Marvelous Monday

Good Monday to you all!  We had an awesome weather weekend that was almost like Spring!  God just likes to tease us a little here and there I think.  This Monday I am marveled at the privilege that we've been given as believers to pray for the lost.  Our church is starting a 40 day of prayer journey that is focused on praying for the lost.  We've even got a book on it (there's a book for everything you know) called Praying Effectively for the Lost by Lee Thomas.

I must first confess that I just got the book yesterday and glanced at it.  But I plan to start reading it today.  One of the things I did read while skimming over it yesterday was the fact that, as Christians, it is our responsibility to pray for the lost:

'Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19).  Likewise, we should only do what we see our Lord doing, and what He is doing-"He ever liveth to make intercession" (Hebrews 7:25).   We make a grave mistake by labeling some Christians as intercessors.  This tends to imply that the rest of us are relieved of the responsibility-NOT SO!  All of us are to do what we see our Lord doing-praying for others'.  (Quoting Lee Thomas)

What a humbling thought.  I never thought about it that way.  Sure I'd pray that so and so would come to know the Lord, but never really thought that my prayer could make a difference.  I'm looking forward to what these 40 days will bring.  Maybe a little nervous that He'll put someone in my path that needs to know Him.  I say nervous because I've never led anyone else to Christ and wonder if I'd know what to say!  But I know if He wills me to speak to someone and He has opened their heart to receive His word that He'll give me the right thing to say.

Isn't that the reason that I am here in the first place?  Well, besides to glorify Him.  But in leading others into His kingdom I am glorifying Him in one of the greatest ways possible!  I'll let you know what other insights I gain when I finish reading the book.  And you know I'll be sure to share what the outcome of the 40 days of prayer are for myself as well as our church family!
'

'Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.'  James 5:16

 



Hope in Things Unseen

HOPE.  How can such a small word have such BIG ambitions.  Paul talks of it throughout the New Testament.  We speak of it daily.  But what is it really?

According to Webster, hope means to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence.  Don't you love that?  Paul was willing to suffer because of his hope of resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:6).  I must confess that in my times of doubt I've wondered if maybe Paul wasn't just a tad bit insane.  Who in their right mind would endure the trials that he did?  Especially for something or Someone he'd never seen?  Then I found the passage in 1 Corinthians (15:8) where Paul writes that Jesus appeared to him.  Whew!  For a minute there I had questioned his sanity!

But wait a minute!  What about me?  I believe in this unseen Jesus.  I would lay my life down for Him...the hope of Him.  Does that make me crazy?  Unbelievers would look at me and think so, but for those who have faith in the unseen because of the testimony of those who did see Him-they know I'm crazy- for Him!  I expect with confidence that the things the apostles and others wrote about Him are true.  I expect with confidence that His Word is true.  I desire with expectation that I will obtain the eternal life in Him that He has promised to me.

 'Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.'  Romans 8:23-25

I am hopeful that you'll take the above verses and make them your prayer for today.  Hope in Him and what we know to be true.  Wait patiently for Him with eager expectation that we will obtain the ultimate goal--eternal life with Him, Jesus Christ.

Waiting on a Miracle

OK, I am going out on a limb here and putting these pictures out for the world to see.  These are not my best days...most of you know that our third son, Charlie, was born six weeks early.  I went to work one Monday and came home a week later with a little, bitty, tiny baby boy!  I thought I'd share some of the pictures that serve as a reminder to me of how great my God is.



Waiting and praying to make it to the magic 34 week mark!



Made it!  Time for action!



Yes, that is a look of fear and wonder at this little miracle.




Relief and thankfulness.




Sweet Charlie at 4 1/2 months

 I must say that I was utterly devastated when my water broke early.  I searched the Word and He gave me this passage:

Psalm 127



Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
 Children are a heritage from the LORD,
offspring a reward from him.
 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.

And I knew that no matter what all would be well because He was in control!



Tuesday's Unwrapped

I went to Bible study last night and the small group leader said something that was a 'TaDa' moment for me.  She mentioned that one of the biggest schemes of the devil was the sin of distraction.  That is the reason that God had me choose tonight to start attending the study.  I needed to hear those words-sin of distraction!

