504 - prayer.............. 2nd post today

If you don't mind, would you please go to the prayer blog www.leighgrayprayer.blogspot.com and read the prayer that Valarie Elswick just wrote out for Speaking Thru Me Ministries. She is our prayer director and is there any question why??? I don't think so.

How does one learn to pray like that??? I am just sitting here barely able to write because of that prayer. I feel like I could be president of the United States, but even better I get to speak His Word!!! I am just about "typeless". I know eloquent words do not "make" a prayer, but knowing the heart of Valarie just makes this so much more special. This girl has been there, done that, and back!!! Lives to tell and praises Him!!!!!!!! Incredible, amazing!!! I feel so special to be prayed for by Valarie - the whole ministry!! And then I just got a donation from another blogging friend. This is on the hills of getting my bill for accounting. Yeah baby - God you are amazing!! Thank you

Have a wonderful and "blessingful" day!!!

503 - It's Almost Here, 2008!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Wow - what a year. Thank you Jesus! Yesterday in church we had an excellent SS class and just an incredible church service as well. In Sunday School we talked about last year, the highs and lows, we discussed how we were going to make things different after all change only comes when you do things different. And then we also discussed scripture that has made us what we are and moves us to do certain things. In a real big class this could not happen, but in our small class we have such intense conversations and real "moments". It is awesome - thank you, Lord!

Then yesterday in our service our preacher started off by saying throw the bulletin away and just listen. He has no sermon notes, just wants to share. Now being in church as long as I have I immediately got scared - oh no, he is going to resign!!!!! But no!! Then my thoughts went to pastors that I have seen say they have no notes just want to share their hearts and if the truth were really spoken it meant that they were lazy and had just not prepared anything. It was so wonderfully awesome to know that my preacher, young preacher, is such a man of prayer and devotion that he would not dare come to the pulpit and fake a sermon kind of thing. I trust the words he says because I know he prays through everything. Even yesterday most of what he said yesterday was scripture. That man pretty much speaks scripture - it is kind of like listening to Kay Arthur - most of her messages are scripture just backing up point after point with scripture and more scripture - Oh Lord what great examples you have placed before me - thank you!!! Lord bless Luke - grow him, fill him, and use him mightily!! He was sooooo good yesterday. He was so real, and so passionate. I love when he walks away from his notes and just allows his personality to shine through and boldness to .............be bold. He is so bold, but laced with grace. He reminds me so much of Chad at Crossroads! What great guys!

The scripture that, well one of the many scriptures, Luke put before us and gave us a challenge or charge to study was 1 Thes. 1:3. "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." Luke was using this scripture yesterday to show us how he felt about us as a church, but also how Paul was admonishing one of his churches. Luke had such a humble and thankful heart yesterday - wow!

So I had to dissect it this morning and what a blessing. "work produced by faith" Work here simply means your occupation or calling - what you are known to do... ie. she is a doctor. And that faith there is the well known "pistis" - what you believe, persuaded by, trust and a firm foundation of Christ. So Paul was saying here that he can not forget the solid foundation of faith these people have that flows over into their everyday work - what they do is produced by the strong faith and belief that is establish in Christ Jesus. Therefore the argument can be made that even though we are not in "ministry", we are all ministering at work no matter what it is. Our faith and belief produce the work we do and the way we do - AND others are watching!

"your labor prompted by love" This labor here is something different than work - occupation - like we just saw above. This is not so much the act of working as it is the exertion and "labor" it takes to make it or do it. The trouble, the exertion, the weariness felt in the job... and i could have guess it, this labor is prompted by love and yes that is the agape love.

"your endurance inspired by hope" This is not the endurance like in being able to endure people or have patience with people. This is the endurance to with circumstances and situations. "the quality of character that does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. All of this is inspired by hope - hope in out Lord Jesus.

When we put this all together it is awesome!!! Paul is looking back on this church and saying - I can not forget the work I have seen you doing day in and day out - what you have been called to do, what you have been made to do, what God created for you to do and with such Faith. Your faith and believing God is such a foundation for your work and it shows to all those around. Because of your solid foundation I see the trouble that you go through or the lengths you go to to do your "job" with such love. Love has prompted you because of your solid foundation of Faith in our Lord Jesus and only through that is this love evident. This is Christ's love showing through in your labor - AND others see that too. If we go a step deeper into your inner soul we can see that your character is such and you will not let up. The hope our of our Lord Jesus returning is worth the wait - you will endure, you will labor, and you will work... but all because of the solid foundation of Faith, inspired by hope and prompted by love!!! Wow - now that is one tall order or affirmation!!

Thank you Father for your Word! Thank you for the flow and the consistency of it! Thank you for allowing me to study your Word and be changed by it. May that never change! Lord, may this be a year that I am prompted by love. May the solid foundation of faith and belief in You, my Savior, be life changing for me. May I be inspired by the hope of your returning and have more of a kingdom approach to everything I do. May I put all trust in you and endure through all circumstances. May I work my hardest and labor with joy. Oh Lord, make this a year to remember. I want to remember all the ways I saw your hand. I want to remember all your miracles and wonders. I want to take in your joy and walk in it!!! I want to be different. Oh Father, do your work in me!!! I praise you!!

502 - We are up and running!!!

Well, the website for Speaking Thru Me Ministries is up and running, but under construction... I am not sure when it will be constructed. This has been the hardest thing I have ever tried to do in my life......................And I never want to do it again!!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will I ever have help one day??? Oh Lord, please - send help!!

Well, go check it out................. www.speakingthrume.com

Let me know your thoughts!! Not that I know how to change anything!

Christmas good? - awesome here!

501 - My Christmas Present

This is my Emmajoy reading her Bible. Now before you go making yourself feel guilty because your child doesn't do that or you didn't teach yours to do that or whatever - those are all statements I tend to say to myself when I see another child doing something awesome or a family practice that I know we should be doing, but don't - just don't go there OK...

Emmajoy is a sweet and precious child - just like all the others in my house, but she is a diligent Bible reader. She has already found a joy in reading the Word and for that I am so thankful. I woke up on Friday morning and found Emmajoy like this reading her Bible. At first I thought she was asleep because she was moving much, but she was just really taking it all in. I am serious when I say I don't need any other Christmas present - this will be the best I guarantee. Praise you, Lord!!! Thank you - keep that fire in her growing!!

