906 - The TV man asked What???

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^[a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut. 6:4-9


I don't have a lot of time right now as I will be quickly heading out the door to go serve a huge group of ladies in Nashville, IN, but they are from Indianapolis, IN.  I am so very excited.  My friend, Nathalie Huff, is coming with me too!  


I just have to ask - do you decorate with God's word?  One time we had the tv guy ask as he was fixing the stupid cable which I wish we didn't have...."Sir, are you a minister?  You sure do have a lot of crosses and stuff in your house."  


When Clay told me he had asked that I just shined with such great approval....or at least it was a compliment to me!  To me I was trying to say - yes, we love the Lord.  We want to remember Him all day long in everything we do - even sitting down to tie our shoes or stuffing our face!!!  Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!  


I know today this verse means more about internalizing the Word such as to memory, but I don't think there is much wrong with decorating with it as well.  What do you think?  


Do you have the Word on your door posts?


Do you talk about the Word with your children?


Is scripture on your mind often?  coming, going, sit, lie, down?


Is the Word on your hands or your forehead - or in your forehead?  


Do you decorate your life/house/children, etc. with the Word?  

887 - Is there really anything beneficial about knowing God?

Oh Lord, there have been some friends around me lately that have really been going thru some tough tough tough stuff. Terminally sick parents, loss of spouses, wayward kids, marriages falling apart. No different than the rest of the world. But Lord, so often I get scared that I am not going to say the right things. I am scared because I have never been through the situation and have no clue what to do............I don't know what they are feeling and just want to run and hide.

Father, you are all I have to offer anyone. I know and believe and have experienced You are more than enough. But to those that are angry with You or for those that are not walking real close to you or for those that just have never experienced a closeness with You it is sooooo not what they want to hear. It is not at all that I am shamed or scared to share what you have done in my life, but many times people don't want to hear that - they just want the pain to stop and for everything to go back the way it was - even if that was not very good.

I know the head answer to all of this - Leigh, He will never allow His Word to return void. Leigh, He will give you the words. Leigh, you are just responsible to be obedient. Leigh, you give them even what they don't want at this time. Leigh, you......... I know the head answers.

But my heart...

Lord, I want to give them You and all of You!! This morning you showed me some beautiful verses that could so minister to all my friends. God, there are times when people are going thru things that with all due respect and honor to YOU, they need to hear more than just God loves you or I will pray for you! They want to know in this situation how will it benefit them if they trust in the Lord and put this problem in His hands. Oh good gravy, do I feel a revival brewing in my heart!!!

Ps.103:1-5 My prayer, thoughts are in red.

¹ Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise Him with all I got even if it is not much at this time!! I may not have anything but sadness in my heart, but I will praise in the midst of it knowing that in it He will bring a change!

² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits- I do understand He has benefits - and knowing and living for Him will be beneficial to my life. Heartaches will come, but He will allow me to endure and see me thru!! Don't let me forget your benefits!

³ who forgives all your sins I am full of sin, thank you for Your forgiveness
and heals all your diseases, Oh God, you know my disease or my loved ones disease... You are the healer, I know you can and I ask that you do! Heal, Lord!

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit Father, depression comes to me like a bulldozer at times, but Lord You are the one that can send it away! Lord, do it!
and crowns you with love and compassion,Father, thank you that You see me with compassion and have such a great love for me! Allow me to wear that love as a crown knowing that I am Yours.

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things God, help me to desire the things of you. Help me to see the good in all your plans. Lord, I want to desire You for You are good!
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. I want to feel the youth of my soul even as my body ages. I don't want to be ruined by bitterness or jealousy. Oh Lord, may I grow young in your love and thank you that I shall never be destroyed as I rest in your hands!

