All of a sudden my wheels fell off!!

Sometimes I think we get so caught up telling people to die for Christ, to reject yourself, to think only of others.............. Don't get me wrong all of that is so true.  Paramount in being a true follower of Christ.  But i also long for others to know that following Christ is a lot of fun.  Jesus is a blast.  Because I find such joy in being with Christ and following Him the latter things mentioned don't seem like such a drag - much like they are communicated at times.  So today I have a funny I found as I was studying Ex. 14.

Exodus 14 is the story in the Word about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.  They were all complaining and Moses set them straight with a huge statement that really needs to be put to memory!!  As my buddy, Ryan Warren always say, that'll preach!

Ex. 14:13-14  ¹³ Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you're never going to see them again. 

 ¹⁴ God will fight the battle for you.
      And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

So then Moses, through the power of the Lord, parts the Red Sea.  So all the Israelites are crossing over on DRY ground as the Egyptians are still pursuing them.  As the night went on the Lord wanted to up the confusion of the Egyptians  and frustrate them all the more - i call it toying with them.  Destruction is on the way, but He is allowing them to get toyed with to make an even bigger statement - He is Jehovah God!!  

Verse 25 cracks me up - ²⁵ He made the wheels of their war-wagons come off, so it was hard for the wagons to be moved. So the Egyptians said, “Let us run away from Israel. For the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

I know I'm being sarcastic here - but yes, it would be very hard for any vehicle to move if all the wheels fell off!!!  Isn't it great that something so weird as all of a sudden wheels on wagons falling off made them have an "awe-ha" moment!  As they looked around and were not doing really well pushing the wagons on their own, one of the brighter warriors, must have been an wheel engineer, must have looked up and said, "Wait a minutes guys, this must be their God.  We gotta get out of here.  The wheels just fell of - who knows what is next...our heads!!!  Let's go".............but it was too late!!!  

Just having some fun today.  Some Leigh interjection there!  Have a great day and please keep your wheels on!  

862 - "Your richest duty is devotion to me."

Oh Lord, how quickly can I get confused, messed up, or even bored (if I am so very honest) in searching for Your plans for my life. It is not the search that gets boring to me, but at times it is the stage that I find is your will that I would find boring. What am I really trying to say - I am not sure! ha

"Your richest duty is devotion to Me" is a quote straight from my devotion this morning! And by golly does it hit home and actually makes things so clear!

What are the reasons we get confused in our walk with Him? What are the reasons we get messed up in our search for His will for us? What are the reasons I get bored when I find what it is He has for me and a bit of disappointment sets in??

Instead of looking for Him, I am looking at everything else!!

The project

The ways it is not going as I had expected or wanted

The other people

The other projects people are doing

The disappointment

I look at every single thing other than Him! UGH!!!!!!!! I could kick myself!

God asks me to seek His face - He does not ask me to seek a job, a ministry, a fix, a miracle, a will, other people!!!! He says - Seek ME!!!!

It is in the process, ever growing process, of seeking His face that I will find the answers to all things - I will see His will unfolded for me. I will see a ministry right in front of me. I will see miracles only seen after seeing Him. I will see other people with grace because I have seen Him first!

"This duty [seeking Him, devotion to Him] is such a joyous privilege that it feels like a luxury."

Lord Jesus, that is what I want. I want to seek You with a joy and a heart full of the knowledge of privilege of knowing you! I want to be so in tuned with seeing You that all else falls behind. I want to be able to shut out the world and listen to You working in my life and hear Your whispers. God, help me! I want to be blinded by Your love, mercy, grace! I want to see You alone so that I can spread You so much more effectively! Awesome Lord, the God who see, help me to see You!!! May I see you all throughout the day even in the most mundane of assignments! I love you and am thankful for your faithfulness!

Because of Jesus and Your omnipresence You are available to be seen in everything!! I am reminded from the scripture - "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is on holy ground!" Exodus 3: 5

Nothing is mundane because You are there!!! Where You are in Holy ground!!! Even through me!

