No Devotion, No Wonders...

Good morning - Just a short hello and check in.  This past weekend in my very own town we had a youth event on Saturday called Break Free at the Children's Home and then had youth Sunday at our church.  IT WAS FABO!!  We had the incredibly awesome Ryan Warren speaking and what a mark he has left on my church!  He touched us all through the Word that we have not moved in a long time!!!  even to tears!!  

I have been off all media, except for a few emergencies, since the middle of March.  It has been wonderfully freeing.  But after some prompting from some friends and loved ones AND the granted permission from the Lord, I am coming back to the blog.  I am so glad to be coming back to this.  After I have my time with the Lord in the morning, I need a place to let it out or allow it to become real for me and that is done most effectively through writing it out or speaking it through...........on this blog!  (I still am not sure when FB or Twitter will come back, but thanks for asking.)  So here we go!

Heavenly Father - thank you again for the wonderful message we received on Sunday through Ryan.  He preached from Acts 2, verses 42ff.  


⁴²And^(A) they devoted themselves to the apostles’^(B) teaching and the^(C) fellowship, to^(D) the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³And awe^[a] came upon every soul, and^(E) many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.


God, I am no different than the average bear.  I long to see amazing things in this world that You are part of.  I want to see signs and wonders.  I don't want to miss it.  I want to be there where the action is.  I want to stand in awe when I see your wonders preformed.  I can honestly say that I don't desire every time to be part of the wonders and signs, but I just want to be there.  


But before I go any further I recognize I must have on eyes that work like Yours.  These miraculous things that are done through Your hands may not be what the world is looking for.  These wonders may be a friend coming to church for the first time.  A stranger opening up themselves to a sweet conversation about YOU!  A wonder can be the very power within me allowing me to walk away from cookies - that is a wonder folks - huge!!  I recognize that I must see things through Your perspective.  


But the bottom line here is that there must be devotion.  Yes, there may be a few times that You allow me to see things during a spiritual drought.  The purpose may be to bring me out of that drought.  But most of time according to this scripture I will see signs and wonders - like 3000 getting saved in one day- because I am devoted to the cause - knowing my Lord Jesus Christ.  


Being devoted, committed, sold out, on fire, lit up, freakish for Him - will give me the perspective to see sign and wonders.  It will give me the opportunity to discern the Heavenly things here on earth.  It will close my earthly eyes and allow me to see through His.  But only after there is devotion!!!  


Too many times I do not want to work hard.  Too many times I just want to sit back and coast.  Too many times I want to take the "spiritual" excuse of "I'm just waiting on God".  That is hogwash!!!  Devotion happens everyday when we meet with Him personally - that private devotion!!!  


Oh Jesus - it is so good to hear from You in this incredible and wonderful way.  I thank you for the powerful way you spoke through my new friend Ryan!  He really rocked so many of us!!!  I ask that you bless he and Katie in incredible ways.  I have never met Katie, but after the way Ryan spoke so highly of her so often, I pray for that gift.  Jesus, I want devotion - I want YOU!!!  Jesus, help me to be faithfully on fire!!!  I want to see and be part of your movement, signs, and wonders!!!  I love you - amen!  

610 - Rock with No Roots

“Some fell on the rock, and when it came up the plants withered...” Luke 8:6

It has happened to me, has it happened to you? Sitting in the pew listening and very engaged in the sermon, but leave with no heart change. Maybe even a clap or an “amen” may come from your mouth, but the heart stays stale as can be. I understand all the points, agree wholeheartedly, and am very joyful to see the truth proclaimed hoping all those around me are getting it too. Has that happened to you? I have been guilty of that very thing – listening, but not internalizing!

Luke 8 talks about a farmer that is tossing some seed out on various types of soil. The seed that fell on the rock really intrigued me and got me thinking about my own life. This seed that found itself on the rock to grow actually did do just that – it grew. But the scripture goes on to say it withered quickly because it had no roots. Roots are established over time and much of the hard work is never seen by the naked eye. All the pushing and downward growing is hardly ever noticed until we see beautiful fruit or green leaves.

