~ Inspired by Pastor Doug Crumbly ~

~ A Journal Entry ~
Dear Daddy-God,
I saw a glimpse of you today at church,
a bit of your nature was revealed to me like a snapshot picture, and the image still burns in my mind-
the Pastor's hand was cupping a young girl's face,
a girl brave enough to walk down the aisle and stand, waiting her turn for prayer.
his face was close beside hers, but not face to face,
she was looking straight ahead & he could be seen by the audience,
his mouth was positioned near her ear, speaking words packed with faith,
his eyes were closed and his brow scrunched tight, intense & engaged,
shooting his words, arrows of truth, straight into her spirit.
I didn't mean to stare, but when I saw a glimpse of you Daddy, I couldn't look away.

~ sacrifice ~

I have missed writing and posting pics on my blog. My bestie Jessie inspired me to get back to it.

So...today is Feb. 1st 2012, the first day off of my month long fasting in January. While fasting last month, I talked to a new friend who is Catholic and she was talking a little about lent and that it makes her remember the Sacrifice of Christ. It was such a simple statement, but it has had profound meaning to me. After that day, every time I would crave dr. pepper or McDonalds french fries, I would hear that quiet voice in my spirit speak that one solitary word. Sacrifice. And I would think how very very small a sacrifice I was making compared to Christ's enormous sacrifice for me. Sometimes I would feel disgusted with myself because even though I had been fasting from 5 specific things, I had not been daily praying for the 5 things I had committed to pray about. My focus seemed to be only on what I could not have versus the more wonderful things that I could eventually have from God's hand: a stronger marriage, an adopted child, job stability, etc.

This morning I went to women's Bible study. The group leader at my table opened with these words, "As I was praying for you this morning, the Lord gave me a word for us at this table, I was expecting it to be something like freedom or prosperity, but the word is SACRIFICE." Yes. I am indeed at the right place, at the right time. Thank you Jesus that when I feel like I am going backwards, you affirm me and say, "Yes, you are exactly where I want you. I may have been quiet lately, but I am still with you."

My 33rd Birthday

Chuck grilled chicken, steak and pork shish kabobs on the grill for me, Stacy made me an Owl birthday cake and she also made me an Owl blanket. Mom & Dad gave me a New Living Translation Bible and spoiled me with other gifts. Honestly, the greatest gift is their love for me and friendship. I'm a blessed woman. = )

EAR FILTERS

"Prayer is what moves the heart of God....We're in serious trouble when the voice of God is not a priority...Make sure that your filter for hearing His voice is clean." - Mary Ann Brown

This morning, I was thinking about this idea of a clean filter for my ears

and I think that there are different colors of filters when hearing God's voice.

sometimes my filter is red because i am angry at someone or something and i when i hear Him it is filtered through anger.

sometimes my hearing filter is blue because i am depressed and what i hear is laced with hopelessness.

sometimes my filter is purple because i have slipped from confident to arrogant and my hearing is pride in myself.

sometimes my filter is orange because i have had too much caffeine and i am over zealous and what i hear comes out loud and obnoxious.

so, I came to the conclusion that my filter can be washed clean and made CLEAR by His Word. Then I can listen with respect to my King and My God and hear Him with a pure filter.

Below is from one of Beth Moore's studies and complements the hearing filter concept:

"The virtue "Gentleness" has 4 components: submission, humility, teachable and teaching ability. It stands between 2 extremes of: 1. uncontrollable and unjustified anger and 2. not becoming angry at all no matter what takes place around you."

"Gentleness is the power and strength created from submitting to God's will. It is responsibility with power."

My husband is naturally gentle, but I am not. I think that when my hearing filter is clean, then God's voice to me will be gentle and calm. And when I speak His words they will be clean and pure.

~ Scripture from Job ~

"A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it....

My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it...

Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say...

Men listened to me expectantly, waiting in silence for my counsel.

After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.

They waited for me as for showers

and drank in my words as the spring rain."

(NIV, Job 4:12, 13:1, 13:17, 29:21-23)

Jennifer Bowden

New Bedroom.....Finally!!!

Chuck remodeled our bedroom and it's 99% done!!! Yeah! Smokey likes it too! I need a new lamp! = )

Lucy in Savannah

We went to a hippie store in Savannah named "Loose Lucy's". I found a cool shirt and Lucy loved the big hat and sunglasses.

Tybee Island Sept 09

We had a blast at Tbee Island and I LOVED Savannah. I ate shrimp and grits at Huey's on Riverstreet. Yumo! I had boiled shrimp at the Crabshack and Lucy got to feed live alligators there. And I had yummy she-crab soup at Dolphin Reef. Yes, my travels are dictated by food!

Lucy loved feeding the birds on the beach and picking up seashells. It was really beautiful there.

my lil flower girl & her cuz Jordan

Jordan and Lucy sittin' in a tree..........

Tile in the basement

It looks GREAT!

~ summer fun ~

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow