836 - Yoke of Burden

Now that may be the prettiest still photo of me............ever!!!

720 - IS everything all hunkey dorrey with no problems when we follow God?

Check out the new features on this blog!!!  A navigation bar on the bottom of the header.  Like it??  Check out the new button on the top right side!!  This is Shera's business that helped to put the nav bar on and tidy things up a bit on the blog.  Let me know if you are interested in advertising on this blog!  

700 - I'm Just Sayin'

698 - But Does He really KNOW you?

Oh Lord Jesus - Our church has had such a great old time revival this week.  I know some think that you can't just cause a revival to happen, but I believe when you set things up and give people and the Holy Spirit the opportunity to move in amazing ways HE is honored and God comes thru in a big way.  Well, at least it happened that way at our church.  We had youth night last night and it was awesome.  So many youth came forward and got their lives right with Him.  They took the time to really KNOW Him!  Dr. Morris Anderson is a great preacher and one of the few real time revival evangelists left in the US.  He is no-nonsense!  Love it!  

Last night he read a scripture that will not leave me alone.  Matt. 7:21-23.  This is the passage that talks about someone saying they DID all these things for the Lord, but then He replies back, "Away from me, I never knew you."  I will come back to that!  

I had a conversation with a friend not too long ago about her salvation.  She had been to our church and was just not sure about the way we did things and the need to say a prayer and all that.  I know the scripture states that we have to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts then we will be saved.  She was telling me that she does believe - confessing with her mouth - and she knows that Jesus is the Son of God and she believes that and all, but it just didn't sit well with me.  Some may think it is not my place to know if it sits well or not..... but still, it was confusing to her and i would say... didn't sit well with her either.  

So then after hearing this scripture last night I began to wonder.  "I never knew you." keeps echoing in my mind for my friend.  Lord God knows us, after all, He created us.  But to know us only the way the Father does can only begin with us after our confession.  He "opens" the door or better yet is knocking on our heart's door to start that relationship, but we have to be the one to answer and invite that relationship to be started and then to grow.  

"Know" in this passage is to know, come to know, experience...  But again this can only be done after we have taken the step, even if it is responding to all His nudges or Holy pushes, to know Him first.  He loves us and already loves us first, but He will not push Himself on us.  We have to do the inviting!  

So that leads me to my next thoughts - a person that says they know Jesus and believe in Him and all - do they know Him..... well, I mean, are they KNOWN by Him?  How do we know?  Do we have to say that sinners prayer like the Southern Baptist Church says?  Let's see...  

According to this scripture - 

1) Words will not save you.  To just say you believe and then have no heart change - not good.  Words are not enough.  According to Romans 10:10 we have to confess and believe.  

2)Works will not save you - to just do good things, be a good person, want to have a good heart and so therefore living a good life - it will not save you!!  Must be a heart change!  

3) There must be a genuine relationship.  This is something that I don't believe anyone can tell you whether your relationship is genuine.  Yes, we on the outside can look for fruit, but you have to know in your heart.  Again, there is a heart issue and you will know.  

4) A genuine relationship or a real relationship with the Lord will result in following God's will.  You will grow in your desire to know Him more.  You will grow in your desire to be in fellowship with other believers.   You will make your profession known to man - whomever that may be.  You will want and seek to know what His plan is for your life and your DAY.  You will begin to realize what your other options were and as result of that you will grow in your desire to tell others!  

I think that when there are a ton of questions in one's heart then there may not have been a time that a person truly came to KNOW Him.  It is not so much about what one does on the outside............... anyone can go thru the motions...............but it is what one knows has happened on the inside.  

You may know Him, But the most important thing - Does He really KNOW you?  

697 - Close Encounters - Who is your neighbor??

Why are my eyes always stinkin' closed???  Have an awesome day and think about who is YOUR neighbor???  Thanks

687 - I Said Now - First Time!

Please go to the bottom of this blog to get update on this weekend and stuff....

I don't know if I will ever get the hang of this parenting thing.  It seems to be getting harder and harder and I think or at least I feel like i am getting weaker and weaker.  If it is not one thing, it is another.  There have been a few times I have wanted to run out the door and say, "You think you can do by yourself, then have at it.  See how well you can do it on your own kidos." 

 No, i have never gone to those length.  Am I the only one out in the world that struggles with this parenting thing??  If so, please send me your wisdom.  cletus104@gmail.com - thanks!  

I came home from a meeting at the church and had left the kids strict instructions about being ready at a certain time so that when I came back to get them we could just all pile in the car.  Maybe I am expecting too much of my older ones, but they were not ready...... at all.  

As i came into the room I told them to please go get the right clothes on and don't forget your shoes.  I had to run upstairs myself for a moment to get my Bible.  When I got back downstairs everyone was still just sitting there as if i had never said one thing to them.  I know they saw me come in and they even nodded at my instructions, but there was no movement in their feet or even change in their seated position.  I was totally being ignored!  

It was time to learn a lesson and miss a blessing.  I made an announcement that I was leaving and those not ready could stay home with no TV, no computer, and no dessert social after church.  Boy, did feet begin to move and the begging to please not leave them escalated into tears and fits.  But I was done, I was exhausted, and I was tired of being ignored.  I left with the ones that were ready and had listened the first time around.  

As the Lord usually does, He takes an incident from my kids and turns it into a lesson of learning for me.  When I did get home that night from church those "left behind" wanted to talk out the punishment that was upon them.  Both had basketball practice, one a game, the other a lesson, both school parties, etc.  There was a lot of things that could be taken away.  And frankly I was angry enough that not getting to ever drive, ever!, was a possibility.  

I want the kids to understand  first time obedience, while i realize is a lot to ask of a child, is  something we hope they are learning for the future.  I want to be able to say put your shoes on and they go do it... first time.  Someday their boss will say do this or do that and if they don't immediately there will be a huge consequences.  But there is a greater reason as well that the Lord convicted me of.  

While the kids can see me, hear me, and touch me those things are not so possible with our Lord.  Yes, they can "hear" Him in the scripture or through wise advice of another, they can not look at the Lord straight in the face.  They can not or I can not touch Him directly.  And yet, the Lord gives us instructions or commands and expects us to obey first time without seeing, hearing, or touching Him.  If I or my kids can't do first time obedience with a person they can see, touch, and hear then how much harder will it be for them to obey One they can not see, touch, or hear.  The "Boss" is going to pass us by for one that will obey first time and we will be left missing it all including a blessing.  

In Matt. 5:19-20 Jesus calls His first disciples.  He did not beg, He did not ask more than once, He just said, "Come follow me,".  First time obedience was their reaction and one that I am hoping will be mine or my kids when He calls our name. "At once they left their nets and followed him."  

This weekend was incredible.  Thank you for all those that prayed for the Fireproof event.  I had no idea how many would show up, but we had over 200 present!  It was incredible.  We had plenty of food, not enough seats, and lots of fun, laughter, and of course tears in the movie.  The evaluations were very upbeat and encouraging.  The older men and women of the church just raved about the event and how wonderfully impressed they were with the attendance and possibilities of what it could do for our church.  The next day we had over 20 some in our SS class.  That was awesome.  While I try not to get too into numbers, that is what speaks to the naysayers.  ha ha!  I hope we can make it an annual event.  Yikes!!!  Here are some pictures from the end of the evening.  They don't really do justice to how beautiful it was.  We had all the lights dimmed, lots of candles, soft music, tons of food...  All i have left is the end of the night - dessert time!  But if you are still reading you saw that at the beginning of the post.  I could not get the pictures to move!!!  Love to all....

Got a cool discussion going on at Facebook - go check it out!!!  

659 - I Am Going Home

I Am Going Home

I miss home. There is no other way to cut it, but I miss home. I miss having the conveniences of a big city. I miss having too many friends that I don’t know which one to call during the day. I miss my aerobic classes and workout center at my home church. I miss my kids having Christian education. I miss the long, long seasons of North Carolina. I miss not ever having to worry about losing a cell phone call because there is no tower. Again, I miss home.

