Watoto Children's Choir - The Heart of the Father

Watoto Children's Choir Three years ago I attended a Watoto Children's Choir performance at my church. This is such a wonderful organization which equips the orphaned children of Africa with the skills to be leaders. Those who were left on the streets or in garbage dumps are taken in and blanketed with the love of Jesus.

It's an amazing organization and one I am proud to sponsor. My sweet girl is Zara. She is now 4 and growing up so fast! I receive letters from her house mother and older "sisters" and school work samples and drawings from her. I look forward to the day when she will write to me herself.

Please watch this sweet video, forward it to your friends, and pray for our children.
Many blessings...

 Think.Ponder.Dwell

 Think:

 Are you feeling like the opposition is beating you down. Is today the day that patience and grace seem so far away?
Let's look at our Old Testament friend Nehemiah for some encouragement...

Nehemiah 6:3

So I sent messengers to them, saying,
“I am doing a great work,
so that I cannot come down.
Why should the work cease
while I leave it and go down to you?”

Nehemiah was a man of action.

He left a prestigious job in the Persian government to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem - to be obedient to God. He knew God would use his talents to get the massive feat done. As soon as he got on the job everyone knew who was in charge. He made things happen!

The project was not without opposition though. There was a group of gripers all too ready to do the devil's work with their insults, ridicule, threats, and sabotage. But Nehemiah held them off at every turn using -- prayer, obedience,  and encouragement. In chapter 6, the wall is almost complete when the opposition gives it one more try. This time they try a new approach by centering their attacks on his character. But they are unsuccessful against this godly man. The wall was completed fulfilling the prophesy in Daniel 9:25.

What a tremendous testament to God's love and faithfulness! Enemies and friends alike knew that it was God that had made this happen.

Ponder:

In this passage Nehemiah knew that the only objective of the opposition was to stop his work on the wall. What does that tell us? How can we apply 445 b.c. life to encourage us today?

As you go through life on this sin-infested earth there will be days of complete frustration. The evil one will use fear, opposition, and dissension to remove what he knows will bring glory to the Father. And we know that if it were not so he would not be trying so hard to make trouble every day for us.

Remember in verse 3 of Chapter 6, our friend Nehemiah would not stop his work. The gripe gang  tried 4 times to stop him from completing his mission. But he endeavored to persevere and glorified God.

 

Dwell:

Are you experiencing frustration while carrying out what you believe is God's will?
 
Do you have a gripe gang all too ready to sabotage your work with coaxing to  'come down' and seek "better" things?

Let's take some of the 445 b.c.-goodness and dwell right in the middle of it for a while.

Climb up your ladder and stay there a while. Look down at the opposition and tell them you are doing a good work and cannot come down. Don't be afraid to take action. Let others know that you are acting in God's will. Stand your ground and you will be rewarded for your faithfulness.

In the end even the gripe gang could not deny the fact that God had been there with Nehemiah. And your gripe gang will see it too. There is no denying it when God is near. When His will is accomplished the Glory-light is so bright there is no denying His Presence!

God will be glorified through your faithfulness!

Blessings sweet friends!

5:16 Every day

Ephesians 5:16 says, "making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." The literal meaning is "redeem the time." We are seeking to redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity to seek the Lord with all our hearts. Why? Because the days are evil. We must prepare for battle each and every day - sometimes just to get through the day!

“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”
John Piper

Is there HOPE for America?

 I dare you to watch this and not get chills...

Watch Billy Graham

What ever you do you will not want to miss the latest and possibly the last special by the Rev. Billy Graham.

Billy Graham was my first connection to my Savior. He was a man my grandmother spoke of often. A Yankee, with roots traced to the Mayflower, she was a born and bread Congregationalist. But what few knew was that she never missed a Billy Graham Crusade. In a time, when religion wasn't spoke of publicly except on Sunday she was a voice to her grandchildren, the ones who would listen.

I listened Gram, and I will be thinking of you on Thursday night while I'm watching this!

Thank you Rev. Graham, Thank you.

Plan 'B'

Psalm 5:11 "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You, 

Let them ever shout for joy, 

because You defend them; 

Let those also who love Your name 

Be Joyful in You. 

For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; 

With favor You will surround him as with a shield." 

What are you doing today that requires FAITH? 