The same is true in our lives. Are we establishing ourselves on rocks? There will be no place for our roots to go deep therefore leaving us dried up to wither away. I have learned over my life that a good sermon even 2 a week or so will not give me well established roots. It is a daily walk with Him. Talking, listening, searching, straining, growing – it is a relationship, not a once a week and certainly not a twice a year thing!

I can guarantee a life that just goes about its own way, rarely consulting the Lord or establishing a relationship with Him that has deep roots will never have the joy that even one with mounds of trouble, but the established roots will live in. Yes, there are many that laugh at my pursuits, make fun of my joys, and are very, very harsh at my convictions. That is OK. I know in whom I am established, the Rock that holds me, and the abundant joy that overflows from within! As my friend Melissa always says, “I am drinking from my saucer…my cup has overflowed!”

Does Your Faith Have Feet?

Can you say you have compassion for someone or feel compassionate about a situation and not be moved to do something about it? If you break the word down, doesn’t it mean “with passion”? Passion, many times, is the very thing that causes people to do extraordinary acts in the name of Christ. At some point in his life, the person was so moved with passion that he couldn’t help but be changed and do something.

I was driving down the road with girls in tow. We hit a bump and Sarahjane’s doll went flying in the air and landed just far enough away from her that she couldn’t reach it. Emmajoy was comfortably reclined back in her seat “reading” her children’s Bible when she saw the whole thing happen and remarked, “Awe, Sarahjane, I am sorry your doll fell on the floor.”

I turned my head to see the results of the terrible pothole in the road, not the driver’s maneuvers, had caused. Ha ha!! I sweetly asked Emmajoy to put her book down and get the doll for Sarahjane. She exclaimed, “Mom, I am reading my Bible. I can’t stop and get it for her.” My sweet words quickly turned to fury as I calmly retaliated, “Emmajoy, do you know how many times I have pulled this car over for you to pick up a doll, drink, candy, or woobie? You put your Bible down right now and get your sister’s doll.”

There are so many times we go to the Bible and leave unchanged. We read the Word and think we have ingested it and walk away with no passion about its power. Like Emmajoy, when the test comes, we fail big time because we never have felt compassionate about all our Savior did for us on the Cross.

I challenge you today to truly seek compassion in your daily lives without judgment. If your husband needs encouragement take a moment to write him a note. If a friend is in need, go the extra mile. If your child is in need of a special moment with you, make it happen! Put feet to your faith and allow the Spirit”s compassion to rule your actions.

“The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
Psalms 19:8b

544 - So What Am I Suppose To Do?

Good Morning - I am up and at them this morning. On my way out the door to St. Louis for a few days. I will be speaking this morning and next. One of my favorite topics again - Beauty and the Bedroom and Authentic Parenting! Those are always so fun! As far as how I am doing physically - I am better. My nose did not fall off even though i wanted to have it taken off! The meds are crazy. I am jittery, but a bit tired too! Just a few more days of those kinds though! I will be staying at one of the event planners houses tonight which will be such a treat. I have been praying for her son that has a feeding issue - I am not sure of the specifics - but it will be neat to actually see the real little boy I have lifted up from time to time! God is moving and blessing Speaking Thru Me Ministries (STMM) - I am not sure I can keep up. We have needs - many needs! I know He will provide. Right now I think one of our greatest needs is organizational ideas and financing ideas - I don't really mean raising money. I need a truly trained accountant in Illinois that can tell me what I am REALLY suppose to be doing - I have so many odd questions! Need a sounding board. Our non-profit status is getting close! Maybe a few more months and it will be final!

