Ever get the feeling you're
being watched?
Well, chances are YOU ARE!!
Happy November
Archives for November 2005
Straight out of the horse's mouth
Ever get the feeling you're
being watched?
Well, chances are YOU ARE!!
Happy November
One of those days
Today I had my usual
Wednesday AM Bible Study which I normally thoroughly enjoy and can not
wait to attend. But this morning I didn't feel like going.
Last week I played hookie but it was to have a much needed conversation
with my husband. I felt as if we had Bible Study here,at
home, just the two of us. God definitely showed up.
Today was different. I felt as if I was really supposed to be
there today. Satan seemed to be the one tempting me to stay
home. It was truly a blessed time. More happened today than
I could begin to tell you but I wanted to share a little with
you.
We begin in John Chapter 6 where Jesus feeds the
Five Thousand. John the Baptist has just died and Jesus tries to
find a quiet place to grieve and be alone but the people follow
him. This reminds me of all
the times I try to get just 5 minutes alone in the bathroom without my
toddler banging on the door screaming “Mommy, are you in there?”.
Jesus, however, welcomed the people, having compassion on them and
healed their sick (Luke 9:10, Mark 6:30 and Matthew 14:13). “They
were like sheep without a shepard.” (Mark 6:34)
Do I react this way to my toddler? Yikes!
After teaching the people Jesus initiates feeding them by asking
Phillip where to buy some food. After careful consideration
Philip decides there is no practical way to feed them. Now,
I wonder, did Jesus want him to come to this conclusion? How
often do I turn away from something because there is no practical
solution? What was the one thing left out of the equation?
You got it….it's JESUS. Phillip forgot that Jesus was there.
So you know the rest of the story.
Jesus takes the 5 small barley loaves and two small fish and feeds five
thousand people. He even asks his disciples to have them sit
(relax) on GREEN
grass (remember they are in the desert!!!!) and has them distribute the
food to the people. When everyone had eaten their fill they
gather 12 baskets of leftovers. There are more leftovers then
there was at the beginning of the meal. Don't you wish our houses were like that??
I think this tells us so much about Jesus's love for us.
- First,
He is compassionate……He sees our needs and puts them before his own
(in this story His need for rest and solitude).
- Second…..He cares for our physical needs such as hunger. And they are important to Him.
- Third…..He
is able to provide the unimaginable!! Five loaves and two fish
feeding five thousand people!! Can you imagine that?
- Fourth…..He also care for our comfort. He asked the people to sit on Green grass in the desert to eat.
- Fifth
and almost most importantly…..He asks us only to deliver what He has
already given us. The disciples were like waiters, distributing
the food JESUS had given. He will never ask us to do anything
without providing us with what is to be give first.
Do I love Jesus, the person, or do I love Him for what HE can do for me?
“Oh Father, help me love Jesus back the way He loves me.”
Julie
So today…
So today I'm trying to explain to my
almost 7 year old about the roots that hold our teeth in because he
just lost his third tooth. When we pulled it there was no root
but he knew one was there, holding his tooth firmly in place. His
tooth was very wiggly but still had a strong root holding it in.
As I'm explaining about the new root and the new tooth that will soon
grow God gave me a wonderful spiritual truth to share.
“Son,
the old root and tooth are like our hearts before we ask Jesus to come
live there. The baby tooth is wiggly, (just like we so often come
to Him…anxious and unsure) and the root begins to prepare itself to
die. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts and lives He gives us a
bigger stronger tooth (life). The tooth will not survive without
the root (Jesus) because it gives the tooth life. God replaces
our baby tooth (old heart) with a new one. Our new tooth is
strong and is firmly secured in our mouths by the new stronger
root. Just as we are held securely in God's hand after asking
Jesus into our lives. We are firmly rooted into the family of
God.”
So, I tell him, “Son, each time you have a wiggly tooth
remember that's how we are without Jesus. And each time a new
tooth grows in remember that's what we're like with Jesus. Big,
strong, and firmly rooted.”
Wow, I think I taught myself something today.
A Post from Dena’s heart…Just too good not to pass along!!!!
I read
this post this morning from October 31st on Dena's blog and just felt I
just had to pass it along!!! It's wonderfully TRUTHFUL and
BLESSED. Please take a moment to read. It's all straight
from the heart of Dena at Dena Deliberations!!!
Check out her blog!
Satan is Patient
Several years ago I was in a small group working through the study Experiencing God. I remember repeatedly reading the line, “Your experience is not reality”
and saying “WHAT!!??” How can that be? It happened, I experienced
it…it's reality! Right? No…not really. I finally “got” what the
author was intending to convey.
Though we have many experiences in life, they are not the reality that God has for us.
Last week two friends and I began Joyce Meyer's, A Battlefield of the Mind. Joyce
worded things very differently, but I interpret it largely the same
way. She shared how Satan is patient. He will orchestrate the
experiences in our lives to cause us to set up “strongholds” or ways of
thinking that hold us captive. If our stronghold is “no one can be
trusted” then he use experiences in our life to “prove” that. If my
wrong thinking is that “I'm of no value”, he will “prove” that.