Lord, your benefits are right before our eyes - thank you!!! Thank you for laying them out! Lord, your word is powerful!!! Thank you so much!!! I see your benefits right before my eyes!! Oh God - your are incredible and so awesome. May I be able to show all I come in contact with You and your benefits!!! I love you, Leigh

521 - Joy and Pain, Sun Shine and Rain

Dear Lord - we had absolutely a wonderful weekend. Friday night we got a sitter and went with 5 other couples to Jillian's and to eat. We bowled and that was great! Then Saturday came along and we had 2 ball games and I went to my very first estate sale. It was kind of creepy walking through some one's stuff, but it was so neat too. There is still one sideboard I have my eye on, and it should be 20% off today - IF it is still there! And then Saturday night we went to Burzynski's to have a game night with 4 other couples. It is such an honor to be invited to things when you have not lived in this town very long. People are so .....................inviting! And then of course Sunday school and church were incredible! wow - Luke preached his heart out.

I have to say this......... Over my 35 years of life I have been involved in many different churches on many different levels. I have just passed through a church for a weekend, I have visited churches on vacation, I have been a long time member at a church, and even a short time member at times! (Seems like in college you changed membership every semester.) But I don't think I have ever been part of church with a staff so incredibly humble and with a deep, deep, deep longing to know the Lord and for all of us knuckle heads to "get it". Luke Raczykowski and Brad Vinyard are truly one of a kind. And then to make things even more awesome their wives are totally involved and wouldn't have it any other way. They both help lead music, lead worship, and lead the church. It is..................just wow, I am just so thankful to be there and under their leadership and authority! I just had to say it! We are blessed. AND we recently had another boy come that is Tucker's age. I have finally just put it all together that I know the mom from a school that I went to sale purses. I knew she was so familiar, but I could not place it...

In Sunday School yesterday we were talking about fear and then we got off on this tangent about sin and consequences. There was a brief discussion about how there are some things out of our control and they are really bad that happen to us. When those things happen some times it is just purely a test or trial that we have been chosen to go through. Then other times it truly could be a consequence of our sin at some time or another. We are not the ones to determine the way it is for anyone, but to encourage the person through it. It is hard either way! But i made the statement that I don't think often enough we allow our thoughts to go to the consequences, punishment, discipline side of things. We want to quickly let each other off or more so ourselves by explaining away a bad situation when the person that is going through it knows good and well what may very well be happening. I am not making any sense, but I am to me. But still like i said before it is not "us" to decide the reason someone is going through something, but to encourage them through it. But having said that - in my own life I am much more quickly to say God has been gracious to give me this trial because He thought I could be a good example of how one is to act through a trial than I am to acknowledge to others that I have been extremely unfaithful in my church attendance and quiet time (just an example here!) or whatever my faults may be and God is getting my attention.

Today I went to Job 6. There is man that had some trial, ordained by God, and really had not done much to receive such turmoil. I don't know the whole story completely, but from what I understand Job is replying to his oldest and wisest friend. This guy was actually telling him to hang in there because God would come through and rescue. He will save you, just hang in there. Good advice and wise friend!!

In verse 8-9 of chapter 6 Job is just asking for one request. It has gotten so bad and unrelenting that he does not want to go on any longer. He wants to die. Side note: verse 9 says "to let loose his hand and cut me off!" To me that is so important. Job understood how secure his salvation was. Even though he was going through such total despair he realized that he had not lost his salvation. When we are engraved in the palm of God's hands the only way to be apart from the Lord Jesus would be cut off. He can not just open His hands and drop us as some believe. He can not just say, I'm done and flick us off His hand. No, even Job knows that God would have to cut part of Himself off to be rid of us! Boy, do I love that Lord!

But the part that I am most intrigued about is the statement in verse 10 - "my joy in unrelenting pain". Job is saying that if God did cut him off he would still have joy in the midst of pain - why? Because "I had not denied the words of the Holy One." Wow - that is incredible confidence and joy. To be going through all that Job was, including a wife that was telling you to renounce everything and friends that wanted you to curse God and still have a JOY AND not to deny the words of God!!! Wow - how can I get like that? How can I prepare to have that kind of attitude if I do have to go through something such as that or at least that tragic.

What is the equation for joy - we have to know what we believe and then believe it...out loud! The only way to have joy in unrelenting pain is to know the Word and be able to hang on every Word. We have to be able to call up the Scriptures, characteristics of God, stories of faithfulness, acknowledge the disciplines, and then walk in it!!! Job had major trials and testings - I am not sure I know anyone that has gone through anything so bad. I would say my Aunt Joyce losing her son, daughter in law, and 2 grandsons all at the same time in a tornado would be very close. Job wanted to end life, he wanted to take things into his own hands - very normal reaction in the midst of tragedy. But no, Job pressed on and even had unexplained joy in the unrelenting pain.

That is almost too much for my mind to comprehend!! Thank you Jesus for this example. Thank you Jesus for your Joy!!! Thank you Jesus for your Word. Thank you Lord for You. Oh Jesus, I want to know you more. I want to understand your Word to even greater depths. I want to be changed every time I come to your word! I want to be drawn to You and stay in presence forever. I want to be completely sold out and a Jesus freak!! (Me and Toby Mac) 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

394 - Blogging Challenge

Hello - everyone!!! I write this blog post with much fear and trepidation. How dare you think for one second that I am pregnant or moving across the world or saying good-bye to motherhood. No, no, no - it is not anything like that. But as i was running my thoughts by my friend as we were running (we are up to 5.2 miles, yeah baby) I told her I needed courage!! She spoke courage into my life that morning and so i press on here!

The blogging world for many of us girls is so many different things. For some fun and excitement, for others a release, for some a way to make money, and for others a journal of sorts. I dare to say that all of us are wanting our blog to be positive for its readers and hopefully impact them in some way and most of the time for the good.

The Lord has convicted me about my words about others on my blog. There have been times that I have made references to others that I am sure no one else would know who I am talking about and so therefore I felt safe saying it. Not gossip or I didn't view it that way, but then again I am not sure I would have said it in their presence! Another way i might justify my "typing" words is knowing "that" person doesn't read blogs or doesn't ever come to mine. So as i try to challenge the blogging world, please know that the Lord has first convicted me in my own life and asked that I step it up just a level or two!!!

I not only go to my favorite sites everyday, but I surf far and wide to learn more and more about others and what God is teaching them at the time. Please note: just because you are listed on my side bar does not mean i am directly talking to you. It is interesting the themes seen over and over in women's lives that don't even know each other - like God has us working towards the same general perfection - obviously to be like Him, but also perfecting something that is similar in women of today. Here is where I see the problem.

Marriages, friendships (past or present), family, co-workers, teachers, etc........... In whatever area we are writing about we must assume to things: 1) HE is reading and watching the whole time we are typing and 2) assume that the person or relationship you are talking about is going to read without a doubt. The one I see so often is the husband thing. Putting down, complaining, belittling, degrading, etc. even in the smallest degree. Yes, we are putting it on our personal blog and so you would think that gives some sort of right to say whatever we want, but that happens to be on the WORLD WIDE WEB.

When the Lord convicted me I wanted it to just stop there. But He was pressing me day in and day out to make a WWW challenge across the blogging scene. The final straw was in my Beth Moore study this past week. Session 6 was about the power of the tongue and how we speak life, etc. One of Beth's first statements in the video was "not share in ANY way about someone that would not desire you to do so" - or something along those lines. And now this whole week is about the mouth, tongue, Word, and our words! Coincidence? - no way!!!

Ladies - i tend to just go to blogs of women - I am praying we all step it up a level. One of my favorite verses is Ps. 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer." Words of my mouth is obvious, what comes out... But it is the meditations of the heart that I think so often comes across in our posts and they too need to be pleasing in His site! You may be thinking - but i am not in ministry - oh yes you are!!! If you blog, anyone who comes to your site is an opportunity to minister. If you go to the store, there too is opportunity to minister! None of us can get away from that!

I can not end this post without asking for personal accountability. I can not say all this and not expect you to call me on my times of disobedience. Please do, i beg of you! I may not know how bad your life is or what you perceive as a bad life, but neither does anyone else that is reading our blogs. I want excellence in my life and according to the beginning of time - God has blessed women with the power of influence. That can be good and bad! Let's seek excellence. Am i saying we have to write happy, cheery, and not ever be real? Oh No!!!!!!!!!!! I would have to stop blogging if that were the case! But we do not have to defame someone else in our bad mood over the WORLD WIDE WEB. Can i stress that enough? - WORLD WIDE WEB! If you have to write about something or someone in a unpleasing manner - do it on paper and then burn it!!!!

