"Out of the Mouths of Babes"

My great niece, "Rayna" was taken to the hospital this past Monday after having a severe virus over the weekend. Her mother described her fears when seeing Rayna in her crib seeming listless and pale. After seeing the local pediatric doctor, Rayna was taken to the children's hospital and admitted. My niece was telling me this morning that the location on Rayna's hand where the IV's were being supplied had become swollen. She said that as they were removing the needle for the IV, Rayna was telling the nurse continually, "I help"...."I help"! She wanted that needle out of there!! And she was glad to "help" them along. We are continuing to pray for Rayna's full recovery, but I couldn't help but think about her precious cry, "I help!" How many times have I stopped in the middle of a crisis in my life and said to God, "I help!" "Let me fix this!" "Let me stop this!" "Let me HELP you God!!" Can you believe what I just suggested! "Let me HELP the ONE and only Creator of all human kind and our universe! My, my, how thankful I am that God has a sense of humor :) And somewhere in my crying out to Him I remember...He does not need my help...He simply needs my surrender. Surrender to let Him be the Almighty God who works all things together for the good of those who love Him! I'm reminded today of so many areas in my life that I am clinging to, knowing that I must surrender. Surrender will bring the abundant life that He so wants to give us....if only we stop crying "I help!" What do you need to surrender today?

"The Supernatural Table"

I received a devotion recently that referred to a "table" that provided the pefect place to spend quiet time and it seems the table was placed in this home by none other than God Himself. That devotion has stayed with me for a couple of weeks now. I think the part that was so cool is that the "table" truly seemed to supernaturally appear! I was reminded of the amazing truth that my God is "supernatural"! How dare that I ever forget this! The scripture tells us that we should worship in "spirit and truth"....I truly believe to fully worship our Almighty God, we must somehow grasp that He is "supernatural". If He wishes to place a table from out of nowhere in our presence so that we can spend quiet time witih Him...why should we doubt? Oh that we would grab onto all that He has for us! What a precious time we have when we truly sit at His table, partaking of all of the wonderful blessings and soul food that He longs to give us. I was reminded ever so amazingly of His precious presence yesterday, when I found myself trying to board an airplane for a trip to Salt Lake City on business. I totally panicked on the way to the airport and through tears called on my Heavenly Father with all that was within me. I did not get on that airplane and my first emotions were strong with guilt and feelings of failure. But soon after...my Father filled me with peace and a "supernatural" Presence of His mighty love and grace. He reminded me that all that really matters is to sit at His table and to feast upon Him. I'll miss the people that I would have seen in SLC...but I'm not missing this wonderful time of "supernatural" bliss as my Father carries me through these days. I praise Him for His supernatural presence in my life today. I challenge you to look for His "table" and to spend time with Him there! He might even give you something very "supernatural" while you're there!

It's All About Grace

"And God is ABLE to make ALL grace abound to you so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work!" 2 Cor 9:8 What a humbling, yet powerful verse to get us moving today! Do you ever have those Mondays when you wake up and realize that it's Monday and you have to do it all over again...but you really don't want to? You seriously don't want to! You don't want to get in the shower again, you don't want to blow dry your hair again...and you sure don't want to go to work again! And boy does Satan love those mornings! He is sitting ready to pounce on you before you even realize that you are awake. I often wonder if he ever takes a break from pouncing on me. I really scream out to him sometimes "move on to someone else already!" So...while I'm trying to make myself put one leg out from under the covers so that I can place the first foot on the floor...I'm fighting Satan the entire time. And then I remember, because of God's Grace, I don't have to fight. Jesus already fought for me and won the victory! It's God's battle and gives me just enough grace for whatever my specific needs are! How cool is that? I never want to lose sight of God's wonderful Grace!! He makes it abound to me in all things, at all times and because of this...I can put that foot on the floor and begin my day...in His Grace!

"Better is One Day...."

"Better is one Day in Your Courts Lord!" I can't remember when our days have seemed so sad and so overwhelming with bad news. If it's not the economy, it's sickness or heartache. Satan would have me buckle under with the weight of it all....and then I remember "better is one day in HIS COURTS!!!" Praise God! We must rejoice in the Lord today...no matter what the circumstances. He's got it in control!

Retun to the Blog!

For whatever reason I keep thinking that I want to do this thing called "blog". I absolutely love reading some of the blogs that I follow (i.e. Justin's Blog, Beth Moore's Blog). It's just the coolest thing and many days at lunch I sit here and read the latest updates. This past weekend while I was at a Ladies Retreat with my church, one of the girls mentioned that there is a "bloggers" conference in June with Proverbs 31 Woman. Maybe I should check it out!! As our pastor's wife pointed out this weekend..there is just something about putting things on paper that is soothing and healing. I feel as if I can verbalize some of what God is saying to my heart. It's not always written perfectly, but it is certainly from the heart. Many things going on in our lives right now. Roy was just laid off his job this past Thursday. We were devastated at first. Shouldn't have been shocked, especially in this economy, but we were. It's like a death or something. You feel so empty at first. And, one of my dearest friends, a young lady that I met when she was 15 is suffering greatly with breast cancer. I am pleading, as is everyone who knows her, that God grant a miracle! If you read this, please cry out to God on Lisa's behalf. She is such a precious child of His and has always loved him so! Some of these things...I just can't get my arms around. God's Word tells us that "now we know in part...then we shall know fully." I will look forward to hearing Jesus tell me all about how and why some of these things must happen. I'm thankful today that I can lay them at His feet. More later....