500 - "When Praise Demands a Sacrifice!!!!!!!!!"

Lord Jesus - I am here, the 500th post. I have thought of many cool things to do on this particular "day", but nothing seems appropriate except just talking with you. In honor of the 500th post, I read Psalm 50 today and just loved it. Father, you are it - you are awesome - you control all things - you expect all things - you are command all things - you are in all things and hold all things together.

Lord, I praise you for your righteousness and for being the perfect judge. I am so thankful that you just speak and things happen. I praise you for the omnipotent power you posses. I thank you for being so clear on what you expect out of our lives!! I thank you for the forgiveness you offer to all people and generations. In my life I am so thankful for your redemptive nature!! You have brought me back to life so many times. I praise you - whatever it takes!

"He who offers thank offerings honors me" Ps. 50:23a From what I understand this thank offering right here in this scripture is talking about praise that demands a sacrifice. Oh Lord, Your Word - what power and authority it holds - thank you! But what does this scripture mean for my life, Lord? Reveal it to me, please.

Lord, I pray my life does bring you honor and praise. I want to be honoring in all that I do. I want to lead women to honor you with their lives. I want to bring others close to you. I know the way to do that is by first being honoring myself and consistent in my time with you. I want to praise you even though it may cost everything! I want to stand up in the midst of trials and shout out your fame. I want to know you and live out true believing!!! I want to know you.

Jesus, forgive me of my sin. You know me so well and know the things in my life that i should long ago gotten over. You know those things in my life that I just can not seem to let go of. Lord, thank you for loving me just the same! Lord, thank you for seeing the scared woman that I am at times and helping me to rise above all that. Thank you for blessing me for my true intentions. Even though I have moments where I do not act very becomingly you know my deepest desire and heart intentions!! Based on that you bestow so many things unto me. Wow - that is a cool, cool, concept!!

Savior, please speak to me today showing the sacrifice that you are demanding out of my life that will speak praise to you! Lord, open my heart to whatever it may be. Maybe more than anything you are confirming the no speaker fee commitment you have asked of Ginger and I! I pray that sacrifice is just praise you each and every time we get up in Your Name to proclaim Your greatness!! I can not believe the power of the blogland. I have 2 ladies already contact me about applying for our speaker team. Lord, may i always use this avenue to bring glory and honor to you! Lord, I love you with all my heart. I want to have a greater joy about my relationship with You. I beg you to show me my faults and wrong ways so that I can get it right with you. I thank you for your gentleness and mercy. Lord, I will see in the days ahead and ask that you pour out Your words for all my upcoming events!! Happy Birthday Jesus!

499 - Tag, You're It!

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Prov. 19:21

Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you so ready for Christmas break. I know how tired the kids are getting up early and I am tired of rushing here and there to get them everywhere. I know the break we will still have many things to do and places to go, but at least there won't be the rush to get to bed and then get up again! The morning comes so fast!

Jesus, I got to thinking about different situations You have allowed to come my way in life, both the good and the bad. Most of the time there was no real warning. I would wake up one day and expect things to be the same and then boom - it happened...whatever that may be. It was like - Tag, you're it or like the lights just got turned toward me and the director said, "Camera!" It happens to everyone, but we just never know when.

As i sit in my AWESOME Sunday School class i am thinking... are we taking what we are learning and applying? It is good and all to discuss the scripture and to ponder God's greatness, but when we walk out of the church and get tagged how is the reaction or response? Do we know how to really live or walk through it? I wonder so often about blogland. Do all these women seek You daily or are they seeking friendship and acceptance? Friendship is fine and great too, but not if it is replacing You. Are we seeking a certain number of comments or is it something else? There are certain days, i confess, when I get no comments i begin to wonder if maybe I didn't write well enough or didn't make any sense. Now how crazy is that of me to think that - FOR ME, this blogging thing is a prayer so i shouldn't be concerned what anyone says or comments. When the director says "action" do we know how to walk it out? Blogging is a good and wonderful thing - I would probably not be so consistent in my quiet time if it weren't for blogging - but even after we walk away from the computer, get up from our prayer time, walk away from our scripture reading - are we changed, any more wise, strengthen faith, etc??

My church has a group that meets once a week called the Application group. That means they take the sermon from that Sunday and go through it and talk about nothing but applying it to our lives. How cool is that!! I have not been to one of the times they meet, but I think I would really enjoy it. I have a few friends that are having to get up from their times with You, per say, and walk in a new game. Some of the situations I can not discuss, but they have been "tagged". One of my best friends, Ginger in Charlotte, got a phone call the other day at work only to find out that her house had been broken into and all her Christmas taken. Her house was completely ransacked and destroyed. She woke up that morning thinking it was going to be the same old day as normal and then boom, she got tagged. I talked with her for almost an hour yesterday and she is incredible. "Leigh, you know we can replace all that. It could have been so much worse. I hate that those guys have probably ruined their lives if caught. People, the church, has been so good to us and generous. The Lord is awesome!" Those were her words to me!

The verse above says listen to advice and accept instruction - that is life. We are going through it waiting to be tagged, good or bad. While we are waiting for the Director to say, "action", we have to be listening to the advice of the Holy Spirit, wise friends and loved ones, and sermons, etc. We must accept the instruction from the Lord and obey. We have to walk in it and through it!! It is the only way we will be wise. While it seems like we may not be internalizing much from the classes, the Bible studies, the sermons, and even quiet times, etc. you will know when you have been tagged.

Lord, I trust and believe that Your Word does not return void. I thank you for waking me each day to sit at your feet and learn. I want to hear your advice and instruction! I want to heed your direction. Lord, I so want to be wise!! Jesus, my friends that are going through different stuff right now, comfort them, give them instruction and advice, and Lord let your peace reign in their lives right now. I believe Father. I love you!!

more purse additions

Purses are $35 and laptop bags are $45. No shipping 'til Christmas!!!

