Heart To Heart

Tonight seemed like a good night to check in - blogging style.  I'm in an interesting place in the journey.  I want to be encouraging and honoring and fun and a few other things....but....it seems easier to express what I am not. This week I am reminded that I am not a good cook.  Last night, Dennis asked me why my face was red and glowing.  The reason - I snuck a peek at some potatoes roasting in a 450* oven and evidently the steam from that hot of an oven can burn your face.  In my case, my nose proceeds my other facial features so much that it attracted most of the action.  I would not recommend steam-cleaning your face. Tonight, all I have to say is...there is a big difference (evidently) between 3 tablespoons of flour, and 2 teaspoons of flour when you are making a sauce.  My eyes simply skipped a line on the recipe list of ingredients - I missed one stinkin' line - and magically I have now made some sort of instant paste instead of sauce. ...

"Be on guard against the pit of self-pity.  When you are weary or unwell, this demonic trap is the greatest danger you face.  Don't even go near the edge of the pit.  Its edges crumble easily, and before you know it, you are on the way down.  It is ... harder to get out of the pit than to keep a safe distance from it..."   part of February 23 daily devotion from JESUS CALLING (by Sarah Young) Do I dare confess to you my weariness?  Can I say out loud that watching my mom's misery every day is flat out kicking my....behind?  Does it REALLY encourage anyone to know that they are not alone in the decision to FIX their eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith - no matter what they are walking through?  To be okay with praise and prayers that aren't perfect, but are the best we have to offer in the moment?  To be reminded that He hears our prayers and keeps our tears.  To want to hear His voice above every other voice. ...

Psalm 139:13-14  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” I happen to be one of those people who need to be reminded that I am made the way I am, on purpose - for a purpose.   Last night I dropped my IPad on my foot - the corner of it shot like an arrow and hit like my foot had a target painted on it.  I had just taken a bath with nice, clear (not orange like the last 2 years) water from our new water heater.  I tried REALLY, REALLY hard to not drop my IPad in the water, cuz that would have been dorky.  Evidently I should have been REALLY, REALLY careful AFTER water was no longer involved.  It appears that an IPad can also be used as a weapon.   "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." This last Sunday I forgot Moses' name.  Really?   In the middle of a time of moving moun...

Sunday, as I was leading worship there was a definite time when I felt we were waiting for something.  What are we waiting for, Lord?  It's interesting to be the leader when your leading a time of....waiting.  Waiting is not a comfortable time for most people.  (I'm grateful for a church family that is willing to wait in the Presence of God.)  Most of us like quick service, done in a way that pleases us the most. When I was pregnant with Andrew, I learned a huge lesson in waiting.   Andrew was "due" December 1st and was born December 27th.  Since Jeremy (our first born) was 2 day's early,  I thought I knew how to do the birth thing.  Sometimes your past experience does not determine your present experience!   It was such a long wait. Now, I'm waiting on the Home-going of my mom.  A couple of years ago it seemed that the Lord reminded me of my birth coachng days.  It seemed that I was going to be a coach for my parents' birt...

"May the God of hope   fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,  so that you may overflow with hope  by the power of the Holy Spirit."  ~Rom. 15:13 Last Friday I sat in my mother's room for hours.  That day I was waiting to see if she would wake up in heaven, or here on earth.  She hadn't eaten, she hadn't taken a drink.  She slept.  She eventually did wake up, not recognizing her surroundings, but knowing that something about me was familiar and evidently trustworthy.   During that particular waiting time (there have been many times of waiting lately), I decided to memorize (again) Rom. 15:13.  For some reason, it just doesn't stick in my brain - but I want it to.   This is what I discovered - I kept leaving out "as you trust in Him".  That pokes my heart.  It seems I want the hope and the joy and peace.  I want the Holy Spirit to go ahead and dump a boat load of that stuff ASAP - ...

Ok.  Let's talk roller coaster rides.  There's the old school wooden ones that jerk you around as you click-clack up, and free-fall down.  You really can't know what I mean unless you've ridden one.  The SOUND of the clicking as you climb the highest peak does something to your brain.  And, your head hitting the back of the car with each click does something to your brain as well! There's the non-old school ones that offer the additional joy of having your feet dangle in the air as you go up and down, as well as upside down maybe three turns in a row.  Free-fall AND corkscrew turns.  The only thing better are the people who get sick in front of you (either on the ride or when they get off).  Lovely. I am married to a man who calls this "fun".  His dream vacation (for awhile) was to hit all the the greatest roller coasters in the country!  I remember him riding one crazy roller coaster at Great America with our youth group seven times...

Please, don't forget what God has done for you. Please, don't forget to TELL people what He has done for you. Please, don't allow your sense of gratitude to diminish with time. Please, don't forget the promises you made to God in times of crisis. Please, remember that if God feels distant - He's not the the one who moved. Please.Say.Thank You. Psalm 50:23  - He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,     and he prepares the way     so that I may show him the salvation of God.”