the process of learning
• little encouragements along the way
• heartfelt hugs

...and the list certainly could go on, but for tonight I'll just leave it at that. Don't forget to use your power this week!

knowledge is power!

This week...
-studying, reading, studying, an exam
-a Trustee dinner
-more reading and writing
-teaching
-speaking at the Heritage Ladies Retreat--and what a great time we had centered around the Word and a series entitled, Come As You Are. I spent Friday night and Saturday with a wonderful group of ladies as we thought through the concept of coming to God. Wow, there's so much to say, but one of the things I will remember are all the poses they came up with to communicate the idea of "come". It was inspiring.
-studying and preparing for the bible study class this morning
so...that was last week and this week started with the phrase, "knowledge is power". Ever heard it before? We are on week 4 of our series in our Wellspring Bible Study class entitled, "What do you know?" We are looking at some of the places in Scripture where God says, "know this..."
Psalm 100 is a "Psalm of Giving Thanks" and all centered on the knowledge that the LORD is God--He has made us and cares for us as our Shephard. That knowledge results in the power to respond to my circumstances with out loud, outpouring, and out in the open thanksgiving.
So, as we start the week...how about it? How about using the knowledge that the self-existant, covenant-keeping YAHWEH is God to help you respond with thanksgiving? We can start by just being intentionally thankful to God. What if God always treated us like we do children when they are given something--"What do you say?" Perhaps we have lost the art of being a grateful people, and perhaps it is because we have forgotten who it is that is REALLY in control.
I'm off to do more reading. Know this week that there is Someone in control and that He cares for you abundantly, no matter what your circumstances may seem to say about that. Know the LORD is God...and be thankful.

did you hear that?

...it was me sighing :) I'm up late studying for my OT exam...oh so much to know...oh so little time. How is it I should be able to cram 2000 years of history information into my brain in just these 4 weeks?! Needless to say, I can't "talk" long tonight, my notes are calling me. But I did want to mention something that happened this week.
Have you ever had a related thought that was so clear, it must have been God's Spirit making a connection? Well, this week was one of those "connections" for me. We finished studying the prophets this week and I have been struck with their consistency in following God's directives and allowing Him to work His plan. In the midst of all the reading I recalled how as a coach and teacher I have intentionally put players and students in positions for learning purposes. That "move" is usually accompanied with the statement, "It will be good for you." Well, there I was working my way through the prophets when the thought crossed my mind,...actually more like pitched a tent and camped out...that God was saying to me in the midst of my circumstances, "it will be good for you." Can't help but smirk at that. God is intentionally working on my behalf; and its always going to be good for me. It certainly was a welcomed reminder.
The other light bulb for me this week was that what we are going through is not always about us. We are so tuned in to our own spirituality and growth process sometimes that it can almost be selfish. The prophets followed God's instructions no matter what, but many times it really wasn't about them and their personal spiritual growth; it was God's way of communicating to those around them. When times are hard, or good for that matter, it may not always be about me—sometimes it is for the benefit of those watching.
all right...back to those prophets.

here we are again

...at the start of another week. Its Sunday night and before I head off to bed I can't help but look back over the past week with all its pressures and smile knowing that God has indeed been faithful to bring me to this point. My reading for my online class got done, though it was later than I usually like; my teaching prep and classes all happened (though the content changed in the middle of one of them!); we had a great time at Palisades Community Bible Church yesterday; our Wellspring bible study class went well today and ....here I am getting ready to get up and do it all again, should God give me another day.

The theme of God's timing has been "popping up" recently. All the reading I've been doing in the prophets certainly has had something to do with that. Then, listening to several women tell their story of God's grace in their lives and how He has brought them all together at their church was a great reminder of God's continual working...and His continued working.

So, this week as I begin and face whatever it is God has planned I want to be aware of His work and His time, and be intentionally yielded to it. I know He has my best and His glory in mind. Now I've just got to get that out of my head and anchored in my heart so that it overflows in my life.