No, I am not having a down moment or depressing time, I just miss home. I lived in Charlotte, NC for 12 years and it is the only place I call home. I have no family there, no distant relative, no house still there, and no bank account. But still I miss the place I call home.

In Charlotte every Thanksgiving, Clay and I would house anywhere from 5 to 10 kids from the Naval Academy. Most of these kids lived too far away from the Academy and had to go somewhere during the break. So a small group came to our house to stay during the night, but worked at Samaritan’s Purse for Operation Christmas Child during the day. Obviously these were extraordinary kids. Nevertheless, they missed home.

If there is one thing I do know in my 35 years of life it is that this is not my home. Even Charlotte, NC, the place I call home, is not my home. What we are living in now is not home. Our time here on this earth is but a fleeting moment in the whole scheme of things. Yes, many of us see only the here and now and I too can get very, very caught up in this here and now, but it truly is temporal.

He is preparing us a place. I think God gives us glimpses of our real home here on earth. When you go into a store and Christian music is playing. When you see others praying before a meal. When you see kids playing together without fussing. When you see a husband and wife still enjoying each other. When you see an honest person put others before himself. When you see the church as a whole praising together and worshipping our Savior. This I just a morsel of what the real home will be.

The thing I am most excited about, of course other than seeing my Jesus, is being completely understood. There will be no more – She has gone off the deep end. No more – Can she just chill out for a bit? No more – Isn’t she just precious. No more – Why must you be so different? No more – Do you have to be so devoted? And certainly no more – Do you have to be so serious… your kids might catch on?

We are all going home one day. Where will you call home? “But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt. 6:20-21

620 - Overflowing Love

Oh Lord, thank you for last night. This summer the girls in our youth group have met 4 times and had what I thought was an amazing time. I have loved every minute of it. The first month they all came over had dinner, went to DQ, Bible study, and then spent the night - all over my house!! I loved it!!!!!!!

The next month I was not able to attend because I was too consumed with the new news about my daughter SJ. Holly, our youth ministers wife, still met with them and had a really cool time! Holly loves those girls more than they realize and pours her life into them! She is one of my heros! and so stinkin' creative!! love it!

The last 2 times that we met were not very far apart. But awesome. Technically in July, we went to a homeless men's shelter in Evansville. It was a "home" for men, but all kids of people eat at the kitchen. We fixed them the most awesome spaghetti dinner on the planet. All the girls worked like a well oiled machine and it was awesome. I was so very touched and even taken back at the faces of Jesus that I saw that day. Some of the faces looked as if they just got off the street - of course - but there were a few that looked as if they had just gotten off a golf course - no kidding! It was way out of my comfort zone, but so good for me to do that!! I can not wait for another opportunity to go back!!

And then last night may have been the best night of all. We went to a Nursing home here in town and gave out book marks of our favorite scriptures. Now please don't judge me too harshly, but I am scared to death of really old people. I don't know if it is because i really didn't grow up around any grandparents or what... But this was way out of my comfort zone and really tough - before i got there. I tried to make up every excuse in the book to not go. I was having a hard time finding a sitter which turned out to be a blessing.

I did pawn off Tucker to a friend, Holly's husband, but brought my girlies with me. They were my salvation - ha ha! Of course the older people wanted to love and hug on them. And my girls were not scared!! I think mainly because their grandparents are not old. Anyway... I can not wait to go back to that either!! I saw all the girls come out of their shells passing out bookmarks, talking to those that had no idea anyone was even there, and even consoling those that were asking to be taken home, i mean really home!! Broke my heart!

I did find a special lady and Emmajoy's favorite, named Marie - self proclaimed Cookie Monster. She was all shrivelled up with arthritis i suppose, but very much had all her faculties!! She was a Christian and asked if me and my girls were believers. Then her reply stunned me - "I knew that, I knew you were a Christian." That about made me have to walk away and have a good cry.

Here i was scared to death, afraid that I was going to break someone, or get hurt myself, and the Lord Almighty made Himself apparent on my face and in my speech. His amazing grace and mercy!!! I was so scared that I thought i could have possibly left Him in the van with my purse. But no way - He doesn't work that way. He came with me and even showed up in a huge and mighty way. He does not disappoint, He does not let down, He does not NOT come. He is there, He is real, He looks different everyday, and He is faithful even when i am scared and terrified! Oh Lord praise you!!

Oh one other miracle - Holly played the piano and we all sang hymns. I actually sounded ok - He showed up!!!!!!! I do know He did!!! Hymns are way out of my range usually and it was ok - no one turned away or rolled away. They smiled, some of them did, they clapped, some of them did, and they sang, some of them did! It was awesome!!! I loved it!!

My girls and I will go back and hopefully the whole family. That is it - Family night at the Nursing Home - that will thrill my son that is just so cool i can hardly stand it - and i think he can hardly stand himself too!! Ugh!

Lord, thank you!! Thank you for the praise time and scripture reading this morning! Thank you for the encouraging word to Val. Come through for them soon, Lord. I know You will. Well, we are off today to shop for some last items for school. Yeah! I love to shop with 4 kids - NOT! I love You Jesus - what will you look like today?

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt. 25:40

593 - Need Him?

Lord Jesus - thank you for the wonderful week so far. The kids are having a great summer to start! We started basketball camp yesterday at Norris City - it is wonderful. Then we have swimming practice every afternoon at 4pm. The girls are doing wonderful. I am pretty sure based on what the coach told me yesterday that EJ will make the team. SJ got spooked on Monday, but did get back in the water the same day and has blossomed ever since. Elleigh calls herself a swimmer. I would say she is dangerous now - knows too much and thinks she can do it!! We had another baseball game last night and same ol' same. Still nothing to report. We did have a huge long talk about why God lets us go through hard times and what he could be learning from this. Precious - that is all I can say!!! I love him so much!

Get this - I had gone to the bathroom and was walking back to the bleachers. I was walking passed the other set of bleachers - in front, mind you. When all of a sudden I hit a hole, turned my ankle, and feel flat on my face. IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!!! I do mean flat out on my face. Goodness gracious!!! It hurt so bad, it is huge and yucky today, can hardly walk, but my pride!!!! Oh goodness - I am so thankful Clay was not there! He would have died!! ha ha! So I am down and out with a bummed ankle - or 'angle' as Elleigh calls it!

Lord Jesus - I have a question - It is possible to not need you or not need anything from you? Is it possible to just sit with you and not need anything? Because even when I do just sit to listen I still am in need of your presence. At times there may have been requests that seemed bigger to me than needing Your presence, but is it possible for me to just be near You and not want or need?

Matt. 4:23-25 "23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him."

I see in this verse above the people have "discovered" Jesus amazing power to heal and make whole - and all they can think about right now is their physical bodies. It seems to be all about what He can do for them or their loved one. I don't see anyone in this passage just asking Jesus to just hang out. And then again, when asking to hang out that really is asking something of Him - His presence. Don't you think there was some soul hanging around to just watch. Not so much the amazing healings going on, but just to see Jesus and be near? I think there was probably a lot of those.

What would it be like to be that person just watching and not wanting? I can say I am not sure I know at all. When I am watching someone I rarely just watch without some kind of thought - selfish thought. "I would like to meet her. I would like to be friends with her. I would like to understand more about her. I would like to hang out with her some. I would like to do what she is doing? I wonder if she would be my friend. I wonder if she would share in her experiences. I want to do what she is doing. I wonder if she would share her doughnut or elephant ear" ha ha! I think it is impossible for me to just want to watch without having some kind of thought of want.

Father - I am not sure I am making any sense at all today. I know what my heart is trying to convey, but can't really get it out of my head. I just want to know if You are alright with me always needing something from you even if it is Your presence. My life is looking so different than not so much than what I thought, but maybe what I dreamed, and I just need your presence to be so real, ever-present, and crystal clear. Maybe it is because i am getting older day by day, but I do want YOU and not so much things............today. It can change quickly. Lord, help me to be what You need me to be. Help me to play my role with 100% acceptance and confidence in You. Help me to embrace where You have me and to be real. Oh Lord, You are so exciting!! You are so incredible. I desire to be no other place than where i know You have for me!! Father - I love you!!! Thank you!