I mean this could be my T-shirt.  I was just distracted for a good five minutes looking for some sort of picture to demonstrate what I meant by distraction!  And I'm fixing to spend another five looking up the definition :-)

Distracted:  Unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied.

Isn't that the definiton of just about everyone in today's society.  We are just preoccupied all the time.  With our family, our jobs, our needs, our wants, our fears, our schedules...and on and on.  It's just too much.  I think Satan uses our distracted lives as a ploy to get us away from our time with Him.  "I just didn't get to the bible study tonight because I was late getting home".  Or "I just didn't have my quiet time this morning because I turned on the TV and got distracted by what was on the news".  God warns us in Scripture that Satan is real and he's on the prowl:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

Take this to heart today.  When the distractions come remember the enemy is on the prowl and he's looking to do anything he can to get us 'distracted' and away from our time with Him.  Make the choice not to let the distractions of life get in the way of growing your relationship with Him.  I know I have and I am thankful that I had the 2x4 slapped to my forehead kind of 'duh' moment and recognized my distractions for what they were.  Praying the same for you today...

Marvelous Monday

Monday just seems to come way to fast!  Seems like we were just here...oh well, Happy Monday again!  We spent an awesome weekend skiing in Beech Mountain NC with a great group of kids.  The roads were hazardous (to say the least) and it COLD (in the negative with the wind chill), but the kids weathered it with ease!  Us older folks took it a little harder.  But we made it and are none the worse for wear.

My thoughts for this Marvelous Monday are centered around the time that we spent around these young people this weekend.  I must confess that at first I wasn't that excited about going.  We were taking our two oldest boys and leaving the baby with my parents.  I also knew that I would be doing all of the cooking and really wouldn't get any rest.  But as we got started out Friday afternoon the attiudes of the kids really lifted my spirit.  My kids were well-behaved and the fellowship was sweet.

As far as the cooking went, I was still the one that did it, but I didn't mind.  I like to serve people and know that I helped to make their time just a little bit better (hopefully, at least no one got sick-I don't think).  I think that this was one of those times where it was OK to be more like a Martha than a Mary.  I also know that the kids saw my servant attitude and I hope that I may have showed them a little bit of Jesus in me.

      

            'Here a dinner was given in Jesus'

            honor.  Martha served,' John12:2

Poor Martha seemed to always be the one serving, but I don't think she minded.  I believe that serving others was her gift.  Something she was good at and proud to do for her Savior.

I went into the weekend with a negative attitude, but was very quickly reminded that He has placed us in the role of youth leaders at this time.  I don't know why, but He does and I need to follow my hubby's lead and be his helpmate.  Knowing that for right now...in this moment...in this one thing I am in His will  makes for a very Marvelous Monday for me!

           "I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”  Psalm 40:8



I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy...

down in my heart, down in my heart to stay!!  Do you remember that song from Children's Church?  It kinda went on and on as you could just keep adding verses.  As an adult, I look at those words and wonder do I really have the joy in my heart?  Way down deep...to stay?  The real kind of joy.  The kind that you had when you were that child singing the lyrics to a song?

What a question!  How do I know if I have true joy or the fake pasted on kind?  That started me on the hunt for the definition of JOY:

 the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : Delight

Don't you love that?  What is it that your heart desires?  Is it Him or something else?  To possess true joy our only desire has to be for Him.  Our delight should be for Him alone.  Not our spouse, children, worldly possessions or success.  The joy that only He can bring is indescribable, boundless, unending...I want that in my life, don't you?
  
    Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

So how do I get it this delight?  Is it just an emotion or is it a choice?  It can be both.  I can feel joy when I am happy and things are going my way, but what about when my world goes crazy and things are upside down?  Am I still joyful?  Do I still delight in Him?  My honest answer would be no...my emotions wouldn't be 'happy, happy, joy, joy".  But I could make the choice to be joyful in him regardless of my circumstances.  That is where pure joy comes in.  No matter what happens around me I choose to remain joyful in Him.

As the beloved apostle Paul wrote in James 1:2-3:

 

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

 

Surely after all that he had gone through for the gospel and he still counted it as joy-we can to!  Make the choice today to be joyful no matter what your circumstances.  It is hard to do, but Jesus never promised us an easy road, did He?