823 - Trust is a fork

Dear Lord, What a busy morning and busy week too - and it is only Monday!!! I just read in my devotion that God is asking us to trust Him moment by moment. Trust is not a "I will do it from now and forever more" kind of thing. Trust actually takes some practice and some getting used to. The devotion lead me to Ex. 15:22 - this is where the Israelites were complaining about not having any water. They were exhausted from traveling and had not seen or had any "good" water for about 3 days. Through Moses God moved and provided for the group - millions!

It was then that they really began to trust Him. But as soon as things got hairy again the trust dwindled. Same for you and I. I am good till it gets rough! But as I learned this morning - trust is a fork. You either will or will not trust at each opportunity. A fork in the road - go this way and trust Him or I will go this way and believe in myself to at the very least "help" with the situation!

Life really is moment by moment. No moment is the same, but my God is always the same!

Thank you Father for this Word this morning. I am excited for this week! I start the Bible study out at the Children's Home on Wednesday. Kids start all their practices and track resumes for our lives. Lord, help me to choose YOU moment by moment!! I love you!

740 - Did nothing wrong...

Holy Father - You have shown me something I was unaware of or was taking for granted or was just oblivious to...  Anyway you look at it, I just didn't know...  

Ex. 1 explains that it was not disobedience or lack of performance or any such of a thing that caused the Israelites to be treated so poorly.  No, the scripture explains that there was a new king in town and he was concerned with them getting too numerous and i reckon possibly taking over the joint.  (That was my version and interpretation.)  

So how in the world does that relate to me or to you today............. let me explain.  

Have you ever been part of something and you felt like you were left out for the most part or you were treated poorly or at least treated unfairly.  I am sure we can all attest to that at one time in our life!  I want to encourage you that even when those things happen, God still sees you.  He still cares.  He is still our great Redeemer and will have the final say.  

I am sure the Israelites felt totally let down.  They had for the most part done nothing wrong and then all of a sudden they are getting treated so poorly...........abused.  How do you explain that?  How do you rationalize that in your mind?  How do you keep pressing on?  How do you not give up?  

For the lady that gets treated poorly at work because of her Faith - press on.  

For the person that never gets invited to the parties - press on.  

For the husband that feels mistreated because the wife doesn't understand his faith - press on.

For the youth that is ignored - press on.

For the player that doesn't get put in and belittled - press on and coach, watch out for the momma!  

For the pastor whose congregation can not see the vision - press on.

For the wife that keep praying for her unsaved hubby - press on.

For the neighbor that continues to reach out - press on.  

We are foreigners to this world.  Doesn't mean we act weird, but we do act different.  Some might find our behavior weird, but it should be just that it is oddly different, but inviting.  When the bad does happen and the mistreatments occur, we have to press on.  We might have to make our voice known a time or two - when it involves our own - but this must be done in a loving and scriptural way - even if you are dealing with the unscriptural.  

We are not here to defend ourselves, but to stand up and let Him defend!  He is our strong tower.  Run to it and be safe!!  He will prevail!  I believe!  

471 - Making my god

Dear Lord, thank you for such a productive day yesterday. I got 5 more contracts sent out and feel so blessed when I am able to do that. Thank you Father for those opportunities and divinely appointed events. Yesterday during my prayer time I was interrupted by the phone..........again. (One reason to meet with you early.) As the phone rang I gently said Lord, would you make that a December speaking engagement - I don't have hardly any, if any, in December - and I love talking about YOU during that time of year. Of course I let it go to the answering machine and guess what - someone wanting me to speak on December 9 - yep, December and my birthday. Thank you Lord, praise you!! That was fun!

Lord, I know how often I put you in a box or rather I keep you in a box. When it comes down to it I make you out to be the God i want or the God i expect. You don't work that way do you!! Thank you for that!! I appreciate you not making me be a puppet and You certainly will not stand to be a puppet either. Thank you!