Before I go on any further I feel impressed to ask or mention this. My friend, Nicki Koziarz over at www.threegirlygirlz.blogspot.com is feeling the call to a Speaking conference. She desires to go, but just does not have the funds available. This is the very kind of thing that I want STMM to be more a part of. Supporting the small church, supporting those desiring to do His thing, those needing help from "the church" - you and me. Nicki is a woman after God's heart, she is called by the Lord into ministry, and she is seeking with everything she has to do His will. She believes this is it, but just lacks the funds right now. Would you help? Go to her blog and see the details. I would beg you to give whatever you can... $5, $10, $50 - anything possible? I know you may not know her from Adam's House Cat, but this is certainly a wonderful thing to invest in - please trust me. I would love to pay this for her, but we just don't have all the funds to do that just yet here at STMM. Can you help? Thank you in advance!! (On a side note, Nicki lives in the town of the conference so she is not having to raise support for travel, just admission. and she is accepting paypal - or i will accept it and send it to her along with whatever we can raise around here.)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20

So, have you ever asked yourself, really Lord what do you want me to do? I mean, I know I am to follow Your lead and do Your will, but what does that really look like. Can you give me some specifics? Have you ever been there? I so have and I ask that question almost daily. I know the general plan for my life - like being called into ministry, being a wife, and mom, church volunteer, etc. - but it is the day to day stuff that I can get a bit bogged down - what do I do with my day to day life?

I am going through Priscilla Shirer's study - Discerning the Voice of the Lord - INCREDIBLE!!! And this is all I can think about. Living and doing as He asks in the day to day things is all about listening and then dieing. That sounds exciting doesn't it? Well, actually so much peace comes with dieing! In a totality sense - we will be at complete peace when we die and see Him face to face.

But what about that day to day stuff. That is where I get stuck. The verse above says that I have been "crucified with Christ". That really means that my old ways have been put to death and I now live for Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. But the tough thing is that I am a living sacrifice - so I have the option of rolling off the alter and going back into my old ways. This is why it is so important to be discerning His voice in the day to day. As I roll off the alter the Holy Spirit gently at times says "No, No, NO - get back up there. Die, we did not wake that old part. You have not just been changed, you have been exchanged with the Spirit of Christ. Your soul now rest in my hands and I have exchanged your old ways with My new ways. Let's work this thing out together. Die and listen - all at the same time." Wow!!! What a sweet word He just spoke over me and you, the reader!! I can hardly go on!

Christ living in me - that is powerful. I am afforded all the riches, gifts, privileges, etc. that God has freely given to our Savior Christ and yet I think so often they go stagnant in my life. I do not tap into the power near enough!! Oh Lord - help to live in Your power!! You are the power! Tap into it and walk it out!! And how I need your power at this time in my life. So many things on the horizon and spiritual warfare at its peak. I need your power Lord! I am to live by faith - why - because you loved me and gave yourself for me. Incredible Lord - wow - I am getting it Jesus. Such an incredible concept, but it is really sinking in today. Praise you Father!

So ladies and self - ever talk to your "self" - what are we going to do with this today? Are we going to die and walk listening intently or are we going to live and ignore the voice of God? I choose to die and walk in peace!! Oh yeah!! In the day to day stuff this includes parenting, wifeing, eating, sharing in words, cooking, exercising, loving - what are we going to do? Live it out in faith walking with Him dieing to our own selfishness or are we going to continue in our pit of despair and depression possibly because we are continuing to walk on our own pleasing the desires of the sinful nature - ME, the fleshly me!! We are not a puppet, we are not a rag doll either - We are a princess, child of the Living God, bought with a price, and free to live!! We have a choice - what will it be today?? Listen - He is speaking!! I love you, Lord!

UPDATE******We are going to start our kids in the new schools next week - Carmi. Please be in prayer for that. We have 2 lookers on the house today!! Oh Lord, just need one buyer - please please please!! Let's make a deal and I ain't kiddin'. Our new house is about 2 weeks from being done. We have started moving a few things in - praise Him!! It feels so good! We have our huge first STMM event this weekend where we have brought in Leslie Nease from Survivor:China. She will be speaking in Carmi on Saturday morning 9:30am to the women and 6:30pm that evening to the youth. Many, many darts are being thrown by the defeated one - Crush him, Lord!!

543 - Overflowing HOPE

Wow oh wow - I think I might be reacclimated to the time and rested from the trip. That is one sure sign I am getting older. I can't just run to Alaska and run back and have no physical limitations. I was pretty good on Monday, but yesterday hit like a ton of bricks! So, here I am ready to get back on my devotions to the aerobics ladies and spur one another on in His love and in obedience. It was very difficult staying on the wagon while I was away. Sitting for hours in the airport, eating out constantly, eating at strange times to my body - need any other excuses? So I am thankful to be back and ready to hit the road hard. I am going to Salem today to speak to a Chrsitian Church. I am speaking on Beauty and the Bedroom. Yeah!!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as your trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope and power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

I have to be honest and say that I am very hesitant to try to understand to any degree a verse that resides in the Book of Romans. This is a book that many very wise and successful teachers pray that the Lord never leads them to teach, preach through, or even dissect. It is a toughy! So I am just going to encourage you to take from this what you can, but please go back yourself and dissect it and see for yourself what it means for you!!

Have you ever tired to live without hope? Has there ever been a time when you thought all hope was gone? I have never been terminally sick, but I would think that might be a time when one might feel like all hope is gone. But is it possible? I can not help but remember the hope that overflowed from Jill and the Shea family as they together battled with their brother a very unknown and "untreatable" kind of soft tissue cancer. It very well may have been a strong moment - and I would think that too would be very reasonable to have those "strong" moments around a stranger (me)- but it was different too. I could just feel the stength and power and HOPE in the car as the mother, Mrs. Shea, explained about the cancer, the treatments they were trying, and how they were believing for a miracle. The same feeling came over the room - sense of HOPE - when I spoke with Jill Weiderholt (isn't that a cool last name) about her brother and his sickness. Her mom, Mrs. Shea, was nowhere around and yet it was the same - strong!! They were not taking anything but hope for an answer. It was powerful!

So I would think that for a Believer it would not be possible to runout of hope or be deplete of hope. The scripture above says that God is the God of hope. He can't help but be that and supply that hope!! But how - is there anything that is my responsibility? Yes!! The scripture also states that we must trust in Him. Not trusting in warriors, horses, or power as the Psalms read, but trusting in Him. I know for myself I can really think that I am trusting in the Lord and then find myself in a strong moment of doubt in a nano-second!! Is it possible to trust, but then not trust so quickly. I think it is. But I would also argue that there are those times that I am able to trust and it is beyond me. It is in those times that i see the results of trust - Joy and Peace as the scripture explains. I am "into" a situation and there is a calmness or peace and joy about me. Those are direct benefits of trusting the Lord or really I should say evidences of your trust - that you are filled with hope. I think that is really cool and a blessing. Thank you God of Hope!

Now look at this part - the second part of the verse. Can we explain what hope is exactly? When I try to put it into words I begin to recall the days of senior English when my teacher would demand us to describe a word without using that very own word. When I try to explain hope I keep coming back to the same word -HOPE! Hope, you just hope, you hope things turn out for the best, you trust in the hope He provides - it almost seems impossible to describe hope without using the very word. But God does it right here in this verse. "You may overflow with hope" - how do we know if we are overflowing with HOPE? We will be trusting in Him. And how do we know we are trusting in Him? We will have unexplained joy and peace. So what is the definition of hope as described in this verse????

Trusting the Lord Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and as a result there will be joy and peace as you walk through whatever He has ordained for your life - at that moment!! So now as we pray we know exactly what to ask for so that we can see the hope of our Lord manifested in our lives. Lord Jesus, fill me with the Hope of You. Help me to trust You so that i can see the fruit of joy and peace overflowing in my life. This is the very thing that will bring You glory. Joy and peace through the worst of things will be an evidence of hope (YOU) in my life and for all the world to see. It is your will that I bring your glory and honor through all situations and my displaying joy and peace will be a direct result of that HOPE!!!! You are HOPE - I trust!!

Thank you Father!! I needed to hear that today and I needed to KNOW that!! I love you!

540 - I need you, You need me!

This morning is off to a very slow start. We have roughly 5 inches of snow and ice!! It was beautiful for the first 3 inches, but then it was just like in a matter of seconds it started sleeting as if it had never snowed. It messed everything up including my trip to St. Louis. Ugh!! So we are all at home today and even Daddy. He got up around 3am to drive to Chicago, but I guess better judgement got a hold of him and hopefully my prayers. He is asleep on the couch with his car all scraped off - but it doesn't look like he even tried to pull out of the driveway. Hmm!!

I have decided that if I need to go spend the night in Evansville on Wednesday night so that I do not miss my flight to Alaska that is what I will do. I am so excited i can hardly stand it! I used to live in the very tip top of New York State and we had many below 0 days, but I am not sure I can quite remember those. I am sure it will all come back to me very quickly! HA!

I hope your 40 days of concentrated............well I am not sure what to call it.............is going well. Did you know that I had no idea it was Lent when I made this challenge. I have never celebrated Lent and my denomination really does not discuss it too much. So that is a really cool God thing - right? Maybe He wants me to pay more attention to that celebration - I just don't know much at all about it. I mean I know the basics, but that is it. Can any of you give me more details? So anyway - things have been going pretty well for me. I have had some very weak moments or times that I knew better, but did not say a word. There is a pizza joint in my town called DiMaggio's. Incredible!! My fav!! Well the little waitress in there knows me for some reason - we will not discuss why - but as soon as she sees me walk in she brings me a Dr.Pepper. Well of course she has done that recently and I just didn't have to heart to return it. No, really I didn't have the will power to return it - I caved to Dr. Pepper!! Yesterday was another bomb of a day. One of my friends invited me to lunch - her name will go unnamed, but she is a really cute tiny thing that doesn't have to diet and teaches aerobics. So we went to this place called Gottzz - or something like that. They have incredible cheese fries and cheesburgers. Ugh - i dove deep and didn't come out of the trap and up for air for a good moment in time. Ugh!! It was Patricia's fault..........yeah right!!!!!! Oops - didn't mean to release her name. ha ha! So, I start again today. Grace - thank you Lord! How are you all doing? Please tell me.

"He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all wisdom." Prov. 18:1 NASB

Sometimes don't you just want to get away and be by yourself. I do. It is especially after those times of terrible decision making or times that things have not gone my way. And if i do take someone with me or have to have someone with me in those times of aloneness it needs to be one that can wallow in the pit too and one that can agree things will not change. How bad is that - horrible, but just the way I want to be at times.

This verse above actually warns us in a round about way to not get sucked into isolation. Isolation done in the correct manner and with pure motivation can be a really good and healthy thing. Jesus often got away to pray and seek solitude!! But if you are isolating yourself or myself to escape from whatever it may be is really dangerous.

When we isolate ourselves and we are in a bad way - there is usually no wisdom to be had. I can begin "sharing" with myself all the terrible possibilites that can happen. I get very irrational in what I actually think might have happened in a situation - it gets all turned and twisted. The end of this verse explains exactly what we end up doing..."quarreling against all sound wisdom". If you are prone to depression or if it runs in your family really guard yourself from isolation when you know you are in a bad way. And I am assuming you know when you are in a bad way!

This is why we need each other desperately. Or at least I need you!! This all goes without saying that Jesus is by far the most perfect friend, can heal any imbalnace in our lives, and can work through any situation. But there are very, very many times Jesus will send a friend our way to be Himself with skin on. Right off hand I can think of very crucial times when Dori and Valarie have been that way for me. Many others as well - Courtney, Patricia, Andrea, Alisha ........it goes on and on. I need friends and of course my momma! Oh goodness gracious my momma!! What would i ever do without her!!! And many blogging sister as well.

Ladies let's try not to separate ourselves from one another. But on the other hand when one does go into hiding AND the Lord prompts you, seek her out and be that wisdom of hope seasoned with much grace and mercy. It is crucial that the Lord has prompted each one of us to seek that sister out or we might be an enabler by the words we give. We need each other - I need you and hopefully there will be some day that you need me. Sisterhood is the best ever!!