Gotcha!

Happy Gotcha Day Zachary Carlos Morrison!

On this day six years ago, Mommy and Daddy landed in Guatemala City with such a sense of 'What if'!  We got to the hotel (Praise God...if you've ever ridden in a taxi in a foreign country-you know why) and had no idea what to do or what to expect.  We finally got the call that you were there...papers and all!

This is what we found:

It was like you had been with us all along.  You cried for about an hour and then you were done.  You were ours and I think you knew it.

And oh the joy you've brought to us and everyone around you these last six years.  You are a blessing from God and we are so proud that you know Jesus is your Savior and He lives in your heart.  We will cherish every moment that we have with you and we know that He has special plans for our sweet baby boy!

I love you child of my heart!

'Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.'
Psalm 127:4

Tuesday's Unwrapped



one of the first glimpes
of our boy!



Happy Tuesday!  Around the Morrison house excitement is building...at least for one very happy, sweet, spoiled six year old!  Gotcha Day is tomorrow!  I know you're wondering what in the world that is...Zach's adoption day.  In honor of him on this Tuesday I want to unwrap a mother's love...

'He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD'.  Psalm 113:9

And a happy mother of children is this one!  I love my boys, all three of them, equally.  How can I love a child that I did not carry for nine months or birth?  Good question!  That is the mystery of a mother's love.  It is not conditional as to what type of child she has:  biological or adopted.  The first time I laid eyes on our Zach (before, even) I KNEW he was mine.  I loved him with a fierce and powerful love.  Just because he was not of my flesh and blood changed nothing.

Isn't it wonderful how God put an endless supply of love into a mother's heart?  I can look at my three boys and I can see them as the individuals that they are...and I can love them the same.  I never want Zach to feel like he is loved less because he did not come from my 'tummy'.  He knows that he is extra special because he came from my heart and God chose him just for us.  Out of all the little boys in the world, Zach was the one for this family.

And I think that is pretty special!  So, Happy Gotcha Day Zach!  Mama loves you with an unending, everlasting, unconditional love...


 

 

Marvelous Monday

'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has gone, the new has come.'  2 Corinthians 5:17

I am so thankful for that verse of scripture on this Monday.  My old self is GONE!  I am free to be all Christ has planned for me.  I am new.  What a relief!  I didn't like the old me.

I have committed to memorize 24 scriptures this year along with the other 8,000 or more women who are a part of the Beth Moore Siesta Scripture Memory Team.  I've memorized two so far and the above verse is my second!  I've never really done scripture memory before, but it is a vital part of my Christian walk.  I really wanted to do James with some of the other bloggers, but thought I'd better start out smaller :-)

I'm even having my group of kids memorize 24 this year at church.  I'm exicted for them and what they'll learn in the process.  I challenge you to learn some scripture this year.  Don't be afraid to committ to it...He's worth it!  Have a happy Monday!!

Strong and Courageous

'"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”'  Joshua 1:9

I love this verse.  LOVE it.  This is my motto for my children.  This also goes along with my word of the year-'more courageous' and 'more strength'.  I want that for my life this year.  I want to stand up for what I believe.  I want others to know that I am not afraid to speak about my Jesus.

But (of course there'd be that) the question is do I have the courage to actually do it?  Do I have what it takes to say what I believe about a situation (be it homosexuality, a person's beliefs about some aspect of the Word, etc.) when I am confronted?

No...I don't.  I am a chicken with a capital C.  I hate confrontation.  In fact, I'll usually agree with you just so we don't disagree about something.  When it comes to the bible, I'm always afraid that the person I may not agree with knows more than I do or has studied something more than I have. 

'Have I not COMMANDED you?'--is it just me or does He command us to be strong and courageous?  Not just when we feel like it or think that we know the answer.  You know I looked it up:

Command:  an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

Since He is my authority I guess I need to take heed when He commands me to do something.  I also know that if He commands it of me then He will be my Source to give me the ability to 'be strong and courageous'.  According to the verse itself 'for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.' 

So, no, in my own power I am not courageous or strong.  But in His power, I am and I can stand up against anything or anyone who comes my way! 