497 - Go Tell It on a Mountain

Dear Father in Heaven - thank you for a great weekend. We got about 2 inches of snow and that is all the kids have been dreaming about. Snow makes the bitter cold weather so worth it. I bought some good snow outfits and boots for the kids a few weeks back and that helped so much. They stayed out there for a long time. It gets frustrating for a mom when the kids tromp in and out "fourty-leven" times. Maybe we will get some more for Christmas!

Yesterday my preacher's title was "Go tell it on a Mountain" and it really got me thinking... Ginger and I are making some ministry changes and we need others to "go tell it on a mountain". I looked through the scriptures to see if that phrase was actually in the Bible - in my brief search I could not find it. I could find where the shepherds were going to go tell all that they had seen. I found where the disciples met with Jesus on a mountain. I found where we are to go make disciples, but not necessarily on a mountain. And of course there was all the preachin' on a mountain or Jesus retreating to a mountain. But no go tell it on a mountain - that i could find - except for the famous song.

But why a mountain - and I am just kind of thinking outloud here. When you are screaming from the top it can go much further - no things to disrupt. On top there is little to stop the flow of the message. On the top there is gravity to pull it down to all areas - it has to land. On the mountain top there is an echo - takes the message even farther. Go tell it on a mountain has much positive results to get the Word or word out.

Ginger, my ministry partner, and I have been given a challenge from the Lord and we are so excited to be asked. It is not so much the challenge that is exciting, but the fact that He chose us to ask hoping or knowing (depends on how you look at it) that we would say yes. I am not tooting my horn - please hear that - I am just so excited that God thought enough of us to ask this challenge! God issued a challenge to us both - that is part of the really cool thing - "What if for one year you ask for no real kind of speaking fee? You get your traveling expenses paid, but just rely on me to prompt whomever to give to the ministry through love offerings, etc. Can you trust Me to provide?"

What Lord - are you serious? How will I ever get all the ministry expenses paid? Do you trust me? What Lord, How will I explain this to my business man husband? Do you trust me? What Lord, this just doesn't seem right? Do you trust me? Lord, this is going to really change our ministry - we will not be taken as serious. Do you trust me? Lord, do you understand how much this could stifle the momentum we have going here? Do you trust me? Lord, I doubt we can get any kind of speaking team that takes no speaking fee? Do you trust me? Lord, are shutting the doors here? Do you trust me?

As Ginger and I have pondered this for some time an amazing thing began to happen - freedom began to grow and grow in our hearts! I trust You! How awesome to be able to speak to event planners and not have to get to that "money" part of the conversation. I trust You. I will not be in the rat race of ministry to publish a book and be to this level making this amount per engagement - I know that sounds terrible, but that is the truth of the matter - unspoken I should say... I can just rest and allow God to do His thing and me just be along for the ride. I trust you!! Speaking Thru Me will not be a business posing as a ministry - it will be a ministry. I trust You!

I had a few friends praying about this for us and one of my concerns was Clay's reaction. How would he take this? His initial reaction was wonderful - Leigh, it only takes the faith of a mustard seed. I just kind of let it sit in for a few days and kept praying for his total acceptance and agreement and SUPPORT! I was all snuggled in bed on Saturday morning and Clay woke me up. "We need to talk, Leigh." He is such a great communicator. "I get it! I am fully on board and in complete support of what God is asking of you and Ginger and the ministry. I think this is a place where God can truly bless and use the 2 of you." Now that was an awesome reason to be woken up! "Those that ask a fee are not bad, not NOT trusting the Lord, not NOT doing ministry - that was me just a few weeks ago........... But, Leigh, this just puts you at a new level - on a different road...........I believe this puts you on a road of ministry instead of something else. The something else was ministry as well, but this is just different. It is like God is asking if you trust Him enough to do this............" Ya'll I was about to turn a flip flop right there in bed!!!

God asked........ Ginger said yes immediately........... I thought about it for a day or two and then said yes. So this is where we are. We need your yelling on a mountain top. We need your prayers. We need your support. We need your prayers. We need your ideas. We need your prayers. We need your thoughts. We need your help in getting the word out. We need your prayers. Go tell it on a mountain so that the word spreads far and wide. Go tell it on a mountain so that the WORD spreads far and wide!! Oh Lord Jesus - thank you. How will You make all this come together and stay together???????????? I trust you!!!

496 - Bless the Lord

The Psalms say, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me Bless His holy name." That is my heart this morning. I feel the blessings of the Lord falling down on me and I just want to sit and give it all back. I feel so wonderfully blessed and happy. My feet are barely touching the floor just because I can feel His breath and approval around me at this time. I usually do not want to say anything when I am this way in fear of making another feel left out if they are not "feeling" such love and approval - for whatever reason - at this time, but I can not hide it today. I don't mean I try to hide my blessings, but at times I do think it is appropriate to share them with just a select few. I am constantly reminded of the story when Joseph tells his brothers about his dream of them bowing to him one day - and he happens to be standing there in his special coat of many colors that his father made him since he was the beloved son! Not a good time to be sharing about the blessed feelings he was experiencing to his older brothers!

I had a great purse selling day yesterday - at the school was incredible and at Rachel's was not so good. Maybe we got a bit too late in the season to have a party. But we didn't have that many show up. Who knows - it is different every time! It was awesome as usual to sit around and be with their family. Incredible people. I love them more and more the more I am with them all. Yesterday was so wonderful getting to meet all the school teachers - this is where Sarahjane will go to school. As i was leaving that afternoon the secretary called me into her office and lo' and behold they were on my blog - looking at purses, nevertheless on my blog. It absolutely blows me away the extent God goes to reach people with this thing. And while I was there yesterday another school in that area called me to come by and set up for them on Wednesday. Thank you Father - Thank you Jesus!!

More than anything I think there is just a quieting of my spirit and restfulness in my heart. My ministry partner and I are really feeling the leading on a particular area of ministry and just can hardly wait to expose everything. It is so exciting. It is all about walking in obedience!! I think that can explain the feeling i have of walking on air right now. We are taking a plunge into deep faith and it is so incredibly exciting I just can not stand it!! I can not believe God would trust me enough or have faith in me enough to ask such things, but He is. I am just blown away and so excited!! Freedom is the best word I know to describe everything. And with that freedom comes laughter and joy............. oh my word - such joy. To the world and to many Christians it will be complete and utter craziness, but we are so sure and confident of His leading!!