539 - Laced With Grace - edit

Oops - i goofed - my devotion will not be displayed until the 18th!! Sorry - but do drop by there today and check out the other devotion writers. Sorry for the confusion.

One other thing... I got an email from the lady I originally talked with in Alaska about coming. She told me it was normally around -25, but might get up to 0 on some days. Holy cow!!! I am so excited!!! I go to St. Louis to speak tomorrow! Thank you for your prayers.

Hi Everyone! Today I have posted the devotion here.........
http://www.lacedwithgrace.com/
Hope you enjoy - thank you and have a wonderful day.
Phil. 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

531 - Playing Defense -1

The Lord has laid something on my heart - not normal for my way of blogging - but something I will do to obey. I normally write out a prayer each morning after I have studied the scripture of how God has spoken to me. Well, I am going to do kind of the same thing, but it is going to be a more focused idea. My main purpose is going to be to offer encouragment to my aerobics gals for a period of time. I do not see them everyday and frankly, I do not even know 75% of them, but many of us are in the same boat. We want to lose weight or gain control of some area in our lives that is usually having to do with the body, etc. So hopefully every week morning I am going to post a particular scripture and devotion that we can hang on for the day. Of course all other readers are welcome to comment, be encouraged, and "play" along. I keep hearing the word "FOURTY" in my head. I am not sure at this point if I am to do this for 40 days, lose 40 pounds (ha), or if this is for 40 people. I don't know completely, but I am going to go 'forth' and just pray we all draw closer to Him thru whatever means. Please bear with me as spell check is no longer working on blogger and these devotions are just off the cuff - not rehearsed or thought about in advance.

"And the peace of GOd which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7

I don't know about you, but 95% of my battles happen on the playing field of my mind. If or once I finally get things straighten out there by whatever means, then things begin to pan out and look clearer. But until my mind has gotten some kind of clarity things can be extrememly testy at best. Why is that? Why can it take so long for me to realize that? Why am I so testy?

The selection of verses before this particular one speak about taking everything to God in prayer, not being anxious, being gentle, and rejoicing in the Lord ALWAYS. Those are some pretty tough things to accomplish when things are going rgeat, but when things have gotten hairy, wow oh wow, that is tough for me. But the point of Paul, the writer of Phillippians, saying all that is to make sure we understand that God has a reason for righteous living. God has a reason for giving us instructions on how to live - it will produce peace.

For me, I see the worst overeating spells when I am nervous (you ought to see me in an airport on the way to a speaking event), confused, and certainly mad. Now i do my fair share of destruction when I am happy and celebrating, and certainly when I am bored. But it seems like all control is lost when I am upset in any way. I throw all sanety out the window and then just go with my instant gratifications - eating! Been there? But this verse says that the peace of God......not just "can", but DOES surpass all understanding and THEN guards my heart and mind. Wow - that is powerful. But how do i step into that peace of God?

When we are under attack - self imposed or from an outside source - it is hard for me to have a clear mind and it immediately becomes a game of playing defense. I am trying my hardest to stand up against whatever it may be until I fall. That fall usually results in an brownie, Subway cookies, french fries, etc. I cave big time. But what should I have done?

1) Rejoice in the Lord - that means no matter what I am going through I will rejoice in the Lord saving me from the pit of hell and the fact that nothing can really destroy me - the fight may be tough, but in the end nothing can actually destroy me - not even death! So... FOCUS!

2) Gentleness - this is a tough one. In an attack I want to be a fighter with real punches thrown and at least words flinging. But this says we are to make our "gentleness evident to all". In tennis you never wanted the oponent to know you were afraid or mad - even at yourself. It would be an even better time to do something to the person to really irritate. Bottom line - we are fighting a war against the defeated one, satan. He can not whisper things in our minds, he can not control our steps, he can not make us do something. But he can persuade and "encourage" or remind of a previous event of failure. He is watching for how we react to everything thrown our way. We need to make sure our gentleness, calmness, not anxious... heart is evident. We need to display an attitude of one not to be messed with... to satan! He is one we are truly fighting, not a person, a problem, a sickness, or an attitude. the defeated one!