Is there something gnawing at your soul. Are you at a point where you feel hopeless about a certain situation. Are you ready to give up on God's plan and opt for Plan 'B'? 

Why is it we feel like we need a back-up plan when it comes to reliance on God? 

In times of stress it may seem that to sit back and do nothing is just that...

...to do nothing--

But nothing could be further from the truth when it come to God. 

When it comes to reliance on God 'nothing' can mean endurance (James 5:11), 

patience (Psalm 37:7), 

rest(Psalm 127:2), 

or reliance (John 14:1).

This is a time when you need to dig deep, to push away the stored-up layers of self-reliance, impatience, and fear. Dig until you find the you only God knows. Find that you and sit there a minute. It may feel uncomfortable at first-- it's different, it's raw, but it's clean. 

This is the you that Christ died for. This is the you that God proclaimed - This one is my Chosen, I can do great things with him. 

Are you more comfortable yet?? 

It takes some getting used to. It's not a side you are ready to share-- it's too bare, it's too-- vulnerable

But it's the you that He can make the most of. It's the one that says,  

"O Lord my God, in You I put my trust" (Psalm 7:1).  

It takes fear and turns it to falsehood. It takes restlessness and turns it to peaceful slumber. It takes a dirty wretch and makes him righteous before Him.

Relying on your own understanding will weigh you down. Trust in ME absolutely, and I will make your path straight. Isn't that what we're all longing for in our confused, human state? A Straight path.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; 

Make Your way straight before my face. Psalm 5:8

Don't give up. He will lead you. Hold on. Find the you only He can see and hold on to that trust in Him. He will never leave you. He's just waiting for you to draw near to Him. Be faithful and He will do wonderful things with you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

 Psalm 46:1 

God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble.

Instead of imagining how you might respond to terrible things that "could" happen, draw your mind back to the present and take refuge in His presence.

Participating in the game of what-ifs or could-bes is never productive. 

It hardens the heart and exhausts the soul.

The great deceiver invites us to this game every time we dare to trust FAITH rather than CHEAP fortune. 

To rely on the guidance of God is to disregard self. 

To seek Him is to know He will answer. But you must learn to go to Him first, before others. 

Don't ask all you friends first, don't write to Dear Abby...

Dear reader, if you get a general consensus then try to match it up to what you think God is telling you, you will always be wrong. God doesn't work that way. He will will not play second to anyone and to ask Him to do so will only bring you pain. Have you felt that pain??

Trust begins by making Him first.

Get into the habit of seeking Him first. More on to communicate with Him continually and His thoughts will come into your mind.

Draw near to God, 

and He will draw near to you.--- James 4:8

What's Ur focus?

Your focus determines your reality.

What are you focused on?

You or God?

Positive or Negative??

Blessings or Problems??

--Mark Batterson

You are responsible for your focus.
There is only one true Focus, one Truth...
Focus on Jesus and you will find life!

You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is set on You,
for he trusts in You.--Isaiah 26:3

Mountains into molehills

Deut. 2:6

You have circled the mountain long enough, now turn North.

I can't tell you how much this verse has meant to me lately. I found it unexpectedly one day- though the Spirit knew right where to direct me....

Found in the depths of Deuteronomy, this verse addresses the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness.

Fearful, self-absorbed, and lost they traveled looking only at there external environment rather than their Internal environment.

The same is true all too often for us.....

We travel around and around the same mountain. Day after day....sometimes it seems like an endless wilderness....



So we need to do one thing...STOP! Look at the mountain - it's much too big for you....

turn North....and give it to the only One who can handle it... the One who loves you more than anything. Give it to God and the mountain will shrink.

How easy it seems yet we take such pride in trying to do it ourselves.... complete the Journey by giving it up. Give up your free will to 'do it yourself' and make your life a whole lot easier....


Make the mountain INTO a mole-hill.

You've circled long enough, look North and the mountain will disappear!


Blessings my sweet sisters....

When less is more

1 John 3:16

Hereby perceive we the love of God,
because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

It's so important to help each other out. I can't stop thinking about how much my Christian sisters have helped me in the past. A hug, a card, a sweet prayer...

When we give to others, we give them a piece of Jesus. And that piece grows for Him. It also grows in us. His ways are not our ways.... we lose a piece of Him yet with that loss He grows in us!