583 - Have You Met My Jesus?

Jesus, I know it is still early, but i have sat here for a good 30 minutes trying to write and had so many interruptions. First was a huge cat fight that I had to scream from the window to break up. What a horrible sound. Our Boots cat is in the hospital right now - been there since Monday - for some kind of fight or something. Hopefully he will get out today. He was so pitiful!! Then Lu Lu woke up, the dog, needing to go outside. So now I am finally sitting down to get this all out.

Today we go to Evansville to have my plantar faciastis (my heel and arch hurt and burn like crazy) looked at and Emmajoy has some virus thingies on her neck that need to be removed. Please be praying for her. They will have to be burned or frozen off. She thinks she is ready....I think I am ready. We shall see. There was someone in her class making fun of her for them - they do look like zits - and it crushed her so bad. So now, she is ready........we think!

Have you met my Jesus? Oh goodness. I was in Matt. 3:13-15 this morning and just reminded what happens when we meet our Jesus. I know that Jesus and John the Baptist were only 6 months apart, but did they grow up knowing each other? I don't know. We don't know much about Jesus' childhood and what MOPS group His mom went to and all. It just seems like after the encounter Elizabeth and Mary had when Elizabeth realized Mary was "holding" the Savior of the world she would have wanted or tried to keep in contact and let the kids play together. But with the way traveling and distances were back then even 10 driving miles away would have been a mere struggle to work with. Plus at Mary's young age I am sure she kept herself pregnant as was the custom. I don't know if you have ever done it, but traveling with young children especially if anyone is potty training is not so much fun. No way!!!

As John was baptising all the people of that day he looked up and saw Jesus in line. (This is my imagination.) John stopped and told Jesus this was not right - You should be baptising me, not me you. I just can't do this. I can't even tie your sandals... In verse 15 "Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do now to fulfill all righteousness.'" And the awesome scripture tell us "John consented". And that is where I want to rest - consented.

The word consented there means 'to let go of one's power or possessions', release from obligation, let go from oneself, etc. I just about want to jump out of my skin in excitement when I read the real meaning of that verse and all that entails. Jesus was asking John to do something he did not feel worthy of doing. This was a blessing and honor. Jesus told him this had to be done to make "things right". And then John consented - John let go of his own power, he was released from the obligation of it being about him, he let go of his own self and let God. Do you see??

When Jesus calls us to do something even when we don't see the reason, purpose, clarity, or even understand - it seems absurd - if we will let go of what seems to make sense, let go of our own understanding and sense, if we will let go of PRIDE, and let go of what feels comfortable we may be ready to see the greatest blessing right before our eyes.

John consented and baptized. Just a few verses down you will see this is where the sky opened up and God proclaimed for all to hear "This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased." If anyone was not sure of Jesus true identity, on that day because John consented - let go of his own self - people from all over, and John himself, were able to see and hear the TRUTH!

Have you come face to face with Jesus, heard Him knock on your door, and not consented? Have you seen Jesus in the eyes of other believers and still said no thanks? Have you seen Jesus displayed through the generous hands of another bringing you a meal, helping with your house, sending you a card, or even giving that smile? Yes, that is Him, that is my Jesus. He is waiting. It is only righteous and fulfilling His will for you to consent, open the door, and say, yes, come on in and take over. Jesus, rearrange, and do your work here. Jesus, be my Lord and Savior. I consent - I am yours. He will not force Himself on you! He is waiting patiently, but I can tell you for sure, time is running out. Will you do it today? Have you met my Jesus? Love to talk with you more - cletus 104 at gmail dot com.

This short devotion, cleaned up of course, will run in a few weeks in my town's newspaper column I write for weekly. Would you please be praying for the eyes that will read this? I pray there is someone that will respond to this invitation in some way. Thank you in advance.