I
really appreciated reading this. You see, I've often been irritated and
offended by some of the psychological training that teaches that you
will live trying to find a mate (or whatever) like your father in
order to “work through” that damaged relationship, or that we are
unconciously determining to receive the worst because we are expecting
the worst, etc. Many aspects of my life have been difficult. Yet I've
been aware of the appropriate psychological responses and have gone out
of my way to avoid similar situations, rather than placing myself back
in them. Yet, my experience continues to affirm what I knew
(Biblically) to be false teaching and my fears to be accurate. Why?
Because Satan is Patient! Since
a very young age he has been orchestrating situations in my life (and
yours) to “prove” me right in my areas of negative thinking. My
experience is such that it is nearly impossible to choose TRUTH and say
that my experience is a lie and God's word is TRUE!
Now,
that, to me, is freeing. I can realize that yes, I have experienced
this, but that does not make it real. I can realize that “someone” is
working to ingrain in me such a negative pattern of thinking that it
cannot be broken. If he succeeds I will no longer be
effective as a worker in God's Kingdom. I will be “held captive” by my
thoughts and fears, unable to love and give and live in the freedom
Christ has proclaimed for me. And, since I'm a fighter, there's no way
I'm gonna sit back and let that happen!
I had no intention of writing about this today, but visited my friend Patricia's blog and was struck by her powerful message. “Yes!!” I thought. “Exactly!” (Thank you so much for sharing that)
Satan
is using something in each of our lives to cause us fear, hold us
back and to incapacitate us. It's different for each of us, but
just as powerful. And just as “unreal”, regardless of our
circumstances. Does Patricia have valid reason to fear dark nights?
Yes! Do I have valid reasons to distrust others? Yes! But are they
REAL? No. They are strongholds set up by “principalities and
powers” and we must strike them down.
Patricial used Psalm 27 to begin her post and I'll share it again her. Let us make the LORD the stronghold of our lives!
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
Ushering in the Spirit
My
husband and I had the honor recently to pray over a couple who has had
a rocky marriage ever since it began. He has struggled with
alcoholism, gambling and drugs. She has struggled with control,
bitterness and suppressed anger. She has filed for divorce
several times and was close to actually being divorced before stopping
it just days ago.
Why? You may ask. What changed that a woman who has had to
act as both father and mother to her two kids for many years would want
to “try again” with a physically absent and emotionally unavailable
father? Well, the change can be summed up in one word…JESUS!!
JESUS radically changed this man's heart. It's taken a lot of
broken relationships, hurt feelings, mistrust and deception to get to
the place of turning his life over to Jesus but he has done it.
And I want to be one of the first to say just how much this man has
changed. A different man walks into the room now. Someone
who's heart is devoted to Jesus. Someone who's heart desires
nothing else than to earn his family back.
He holds two jobs now. As long as I've known the family he has
had no job. He rarely came home at night. And when he did
he was drunk or high. He rarely contributed to the family in any
way that was constructive. On occasion he would give his wife
some money if he had won any gambling but that about summed up his
contribution to the family. His family didn't trust him.
His wife didn't love him. His children didn't understand why dad
was never there.
But now…..
This man is being transformed into a warrior for Christ. His
entire demeanor has changed. He's different. He's
new. He's now a child of God.
Last week we, along with two other couples, anointed them with oil and
prayed over them, begging God for the resurrection of their marriage
and the reconciliation of their family. They have already made
great strides in reuniting but felt as if they needed the spiritual
boost of others praying for them.
It was such a privledge to come before God on behalf of these two
people. I have prayed with the wife for nearly 5 years for God to
change her husbands heart. When He did it came at an unexpected
and tremendous cost to both her and her family. It's been a tough
road for these two but after our prayers the other night I know God is
going to use this couple as a testimony to HIS own power and strength.
Our prayers were sweet, broken and right before the throne of
God. We prayed believing in God's miracles for this couple.
The Spirit swooped into our broken huddle and transformed not only
their lives, but ours. All of us left the circle changed.
Most of us praying realized we had done a very poor job of loving the
husband in his sinful life. It's so much easier to love someone
when they are acting the way you think they should.
I'm so thankful Jesus doesn't love me that way…only when I act the
way he wants me too. I pray I will be able to love others as HE
loves me. I know it's impossible in my own strength. Love
like that can only come from Him.
We, along with the angels, cheer this couple on to victory in Chirst,
reconciliation for their family and a testimony that God will use for
all eternity.
Do we quench the Spirit when we stay in control? Yes. Do we
need broken hearts to be healed? Yes. Does God do more than
we can ever imagine with the brokenness? A resounding YES.
JESUS is all about the business of love.
And for that I am so very humbled.