We sang a song in church today that "gets me" everytime. I believe the title is, "Who May Ascend". The chorus says,
So do what You will,
do what You want
We have decided to trust You only
We want to be wherever You're wanting,
You are the Lord of our lives
Another section states,
Lord, not my will, but Your will, let this be my cry

No matter what is going on, I want that to be my heart's resolve. Its ok that its hard, God knows, He sees, and He is at work--in His way and His time.

I hope your week makes Him look good! Here we go again...

its Wednesday

I'll admit it. This morning I was really feeling it...not the good "it", but the overwhelmed, so tired don't really want to think but will do what i have to do anyway, "it". Wednesday's are my longest day of the week with the way the classes are scheduled, and I affectionately refer to it as the "day from...God" :) Truly, I know God is faithful and will work His plan, but this morning as I was talking to Him, my heart was heavy and I was asking for some kind of encouragement.
My grad school course "Bible Overview" reading is in most of the prophets this week and I had already determined I would NOT be doing school work reading for my quiet time today. I needed something...I needed Him. I decided to turn to Isaiah 40 and 41. In His own wonderful way God's Spirit connected with mine to remind me (not rebuke me, mind you) of His strength. He is plenty big enough, and strong enough, and mindful enough, and loving enough to care for what He has orchestrated in my life right now.
Isaiah 41:10 is my Gram's favorite verse. She is 96 and you can't talk with her for 10 min without hearing her quote it to you. "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There isn't much more that needs to be said. I know He's there. And I'm so thankful for His grace that is so gracious in my weakness. I hope the verse was an encouragment to you too.

fresh breath

Its Labor Day weekend--I remember when all that really meant was that you shouldn't wear white shoes anymore, the pool would close soon, there would be a cook out for dinner and school would start soon. Now--you can do fashion as you see fit, schools start before this weekend, I'm not too sure about the pools...but there are plenty of cookouts happening. I need to find one of those tomorrow.
Yesterday I was invited to a friend's lake house. In the midst of all the busy-ness and time crunching, I thought it would be a good idea to take some time to just be...and I'm so glad I did. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. I sat on the dock and did some homework (c'mon, I can't take the whole day away!) but spent most of the day just admiring the beauty and peace. We went out on the row boat (which had a distinct zig-zag pattern when it was my turn to row!)--a blue sky with some clouds, light breeze, friends, and to top it all off we saw an eagle soaring above. I'm so thankful for the fresh breath again in the midst of what seems close to overwhelming circumstances.
Today in our sunday school class we started a series: What do you know? We'll be looking at passages in the Bible where God says specifically that we are to know something in particular. Today we studied Deuteronomy 8, particularly verse 5. Our big idea for today was: When times are hard, God is at work. Again another reminder that what life looks like right now is all under my Father's control and serves purpose whether I understand it or not.
So, here I am on the verge of another week. I'm so thankful for the fresh breath and reminder for my soul that I am not forgotten and that all this does indeed have a point. Tomorrow morning, should God give me breath, I intend to use it for His intentions. Of course, now that I've said that all of life will be screaming at once, but this too is God's discipline (Deut 8) and building in me endurance (Heb 12:1-17). For now though, I think I'll get ready for bed and get some rest.
God is good...all the time. Breath deep.

daily life

I wonder if Joshua ever felt overwhelmed. That's probably a silly question considering the tasks at hand and who he was working with. But sometimes its easy to forget the people we read in the Bible were real with everyday issues and the people they had to rub shoulders with had issues too. I'm sure Joshua had a few things on his plate to care for and I'm not so sure he had any spiritual secrets, he just did life daily.

I'm taking a grad class these next few weeks called "Bible Overview". This week we're studying, among other things, Joshua and Israel's beginnings in the promised land. I have to admit that the start of the new semester of teaching, and taking a class, along with the remodeling in the basement, prepping for speaking weekends coming up and the prep each week for sunday school has definitely begun to take a toll on my mind and emotions.
But like Joshua I am seeking to rely on God's presence and remain strong and courageous to just do what He calls me to do today, and leave tomorrow for another day's concerns. I am tired, but He has promised me the strength I will need to do what He asks of me...so with that in mind I'm trying to not waste that strength on other things--wrong thinking or emotions, worry, etc--and try and remain focused on what I have to do for today.

now where did I put that to-do list?