God Speaks!

Earlier this week I happened to have some down time with two full days at home buried under 12 inches of snow with icy roads and blizzard conditions. Gotta love Iowa in December! That being said, it gave me a chance to slow down and open up a good book. This was a book that was so thoughtfully given to me as a Christmas gift by two very special girls (college students/graduates) who are currently sharing my home for a season. The book is called The Heart of A Woman Who Prays by: Elizabeth George. It's about drawing near to the God who loves us. 

It's a beautiful book with so many good nuggets - quotes, scripture and a checklist on "how to" pray... including timing, posture and place - praying for specific needs and praying intercessory prayers on behalf of others. As I was reading this book, one of the checklist items for prayer was to memorize Psalm 23. I often think of this psalm as something that is only recited at funerals. I recall hearing it often but not really listening to the words. This time, I listened with a different set of ears. This time, I was reminded that by immersing myself in these sacred truths, my worries would be decreased. There are 12 very powerful, life-changing, worry reducing promises here:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

I have been ministering lately to several people whom God has placed in my path, one being a mom with 2 year old triplets (one of whom was just diagnosed with brain cancer). I often ask myself on really tough days, "Am I really equipped to do this?" Then, God speaks to me in a gentle voice, 

"Precious daughter of mine, do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."  Isaiah 41:10  

How comforting it is to hear this. It soothes my soul and reminds me that I don't have to do this alone. We are called to obedience through His word  and in our obedience, we are free and blessed beyond measure. He equips us with everything we need. All we have to do is fall to our knees and ask. For He is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from Him, we are nothing.

*****************************************

Today, in church, God spoke to me again; this time through my pastor's words about of all things - The Good Shepherd. He included Psalm 23 in his message this morning. How divine! When you allow yourself to meditate on the word, God speaks! Clear your mind, open up the word and listen. God is who He says He is.

My notes from Pastor John Fuller's message

Sunday, December 23rd 2012
Prairie Lakes Church

You can't hear God when your ears are plugged because you are counting on your own will to control your life. You are not in control. You are not your own healer. You have to open up your heart and open up the word if you want to hear God speak. If there is an area in your life where you are not being obedient, then you are listening to other voices and letting other things speak into your life. Every time you take a step of obedience,  His voice gets clearer and the others get more faint. Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd and the sheep know Me by my voice." Jesus says, "I never run away when trouble comes." God didn't eliminate the wolf in the story about the sheep. The wolves will come. Trouble will be part of the equation. The reality is that we live in a fallen world - sin soaked, sin stained world. The world needs Jesus. Jesus is the only One who can take something evil and bad and bring peace to the situation. We the church, have been commissioned to gather together and to be the hands and feet of Jesus in dark places and to bring light to others. Amen? Quit following substitute shepherds (money, other relationships, pride, envy, self medication, gambling & other addictions etc). He says, "I've got you and I'll never let you go. I love you so much that I will lay down my life for you." Stop fighting this Jesus. He is ALL in. Are you?

For more on the current series at Prairie Lakes Church and to watch online, go here:

Current Message series called: I AM

I am - The Good Shepherd
I am - The Light of the World
I am - The Resurrection and the Life
I am - The Gate
I am - The Vine
I am - The Way, The Truth & The Life
I am - The Bread of Life

Out of FUEL

This is a deeply personal post for me and by writing it out, it gives me a release of energy that is healing to my spirit.

The devil came after me on Thursday and I let him get the best of me. This came in the morning, the day after I felt a nudge by the Holy Spirit to forgive someone. No sooner than I had forgiven a person that had been on my heart for over a year now, when BAM! The enemy attacked from a different angle. I know now, looking back, that I was out of fuel and I was not ready for the challenge of the attack. I let myself get run down earlier in the week with too many things that I was trying to manage and simply ran out of fuel. Instead of putting my trust in my Heavenly Father, I tried to handle it all on my own. 

There are 3 things that I am fiercely passionate about: 

1. My children and their well being.   
2. Injustice
3. And most important, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

All three of these came under attack last Thursday and it took me from being a lamb to roaring like a lion in about 2 seconds. Instead of walking away, I engaged. I engaged with others who are non-believers. Those who are not Christians. Those who have some warped idea of who Christians really are. I was made fun of for "pretending" to be a Christian on Facebook. For being that "little Jesus girl". But, this is no joke. My God is not one to be "placed on a shelf" to be pulled out on Sunday. No way! I live for Him every day.

It made me question the way I portray my life outwardly to others. Do I portray my life as always full of rainbows and butterflies? It is not. I have so much joy in my life and I want to share it with others because there is nothing that brings greater joy than when you open up your heart and the Holy Spirit begins to show you the plan that God has for your life. At the same time, the road is not always easy. We are humans with beating hearts and when we start to follow Christ, sometimes the enemy strikes. Asking for forgiveness gives us the ability to let it go, like a helium balloon. It's important to remember, not to try to fight or engage with the enemy. God fights the fight for us when we put our trust in Him.