Julie
Tweetsie Railroad
The Tweetsie Railroad Steam Engine
For the past two years our youngest son Luke has wanted to go to
Tweetsie for his birthday. Last year it was cold, foggy and rainy
when we went. This year is was cold but we were welcomed by the
sun cheering the day onward. If you live anywhere near the NC
mountains and haven't been to Tweetsie it's a real treat, especially if
you have boys.
The boys on the farris wheel
Not only are you lured into the past by the steam engine but there are
cowboys and indians, a saloon, lots of really neat rides (farris wheel,
race cars, chair lift, teacups). When I went as a kid I remember
the indians boarding the train and scaring us half to death. We
swore one of us would be scalped and left for dead. Nowadays the
cowboys and indians show is done off the train and has more comedy than
fright in it. (Bummer…I was kinda looking forward to that look
in my kids eyes….Mom and Dad to the rescue!)
Getty Up Horsey!!
But never fear the Ghost Train is a theme park favorite through the
months of October. This train ride is certain to scare most
younguns to death! 
It's fun but we chose to heed the park's recommendation of ages 8 and
up. Our almost 7 year old tends to have a little chicken blood
running through his veins. (Wonder where he got that!?)
The most handsome man in the park!!!
We also got to visit my birthfather and his wife while we were
there. God blessed me 2 years ago by allowing me to meet both of
my birth parents. My birth mother lives in WI but my birth father
lives near the NC mountains so we get to stay with him each Tweetsie
visit.
The Wagon Ride
My sister and her children met us at Tweetsie this year. Her
children had been when they were much younger but were ready for
another visit to the famed theme park. It was fun to see her
older children (girls) enjoy the park too. Although they don't
look too excited having their pictures taken in jail I think they
really enjoyed seeing their cousins excitement over getting to ride a
REAL steam engine.
Get us out of here!!!
For those of you wishing to check out Tweetsie you can do so on their website: www.tweetsie.com
Make sure to turn up your sound for a great “whooo…whooo” from the
steam engine. And if you happen to be interested in the Ghost
Train Halloween Festival book your tickets well in advance. They
sold out almost every weekend this year.
Choo Choo!!
Julie
To Trick or Treat OR Not to Trick or Treat……that is the question!
Each
year our downtown merchants open their doors for the gifting of candy
to tons of children. This year was no different except we were
also blessed by a Christian band playing on stage as we hoofed it
around town. One thing I love about living in a small town is how
one event can bring out most everyone in town. You see people you
go to church with, used to got to church with, the lady who checks you
out at the grocery, takes your deposits at the bank or helps keep your
pets healthy. It's a really neat experience.
It's
taken us seveal years of parenting to decide where we stand about the
whole Halloween thing. My husband brought up a devotional from www.purposedrivenlife.com
about Halloween. I thought it very thought provoking and
balanced. I found myself asking, “Where would Jesus be on
Halloween?” Since he seemed to hang out with a lot of less than
desireable people I think I just might have seem him downtown if he
lived near me. I included the article my husband brought me to
read below. Have a Jesus filled Halloween time!
Turn On the Light Tonight
by John Fischer
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…
1 John 4:18
Today
is a day that comes with a good deal of confusion and too
much fear in some Christian circles. It has not always been the
case. When I was a child in the 1950s as part of a very fundamental
church, Halloween came and went with ne'er a thought of concern.
We couldn't play cards, dance, go to movies or listen to rock and
roll, but we could trick-or-treat our little candy bags
full every October
31.
All
that changed about fifteen years ago when the word spread rapidly in
Christian circles that Halloween was actually not dress-up day
after all, it had been Satan's holiday all along since its origins
as All Hallows' Eve, and something that Christians should have
nothing to do with. (Studies actually show major discrepancies on
the origins of Halloween, making a truly definitive conclusion
dubious at best.)
Something
about these inconsistent Halloween experiences indicates that the issue
here may be more one of perception than actual truth. Granted satanic
activity may be an issue on this day, but I wonder if we actually
give Satan more regard today than we should, while ignoring his reality
the other 364 days of the year.
This
much I know: Regardless of where you land on the trick-or-treating
thing, if there is anything believers should not participate in
today, it's not trick-or-treating: It's fear. Christians have no
business being afraid today or any day. We worship the God of the
universe who is over all powers and authorities and rulers on earth,
above it or “below” it. If we as Christians show ear to the
world, it comes as a disgrace to God. What does it say about the
eality of God in our lives when we allow fear to motivate
us?
We
currently live on a street that has a reputation of being the
best trick-or-treating street in town. Our house is right smack
dab in the middle of a two block area that is so crowded with kids
each year, the police put up barriers to keep vehicles out. We
bought 6,000 pieces of candy last year and still ran out. As I see
it we have three choices. Darken our door and hunker down inside.
Plan to be gone for the evening. Or stock up on candy, put our
chairs out in the front yard and enjoy the parade while we mingle with
our neighbors.
Given
our mission to love the world as Christ loved it, I'd say it was time
to turn on the light. There is nothing that will stifle hope
more than fear, and nothing that will overcome fear more than
love.
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