I was reading in Exodus this morning - again about reflecting His image and idols - can't seem to get away from that topic. Plus I think it is so interesting that when I find something about reflecting His image, etc. there is always a correlation to idols. Hmmmm.... Exodus 32:4 "He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." See, what I understand to be going on is pretty crucial. Moses has gone up to the mountain to MEET with God Almighty and the people get impatient waiting for him. So they go to their next best leader - not even a newly elected one, but the right hand man to Moses (there is a another lesson) - Aaron, and ask him to make them something to worship - "gods that will go before us" were the words. (This right hand man thing reminds me of the Joel Olsteen deal. His dad did things one way and now his son, Joel, has taken over and done things totally different - I don't believe for the best.)

So as Aaron was making the gods or idols - one in the same - i wonder what kind of thoughts were going through the people's minds. "When we get this all done then I won't be scared anymore. When we get this one made I will have all the luck in the world. When we get this one done I will have plenty of food and clothes. When we get this one done I can impress the family 4 tents down. When we get this one done it will make me so happy. When we get this one done I will be powerful and strong." The idols Aaron was constructing were for their purpose - their own intentions, their own selfish gain - had nothing to do with really worshiping.

Lord Jesus- how do I try to fashion you, how do I try to construct you, how do i try to mold you into what i want. Oh Lord, forgive me for the times that i do that. Forgive me for not understanding more fully who You are and for not worshipping that. I too get selfish and think I can make you into what i need or what i feel is best. It is all for selfish gain! Lord, help! Even in my prayers i am sure you wonder from time to time if I am talking to You or another. The ways that I address You surely make you wonder what I am praying to - it can't be the Lord Almighty. You are Holy Father and above all - highly esteemed and blessed!!

Thank you Lord for not being a feel good God. Thank you Lord for being a disciplinary and strong. Thank you for being perfect and without reproach! Thank you for being the perfect judge and all knowing of every man's heart. Thank you for seeing my true self and loving me the same. Thank you that i can not change you and if i try to it is not You that i am worshipping! Thank you that you will not be fashioned into anything other than the Holy and perfect Lord God. Thank you for ruling over my life and all of the universe. Thank you for being in control of all and allowing me to take part in a small portion. Thank you for being my portion!! Lord, you are enough, more than enough!! I am in love with you!!!

452 - I Watch, YOU Fight!

Lord Jesus, thank you for a great weekend. More than anything thank you for all the friends that took the time to pray for me. Thank you for bringing to mind my exhaustive state and prompting them to pray. Thank you that they also took the time to send me a note of encouragement and love. Oh Lord - thank you for blessing me in that way. I hope it is not any time soon, but I hope when the time comes I can do and be the same for all my friends! Praise you Lord - that was You in skin!! Oh Lord, thank you!! And I got to talk with my mom for a long time too! yeah!!!

Lord, many times i view problems in my life as something that I am to fight, but with your power and strength. I am still not sure that is not the truth, but I have also seen a different scenario as well. Exodus 15:3 says, "The Lord is a warrior; the LORD is his name." When I first dissected that it was quite confusing. Warrior just translates into an individual man or being of war, fighting, battles, etc. as opposed to a mankind in battle. And then of course the capital LORD is the Yahweh, covenant God. I still was not getting anywhere until i looked up the relating verse of Ex. 14:14 -"The Lord will fight for you, you need to only be still."

So as I sat there with the Lord at my hearth I was just pondering waiting for Him to reveal what He is saying to me today. Then it came - he reminded me of an internal battle I am constantly at war with, a thought process that seems to rule me at times, a place my brain goes that I seem to have no control over. This weekend I was asking Him over and over, how Lord, how can I ever have victory in this? How can my mind ever be one that immediately pleases You instead of taking the rough road? It seems to be nothing that I can do and He said RIGHT!!!