Having a garage sale tomorrow. Not so much to sale, but need to get rid of some things in the garage. We will use that money to buy some shelving for the basement. Then we can really have a garage. Please pray for Emmajoy. We are so ready to be out of school. Kids love school, but i am so sick of homework. I have never seen so much in all my born days... ugh!!!!!! Even my kindergartner has homework every night. We don't always do it, but we have it! It is probably the 3 having homework that overwhelms me - they seem fine!! I just am so not a teacher. Homeschoolers, bless you!!!!!! Oh - were you sad to see Brooke go on American Idol?? We were so sad. Jesus, may we have an incredibly blessed day - may we bless you!! I love you!

481 - Got Fruit?

Dear Jesus - good morning - running just a tad late, but have a few things on my mind. I am off to Evansville today to have some more lab work done. I just don't seem old enough to be doing this kind of stuff yet. I know you can be any age and have problems, but I just feel so young and healthy still. Whatever........ I am hopefully getting a larger amount of Christmas shopping done too. Kids present wanting has gotten much more expensive now that they have gotten older, so we have decide to just limit everything to about 3 or 4 gifts a piece. I think that is more than ample. Now let's see if i can stick with that!

Before I get into what God is showing me I want to just shout out a huge WOW!!!!!!!!! Listen to this - the second side of this ministry - helping "smaller" churches have the kind of events they want to have or dream of having but are unable because of funds etc..........we provide the funds............ In the mail today I got a check for $250 for Speaking Thru Me Ministries. I about fell on the floor! But wait - this church had seen my article in the local paper. and so the church sent me money to help other churches......................... get this - I have spoke at this church before......................... it was a strong Sunday - they have 7 or so people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A church of 7 or so (I really don't know the whole church attendance) people sent me $250 to help out other churches do ministry............ That is one of the greatest examples of truly being the Body of Christ I have ever seen!! Do you get it - they were Jesus not so much in skin, yes, yes, yes, but also in brick and mortar!!!! I am just blown away!!! I am humbled, honored, excited, and just almost in shock!!!!!! Be encouraged my friend - He is at work!!! And I can not believe I am along for the ride! Get on board!!! I am going to of course deposit the check, but also copy it and hang it on my wall for encouragement!!! Praise you Lord - thank you so much!! Wow!!

So in my home church in Carmi we have this Sunday School class that is amazing! Our teacher, Todd Neibel, is the best at giving out a question and then just letting us run with it for an hour of discussion! It is incredible. We have all types of believers in there - new Christians and very well versed Christians too. One man, Steve, can lead you to any scripture in the Book in about 5 seconds. His knowledge is impressive if i might say so myself. He was one of Billy Graham's peeps at one time for many years. I love to hear his stories!! Anyway - on Sunday we were in Matthew like yesterday - about the narrow gate, etc. On past that scripture is the part about bearing good fruit and bad fruit. We went on and on about whether a bad tree can bear good fruit. And we will know the ferocious wolves or false prophets by their fruit.

The whole time I was needing my commentaries, my computer, my references, my brain!!! I wanted to know if the same fruit - Fruit of the Spirit - was the same fruit it was talking about here. So I was checking out Gal. 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit" - and that fruit references back to the same fruit in this passage of Matthew 7:17 and following. Ok - we are talking about the same fruit. Very simply, only those that have a relationship with Christ can have the fruit of the Spirit. A good tree is one that is saved and has good fruit. Right??? So a bad tree is not saved and has no good fruit - bad fruit. Right???

How often do you know a really good person and they have wonderful attributes (good fruit) and yet will not call Jesus their Savior - they can do it on their own? And then look at me. I am saved without a doubt, but I do produce some bad fruit at times. I am not always in synche with the Spirit and I produce some bad fruit....................... see my dilemma!

