Psalm 3

Last night I was doing my Bible Reading, and as I was about to go to bed I felt impressed to read Psalm 3. Not remembering what passage this was, I quickly opened my Bible and read the enitre chapter like 5 times.

Verse 5 hit home:

But thou O Lord,

Art a sheild for me;

My glory

And the lifter of my head.

I read this over and over again, because I knew that this was to be my verse for today. The Lord knew that Kaylah's Dr appointments were going to be stressful, our car would break down and that we would need to be strong regardless of what the doctor said.

This was definitely my verse today!!! God literally was with us all afternoon long. I felt Him the moment our car decided to start stalling all the way down Olive Blvd - He truly confirmed He was a shield for us becasuse we did manage to pull into the doctor's office safe and sound. I knew He was with us as I started calling around for a rental car - He was my glory as I found that last rental car that Enterprise had for the day. Jesus wrapped His arms around me as I walked into church - and the entire time He was the lifter of my head.

Verse 6 says:

I will not be afraid

Of ten thousands of people

That set themselves against me round about

I have strenght tonight in knowing that He truly is with us and He knows exactly where we are at. We will complete this journey with a grateful heart knowing that He deserves all the praise!

Verse 5 says:

I laid me down and I slept

I awaked for the Lord sustained me

I have comfort in knowing He is my strength and that He will give us rest. He truly is our shield and no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

While these verses are out of order, they have ministered to me in this particular way all day. I was reminded of a song that I sang with chorale during my 3 years at Gateway that is my anthem today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB6cFqCBMAE

From A Sincere Heart

Last night we had all church prayer, and to be honest I did not want to go. However inspite of my exhausted state I forced myself to go. I was not disappointed by no means! For the past week the Lord has been speaking to me in dreams. Now I do not mean to spook anyone and make you think I have gone off the deep end. For one instance, I had gone to bed and had a vivid dream about my dad. I woke up out of a dead sleep and just felt deeply impressed to call my dad and pray for him. I tried to ignore, roll over and go back to sleep, but to no avail I could no shake this from my spirit. So finally after an hour and fifteen minutes of battling my self will, I called my dad in the middle of the night weeping, explaining that I HAD to pray for him. Of course he was gracious enough to let me pray for him, and then he of course wanted an explanation.

I began to explain to him what I was feeling in my spirit and the things that I was dreaming about. As I was speaking the words out of my mouth, God began to reveal to me that my family was under extreme spiritual attack. Kaylah's sickness and extreme pain, Kandra's malaria situation, Tessa's struggling with depression and life changing decisions, Mom & Dad's house being rented right out from under them, and my fatigue. Now I realize that if this was happening one situation at a time I would venture to say that it's just life and it happens. However, when we are struggling with such huge issues all at the same time, I'm smart enough to know the enemy does not like what we stand for and will do everything he can to distract us. So last night at prayer I walked in under such a heavy burden and had so much on my mind that it was difficult for me to focus. I was kneeling down at the front and just listening to the different ones connect with God. While listening, my radar ears picked up a voice just to my right that moved me to tears. You see it was the voice of Ray Helm. He is a new convert and is so in love with Jesus Christ. He really doesn't know the "pentecostal" way of praying - oh wait yes he does, he knows how to connect with a Savior who loves him. He realizes the price that was paid for his soul, therefore he is so grateful for the changes that have come to his life. For quite some time I just sat and wept and listened to this man pray.

Finally, I entered my own realm of just thanksgiving to God for being so accessible. I began to praise God for being such a God that does not care about being perfect and praying our perfect pentecostal prayers. What He does desire is for His people to come to Him with a pure heart and pure motives, who are willing to show Him our imperfect state. I began to enter into a realm in the Spirit that I had not been in such a long time. I began to intercede for my family and began to access the blood and plead it over every one of us. I prayed for my dear friends the Willoughyby's, the Royers, the Marquez's, & Timo to name just a few. I didn't pray a prayer of asking, I prayed a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for what God is doing in their lives. Whatever manner He chooses to heal them is His business, however it is our business as His children to praise Him for what He has done through them already and what He will continue to do.