Our ministry website is just about up and running. The awesome guys at www.netministry.com have given us our first preview of the template. We loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a few changes here and there, but awesome!!!!!!! If you are looking for a website to do anything this is the place to go. All that they are able to offer would cost you at another place, thousands of dollars. I am not kidding. But they are like the wal-mart, supercenter kind of place, of website instrumentation!! and are able to offer things at a very discounted rate. Let me know if you have any questions.

I am coming up on 500th entry of blogging!! Wow - what an incredible thing. What should i do - any suggestions??????? Please tell me. I would have never dreamed I would have stayed with it this long. Thank you Father!! It has given huge amount of accountability and consistency in my quiet time. I think over the holiday break I will break too! I need to spend the times in the quiet morning having my Jesus time and then writing the messages for the next series I will use in January at Wisconsin, Tennessee, and ALASKA..................... I still can not get over that I am going there!!

Oh Lord - again bless you!! My heart is so full and excited. Thank you for these times right now. Thank you for the celebration and quietening of my spirit! Thank you for Christmas and holidays. Thank you for the guys working so hard on the house. I know we are going to experience another lull soon due to the holidays, but may they come back and get after it!! Thank you Lord. Protect Clay as he travels home this morning! Thank you for his confidence in me and his support of the ministry! I love you Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bless YOU Lord!!!

495 - Living Close, Clean, and with Purpose

Dear Lord, I am very rushed on time this morning. I have a purse party this morning at Lincoln School in Carmi and then another one tonight at Rachel's house in McLeansboro. So I have to get completely ready for the day before I walk out at 7:45. Back to the old working routine!! Lord, help us all and I do mean that! I pray that all goes well today and tonight. I pray that there are many, many sales of both purses and Rachel's beautiful baskets. Thank you, Lord!

This morning I found myself at an odd scripture - it was odd to me! I am asking the Lord for specific direction in regards to a specific challenge I feel like He has placed on Speaking Thru Me Ministries. I will reveal that challenge as I know the specific directions! Lord, Ginger and I am desperately seeking your will. She had lunch the other day with Kay. Of course Kay is a woman of huge wisdom and conviction. We feel like that was a divinely appointed time and much is to be taken and considered and prayed over from that appointment - so we are. Reveal, Lord!!

This morning in Jer. 13:1-11 it about a linen belt. Just the bottom section of my commentary said this was much like underwear. Now my first thought or exclamation was - Why does the Lord so often deal with matters of the privates - underwear, circumcision, etc. I do remember a study I did with Beth Moore and her explaining very carefully and precisely the meaning and relevancy of circumcision. It was a touchy subject to say the least and she did it without using any words that would have made you squirm - but I can not think of which study it was. Maybe Patriarchs??? Who knows!!

God tells Jeremiah to take his belt or underwear, knew ones he just had purchased, and put it on. Then after a short time HE tells him to take the underwear and go bury them in a crevice of Perath. So he does. Then the Lord after many days later, tells him to go dig up the belt only to find it "ruined and completely useless". So I am just thinking out loud here, but unsure totally here about this scripture. God explains that He will ruin the pride of Judah. They are doing anything but bringing Him honor and glory and He will ruin destroy that pride - they are fixin' to go into 70 years of captivity. He wants Israel to be bound to His waist like the belt and its original purpose.

I would hate to wear a pair of undies (oh i hope I don't get weird Google ads because of this blog and word content) that have not been washed and dried with fabric softener. Just the way things are these days. I thinking a round about way they may have been the same way back then. God is saying that the underwear that are used, unclean, and possibly rough and stiff are not of any use, useless!! #1 the guy wore them for a short amount of time I am sure making them at least undesirable if not unclean. Then he was asked to bury them and the dirt certainly gets them dirty. THEN just by the fact of nature running its course they were probably rained on. Have you ever not dried your clothes the right way - they get all stiff and yucky!! So now we have undies that are unclean, dirty from the soil (no pun intended), and probably stiff and uncomfortable from the elements - without purpose. Am I getting anywhere???? Lord help!

So the Lord is then saying He wants His people to be like the belt around His wait - living close to Him, Clean, and with Purpose. Only by living so close and intimately with the Father can we hear clearly from Him and know His heart and desires. Ps. 25:14 "The Lord confides in those who fear Him..." Isn't that awesome!! The Lord confides, He tells his heart and dreams, purposes, plans for us - but only if you are up close and intimately involved with the Savior - only through displaying a deep fear, awe, respect, reverence will those things be revealed!

The Lord requires us to be clean. Constant state of becoming blameless, seeking forgiveness, and righteousness! We only become clean and holy through the blood of Christ. When we are not "fessed up" the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit is diminished in our lives - He is quenched! I want clean underwear every single day - the Lord needs a clean vessel to work through. (Wow this is kind of crazy to me - just the talk of underwear and my holiness. ha ha)

And of course the Lord has purpose, makes purpose for us, and is purposeful to us! Just like the underwear when they are soiled and stiff - they lose their purpose. Oh Lord, help me to never be stiff necked. Those times that i get that way help me to be softened by your grace, mercy through discipline. Lord, I am seeking Your Will!! I need to hear from you and desire to do nothing else but what you ask. Lord, give Ginger and I a Word to confirm what we are hearing. Thank you for the intimacy of underwear talk and applying it to my life - You amaze me Lord!! Wow - am I close any of this one Lord?? Reveal to me or have someone else direct me closer to what You are taking about in this passage!!! I love you - May today be blessed by You and your favor fall down on today's events!! I love you!!

494 - Purses - best ever...

Paisley bamboo handle purse comes with make-up bag and cell phone carrier.

Black "quilted" nice sized bag.

Cutie patutie pinkie!

Classic French Toile - good for all seasons.

Now how cute would your initials be on this purse?? Or how about Lord or Savior??



Black plaid!!


Awesome patterns and colors!!


Large bag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I have been waiting for this bag for months!!!

All bags are $35 plus free shipping until Christmas!!! Hurry limited supply!!

493 - Is Your Old Gone?

2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone and the new has come."