What I think we have here is a failure to communicate - i forgot who said that, just kidding, I just threw that in there, hee hee, cracking myself up - But i think the problem is knowing what is good and what is bad. Any fruit that is not connected to the Vine as in John 15 may look like good fruit, but will rot!!! If you are not connected, actually grafted in, you will produce some kind of fruit, but it will rot and stink!!! It may look and smell good for a time, but will rot.

The goods in good tree and good fruit are different words. They are often used to help make a distinction. Good fruit word is just that - good, sound, quality. But the good tree good is good too like above, but also has the added bonus of being beneficial to those around or advantageous to those in your area or sphere. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo - am I still with me???? - A good tree is one that is saved because it benefits those around it by its good fruit - the fruit won't rot because it is connected to the Vine and is from the Spirit - of good, sound, quality!! A bad tree is not beneficial to those around it because even if its fruit looks good, "Looks" is the operative word there, it will rot and not glorify the Father.

OK - I have got to go rest my brain!! This is too early for this kind of stuff. Dude - that is about all I can say. Now, I need to do an individual study on fruit and why they can not be part of a bad tree. What makes them different than what looks good and what actually is good!!

Steve, right on brother - ain't no bad tree producing no good fruit!! Once again - you right!!

Thank you Jesus for your Word - I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

480 - Narrow minded!

"This is the day (past few days) the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Lord, thank you for a wonderful Thanksgiving time at home with my parents and brother's family in Knoxville. We had such a great time. The kids played so well together and really enjoyed themselves. The cooking was so scrumptious and fellowship even better. I had a dream come true and had no idea it would. I have dreams of sitting at the kitchen table with many, many people and just talking about the Lord and how awesome it is to serve Him. Well, my brother is helping out with a new church plant in the Cincinnati area! We sat at the kitchen table and talked for a good piece about the struggles in starting a church - of which i know nothing about - talked about some scriptures, and then just the Lord. It was a dream come true for me. My brother helps lead worship and then all the many other jobs. He is very musically talented! I am just so proud for him and so totally excited. The Lord has a precious grip on his life and he and his wife are walking in what they feel led. I could not be more pumped. Thank you Lord - thank you for allowing another dream to come true!! Praise You!

As I was driving home from Knoxville, Tn. I had ton of time to be thinking. I was reminded of an interview I heard of Halley Berry and her new "love" and father of her child. She has been married a few times and it has been bad. The interviewer ask her if she has plans to remarry the father of her child. She responded sort of like this - "I am not going to go down the marriage road again. Obviously I am not very good at it. I don't think you have to be married to be committed to someone or show your love. In fact we are going to redefine marriage, love, commitment, family" - I can not remember the exact word. But the point was that for some reason she felt that she was important enough to redefine something that largely the world accepts - even those that do not believe in a man and woman - they still believe in the institution of marriage and want their stab at it. But not for Halley - she was going to redefine it for the world to know and live based on her own definitions.

Lord Jesus - I do not think she is a Christian, but I don't know that she is not either. I will not go there. But it just got me thinking. Grace, every thing must be seasoned with grace. If i were to sit down and have a conversation with her, I must have grace. Because what I am going to tell her and the world is narrow minded and I think God has called us to that. Maybe not what the Lord defines as narrow minded. There are only a few ways to do things, well actually one way to do things and that is His way. Any other way is contrary to the Word! Call me narrow minded, but I call it living in the favor!

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small the gate and NARROW is the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it." Matt. 7:13-14.

There is only one way to the Father, there is only one way HE defines marriage, there is only one way to live - attached to the Vine, there is only one way to receive Salvation, there is only one way to go about living my life - die to self. I guess that is pretty narrow minded, but once you enter through that narrow gate my oh my the blessings of living on the Vine.

But as I was saying before I know, Lord, you are telling me that everything must be seasoned with grace and mercy and love and so much more!! According to Micah 6:8 I have an obligation to speak out against direct injustices that the Lord has placed in front of me to do something about. But as I speak out, I must have love about me. I must be willing to speak the truth, but in a way that lovingly directs people to the Father. He will do the calling them to Himself, but I am responsible to do the seed planting even if it was brought on by the narrow minded revelations of wrong.