IN THIS SITUATION - the Lord is my warrior, he is the one that is going to fight this battle for me! He is in covenant with me and that can never be broken. He will keep His covenant because He is God and perfect and pure and righteous! There are certain times that He requires nothing of us in the war except to be still. "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." That "still" means to be silent, to be quiet, to say nothing. I think you are saying to me this morning Lord that this one is one that You got covered. You are my mighty warrior and you need me to sit back and do nothing, say nothing...................just watch. Oh Lord, even in that it takes great trust. I want to help out. I want to do something to speed along the healing. I want to give you a hand because I feel such responsibility for my sin and such! Oh Lord, is there not just one thing I can do - Yes, I hear you say - Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your healing and victory will come in due time and like my knight in shining armor. You will ride in at just the perfect time to claim me as your prize. You will come to my rescue and scoop me up. You will be valiant and radiant!! You ARE!! It is finished!!

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Rev. 19:11.

Lord praise you!! Thank you!!! Help me to be still, silent, and just watch!! Do nothing!! I am going to close to St. Louis today to speak to a group of women. Fill me to the brim - may I only speak Your Words!! May they be ready to receive!! I love you!! Thank you for this opportunity, please bring more! Thank you for Your Word!

441 - I bow, but do I worship?

After the investigation into the words of bowing and worshipping as seen in Ex. 20:4, i can not get it off my mind. Lord, I feel like you have shown me another avenue. I think we have thoroughly exposed the scripture as it pertains to not bowing or worshipping an idol. Here is yesterdays prayer...

Now once we put it all out there you can see how they are so different and why the Lord felt the need to say don't just do one, but don't do the other. Oh how i love the Word. Bow is the act of doing it to the idol - worshipping the idol and moving the body in such a way that it is obvious what one is doing. And then worship is like getting up from that bow and asking the idol what can I do for you or how can i serve you or how can i minister to you? See?

So as i got up from the time with You yesterday I actually wrote on my napkin I usually have with me. I wrote - How often do we bow, but don't worship? - I felt Him say that to my heart! If bowing is actually putting our body in a position to others that says we are worshipping then I guess there is the possibility to fake it. Oh, now we are getting somewhere! Because worshipping according to our exposition yesterday is getting up from that bowing position, whatever it may look like, and then doing something of service for the god or for God. So once again that is the reason He is asking me - How often do you bow, but don't worship? I can get down in a "bow", but I can get up from that and never live out my expressed worship in that bow. Oh this is really good, Lord - thank you!!

Too often I hear from ladies that just don't "feel it" anymore with the Lord. #1 Be so careful when looking for a feeling. He certainly gives us those warm fuzzies and peaceful times even in worship, but that is not what He is all about. The Lord wants us to bow and worship even when we don't feel like it, but more importantly when we don't feel Him!!! Lord Jesus, you have taught me that over and over for years. That is part of discipline, part of our responsibility of being a follower of Christ. We love because He first loved, but we also do because He first did - whether we FEEL it or not.

Lord Jesus, you keep me in check often! Coming on this blog and writing out my prayers is a form of bowing for me, but do I get up and do something about it - in service to You, worship to You? I think what You are impressing me to write right now kind of scares me. I mean I don't want to hurt feelings, etc.............. Has blogging become a form of idol worship? We go there and write something out even though we are not living the thing out, as Beth Moore says. We are waiting to get all the comments in and feel some sort of validation from that? What originally was started as a note to the Lord has become a place you feel pressure to post often, a place that you feel loved more than by Him, a place that you bow down, but never get up to worship? OH Lord, I know that has been the case for me at times. You are so faithful to keep me in check and turn me back around!! Praise You Lord for loving me enough to do that!