It's Jam with me Thursday again over at Faith Barista so don't forget to hop over and see what everyone else has to say about today's topic.

January

This January will mark six years that our precious Mimi was ushered into her 'forever' home with her Jesus.  It will also mark six years that our dear son, Zachary, was brought home to join his 'forever' family.

Two vastly different events.  Each one representing a range of emotions.

Sadness

Brokenness

Hopelessness.

Devastated emotions that gave way to-

Elation

Happiness

Wonder.

And the faithfulness of our God.  The perfectness of His timing.  It's all there in the tapestry He's weaving that is my life.  I just had to look up and fix my gaze on the one who is the giver, as well as the taker, of life.  He took one life from us, but blessed us with a new one in return.  One that would make the sun shine just a little brighter that long, cold winter.

Our son.  OUR SON.  Just the words are enough to cause the emotions to rise back up...and again I fix my eyes upon Him who gave us the miracle of life.

'The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;  May the name of the LORD be praised.'  Job 1:21



Tuesday's Unwrapped

Good Tuesday morning!  We have been snowed in since yesterday here in the South.  If it even snows an inch we totally shut down so I'm sure you can imagine what 7inches have done for us!  But I've enjoyed the extra days off to spend with my family in the snow.  Although my paycheck will reflect it next week...I may even have to pay them for my insurance :-)

But that is where trust in God comes in.  Do I trust Him to provide for our needs?  This is one of those times that I have to put my faith where my words are.  I have to have the faith that He will provide what we need to sustain us.  He feeds the birds and gives them somewhere to live so why should I expect anything less?

So, on that note, I'm off to enjoy another 'snow day' with my boys!  Hope you all find happiness in the small things He blesses you with on this Tuesday...

'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?'  Matthew 6:26

Marvelous Monday

It's a snowy one (again) for us here in the deep south!  I don't really care for snow, but my hubby and at least one of my boys LOVE it!  I hate to clean up the wetness that gets all over the floor.  Not to mention the half froze to death wet kids that come in from rolling around in the snow.  But on the other hand, the joy on their faces (big boy and little ones) is enough to make it worth it for me!

What does my dislike of snow have to do with a Marvelous Monday?  Glad you asked!  What makes it marvelous is that even though I dislike it, I make the choice to embrace it because of the joy it brings to my family.  This brings to mind some of the commands that God has given us that I may not 'like' to follow all of time, but I have to make the choice to obey them because that what I'm called to as His child.  Like loving my neighbor as myself (or more than myself).  You haven't met my neighbors!  Just kidding, kinda, but there are just some people that are hard to love.

He didn't say I have to like them, but love them.  Pray for them.  Help them if I have the chance to.  Put their needs before my own.  Wow...that is just hard to do.  But thankfully we have a helper ready and able to jump in.  The Holy Spirit is living in you and me.  He is there to help us when we don't think we can do it.  We don't have to.  We can ask God to help us love our neighbor (or snow, ha ha) and the we can choose to DO it.

So love your neighbor today...even if they don't deserve it in your eyes.  When it comes right down to it none of us deserve the love that He has so lavishly bestowed on us.  Happy Monday :-)

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”  Luke 10:27

A Chosen Generation



'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.' 1 Peter 2:9



Over 16,000 students gathered for Worship of our God

If you don't know by now Jon and I had the honor to be 'doorholders' for this generation at Passion 2011 this past weekend.  All I can say is that Jesus wrecked these students to the core.  When Frances Chan, David Platt, Beth Moore, John Piper, Andy Stanley, and Louie Giglio converge in one place the result is bound to be earth shattering!  How could it not be?  I mean, have you ever heard John Piper speak?  WOW!

We didn't have the opportunity to attend the main sessions or breakouts due to the massive amount of students, but we did hear some of what the kids were saying and I can attest to the fact this generation is ready for God!  My faith in the future church has been restored.  It may not look like what we think 'traditional' church should like, but what does the church look like anyway?  There is nowhere in the bible where it says the church should be in a building with a steeple and stained glass windows.  In fact, it was quite the opposite.  They met in each others homes, outside...wherever they were is where Jesus met them. 

Isn't that how we should be?  We, as Christians, should be meeting these students (and other non-believers) where they are not where we think they should be.  We can stand in our pretty churches every Sunday and hold the doors open, but they won't come in.  We can try to entice them with programs, classes, etc. but if we aren't willing to go to them they will not come to us.

This is not my grandma's world anymore.  It is technically driven.  It is ME driven.  It is 'give me all the lights and sound that I can take' driven.  That is where we have to give up our 'traditions' and be willing to change.  Not change the message...never that....but how it is presented.  This generation is hungry for Him...hungry to make a difference...if we show them Jesus they are more than ready to respond to Him.



Not my wrist :-)



If you don't feel led to reach out to these students, that's OK, but please pray for the ones who are called to be Jesus to them.  It's a hard calling.  They face rejection and ridicule, but they believe in these students and know that God can do a mighty work in them.  We are still wearing our admission bracelets for the event...when we flipped them over they had 'Passion 2011 Fort Worth' printed on them to remind us to pray for that event!  Awesome!

A Word For the New Year

I've been out of the loop a few days as we just got back into town from the Passion 2011 event in Atlanta.  I have NO WORDS (if you can believe it) to describe it as of yet...I have to let it soak in.
Anyway, today over at Faith Barista the Thursday Jam is to share one word God has put on your heart for the next year.  I have tried by hardest to come up with a really great word.  I prayed about it and really thought about what word I will use.  OK...are you ready?  It's a really good one:

MORE

Well, maybe at first glance it's not that great.  But when you unpack it...it looks really nice.  I looked up the definition, of course, and this is what I found--

*a greater amount, quantity, or degree

*something additional or further

*something of greater importance

Out of all the words I could've have chosen, this one encompassed everything I want this year.  I want Jesus.  More of Him.  A further understanding of His love for me.  An additional comprehension of His Word.  I want to count my fellow man as more important than myself.  My eternity is secured, but how about theirs? 

In a nutshell, I want a greater amount of Him than I've ever had.  I WANT MORE OF MY JESUS!

I also want to do more of what He has called me to do...whenever I figure that out or He lets me in on it!  But in the mean time I am going to cling to my word of the year and my verses:

'I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.'  Psalm 84:10b

'This is what the LORD says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls. "  Jeremiah 6:16



The Scale and I

Sounds like it should be a screenplay, doesn’t it? Can’t you picture it? A beautiful, thin (of course) lady in a big, flowy dress with her King—oh wait a minute! I said scale and I! Okay, so scratch the movie scene. Well maybe just tweak it a little and change it to a horror scene!

My scale and I have had a long love/hate relationship that has been mostly hate. The only time I’ve even partly loved it is when the number is heading the way I want it to—DOWN! I can honestly say that it has been hanging steady for a while now. I’m in my 30’s now and I’m thinking I may need to take up this phenomenon they’re calling exercise!

But seriously, I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I was a chubby little girl, a chubbier middle schooler, an anorexic high schooler, a vegetarian college girl, and more recently a Weight Watchers follower. I have come to grips with the fact that I love food. I love it more than I should. When I became pregnant the first time I gained 70 pounds. I just knew I was gonna have a 50 pound baby, but I didn’t. He was only 9 pounds. I had to actually WORK to get the weight off. Then I got pregnant again. I told God and myself that I was going to do better. I did, but only because he came 6 weeks early. If I’d had the entire 9 months the weight would’ve there.

So now I’m losing again. Seems like an ongoing battle that I just can’t seem to win. But then I’ve come to realize that I have been consumed with weight, scales, self-image, and so on for so long that I don’t know how to live without them. I’ve had to realize that I have to let go and let God. I can’t feel guilty if I enjoy an ice cream with my kids. I need to learn moderation and self-control. I need to realize that I am not a teenager anymore. I’ve had 2 children. My hips will never be the same…nor will my C-section belly.

That’s why I love Weight Watchers. I can eat things I like and still lose weight (although I’m gonna have to bite the exercise bullet). I don’t have to feel guilty. I can do my part and then just let go and let God do the rest. I can’t obsess over it. Maybe I can even do a screenplay on My Scale and I….once enemies now friends.