3) Don't be anxious. I know I am with you - this one is tough. But if we are rejoicing in the Lord, letting our gentleness evident to all - there is a good chance we can be anxious about nothing. Why - because we have brought everything to Him in prayer with thanksgiving! That is the key - we have to bring it to Him in prayer - not eloquently, but just simple cries out to the Father!

So what happens when we have done 1, 2, and 3? Then the peace of God will be obvious in your life and playing defense becomes playing offense! You have your defense mechanisms to play offensively with! Against all odds, or to those that are on the outside, your attitude and actions will not make sense in comparion to what is going on in your life. I will no longer feel the need to be validated by food. I will no longer run to food for my comfort. I will no longer eat to feel better or to share my problems with. No, the peace of God that transcends all understanding will be guarding my heart (emotions) and my mind (seat of logic).

Oh sisters - let's do it - just for today. "Gird up your loins" as my pastor used to say and fight!! We are running the race that is already won! Really it is. These are just little battles. I know some seem overwhleming and hugely frustrating at best sometimes, but claim the peace, claim the victory!!!!!!!!!! Let me hear from you! Write out that verse and take it with you everywhere...........today. We are only fighting today, not worrying about tomrorow!!

Lord - as for me, I hear you. I hear You loud and clear in my heart and head. You wil be my Guard, you wil be my Sustainer, you will be my Peace!! Oh praise you Lord. This is going to be a 40 day challenge. For 40 days I will write these notes of encouragemnt and strength from the Word. Oh Lord - surely not......... I don't know if I can do it. I don't even want to type it..... for 40 days I will not eat anything obviously unhealthy. Oh Lord - help!!! When is 40 days from now............oh Lord... I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me! Phil. 4:13

529 - Sifted Like Wheat

Have you ever liked a pop quiz in school? For me it depended on the subject. I hated the ones in English because I can promise you I hadn't read the assignment. I never was much for reading! But if it was a pop quiz in calculus - bring it on! I was one of those who loved math and science! All in all though, I was not crazy about a pop quiz because I didn't like the idea of not being ready or not being warned it was coming. I like to prepare. I came by it honestly--my dad is the same way!

Regardless of the teacher's best intentions to gauge our impromptu mastery of the subject at hand, what usually happened at my school was this: If you had the class with the pop-quiz during the 5th hour - the students who had it 2nd hour would let you know in advance that it was coming. So, was it really a pop quiz? Yes, because I still hadn't had time to prepare for it the night before, but it was better scenario for me that what it could have been!

In Luke 22:31 (NIV) Jesus seems to give Peter - and the whole church according to the Greek translations - a warning about an upcoming pop quiz. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.” Jesus is the 2nd hour class! As the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest and who serves who, Jesus sets them straight and offers Simon some insight into his 5th hour class. "Simon, Simon (He has to say his name twice to get his attention - I know I am guilty of requiring the same!) Satan has asked to sift you as wheat."

Did you hear that, too? Not only have we been warned about the pop quiz, but Satan has to ask permission to give it to us. Praise the Lord that we are never sifted without Christ's knowledge and approval.

I know several people that are going through a sifting time right now. One has found a lump in her breast and is doing the waiting game. One has lost a son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons in a tornado. One is left standing alone with three kids to raise because her husband can't decide what He wants.

The whole process of sifting wheat can be very difficult. It usually shakes us up so badly that the real separates from the unreal, like the chaff being separated from the wheat. We are left to see what our faith is really made of or in whom we place our trust. How faithful is Jesus to not only let us know about our pop-quiz, but promise to walk though it with us. He won't ask us to go anywhere He hasn't gone Himself.

Father, I know that we are to be grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be sifted. It means that You have the confidence in us to see us come out on the other side shining like your stars and reflecting Your glory. Lord, may we all be found faithful after our time of sifting is through.