God does not just want our words to be pleasing, but the very meditations of our heart! I want to challenge everyone within the sound of my keyboard to take this challenge and then pass it on. If you feel His leading to be challenged I pray you will leave a comment so that I can pray for you by name! I love you my sisters!!! Pursue excellence, pursue HIM!

272 - Easy Change

Oh Lord - i am worn out. My Elleigh is still sick and running a terrible fever. Her cough has gotten much worse, i think, and just feeling so puny. She wants to be really close, either me holding her or sleeping with me. Holding her is wonderful because she is quite the "on the go" little girl and so that doesn't come as often as i would like. But i don't know if you will meet anyone more against kids sleeping in momma's bed. So her crawling into my bed burning up with fever and coughing her head off doesn't make for a peaceful rest since she wants to touch the whole night. One side of me is freezing while the other side of me is like a sunburn!!! We have got to take her in today. The rain outside matches my attitude!

I read my scripture this morning in 2 Samuel 3:1-39. It was like the short version of the tides turning and David being accepted as King all over Israel. Even though he was anointed and God had clearly laid out His plan, it did not come without great struggle and force. Isn't that interesting. This is like the very thing we talked about the other day. Paul received a Word as to what he was suppose to do or was going to do and he did not give up through much trials. Snake bit, ship wreck, lap of luxury, etc.......... He never quit or dismissed what he knew God had said was going to happen. He fought the good fight until fruition.

We see in chapter of 2 Samuel the same thing. David knew he was to be king. He knew "the plan". He knew who was the winner. He knew because he was connected. That is the bottom line for our lives. We can only fight and fight for what we know is right when we know what is right. How do we do that - we have to spend time with Him everyday. We can't just read a blog, listen to christian music, or even read a Christian book. We must come to Him with our WORD open and spend time with Him. We can't continue to fight if we don't know what we are fighting for or if He even wants us there.

Lord, guide me. I am running on low this week. It has been a good 3 years since i have not had full nights of sleep. It hurts - i never did well the first 12 weeks of my kids life. I don't know anything that hurts me more than lack of uninterrupted sleep. Don't have to have a lot of sleep, just has to be uninterrupted. Help me to hear from you. Thank you for the most recent blessing of speaking on a cruise. That was a dream #1, but #2 something that i thought would only come along in many many years. Oh thank you Lord for choosing me. I am pumped!!! Come friends, lets go away!!!

267 - Don't you give in!!

Oh Father - this time change about got me this morning. I wanted to crawl right back in the bed and not even it the snooze - just turn off the alarm. But thank you for getting me up and meeting with you. I studied about how we discern God's will for our lives - 4 easy step process - but this morning i want to praise you for a great weekend with my parents and the wonderful church we had. I mean incredible.

The praise music was just a tad too loud, but it didn't bother me. We sang the News Boys (or maybe it was Newsong group) song Rescue. It was wonderful and just beautiful. Chad our preacher is a great singer and the piano player is out of this world. There is another lady on keyboard that is awesome too. I could not hear the piano player as well as i would have liked to yesterday. Maybe they were having some sound troubles - they had a video that didn't quite work. Anyway - they brought us to the Throne of Grace for sure!

Chad did an awesome job on the sermon yesterday. We were talking about the power of a word - that would be the inspired Word of God. When God lays something on your heart and then confirms it in scripture - that is your Word. You hold on to that Word until You see Him releases you from that or He works it into fruition. He will, but sometimes we have to be patient. Patience is one of those things that is the prelude to many blessings. But i think too often i go right on passed that blessing because i take things into my own hands or never wait to see it through. Forgive me Lord.

