Sisters...

Do you think you can find Jude's mom in this picture? Too funny!

Picasa Web Albums - Christy - Christy's sli... - let me feed y...

Hope for a Ho-hum heart...

I love the Bible. I know that seems a silly thing to say. But, really. The Bible is God's way of reminding us that the devil is a liar, and He is Truth. It is that simple. How can I not be encouraged as I stumble upon this scripture flipping through the pages of Hebrews....
"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him...We want each of you to how this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.... because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf..."

I really am going to meditate on that a while... hope as an anchor. firm and secure. greatly encouraged... it all seems to be something I would love to lay hold of again. There is a small corner of my heart that still beats with hope. It is time to pursue that small place. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.... Ah His Name IS Great and greatly to be praised!

Beautiful Father/Daughter Trip...

From Ken to me last night over email:

"So I'm trying to teach Maddy how to be lady like. To say the least I'm meeting a little resistance. The quote of the trip so far was a few minutes ago as we were leaving Ruth's Chris after a great meal. She of course was leading the way out. I tried to get around her in time to open the door for her, but she busted through it before I could get it. Afterwards I tried to explain that it was the man's job to open the door for her. She replied, "I like to open doors myself to show how powerful I am." Truer words were never spoken. Like mother, like daughter. Love ya, Me"

Oh wow! All I could say was that I have been praying for the generational sin to stop with me! What a precious girl. What a precious dad. What a blessed lady I am. I just thought this would make some of you smile (and others of you pray!)

Meditations...

I thought this was really powerful... "Though Jesus was never less than God - He lived on the earth for 33 years, as though He was never more than a man."
Wow. Not new, but just AMAZING. Really meditate on that for a minute. What that means for you and me... Man, I love Him. :)

Ho hum heart...

So, lately I have a ho hum heart. I think it is hardened. I think that there have been so many areas that I have shut down - unknowingly, and unintentionally... but shut down none the less. I get angry when people speak truth about things that God has promised in my life. It is unbelief really. And unbelief is sin... I am apathetic in some ways, and then the fact that that really bothers me means that I am not totally apathetic... which would be to not care at all. I am ready to awaken my heart again. I am ready to have God take me by the shoulders and shake me a little... and yet, even typing that makes me shudder... literally. He desires to be desired. He desires that we put Him first in our hearts... in our soft and willing hearts. Praise Him for His grace and His glory. He is full of compassion and mercy - and of course - unfailing love.

Things are rockin around here. We can't keep from being busy. We have had trips out of town almost every week, or family coming in... we have boxed up boxes in case we move... we have looked at land... and so many other things I can't list them all... including two birthday parties- sheeesh! I am tired thinking about it all...

So, anyways (I say that with my best Nacho Libre accent), Jude is almost 8 months old. Jake turned 11 today... Maddy just turned 8 last month and my Jared turned 6 the month before that! My kids are great! I have loved having them this summer... I am approaching the school year with mixed emotions. I am excited for them... and in ways for me... but I will be sad to send them back. I am certainly not "tired of them". Hopefully they aren't tired of me either. Ken is busy trying to catch up on the days he is here, and I am searching for a lady to help me clean... I can't tell you the difference it makes in EVERYTHING! Ken was wonderful to think of that for me for my birthday! What a gift!

Adoption things are still pending. We have three more papers to turn in essentially. I am hoping we will have all of that taken care of before the end of the month. Life is busy, and life is wonderful, and my heart is ho hum. Oh Lord, help. How is it that I have lost the fire in my heart? I know He will restore to me the joy of my salvation. I know He will move in ways I can't even imagine. I must have belief. I really must

IHOP

So, I went to IHOP – no, not to eat pancakes… the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. I think for the first time in my life I sat still before the Lord. I didn’t ask Him for anything really. I didn’t hear Him speak to me – per se. But, the Lord was gracious to me. He taught me that sitting before Him and just loving Him and knowing that He loves me is enough - and it was BEAUTIFUL. I praise Him for that time. My children loved the time there as well. And I miss the coffee at “Higher Grounds” a lot! Yum… oh it was delicious! Ryan and Jenny Couch were my gracious hosts and they loved on my children and my children loved on them. That was also beautiful! We saw our friends Elizabeth and Charlton. It was a great time. It was a time I will never forget. Praise the Lord for stillness, quiet and the prayer room. He is a good and giving God.

Encouragement for my heart....

The Lord in His faithfulness had this in store for me last night… Just as I was wanting to give way to hopelessness. Just as my flesh cried out for me to just go to bed and think no more… the Lord in His mercy had a word for me. Oh that my heart would receive it. Oh that I wouldn’t doubt that He used someone in my life to write these words just for me. He is so faithful soooo good. If you are needing a special touch, just read these words… they are true for you too. You are the Beloved of Jesus if you know Him as your Savior. Thank you Jesus, for your servants who hear your voice and respond in obedience! Here are her words....

“I feel the heart of the Lord towards you and I just want to weep. So many of you have endured so much and you still love Jesus so much. You have not grown bitter. So many of you long to be near Him and no one else but Him sees how close you draw to Him in the secret when you are at work, at home, in the car, in your closet...and you keep drawing near when no one else is looking...He loves it. He sees it and His heart is moved. So many of you have been waiting and waiting for many different things. I have been waiting for several things my heart desires too, but how long I have been waiting pales in comparison to how long many of you have waited for desires and promises...and how long Jesus has been waiting to come back for His Bride, His desire, beats any of us...can someone tell me how He is so patient and how He deals with everything He must feel in the waiting?? Anyway, all that to say, I hear the Lord say, do not lose hope! He will indeed give what is good (Psalms 85:12). Let your hearts be strengthened in His goodness and faithfulness towards you. All you have walked through has not been in vain! Whatever you do, don't shut down your heart...it is our glory to feel. What else in all creation did God make that can feel what He feels? Stay steady! And in the waiting, we will get to know and experience the heart of the One we really are waiting for anyway. “

Thank you sweet friend for being used of the Lord to breathe encouragement to my heart!