Heart To Heart

What a time we had this weekend - 300,000 women participating in the Beth Moore Simulcast. Our church was one of the venues and was filled with spectacular women from different churches and different towns. Women who came together to learn from, and worship - JESUS! Wow. One thing that will stick with me was the lack of grouchiness. The spirit in the room was joyful and sweet and filled my heart with hope. The enemy loves us to be critical or arrogant or offended. Something powerful happens when we choose to love and serve and forgive. I am praying that what we learned will put down roots and grow strong - and that we will grow strong together . A huge THANK YOU to all who volunteered to help. And, thank you to all who came - I'm so glad you did!

On our vacation we went to see a well known ocean blow-hole. It was in all the info books. Tour buses were stopped to see it. People were set up to sell all kinds of junk to help you remember that you came to see the famous blow-hole. Along the path where many, many people were walking was a mama hen....covering her baby chicks....protecting them from the approaching storm. People were hurrying to get to their cars or buses before rain hit. And there, in the middle of the storm - in the middle of people racing to see something they hoped would be really impressive - was this hen covering her chicks. I'm afraid in our desire to see or experience something 'really impressive' spiritually, we can miss His covering, His peace, His provision. I'm afraid that we sometimes miss His covering because we're too busy chirping at Him about the storm! Stop for just a moment right now and experience His covering - His wings that want to bring you close to Him. Ps. 91:4 He...

Just want to say I'm grateful. Grateful that the wounds that Jesus took on His body paid the price so that my body could be healed. My heart could be healed. My mind could be transformed. I took pictures of my wrist so that I could show the restored tendon. The surgeon did not find it and reconnect it but the Great Physician did. Another picture shows that tendon more clearly, but this picture stopped me.....it reminded me so much of His wounds - taken so that I could be restored - body, soul, spirit - restored. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,and by His wounds we are healed. Is. 53:5

Today I'll talk a little more about the hike I blogged about last time... Initially, there's a place to view the ocean that's pretty easy access. A paved path, hand rails, handicap access. Someone else did a lot of work so that others could just come in and enjoy the view. When you take the hike to the higher vantage point, you leave the easy access. Every once in awhile there's clearing and you can look back to see how far you've come - you can see the look-out with people standing there. Probably 45 minutes into our hike fog started to develop. It collected quickly around the place of easy access. Those people simply could not see the view any longer. By the time we headed back down the path, fog had filled where beautiful view had been several hours before. My heart was sad as I watched the fog envelop those people...it reminded me of the Church. Someone goes before us and experiences God (the View). Tries to make it as accessible as possible for others to ...

We arrive in Kauai... Aha! We can watch the whales do their thing from the porch of the cabin we're staying in! Yikes! We are not just staying on a missile base, but a missile RANGE. For some reason that one word startled me. We decide to hike... Aha! Spectacular views of the ocean every once in awhile from 3500 feet! Yikes! The hike is more like climbing on slippery rocks, or climbing your way up a mountain with the help of roots and tree limbs. (What has slowed me down in the past from taking these kind of hikes is the fact you do have to COME BACK DOWN after you climb UP somewhere.) Aha-ha! The two men I was hiking with slipped and fell, and I DIDN'T FALL! I didn't fall!!!! Those of you who know me know that this is somewhat of a miracle. Usually my story goes something like, "and then I hit my head or broke some bizzare bone or cut myself in some freakish way", but not this time! Yippee! (They weren't hurt - but their faces as they suddenly land...

There was a popular book out awhile ago that was titled, "All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten". When I get to spend time with our two two year old grandsons, it makes me think that we all learn a lot at the two year old stage. The learning curve - how to share, how to express feelings appropriately, how to handle ourselves when life isn't fair, how to be polite, how to stand up for oneself in a healthy manner, how to enjoy life and toys and laughter and singing and play and love - lots and lots to learn. And we learn at different paces. It doesn't make one wrong and one right - it just means we're different people. Oscar is a 'peddler', and Jack is a 'runner'. At this point Jack does not want to learn to peddle - he gets off the trike and runs. But Oscar loves to peddle. We caught one moment of uniqueness in play. Oscar peddled and Jack stood on the back deck of the trike and hung on cuz Oscar loves to peddle fast! Jack l...

Ok - so - the picture doesn't really have anything to do with what I'm going to write about! It's just so fun! Oscar figured out how to suction the rubber duck to the side of his face. That's just fun. From my heart to yours today are these thoughts from Psalms 112 - - Happy are those who fear the Lord. yes, happy are those who delight in doing what He commands. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come BURSTING IN. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. They do not fear bad news: they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. It's time to exchange fearFULL with fearLESS!