"Cast your cares on the LORD 

and he will sustain you; 

he will never let the righteous fall."
~ Psalm 55:22

There is some misconception from others that Christians are perfect people. But, we are still human. I am still human. I am me. I still get angry. I still have pain. I still hurt people. I say mean things and I fail Him every day. The difference is, that I am made whole again because I live in Him and He lives in me. 

I am standing in my truths today. Some days are harder than others. My truth on Thursday was not pretty. My truth today, is one of clarity, of joy and a profound knowledge of who I am in Christ and who He is in me.

A friend pointed me to this today from Proverbs 31 Ministries. She knew it was a perfect fit to help heal my heart and to remind me that I am seeking the approval of God and not the approval of other people.

"Today I will be a woman who quiets my heart & mind at the throne of God. Instead of replaying the words of others, I'll meditate on His Word. I'll follow God's instruction, despite how much it might go against my human desires. And I'll trust that He knows best."

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

~ Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Stay tuned for some ways to stay FUELED so that you are ready for what God has for you. 

Blessings,

Dana

Fun Upcycled Yard Sale & Thrift Shop Finds!

Found this grapevine wreath at a yard sale for 25 cents with some not so pretty 1982 ribbon. Ripped it off and added my own embellishments for $10.

Found this hanging wall basket for 25 cents at the same yard sale with some old and dusty ivy greenery. Pulled it out and added some sunflowers and berries for a fall wall decor for $9.

Here are some Mason jars I found at a local Goodwill for cheap. I saw this idea on Pinterest.

Directions:

1. Cut burlap strips and wrap them around the jars using spray adhesive.

2. Tie a bow around the jar with ribbon.

3. Use coated picture hanging wire to wrap around the rim of the jar to create a loop for hanging.

4. Add sand at the bottom and votive candles.

5. Light them up!

6.  Hang them in trees in your backyard for a cozy ambiance and elegant look!

This one is fun and practical! I bought this large canvas years ago thinking I was going to attempt to freehand paint a tree branch. Ha! I'm not a painter! Sooooo, I bought some fabric that I liked and used spray adhesive to lightly coat the canvas. Wrapped it and secured it with staples on the back. Voila! Change it out according to the season for a different look!

For another Christmas idea, I painted some wooden letters and secured them with ribbon (another Pinterest idea). Then, added it to the fabric canvas.

Then I took the spring ones that I had hanging over my sofa and added holiday fabric, some painted wooden letters and secured them with velcro. Tah! Dah!

Ok, this one was a fabulous find! I found this piece of fabric at a thrift shop for 75 cents. I'm NOT kidding! It was a longer piece and it seems as thought it may have been a custom made dust ruffle at some point. It already had red tubing trim around the bottom so I cut it to fit the window, added curtain rings and hung it in my bathroom.

Another thrifty idea for curtains - These are actually table cloths that I found for $6 each at Marshall's. LOVE Marshall's and TJMaxx! Trimmed the bottom, bought some curtain rings and hung these in my dining room. If you need extra weight on the bottom, try hemming a few pennies along the bottom to get them to hang the way you want.

8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

Check out this link:

http://shine.yahoo.com/team-mom/8-ways-happier-mom-140600431.html

Celebration of Life & Vigilance for the Missing

Today is July 18th, 2012 and today we are celebrating our 4 year old, Ayden, who has brought so much joy and depth to our lives over the last 4 years. He all but came out smiling and has been smiling ever since. He is bright, spirited, entertaining and filled with love for his friends and family and always shows it with hugs and kisses. I can't imagine my life without him and feel so blessed that God allowed me to do this one more time. I cherish each new day and try not to take one single day with him for granted. 

At the same time I am writing this, there are two other families who are missing their little ones today and my heart aches for them to find a resolution to this mystery. I can't imagine what they must be feeling as today marks Day 6 of their intense searching. In a town way too close to our home here in Iowa, two little girls (cousins) are missing after taking an innocent summer bike ride last Friday, July 13th. Their bikes were found but no trace of the girls. I was there on the scene the next morning as only one of 200 initial volunteers searching cornfields and bean fields close to where the bikes were found. As I was driving into the small town from a major highway, I could see dark clouds. I turned down my radio and began to pray. I knew I was driving into a storm, literally and metaphorically. I can tell you that it is one of the most heart wrenching feelings to be trudging through a muddy cornfield with stalks taller than yourself and wondering what you might come upon as you walk.  After 2 full days of volunteer searches, the officials decided to drain a nearby lake turning up nothing. As I have watched this story transpire over the internet and national media, the one thing that amazes me above all, is the strength of the families through faith in God by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Too many people have speculated about events of their past and slammed them for not being emotional "enough". Through all of it, they are not shaken. It breaks my heart to read these things but then I smile and think, THIS is the picture of what it means to turn it all over to God and to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:5

Colossians 2:5

 2 Timothy 4

I'm praying that these children will be found and returned safely to their families and that God will wrap His arms around these families and comfort them through the worst of days and in the days to come.


I know that I'm squeezing my children a little tighter tonight. ~Dana