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