Only by your grace and mercy have i been able to walk through the narrow gate. Only by the Blood of Christ was I drawn to you to say yes - take all of me! Oh Father thank you!! Thank you for allowing me to feel Your pull so many years ago and have the courage, desire, want to, narrow mindedness to say yes!!! Oh Lord, thank you!!

Please be in prayer for me. 2 things - I speak this Friday at a moms group in Marion, Il. Also the doctors have found a very small cyst on my ovary. It is small, but that booger hurts and is causing me some serious discomfort. Ugh!! I am on some meds and hopefully it will dissipate on its own. I go for more blood work on Tuesday and another ultrasound in January. Thank you Lord for knowing all this ahead of time - like the beginning of time - and not being shocked at all!!! I loved that my Creator is in control!!

368 - Got Fruit?

Dear Lord, We had a great weekend with lots going on. Friday night we had a game and then the Black's came over for a while. Alisha made home-made macaroni and cheese, the girl can cook!! Always fun. Then Saturday we had 2 of Tucker's games - hot, hot, hot!! Miserable for my girls, and for me as well. No playgrounds at the second game. It was hot and I was irritable to say the least... phewwwwww, glad it is over! Sunday was a good day too. I hate not getting to see the person you are celebrating on the day you celebrate, but I did get to talk to my dad and wrote him a blog - yesterday's. He said I was stretching the truth - see, he is so humble! Kids went swimming yesterday and that was very refreshing. Maybe some day I will have a pool. I don't know! Of course Andrea and I did our running last night. We were moving - but yet, we didn't get anywhere. It was quite funny!!! 3.4 miles to add to the log.

Today is busy, this whole week is. In the midst of basketball camp in Carmi, the girls have swim lessons in Fairfield. Then in the middle of the week I go to Charlotte to speak on Wednesday night, but am back home by Thursday morning! Holy cow, that is busy!!! I like it. I have one million emails to return and please forgive me if you are one that needs an answer. You are welcome to call my cell. You have that if you have emailed me...

Today, Lord, you gave me some confusing scripture that I am hoping you will help me understand as i type. You have an amazing way of doing that often! Matt. 21:18-22. This the the time Jesus saw a tree not bearing fruit, had leaves, but no fruit and caused it to wither up. OK - I have a lot of questions. This tree was alive, had leaves, but was just not bearing fruit. I understand that Jesus tells us we will be known by our fruit - we are to bear much fruit in John 15. For us, i believe that is a statement for continual fruit bearing - we don't get a break to rest and bear no fruit. But for a tree they go through seasons. Fruit is not always a natural occurrence. So was this tree not bearing fruit and it was the season for fruit? Is the climate over there such that trees bear fruit all the time? Or was there just the purpose of showing the disciples they can do amazing things when they believe. I am not completely sure.

I think it is interesting and can not be ignored that Jesus noted through the scriptures that the tree was alive with leaves, but no fruit. What does that say to me or about me. To sit around with life, potential, possibly growth, green nutrients, but not bearing fruit is not good - to say the least. God did not put us on this earth to be consumed with all that is good or even to consume all that is good and not doing anything with it. We consume, and consume, and consume, but never bear fruit - we got a problem. Jesus noticed there was life, but no purpose. He saw the potential, but no application. He saw that the tree had taken in great nutrients to grow beautiful leaves, but not given it away. How many people do we know or get in the rut ourselves of taking, taking, taking from the church, preachin, sermons, Bible studies, and even quiet time and never doing anything with it!!! We never bear fruit. I know it doesn't please the Lord or bring Him glory to be a back row baptist, but it sounds like to me in this scripture He won't stand for it. WE will wither!

Oh Lord, I am not sure I have interpreted this scripture correctly. I need to get another commentary out that truly understand You Word. Give me the time and desire to study further into this. I don't want to be one that does nothing with the potential you have given me. I want to do so much for you and be used! Lord, teach me to use what I have been given and bear fruit. Help me to not always look for something better! Help me to prioritize my day so that I am getting the things done that I am suppose to! I love you, Lord. Off running!