Journey of Worship

 I can't even begin to tell of all the difficult things we've been through as a family, that I've been through on my own, without testifying of how God moved in each situation.  Yes, I've done things I'm not proud of... and in the middle of the fray, I struggled, sometimes even struggling to see what God was doing.  But God's mercy and grace was still evident, and He brought comfort through the painful things.  The thing is, we see His glory after He passes, though we want to see Him in the middle of the situation ( Exodus 33:18-23 ).  Moses' request to see God, met by (paraphrased) "you will know I have been there when my glory has passed, for no one may see me and live," is so true to me: I know it well.  I just have to hold on and keep believing and walking faithfully, trusting He is there.  Still, every mountain that looms before me can intimidate me.  I must return to God and ask Him for the strength to get up, putting on the truth of His Wor...

 We are in the "quiet of the storm" now, it seems.  Christmas has passed with all it's glorious expectations and miracles delivered, including our van working again.  We have less than a week before we are turning the calendar on a new month and a new year.   I'm looking forward to an appointment of extended fasting, prayer, and time in the word in January, because it is another way to turn from the enemy and say he has no ground, and to lay before the King-allowing Him to pour out truth.   As I read the account of Jesus literally confronted by Satan in the desert, I am reminded of the final statement, which is not revealed to us only this once: "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:11).  When sustenance, comfort, provisions were at a new, all-time low for Jesus, because He was at a time of being alone, though with God, and fasting, Satan tried to offer Him sustenance, comfort, and provisions by making the choice that God allo...

 Have you ever had a pet wonder off, get so worried about it as you frantically looked for it that you prayed God would bring it back, and it showed up or you thought to look in the obscure place it was hiding?  For me, that was probably a hamster or a rabbit.  Having gotten loose and being so small, a hamster wondering the rather large house I grew up in meant that it could, like a mouse, find many hiding spots, and be anywhere from the basement to the upstairs bedrooms.  Yet, somehow, it would show up where I could catch it.  The same thing has happened for my kids with little blue-lined skinks.  Small creatures, that could be gone in a house. Now, a bit ashamedly I admit this, though when these little creatures showed back up we praised God with relief, it was a quickly dismissed matter:  amazing as it was.   Did you ever really think through God's miracles, Jesus' prophecies and the fulfillment of them as not just "He knew because He was ...

I have been running a marathon in writing a book that I felt had to be written in order to start the non-profit "Our Village Hands."  Having experienced the ministry of fostering and the committed step into adoption, with the feeling that we are now out on a tight rope, my questions led me to the Word, and I kept hearing God say, "I will take care of you and all the children I've given you."  This sounded a lot like the promise I heard when I was dating Chris:  "Just wait, I'm doing something with him, he is the right one for you."  I entered that covenant with God 17 years ago, and my eyes still don't always see clearly what He, (or he) is doing.... But every time the questions and doubts pop up, I remember clearly, as if He's saying it again, "Just wait, I'm doing something with him."   This walk of trust and obedience is personal, but my desire is to encourage others:  sit at His feet, and He will comfort, provide, and prev...

 The Lord has blessed me beyond measure, and I don't want to dismiss that, especially when it comes to my husband.   He has been strong, sometimes silent, sometimes offering a few words, always there.  He is the "steadfast" kind.  He has been faithful to pursue God and spend time in His Word since the day he accepted Christ and committed his life to Him 17 years ago.  He has been faithful to me the same.   When I felt like my family was falling apart, he held me and prayed over me. When I was unsure of his silence, his seeming distance, his words to the Father reassured me. When I couldn't stop throwing up though my first pregnancy, he changed his diet with me. When I feared our son wouldn't come home from the hospital, his prayers and arms held me. When I struggled with my new role as a mom, he reassured me and helped me figure out "one bite at a time accomplishments". When I couldn't stop throwing up through my second pregnancy, he made sure Nat...

 This is where the rubber meets the road... or where the talk is tested in the walk.  We are in another season of trials and testing: and miracles.  The reason I wrote this blog to book is to increase my faith, to find what God says in the midst.  And now my faith will be tested yet again.  This is how faith grows, is manifested in a believer's life, and I'm getting on that incredible ride.  A journey that will lead me to God's throneroom, again and again.  I need Him, I can't do this on my own. So, we'll start with 3 weeks back:   We took in Chris's mom for the week leading up to Thanksgiving, something we had been talking about doing but couldn't really do until we moved into this bigger home.  It was a really good experience, we enjoyed the time with her, she was very gracious, and until the last day her dimentia didn't seem to be much of a thing.  On the last day she couldn't get up from where we found her on the floor in her be...