We found ourselves in Acts 27 - the account of Paul going to appeal Caesar. He had been accused of something and they really couldn't find a crime to peg him with, but nevertheless they wanted to have him killed. So as a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to appeal before Caesar to get the decision reversed. This is much like someone appearing before our Supreme Court. Before I go on about all the Paul endured, I was kind of astonished at the Word we received in I Thes. 2:17-18, specifically vs. 18, "Satan hindered". In the Greek that means to make slow, difficult, or prevent action. It is as if a person is going on a trip and they are hindered such that either the trip must be stopped or the trip has to go in a totally different direction.

This is where I and many of us throw in the towel. We get one obstacle and quit. Not willing to fight any longer, not willing to rough it out, not willing to give it our all. It is easier to assume that God did not will that for our life and just give up. But following Him takes work. First we have to know that the situation is worth fighting for. We have to have received a Word, that take patience, from Him knowing we are to proceed through. Then we have to be willing to fight and wait and fight and wait.............and then wait some more. Just because we don't see it happen immediately doesn't mean that God changed His mind.

In Acts 27 - this is where Chad was tremendous and so anointed. We went through the ship wreck story of Paul. He received his Word that he was to appear before Caesar. His real goal was to preach the gospel to Caesar. He knew this was his purpose in life from this point forward. So they set sail in a bad storm. "Unite your faith in the midst of the storm, not lose your faith" - Chad. Angel of the Lord confirmed Paul's purpose, but the storm continued for 11 days. They finally reach land - long time - and he loses all his stuff and lands on a island of Barbarians. He then is cold and makes fire. As he is making the fire he gets bit by a poisonous snake. They are ready to watch him die, but God prevents that. He then gets hailed as a god and taken to a palace - he has yet to see the Caesar, but is holding tight to his Word. Many months have gone by. Paul gives up......... not!!!!!!!!!!! When we have a promise or Word from the Lord, we must fight, we must be patient, and we must prevail - only Him through us! Prayer must be the foundation.

Lord, thank you for this word yesterday. There are many ways i can apply it. Lord, help me to reach deep within and hold onto the patience You have given me. I have received a Word that I am willing to fight and wait for. In the mean time don't let my worst, or nearly my worst, enemy ruin everything. That would be me!!!!!!!!!!! Dawn Everette and Tracy Berta are both waiting to have their babies. May that be soon for both. Thank you for today, already. Thank you for mom and dad coming and the great time we all had. Please heal my dad's back or allow him great relief from a cortisone shot. However you can heal him!! I love you, Lord.

Burn in the Change

Lord, I still can not get over the deal of the preacher in Colorado that was taking or at least buying drugs and has admitted to be in some kind of homosexual relations. The thing that gets me the most is not that he claimed to be perfect because he did not, not that he claimed to be against gay marriages because he did, but because he was going in and out of everyday some how getting sermons together - i would think you have to be in the Word at least a little bit unless you are giving all repeat sermons - and yet could fall into this can of trap. I do really mean it as a trap. Satan set it up, put in front of him his weaknesses, and then for some reason he was tripped up and fell in. Oh yes, he certainly had a choice and i know that there is a human fault, choice, flesh - whatever you want to call it - but the fact is he fell.

Lord, i don't ever want to fall into sin the way this man has, but you know what, if sin is sin is sin, then i fall everyday. But i guess more than anything i don't want to be in my Word everyday and applying myself to the scriptures, learning new things, and yet walking away unchanged, unaltered, or even passionless.

Lord, burn in the change in me - whatever you have to do to get across to me the way i should be and act and react! I want to think like You, I want to act like You, and I want to love like You. Jesus i want others to look at me and see You! I want others to be draw to me so that i can share You! I want others to be so in love with my Jesus! Lord, do your thing in me and help me to never walk away unchanged by Your Word. Burn in the change in me!

The jewelry party last night was fun! I got some really great stuff! I was able to say goodbye to some people that i knew might be the last time. Thank you for Your Word this morning. Thank you for the way you have revealed so much detail to Daniel through Your angels. It is amazing. I know my future is Your history and i am excited to see it revealed! Burn in the change! I love you!