Heavenly Father - good morning!! We are on our final week of aerobics. I am pooped. I know that doing this exercise is helping me to sustain through this busy season, but rising early gets a bit tough! I think I hit snooze 2 times this morning. Today we are going to see a realtor about putting the house on the market. We did have that second showing on Saturday that went really well. She called me back and made mention that they were very interested. Maybe they could be the ones. Oh Lord, I sure hope so. I know they would take care of the house!

This morning I found myself at a very familiar verse. I am not sure the reason for the leading here other than to be reminded of what condition my heart is to be in. This verse very distinctly explains what a new Christian is suppose to look like. We are to be new!!! We are a new creation. It reminds me of when the kids are playing with clay (the mineral not hubby) and are making things. They will create one "thing" and glory in its beauty. Rarely will they place that to the side to make another something. No, they will destroy that by smooshing it in their hands and rolling it all out again. Then they will shape, mold, fashion the new creation. The old is gone!

That is what I know Christ to have done for me the moment I met Him through salvation. He destroyed the old - the old is gone, done, disastered, unable to resurrect, finished.... And the new has come. At the young age of 8 years old there was not a lot of changing to do as far as sinnin'. You know what i mean. So i think I get an even better picture of what Christ did for me. In a child that young, the old potential, the old plans of satan (he creates nothing, he has nothing new up his sleeve... it is all old), the old generational sins are destroyed. The new has come. Again in a child that young there is not so much a new attitude or new perspective or new way of life to come about. The new has come - that is Jesus Himself. The New, the Glorious, the Protection and Protector, the plans to prosper not harm, the new blood of redemption has come!!! He is the New and therefore we should look different - the old is gone, the new has come!

I am also reminded of the Ps. 51:12 "Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." I am not sure I have ever noticed it said YOUR salvation instead of my salvation. And wow Lord, that last part - "a willing spirit to sustain me." Now that is for another day. But Lord, thank you for your salvation. Thank you that the new has come. Thank you for being willing to destroy my old and make me new!! Restore to me the joy of your salvation and help me to receive a willing spirit to sustain me!! Oh Lord, I do not want to pull out the old!!! I am new - You have made me New!! I love you, Lord!!

492 - Toby Mac and King Solomon

All purses are free shipping from now until Christmas!! That is an $8-$12 savings!!
That means a beautiful gift, wrapped beautifully, and then sent straight to that person - and you didn't have to hardly do a thang!!!
Come on now!! Get you some!!

Lord Jesus - what an absolutely fabulous birthday weekend. Yes, I am now 35 and that does seem like I have crossed over into the "older" side, but I am ready and excited!! I am ready because I went and bought all new face cleanser, eye cream, night cream, and moisturizer! So I will be turning back the years in a matter of moments!! I am amazed already what washing your face every night can do!! Wow - I wish I had known before. ha ha!

I am excited for the next 35 years because of Toby Mac. We are avid Toby Mac fans around here and he has given me a lyric that has set me free. On his newest CD my mom got Tucker for Christmas at Thanksgiving, song number 3 - Booming out the Stereo (I think that is the is name) - he says with a "hand full of dreams and a heart for God"................... Oh Lord Jesus - that is a perfect description of how I feel and actually how I am. Toby (we are on a first name basis) is talking about his career and the music he is actually driven to and performs. He is talking about his ministry and to those or the particular ones that he ministers to - it is not every one's calling, what he does, but that for them and because of God he has a "hand full of dreams and a heart for God".

I think so often I hear even big speakers say in a round about way that they don't dream, God just places before them all the opportunities. Very true and easy to say when you are at the top. You can not dream any further because you are there. The top is not what I am praying about today. But I am thanking you Jesus for the freedom to dream today. Coupled with a heart for our Lord, we can dream to any degree. So many times I have been put down or discouraged is a better word, to not worry (to me they are really saying not to dream) about where God is going to take you. These are the same people that would say just let it happen and don't do anything about letting others know about the gift HE has given you that you want to share with others. For some reason they get all Calvinistic on me when they would never ever be that way with anything else in life.

This weekend or actually yesterday I was given the opportunity to speak at 2 churches. I took my son with me because my beloved Alisha took all 3 of my girls for the night as her present to me and Clay was teaching Sunday School in Carmi. After speaking at the first church I asked Tucker if i was boring. He replied, "Oh no Mom, you aren't boring or quiet." I am not sure what that last part means. Ha! Then I said back to Tucker, "Can you understand at 9 years old why I love Jesus and why I absolutely love speaking the Truth to others?" The little man of oh so few words, "Yeah mom, I get it."

Jesus, ministry is my life and speaking is my breath or like breathing to me!! Oh I just love devouring Your Word and then exposing it to others. Yesterday I could have stayed up there all day - that would not have been too popular in the Methodist Church, but that is how much I love it! My other man of oh so few words, Clay AKA hubby, said, "Leigh you really did a great job. I mean you have come a 1000 miles." Now I am not so sure about that last part either, but I will take it and run with it!

Savior, I dream of doing this kind of ministry for years and years. I dream of speaking to as many people as you possibly would have me to. I dream of not writing books, but writing prayers day in and day out to you. I dream of seeing thousands come to know you personally and then walking successfully in that relationship with you! I dream of passing a ministry on to my kids or grandkids to run with and dream bigger. I dream of being used in any way to bring about good elsewhere. I dream about being known as a Woman after God's heart and one that is known for sound advice and judgement. I dream of making His name renown!!! I want to make His famous ways known to all!! I dream of being righteous before Him and well favored! I dream of doing nothing else but traveling with Clay and speaking of my Jesus in every type of venue! I dream of being one that God can point to and say, "That is my go - to - girl!." I dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dream because I have a heart for God!!!

I heard an interview last night of Rick Warren. The Lord has majorly stretched his boundaries. Wow!!!!!!! And he talked about Ps. 72 when Solomon prayed that God would make him known among all nations and used mightily! Solomon was truly asking to be famous in a round abut way, but he had a heart for God. His reason was noble and righteous. Verse 12- 14 explains his request and reason for wanting such great influence - deliver the needy, help the afflicted that have no one, take pity on the weak, rescue others from oppression and violence, etc. Of course this Psalm should be looked at as the True King coming to reign as well!! Jesus, our Lord. But my point is that I am not sure we are to just sit back and not dream. I am not sure why it seems in ministry that one is not to dream - like dreaming is almost sinful - or at least that dreaming is not being spiritually mature. I wonder if people told Joseph his dreams were wrong or worth nothing. Oh yeah, they tried to kill him!!!