God is so good! Only our omnipotent God could make more of Himself out of less of us. In fact, that's the only way it works. It has to be less and less of us each day so we can receive more and more of Him.

If you are living with guilt or depression, try to remember that's of you. The more you are focused on you and your limits the more you are limited. Do not be a slave to your moods or "feelings" but move over and let Him fill you.

Less is always more with God.

Blessings my sweet sisters,
T

Just a little more....

I was reading Lysa TerKeurst's post today and was so caught up in her thoughts... She presented a very simple concept of "and then some..."

What if rather than doing "just enough" or getting all caught up in our pride about something.... we decide to do "just a little more"-- or -- "and then some"

-- such a simple concept - but then again that's what Jesus did. He took everything we "work" so hard at and made it simple.

Just like salvation - we make it complicated, not God. What could be easier than accepting a free gift. I'll take it -- thank you. It's that easy!


My small group is starting her study tonight "Made to Crave." It was not my intention to start on Lent but I guess it was God's... I will keep posting on the progress

Many blessings & prayers,
E

Are You Too Old To Sin?

Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
and see if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting

Psalm 139:23-24

I had to laugh talking to my 98-year-old grandmother. She told me her priest said she didn't have to go to confession anymore because she was too old to sin. I wonder if Methuselah stopped confessing at 969?? I'm guessing not....

My question is: Is there ever a time we stop sinning? Isn't just the thought that you don't sin anymore-- sinful in and of itself?

To say you don't sin is to put yourself equal to Jesus! Isn't that what the evil one did? I'm not going there-- Are you?

If there was ever an age at which we stop sinning on our own, we wouldn't need a Savior and Oh, what a sad day that would be!

As the Psalmist says:

search me, try me, lead me.....

Are you too old to sin?

Sinners change, Sin doesn't?

May God bless you, my dear readers today

Loving prayers,
E

Made to Crave starts tonight!

Hop on over to Lysa TerKeurst's Made to Crave site tonight for the premier web-cast of her new book Made to Crave.
Be there

8:00 EST

Thoughts

Based on Chapter 5 of Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

Thought for the Day: "We were made for more! More than this failure … more than this cycle … more than being ruled by our taste buds, body image, rationalizations, and guilt. We were made for victory. Sometimes we just have to find our way to that truth."

You were made for more too. God loves you and has a plan for you. Find that inner craving and act on it. Crave good, crave God. Crave to glorify Him in all you do.


To those who hurt - you are made for more.

Ephesians 1:18–19 says: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which [God] has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Craving more Self-control??

Happy New Year!

I can't tell you how much I've learned from Lysa TerKeurst. She has a new book out that is called Made to Crave and it is an amazing new approach to the age old problem of weight loss.

Don't get me wrong this is not a "diet book." This is a new approach to the way you think about your body. Lysa will be blessing us with FREE webcasts on Monday night from 8:00 - 8:45 EST. So, if you're on-line stop by Lysa TerKeurst. I just can wait for this - it's really quite monumental!

I actually held off starting this book because I thought it would be a chore- but it's not. It addresses all our issues in a biblical way! Right from Eve's apple issue to my lack of personal self-control for food.

God has really blessed us with this study - I hope every one will at least give it a look....

Many blessing in the new year!!


You can sign up to receive more information at Lysa's blog or at the Made to Crave site. Give it a try and get involved!

The road to self-control starts here:)

Because...

Because someone needs to hear this today...you know who you are:)

Exodus 14:13-14, Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

I love you, He loves you more and will deliver you.

To all who suffer, I claim this verse for you, my sweet friends.

Blessings to you!

Guess what I did with the trash can??

Not only is this a great way to use the cruddy, old trash can. It can be used annually for it. Year after year, remembering the great grace of our Lord as you reap the rewards of gardening. Include the whole family - after all it will take at least 3 of you to actually dump the can when the time comes!

If you read often, or have looked at my other blogs, you will notice I love to cook and garden. It's really something to grow stuff and then be able to eat it. I am in awe of this. So, when I saw this idea from Heavenly Homemakers, I knew I just had to do it. This is a container garden in a whole new direction---move over topsy- turvy hanging tomatoes!