This blog comes from a sincere heart, from one who is doing their best to be transparent about life when it seems the hardest.

Mercy for America

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning
Commentary.

My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crïeche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.

I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Prayer - it does work!!!

Hey Ya'll,

Today has been another crazy day of doctors & hospital visits with my sister.

Life is going as good as can be expected.

Kaylah really needs a miracle ~ no other way to describe it.

Love you all.
C

The Power of NO

* I posted this around the same time last year ~ I thought it was worthy of reposting.*

If the Peanut Butter said NO to the Jelly would there be a PB&J?





If the Honey said NO to the Nut would there be HONEY NUT CHEERIOS?





If the Ham said NO to the Burger would there be a HAMBURGER?





If the Diet said NO to the Coke would there be DIET COKE?





If the Dr. said NO to the Pepper would there be DR. PEPPER?





If the Sweet said NO to the Tea would there be SWEET TEA?





If the Salt said NO to the Vinegar would there be SALT & VINEGAR CHIPS?





If the Pop said NO to the Corn would there be POPCORN?





If the Taco said NO to the Chip would there be TACO CHIPS?





Yes, I have weird thought patterns. However, humor me and see how creative this list can become. Sometimes it's good to be goofy - it really does relieve the stress.



Even though this blog started out goofy - there really is a thought behind all of this.
How many times do we take on tasks knowing that we will stress out completely before it gets accomplished. We know our plate is full and overflowing, we feel overloaded and overwhelmed, and yet we just keep piling on more. Instead of asking for two plates at the buffet, we say to ourselves oh it will fit right over here, and before long we have a huge mess of something that no longer looks appetizing and or attractive.



I encourage you today - take time for yourself.



Learn to say no when you know that the task is greater than you have strength.



If the Lord promised to never put more on us than we can bear - then why do we do it to ourselves.



The power of two little letters is so liberating.



Just say no - light a candle - grab a book - turn on some soft music - take time for YOU!!!

Stealing JR mints out of the Halloween Pumpkin.

So for the past few days I have been throwing around the thought that I think every girl thinks about when she is 25 - getting married & having a family. Thoughts like "Am I ready for this? Will I be a good wife/mom", Am I capable of juggling work, church, family & being sane?", "Will I be a good role model?" and the list goes on.

However, as I sit on this blue, little tyke chair, leaning up against the counter at my nanny family's house, I am beginning to have second thoughts. You see for the past two hours I have dealt with a screaming, colicy baby. I have been puked on three times, changed jammies on all the kids twice, paced the floors singing, praying for this sweet child to go to sleep. I have rocked, bounced, swaddled, changed diapers - folks I have tried everything. Finally, I put the screaming child in her crib and let her scream while I put the other two to bed. Oh wait - they had to go potty, and they forgot to brush their teeth, and they forgot their favorite bunny in the basement, and their binky was lost in the living room. Needless to say I was going insane. Once the older two were in bed, I went back into my screaming little girl, and for the last time, changed everything from the skin out, swaddled her in a light weight blanket, and begun the process of bouncing all over the house to get her to sleep.

FINALLY!!! SLEEP, SLEEP WONDERFUL SLEEP FELL UPON ALL THOSE THAT WERE TIRED. It was as if I had turned a light switch. All of a sudden a quiet hush came upon the house - and boy was I thankful. I was so stressed from all the hub-a-bub that I went and stole all the Jr. Mints out of my sweet little babies Halloween pumpkin and raided the fridge for a Diet Coke. Yes, I know that I am a horrible person for doing that, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!!!!

So back to my thoughts of settling down and having my own family???? I do not know if I am ready for it. I know my mom says it will all change when it becomes my own little one. However, after tonight I'm not too sure. So for those of you who are trying to matchmake me with someone - start praying real hard, because I'm not warming up to the idea as quickly as you would like me to. :O)

Please Pray

Dear Friends,

Please keep my sister Kaylah in your prayers.

She is experiencing pain again like she had before her surgery.

We really need the Lord to work a miracle like only HE can do.

Thanks for being awesome!!!