Jesus, guide me. Keep and protect my hand full of dreams and my heart for you!!! Thank you for the freedom I have in You! Oh thank you thank you!!! (I find it not ironic in one bit I just received in the mail 2 or 3 days ago out of the blue from Tracy, The Dream Giver.)

http://www.youtube.com/greeting_view?s=jEto_QlqQIg&p=A82A4F1CA4604E86

491 - This Little Light of Mine

All purses are free shipping from now until Christmas!! That is an $8-$12 savings!!

That means a beautiful gift, wrapped beautifully, and then sent straight to that person - and you didn't have to hardly do a thang!!!
Come on now!! Get you some!!

Lord Jesus, It is an early Saturday morning. We have some fun things planned for today and I wanted to get a jump on it. Yesterday was quite busy. To start the day off we showed the house to a couple that is coming back for a second look TODAY at 2pm. That is encouraging! Thank you for that! We are going to see a realtor anyway on Tuesday this week, so this would be great to get it done before we had to do all that - that is believing thinking!!

Then last night we had another birthday party. It was a ton of fun! All of my kids just ran crazy all over this church - along with the other kids too. It was the perfect place for a party! AND Courtney gave me some homemade, world famous fudge for my birthday. This will be my secret stash!!! So today my girls are going to a cheerleading camp in Carmi where they will perform at the end of the week in front of everybody at a ball game. Tucker does the same kind of thing with playing basketball on Tuesday. He is pumped about that! And then tonight my husband planned a neat birthday kind of drive by kind of party for me. He has just called some people to just stop by and say hello, eat fingerfoods, and say happy birthday. He did that all on his own, but did not try to keep it a secret. He and his mom went to Evansville yesterday to get all the supplies and food and came back and cooked, etc. It has already just tickled me to death! Sweetie! And then I am so blessed to be able to speak at 2 churches in town on Sunday on my birthday. I can not think of a better way to start my birthday - speaking the Word!!! Wow, how awesome!

So I have been thinking about something and then the Lord gave me a verse that I received in a birthday card from Becky Clayton!! I love when the Lord does that - confirms a thought with scripture!! Thank you Lord!! Proverbs 13:9 "The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out." I am not a put your Christmas tree up and never turn the lights on except night time kind of girl. When I put up my tree the lights stay on all the time. I even most nights leave the lights on throughout the night. It is most beautiful when it is all lit up and so I leave them. And yes, I leave them on even as I go out the door. I would hate for someone to drive by and not be blessed by its beauty just because I am not there or just simply asleep! Now how selfish would that be of me!! I can hear someone now saying, "but what if your house burns down.............." Then it was meant to, I guess!!

But that is what I have been thinking about the last few weeks. In the messages I am preparing about Reflecting His Light or Image - about abolishing the idols in our lives - I have been thinking about how we are never to turn our light off. The verse above can be translated as "The life of one that is honest with others and obeys the law of God shines brightly, but the lamp of those that are morally bad, wicked, wrong - those that are living in sin and plan to continue doing so - will be snuffed out." Wow, I love that!! This Little Light of Mine is to shine all the time - not hidden, not under a bushel tree, no! I gonna let it shine!! And certainly don't let satan sssshhhhoooooo it out - NO! I gonna let it shine!! All the time!!

Lord Jesus - I don't want to be one that shines when it looks pretty - just to stand out in the dark, but have no real purpose otherwise. I don't want to be one that chooses when I will shine or not - I want to always shine for you. I don't want to be one that can turn on and off my light for you!! Lord, I don't want to be selfish about when I shine either. If it is inconvenient to shine in the middle of the night on the phone with someone in crisis - please help me to rise above and still shine! Lord, I don't want to be snuffed out!!! Oh Lord, help me to shine so brightly!! As bright as the 35 candles on my cake!!! yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Carmi house is coming along really well!!! Yeah!!!!!!!! The third floor is having the floors redone on Monday and then that floor will be done except putting in light fixtures, doors, and light switches - kind of stuff. Oh and the bathroom!! So I guess it does have a bit more to do in there - but we could possibly move something in there on Friday week!!! WOW!!!! My friend Patricia surprised me with an early birthday gift. We had gone to a Christmas tree farm - can you believe there is a Christmas tree farm in the middle of farm land. I was amazed too - and I made a comment about loving a particular wreath. They were all fresh and just gorgeous!! Well, we walked outside of aerobics and lo and behold she pulled out that very wreath and said in her not get too excited, stay calm cool and collected way - Happy Birthday!!! Wow - that was a huge shock!!! Oh how i wish I could remember to do things like that for others. So I hung that on my Carmi door so our house would not be the only one without lights or any kind of Christmas attire! I will post a picture of that and more house pictures later. I have no idea if Patricia reads this, but thank you!!! And yes Dad, I will send her a thank you card too!

Last bit - I think there are about 2 weeks left until Christmas. Last i heard the kids say it was like 19 days left and that was a few days ago. Anyway - from now until Christmas all purses are free shipping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is like anywhere from $8-$12 off!!! Come take advantage!! I will post more pictures soon!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!

490 - Pictures - 2nd post today

Go to www.shortsphotos.com and check out the kids and a few family pictures.

When the website comes up, scroll down and click on collage. There you will see Elleigh, Sarahjane, Emmajoy, and Tucker. Jennie Short did a wonderful job getting everyone to smile and pose just right!!! Thank you Jennie!!

Merry Christmas!

489 - Elizabeth's Joy and Believing!

Dear Heavenly Father - I am shooting from the hip here today. I have never heard these speculations preached and am just gonna go out on a limb and risk looking like a fool. There is always a first - ha ha ha ha hahahahahahhhhhhhhhaaaaaa. hee hee. I noticed something and I am just wondering......... I love the Christmas story and all the events leading up to it. I love the whole account of John the Baptist paving the way for Jesus and it starting from the womb. I love how the Lord has a plan of salvation for each person and how unique each story can be. Lord, please use whomever or whatever to show me my errs today with your scripture. I LOVE your Word!!! ok - from the hip...