You actually beat up your container a little more , add some holes, dirt, and seed potatoes and you've got mashed potatoes galore. (Yes, there is definitely another day's blog......)

Anyway, here are the complete directions: love to hear if anyone else tries it - I will include pictures as it grows!

Planting Potatoes in a Container

Lately the 3 blogs have been too much for me to handle so I am concentrating mainly on this one and adding whatever the Lord puts on my mind for that day. However, I will also still share recipes and garden on my other blog: Proverbs31 Cooking

May you be blessing in all you do today--T

How do you get rid of a trash can?

I was just sitting here thinking - how do you get rid of an old trash can? You can't just leave it by the curb - people will either put trash in it or think you're a slob.

Even if you put it out on trash day - if there's trash in it they'll take the trash and leave the can. If you don't put trash in it - they'll still leave it - come on, it's a "trash can."

Do you go to all the trouble of bagging it up. Buy one of those super, HUGE bags tie it up and disguise it as - "trash". Odds are your trash man is on to you by now and will leave it there just to mess with you - I would:)

I would probably go a step further...unwrap the bag and put it into the can as a liner. Like the owner didn't know how to set it up correctly...LOL, I do like to do things like that to people...it usually makes them laugh, and we can all use a good laugh now and again.

So now that I've messed with you my dear reader you are probably asking yourself, "What does this have to do with "dailystuff"? "

Well, after I looked at it a bit longer I decided I couldn't throw that old trash can away after all. Sure it had dents and a couple holes. It was a little rusty in spots where it was bent out of shape, it sagged to one side, and it had lost all of it's original shine. I thought maybe this is a reflection of me on some days. Sure I've had my super mom-perfect wife-good church girl-loving friend - Jesus glowing days. But I've also had my: do it yourself-you don't love me-who's going to miss me-are you sure she loves Jesus? bent-up, rusty, dented, dull, sagged-to-one-side days too.

Days when I should have been left out for the trash, days when it was probably would have been easier to leave me than love me.

Those were the days when I needed it the most but deserved it the least--

Those were the days when I received the most Grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

His grace is always enough.
So, today I give grace to that old trash can. My gracious God has given me new life and I will return that today by finding new life even for my old trash can that no one else wanted.
I am glad the Lord did not leave me at the curb for someone else to take away. I am so glad He wanted me.

Many blessing to all today.--T

Know that God wants you dearly. He is waiting for you to accept His invitation. It's that easy.

Upside-down-cake day

Did you ever wake up and your day starts out like an upside down cake?? I found this great recipe and immediately I said, "Hey, that's me today.!" Unfortunately, I didn't have time to actually make this yummy confection on my upside down day, but I plan to as soon as I can get right-side up. The only thing is I'm not sure I'll be in the mood for it then.... On these days my paths are not straight, the light is not on my path, kids are unorganized, school starts late, laundry is stacked and babies need feeding - can they eat upside down cake?

After wallowing in self-pity for a while, I decided to make the most of my upside-down day. Just because you're standing in sticky syrup doesn't mean you have to stay there. There are these great bananas to stand on...Cool:) You might still be in the sticky stuff, but you've got semi-stable foundation to coast on until you can pull yourself out. That's when I got to the spongy cake. Wow, maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Spongy cake was good. It was supportive, tasted good with the rest of the cake and made me feel like I had accomplished some stability in my less-than-stable day. I had tried all on my own to make this upside-down cake day into a beautiful 3-tier-whipped-white-frosting-with-tiny-crystallized-violets-cake (Oh, but that sounded so much better!)

I resigned myself to the fact that this day was not going to change and God would give me a brand new 24 hours tomorrow. When it hit me - sometimes you have to ask for the help. God's answer was simple, get over yourself...stop complaining and stop trying to turn your cake over. I later found that he made that day upside-down for a reason. I wasn't supposed to make it different, I was supposed to make the best use of what I was given.

As Christians, we spend a lot of time trying to turn our cakes. What we need to do is live the best we can through it so we can be a good testament to others-- believers or unbelievers. We need to keep walking and even though you might end up with sticky feet, they will be washed by the hands of God in the end.

We are so blessed that our Savior allows us to have our cake and eat it to:)

I hope you found this message encouraging. Meanwhile this cake really exists and is the fabulous creation of Closet cooking

Hugs and blessings-