Last night I got to meet with a church that is planning their first ever women's conference and I will be speaking. It was beautiful. They were excited, but didn't really know how to go about the whole deal. I was able to give them some pointers on things I had experienced all over the US. Their budget was small - at least right now - and yet were very willing to make it happen. I am very excited to see what God is going to do through their faith and all that. It was a confirmation of what Speaking Thru Me is all about. -------------------------- Then I got another note from a different church... Small church, small budget, etc. We had agreed on everything, now the back pedalling has started about speaker fee and all. I know it is so hard from some to understand, but my family budget can not allow me to do this for free. Oh how I wish, but at this point in my life I can not. Gas is so expensive, babysitting if Clay is not in town, time to drive there and back, time away from my family, time preparing is huge, if there are any meals there and back... and then of course there is the expenses that are incurred a long time before the event was ever booked - ministry expense, advertising, postage, making bios, making samples.... MOPS groups are the only ones I can afford to not charge a speaking fee, but anything else I just have to - and yet they always cover my traveling expenses! Lord, give me the words to express this in a graceful and yet strong way that one can understand. This is the whole reason HE is establishing Speaking Thru Me. I don't like one bit talking about money, but at the same time I hate having to tell a church no because of a money situation!!! I have made the decision too often to "do it anyway" and have really been in trouble for it! I give this to you!! Thank you, Lord. I love you!!

440 - Bow Down and Worship

Dear Lord, thank you for such a wonderful day. I know I will regret saying this, but I am so ready for some cooler weather. This hot and humid stuff is killing..................my hair! ugh!!

I am back at the 2nd commandment today again. I have found another phrase that I think is so important that I have dissected it. Exodus 20:5 "You shall not bow down to them or worship them." Now if i just say that lightly i would think that the Lord was being kind of redundant right there. Isn't bow and worshipping the same thing? Yeah, that is what i thought too, but after researching just a tad at this wee hour of the morning, i see that it is related, but not really the same.

Bow - hawah, pronouced "hayway"(i think), to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to worship. Denotes an act of respect to one in superior position, and essentially signifies submission!

Worship - abad, pronouced "aybad", to serve, minister, worship, to work, do. Denotes service or work that may be directed towards things. Signifies serving as a slave, or king or ruler.

Now once we put it all out there you can see how they are so different and why the Lord felt the need to say don't just do one, but don't do the other. Oh how i love the Word. Bow is the act of doing it to the idol - worshipping the idol and moving the body in such a way that it is obvious what one is doing. And then worship is like getting up from that bow and asking the idol what can I do for you or how can i serve you or how can i minister to you? See?

Wow, what a clear perspective now. I hate to know that I am caught in that position much more than I care to admit. Lord Jesus forgive me. I know every day throughout the day I bow to too many things and some I have no idea. I am putting my body in a way that signifies to all those around that I love this or that idol and am worshipping it. It reminds me of my old dog, Rebel. When it got down to eating time, he was bowing. You got near his food bowl and he would start growling and showing his teeth. It was obvious to the whole world this was not a time to mess with him, he was bowing and we all knew it! Even in eating how often do i see that in my own life. Oh Lord, break me, break this worship! I want to bow to you only! help!!!

Worship happens in my life as well only seen a bit different. How often do we see moms bowing to their kids and then getting up from that to worship them, serve them in any and every way! I am so so so so so proud of my aerobics ladies. There are many in there with very small kids - even some first children. There is one lady in there with a 7 week old when we started. For her to be able to drop her child off in childcare and then take some time to workout her body - that is to be commended. Many times, especially the first time mom, will refuse to do anything for herself even though it makes her a much better mom. It is a form of worship. I was always guilty of going in the total opposite direction, but this is one thing i saw all too often in Charlotte - the world of stay at home moms and I was one of those only my worship was being on the go!

Oh Lord, teach me!! Help me to listen. I got my scripture cards in yesterday and will be carrying around a few for spiritual reinforcement to break my idols! With all this worship and bowing talk I want to leave with this scripture - it was my mentors memory verse many years ago. Ps. 95:6 "Come let's us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." (That is the same worship that we are talking about, but a different bow down.) My mentor, Rae Deal, could have easily been an idol in my life, but God moved her away from me across the country before that could happen. Both she and I are terrible phone talkers and so it has been a tough split. She is a great letter writer though! I like email!

Lord, may today, not worrying about tomorrow, but today come before you and bow down in worship - I want to kneel before my Maker!! You are worthy! I love you!!