In Luke 1:39 and following we have Mary getting ready to go to Elizabeth's - long walk and she was pregnant. So Mary gets to Elizabeth's house and enters the room. Elizabeth is pregnant too with John the Baptist and some are erroneously thinking she could be carrying the Messiah. Mary says hey and then what I called salvation occurs to Elizabeth. Upon hearing Mary's voice the baby within her leaps and then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior He immediately comes and dwells within us. It is as if He breaths life into us and we are filled again, born again!! Looking at verse 41, it states that when she heard Mary, the baby leaped within her, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. The end translation of that is that she was breathed into new life - a life resided by Jesus Christ. I am just wondering and am beginning to believe this was Elizabeth's salvation account.

Obviously she was a believer of our Lord, the Old Testament follower - I am not sure a believer in the technical sense, but now she had been filled with the Holy Spirit. She had been doing all the things that a good Jewish woman would do, but now it was different - She Believed. Another supporting idea that I had was her public proclamation. Verse 42, "In a LOUD (she believes in shoutin', right Valarie?) voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear." She proclaimed loudly that Mary was highly favored and proclaimed, made a statement of belief, received in faith, believed that the child Mary was to have was the Christ. In the very next verse she claims Mary's child to be her Lord - her personal Lord and Savior - that is what I believe.

The last verse ,45, in that section say, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." I have always thought that Elizabeth was referring to Mary here and she certainly is, but I see now that she could be talking to herself as well - or at least meaning that for herself as well. Blessed is me (Elizabeth) who has believed what the Lord said to me today about that being my Christ in Mary's tummy to save the world, will be accomplished.

I don't really see an alter call here in this account. I don't see Mary persuading Elizabeth to believe. I don't see one more stanza being played to see if just one more person will come forward to believe. I don't even see Mary telling Elizabeth how to say the sinners prayer. But what I do see is and Up Close and Personal encounter (Heather we can use this) with the Living God that has changed a person forever!! All of our stories of meeting Him are different, but when we truly get Up Close and Personal with the Lord we will be changed and believing must start!! There is an acceptance, a proclamation, and now a believing life walking with Him. Her son is proof she believed - he had to learn it somewhere!

Lord Jesus, I am not saying there doesn't have to be an invitation at church - oh no, no, no - I am just saying when God comes to meet with us and make an impact it can be any where any time and through any who!!! I have never thought about the fact the Jesus could change a life even when He was still only a few cells Himself - in utero. There will be some that this encounter is very different, but I say Praise you for that!!!!! But there will be an acceptance, proclamation (and her son, John the Baptist laid the way for Baptism to be taken place after the acceptance and proclamation upon Jesus' request), and then a different walk. We must be different. Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. Show me where I have erred today. Show me where I have misinterpreted. Show me where I am walking unchanged by my encounter with You!!! Lord please forgive my sin and help me to get back up and walk again!! Oh Lord I love you so much!! Kind of a crazy day!! Thank you for bringing Clay home safely!

488 - Dr. Visit

My oh my I am sooooooooooo late this morning. Thank you for your prayers and comments and emails. I just wanted to let you know very quickly about the visit. I have to say I did not find out a whole lot. I am taking the thyroid medicine to help correct that. She has taken me off the "pill" to see if my body will regulate itself. Since I am no longer in pain she thinks that it will all go back itself. So I am going back for another ultrasound in January to see if it has decreased or even gotten bigger. Her gut was telling her that all would be fine in a month.

I really liked this doctor and did trust her very much! I am not crazy about the wait and see kind of action, but she knows best, I trust!

Once again, thank you for your prayers and I will keep you updated if you care to know. Thanks for caring!! It just about overwhelms me that you all remember to ask and are so kind to pray!!! Wow - I am blessed!

487 - Friends are Friends Forever IF............

Lord Jesus, today is the day I hope many things are answered. I go to the gyno and get to talk with her at length. I still have the same symptoms and issues, etc. I did get back some blood work to find that my thyroid is off and will be starting meds for that ASAP. She also mentioned that one of my ovarian hormones was off too - but not too worry. So we shall see. The doctors and PA taking care of me have been wonderful!!! I can't believe this is the same person I had a sticker store with in Massena, NY when we were in 5th or 6th grade.

This PA is named Lisa Rauscher. I hope she will not mind me talking about her today. The Lord lead me to a verse today and made me think of Lisa. Proverbs 27:6 "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Lord Jesus, you know that Lisa has been a far greater friend to me than I have ever been to her. She never forgets birthdays, anniversaries, kids birthdays, etc. She can remember exact sentences I said to her from years ago and even quote them in the sarcastic way I probably said them. Lisa is the best example of a friend I have ever known. We are now just 1 hour apart with jobs, husbands, and 6 kids between us. So yes, it is very difficult to get together, but I cherish her friendship in my heart...forever!

Lord, it could be confused that I am saying Lisa's wounds can be trusted... Oh No- I mean, that I can not think of one time that Lisa ever hurt my feelings or wounded me. I guess she may have a time or two when things maybe didn't go my way, but see it wasn't her fault anyway. But wounds of friend can be trusted. I know there have been many times that I have hurt Lisa's feelings. But i can honestly say this is one girl that does know my heart. I think we cliche that thought often - "oh she knows my heart", but do they? Lisa does!! She knows the friend I long to be, but so often fall short. What a friend I have in Lisa.................Jesus thank you for your friendship as well. It is only because of you that I have kept my friendship with Lisa - she is filled with you and filled with forgiveness.

Living in Charlotte for 12 years - I have never lived anywhere longer - friendship were oh so special by the time I left. I felt like quite a few knew my heart, but then again did they really? As I grow up friendships seems to get more and more precious to me. I am less able to just let go and know that another friend will be coming around the corner. Friendships take so much work, but oh so worth it.

