This picture is precious to me:  It was taken at a family camp in North Country NY.  It brings back so much of what is good in my life.  Godly, generous, forward thinking grandparents who gave of themselves not just for their kingdom but more for God's kingdom.  It gifts the image of family gatherings, games and laughs.  I reminds me of parents who appreciate integrity and goodness.  There's shadows moving about the picture of people preparing to board the boat and tour the river or go fishing, gathering to enjoy the splendor of the view God had gifted this spot or fellowship around a yard game or people living out their faith in word and deed always making sure that their deed matched their words.  That is my gift God has given me through heritage.  You don't have to do great things in God's name, just focus on living His word and He will do great things through you.  

This passage is precious to me:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the couple of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the mocker but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates both day and night.  He is be like a tree planted by streams of the water.  Which yield fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Psalms 1:1-3 NIV84

I love this Psalm.  It is one of the first I remember memorizing.  I pray this Psalm over my husband  my children and myself.  Keep our hearts focused on you, Lord.  Keep us in Your word.  Reap the fruit of Your works in our lives.

A prayer from Psalms 1:1-3

Lord, Work in this area of my (or loved one’s) life.  Make me (them) this tree planted by water streams: strong, steadfast and bearing.  Nurture me (them) with the everlasting water of your Word.  Keep me (my loved one) in meditation on your word day and night and reap the fruit for your kingdom.  AMEN

Application

Sometimes, in life, I have to question myself.
Am I doing what I proclaim?  Practicing what I preach?  Am I pleasing my LORD?  Am I showing his love toward all - no matter what?


I have a tendency to lean toward a critical spirit.  It is problematic for me - duplicity really and I don't like it at all.  


I look at other Christians and wonder are they for real?  Do they read the same word I do?  Do they know the same Jesus?  


Early in my growing years as a Christ follower, I received and read a lot of scripture.  It was mainly received for information.  I can pretty much give you a jet tour of the whole bible and could within a year of following Jesus.  


There was one thing that was missing or maybe better stated: the one thing I feel that was missing in my scripture time was application.  


What good is knowledge without wisdom?  Just having knowledge gives pride; pride puffs up.  Pride is the exact opposite of humility.  Wisdom leads to a path of humility.


During the late 80's and early 90s, religious marketers effectively took a line from the book "In His Steps" by Charles Shelton:  'What Would Jesus Do?'  I like that and I still use it (even though I don't have the bracelet any longer), but I can only use it as much as I know about Jesus and about how he acted and reacted.


I read God's word daily and meditate, but is it enough?  For me, NO.  I have to ask, actually beg, God use your word to change my heart.  


Father, Change me to look like you son so that you may be glorified.  Use your word in my life to cleanse me, my heart, my mind and soul.  I want to be a vessel that honors you, one that you can use to build your kingdom.  Take control of my life so that I cast off judgement of others and am free to love like you love.


Let me know if you pray that way as well.  Can I pray with you?

Jealousy

Have you ever heard that God is jealous?  Yep.  


Or at least his word claims that he is.


Check it out.


Exodus 20:5 (+6 for context & blessing)
⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.


Then there is:
Exodus 34:14
¹⁴ Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 


Then also:
Deuteronomy 4:24
and
Deuteronomy 5:9
and
Deuteronomy 6:15
and 
Deuteronomy 32:21
and
Joshua 24:19
and 
Nahum 1:2


God is a jealous god.  He will not share his creation.


Are you his?  


I am his and I have to wonder how I rouse God's jealousy.


Could it be my 
hobbies
shopping
no?
collections
relaxation
no?
How about 
my children
my husband
my parents
siblings
friends?


I tend to believe that whatever our knuckles get the whitest over holding back from God will be what he uses to bring us back to proper perspective.


When Ephraim was born, it was scary and he was dying.   Never once did my husband and I pray that God would take him or us out of that situation; instead, we prayed, "Save this child physically if you intend to save him in your kingdom and use him."  He wasn't ours - not then and surely not now - just on loan - as are TJ and Amber, also.


I think the thing I value that God has really challenged my with is my friendships, though.  Those relationships that I thought were Christ centered and godly were horrifically and heartbreakingly removed from me .   It was as if God was telling me that I valued my friendship with people more that I valued my friendship with him.  I focused more on my relationship with God and he returned a dear friend to me.  Thank you, Jesus!


Father God,
Keep my heart, mind, soul and strength focused on you.   Lifting up praise, honor and glory to you - to the Son - to the Holy Spirit.  Help me make much of you for your kingdom.  Thank you, for the reminder that you are jealous and will have no other gods before you.  Help me to identify the gods in my life so that I may remove them with your help.  I love you, Lord.  Be Lord in my heart so that others may see you in me.

Overwhelmed

Jim and Yonas enjoying some strawberry shortcake.

Yonas is my friend from Ethiopia.  I'm not really sure how my husband was first introduced to him, but he has become close to Jim and me.  He has been in the states for 11 years and speaks English very well with a thick accent.  


Yonas and Jim share the same vision on ministry.  We've never met anyone like him.  He truly carries his cross to serve Jesus-all for God's glory.  


And can Yonas pray.  He prays like no one I've ever heard pray in my life.  


When Yonas begins "Fawser Gahd, Hallelujah...."  The Holy Spirit visits and does not leave. He speaks to his Abba Father earnestly and lovingly.  God hears Yonas' pray.  I can give you testimony of personal prayers that God has answered through him over and over again even in the short time I've known him.


We meet on Wednesday nights to fellowship and pray together.


We've been doing this for about 2 months.  The more I get to know him, the more amazing God becomes to me.  God speaks to his heart and he is so eager to share because no one puts their light under a bushel.


Yonas gets out of the way to be an instrument for God, by God.


I was overwhelmed with something tonight though. 


He belongs to a prayer group on the phone.  I really don't understand the hows or whys or anything, but tonight he was testifying that the group is praying around the clock, around the world.


Get this.....


A group
of people
across
the face
of the
earth
right now
is praying 
for 
YOU!


Think about that.  Pretty neat, if you ask me.


A person in London could be participating in a teleconference prayer meeting praying with a person in New Guinea and a person in California right this very moment in unison for you - for me.


Most of the time, I have a hard time getting past praying for my own little family.  


Lord God, give me a heart to pray, not just for myself and my own needs but to remember people across the globe that you love.  Let my words minister to your ears the honoring of your Son.

Cowgirl UP!

There were words I never heard in my house growing up and if I did, they were squashed in an instant.  Those words were "It isn't fair."  Honestly, life isn't about fair.  Whether it be good or bad life isn't fair.  And Why is life only fair when everyone wins?


Job had every thing he owned taken from him through no fault of his own.  Job's children were all killed by a storm that struck the house where they were holding a feast.  Job was obviously distraught and questioning.  His friends who came to console him were watching his pity party and had to have their say.  Their say was: "you have some sin in your life".  Job's answer was "I am a righteous man".


When everyone has taken their turn and God has heard enough he comes to Job. Here is the first thing God says to Job:

Job 38 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

² “Who is this that obscures my plans 
    with words without knowledge? 
³ Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

Ok, Wow!


First, it is very clear from the beginning of the book that Satan found Job and wanted to prove to God that his righteous servant wouldn't be so righteous if God lifted his protection from Job.  But in the end, God has even power over Satan.  He wouldn't have been allowed to reek havoc if he wasn't allowed.  What happened to Job WAS GOD'S PLAN. 


I've dealt with loss in my life.  When the dust settles, this is what I hear.  Patty, stand up and take it like a man (a woman).  Who are you to question me?


I profess in good times that my God is in control, that he is all knowing and all powerful, but when I face a storm of life, I whine and forget my professions.  


Lord, Direct my heart to always rely on your wisdom and not to my own - Not to go for the easy answers, but embrace the changes that you are trying to work in me.  Let me rest in the fact that you are in control of all things good and bad in my life, that they are your plan and let me understand that you love me an will see me through it.  Let me trust in that fact - in YOU.

Worship

I like to sing, but really music is not my thing.  Ever so often a song touches me deep in my heart.  Most of Toby Mac's last album (Tonight) is like that, Joy Williams' "Do they see Jesus in Me?" is like that, also.  

Yesterday at church we sang a song that was like that.  We had a full band yesterday for the first time in a couple of years.  And they sounded good, but they sung a new (to me) song by Jeremy Camp.  It was called Overcome.  God really blessed me with inspired worship while we lifted voices up to him.  Here's the link:  http://youtu.be/FqXZD_z3eCc

Hope you enjoy this sung prayer to God.  Tell me about it.

Reveal

I love, love, love moments when God speaks to my heart in a deep and personal way.


Today's message at church was delivered by Tim, my brother-in-law.  His heart is heavy and reflective as he is living through a tragedy that he is powerless to stop and allowing God's grace to be his balm.  His best friend of 20+ years is breathing his final breaths due to liver cancer.  Tim's heart is broken, but he is giving God glory.


Today's message was brought from Luke 24:13-35  On the road to Emmaus.  Are you familiar with the story?


Jesus has newly risen from the grave, but his disciples are discouraged that Jesus died, is now completely gone and didn't do what they wanted him to do anyway.  You see the Jews of this day were occupied by a foreign government and believed that their Messiah would deliver them from the occupation into freedom.  That's how I am.  Jesus take this thing away from me - it doesn't suit my kingdom.  


While these two disciples where walking on the road they were discussing the events of the past few days and all that had happened to Jesus.  Suddenly there appeared Jesus to walk with them.  Jesus, of course, drew them into conversation.  They didn't know who Jesus was because their focus was still on their own kingdom and desires.  Once they stated their confusion, the author of all history, Jesus, himself taught these two how his life fit perfectly into all the law and prophets.


They continued the whole way listening.  When they reached Emmaus, Jesus acted as if he would continue on the road, but they asked Jesus to stay and eat with them.  It was then that Jesus remove the veil from their eyes and they realized that it was Jesus.  They were so excited that they went all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples all that had taken place. 


Pretty fascinating story, but the neat thing is this:  these two belonged to Jesus, but they didn't have faith and confidence in Him.  They had long sought for a Messiah to do what they thought should be done, not what God needed accomplished.  They heard the word and still couldn't see.  It wasn't until they Jesus blessed and broke the bread to them that they could fully see.


See?


I have tears in my eyes as I type.


Jesus is the bread of life.  Jesus blessed and broke the bread for them (for me, for you).


Their own testimony to the other disciples culminates in the very last verse of Luke 24.  Verse 35b "....he was known to them in the breaking of the bread."


Oh!  What blessing there is in that.  


Breaking of bread is considered fellowship, communing with one another.  Am I  breaking bread with Jesus to allow him to reveal himself to me.


Lord Jesus, Thank you for this word.  Let my prayer and bible reading time be a time where we are communing and fellowshipping.  I want you to reveal yourself to me in new ways just like you did today with this word - Your Word.  Amen.


How about you:  What do you think?