The strangest thing has happened since leaving Charlotte. It has happened every time I have moved. If you have never moved you will have no clue what I tam talking about... I knew it would, but I can never figure it out. Those that I talked with daily or consistently are the ones that I seem to have lost contact with. But those that I didn't talk with much at all seem to be the ones I feel the closest with now.................is something wrong with me??? A couple of friends I have tried and tried to stay in contact with, etc., but just don't hear from much. I notice they do comment on other blogs, but never come by to say much to me - I am not sure about that. Not sure what to think. Yes, it saddens my heart and causes me to pull back to, but at what point do you continue to push? I can honestly say I do know their heart. The wounds can be trusted.

Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them - oh so true. I know that if i go home to Charlotte I could call up these girls, meet for lunch, and it would be as if we never skipped a beat. Life is oh so busy and i see Him calling me to be still. And I know that I am not the greatest of a friend - at least I am not half as good as Lisa has shown to me all my life. Wounds from friends that can be trusted should not cause me to pull back - I should plunge forward to make right or love anyway. Lord God, help me to be a better friend. Help me to not get feelings hurt or feel discouraged. All the many, many wounds I have inflicted on friends - oh Lord Jesus, may they know it can be trusted. I would never want to hurt someone on purpose, but I get fleshy and it happens. Help them to forgive me. I hate when it happens and I don't know it - oh that is a doosey! Lord, help me to love even when i don't feel loved. Help me to pray for those that I say I love. Help me to know when to hold off and just wait for the perfect time to contact instead of forcing it. Help me to be a friend that others want to miss. Help me to be trustworthy!! Lisa is a great friend, but You are a perfect friend. Jesus thank you for never holding me back. Thank you for initiating conversation. Thank you for forgiving me so often. Thank you for trusting me at times. Thank you for your faithfulness and never abandoning me! Thank you for being there when I need it the most - and making yourself known to me. Lord, as always you have been so wonderfully awesome in the friends you have provided for me here in Illinois. I could start naming names and tell why I love them, but then I would get in trouble because i just might forget just one!!! But they know my heart - ha ha - there goes that phrase again. Help me be a better friend!!! That might be my new year's resolution!

Lord, off to have a great day and get some answers!! I praise you, Lord. I trust you!!

486 - Shhh - The Quiet is TOO Loud

Dear Lord, What a wonderful weekend and what a great way to end it with a day at church. Thank you!! It was an incredibly busy weekend - but just awesome. I ended up taking Elleigh to the doctor on Friday morning and she had her 2nd ear infection of her life - double infection. So then we rushed home and went out to eat with our youth pastor, Brad and Holly. What an awesome couple!! They will be going off to the mission field in a little more than a year. Saturday morning hit and I led a devotion for Star Church Ladies Brunch. Now that was some good eating!!! Wow oh wow!! I love those ladies. (I have yet to find a church I don't love....) They are so kind to me. I no sooner got home from that and the girls and I hit the road for a birthday party in Evansville. Now get this - instead of bringing presents the mom asked that we bring things for a local charity. Now how incredible is that!!! That Patricia Trout does everything and does it with complete excellence!! She completely amazes me - and she can cook!!! And works full time, never frazzled!!!! So then Saturday night was easy.

That was some serious ground covered this weekend. I have not even mentioned Sunday church, lunch with Trouts, Clay working on the house, and then us back to church for kids choir and dinner again at the Trouts. No, she only fed us once, we ate out for lunch! But I see a theme playing over and over in my life right now - God is trying to get my attention. SLOW!!!

Lord Jesus, a few days back i talked to you about how I love boundaries - I love to be told what to do - by YOU - and to know how far I can go, etc. It is the First Born trait that I have in me. But right now I think you are showing me that I, for some reason, have taken down, pushed down would probably be a better term, those boundaries and am operating on wide open. NOT GOOD! Laying in the bed Saturday night I was telling Clay that I can't wait to get back to the doctor and get some plans about all this medical stuff. I want to know what is going to be done so that I can get back to feeling normal. I know I will have one new kind of thyroid medicine and I am excited to hear what kind of boundaries that will bring. I need some rules.

Then in Sunday School - have i told you how awesome my Sunday School class is. You have got to come by just for one Sunday. I have never been a part of something like this. Blessing beyond words!!! - we discussed the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and how to display them in our lives. The one that stood out to me, Lord, was self-control. I see a theme. Then we go down to church and Luke, our incredibly passionate man of God preacher that can pray like nobody's business - wow!!!!, is preaching on solitude. Luke 4:42 - "Jesus went off to a place of solitude.............but they found Him." Ps. 46:10 - Be Still and know.

The thing that I could hear You Lord speaking the most about to me was not the fact that I am not still enough - oh we know that - but that I have a fear or insecurity about silence and solitude. It truly bothers me when I get in a conversation and we just stare. I don't necessarily have to be the one talking, but when there is a pregnant pause, I get uncomfortable. I do not enjoy lulls. And yes silence and solitude are so vital to the Christian walk.

Jesus - very, very often you will speak to me through music, in car going here and there, and of course when I am having my QT. But how much more could I hear you say if I had more solitude and silence in my life. I am not a TV girl, but I am a music going all the time girl. It is really, really, really hard for me to sit and do nothing. I don't mean doing nothing when there are a ton of things to be done, but I just mean doing nothing on purpose.

Father, I hear you talking this morning in this silence. I hear You begging me to just sit in solitude and KNOW You! I hear you beckoning me to hear the silence and enjoy. I hear you saying - Be still my child!! Oh Lord, I will. I have been thinking about this for days now and I can not wait to look at my calendar and plan for silence. Can you plan for it??? I think I will have to until it gets to be a more normal reaction. I want to hear the cry of Baby Jesus entering the World!! I want to hear the Lion roar, I am King!! I want to hear the shuffle of the precious Lamb of God. I want to hear the trees swaying back and forth sending up their praise. I want to hear the rocks crying out. I want to hear the silence and be in solitude!! This morning I sit and I hear....................nothing except the breath of Life - Thank you Lord. Thank you for speaking to me. Thank you that I was given ample reason to hear from you!! Thank you for not giving up!! Thank you for your kindness!! I love you Jesus!

485 - Purse for the Person you know has everything!

All of the following purses are $35 except the one "laptop" bag that is $45. Thank you