Tag You're It! A MEME

Pass it on... Pass it on...

I’ve been working on grief curriculum as noted these past couple of weeks and was taking a break when I saw this meme over at BooMama's and thought I’d play along.

Since research or writing can be intense... I decided to join in.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Well, ten years ago we were on the verge of marriage - My hubby and I were a month away from a weddin' and I was making decorations, shopping for cute little gingham dresses for our three girls and living my dream in our brand new "manufactured home" on an acre of land in Justin, TX. This was our pre-church and his pre-God stage... but The Lord has done mighty things for us and we are so glad. (Psalm 126) (P. S. Ya'll - I hand drew my wedding invitations - all 35 of them and my thank you cards, too... I wrote out the lettering and everything...) Pinch a penny, save a dime!

Back then I had visions of being a published writer dancing in my head - posted regularly on a Writer's BBS forum and had a 486 word piece called "Dear John" published in an e-zine called "Fish Eggs for the Soul." I got paid $5.00 for the effort - in the form of a personal check from the e-zine owner. And that was pretty much the extent of my writing career --- until I took up bloggin' of course.

I had no idea what in-depth Bible study was and that God could be up close and personal in my life. And, my husband's most famous comment about God from this season of our lives was, "The closest I ever came to God was 'You turn left at the church on the corner to get to my house!'" I went into full, immature Christian woman meltdown crying out - "God PLEASE SAVE MY HUSBAND, and Use ME To Do IT!" Yeah right!

Thank the Lord a couple of years later we found a Bible-teaching church that walked with us through the salvations of my husband and most of our children... and walked me right on into spiritual maturity, minsitry and a love for the Lord that just wells in me every single day.

Am I rambling along... Oh, yes - NEXT!

Favorite Snacks
Truthfully, POPCORN...
Coca Cola - Rt. 44 from Sonic and it is better during Happy Hour!
a scoop of peanut butter
Thin Mints
Dairy Queen Ice Cream
Pringles Potato Chips

To-Do List
(I don't really EVER get this organized, but if I had one it might look something like this...)

1. Pray as I hit the snooze for the beginning of my day.
2. Give notice to storage --- 30 days and we are out of there baby! Because, well the new owner's made me mad... and we only have five boxes and one dresser in the dern thing... I can squeeze it in somewhere around the house.
3. Spend some time reading email, bloggin' and readin' and checkin' in at the forums... (I should have gone to work out here, but got lost in the email.) Read from my computer Bible and post some insights somewhere on the internet...
4. Research and writing for Grief Curriculum - "Only nine more sessions to write!"
5. Take youngest daughter to work.
6. Take oldest daughter to Wal-Mart
8. Stop by Subway so oldest can by her a lunch.
9. Stop by Sonic for a Coke because, well, IT IS HAPPY HOUR! We had to wait one minute in the stall to get a half price drink.
10. Return home. Eat Lunch... yes that late and with no breakfast... I know, I know....
11. Pick Up youngest daughter from work.
12. Return home, answer emails and watch oldest daughter make Macaroni and Cheese.
13. Take oldest daughter to work.
14. Stop and get gas.
15. Take youngest daughter to Lifeway to buy her friend a Bible.
16. On the way to Lifeway, realize we are near the hospital where our friend Sarah just had her baby and so we stopped by to ooh, aaah, cuddle and coo at the most adorable baby I've seen in months. He is a peach!
17. Go to Lifeway.
18. Return to oldest daughter's work, and pick up her debit card.
19. Go to Sonic to buy oldest daughter a Rt. 44 Sweet Iced Tea... and me another Coke... not my usual MO.
20. Drop Youngest Daughter at oldest daughter's work with the drinks and debit card.
21. Return home to cook dinner. (Delicious, No Kidding I baked chicken breasts and sliced them up and stuck them in a pre-cooked batch of Betty Crocker Chicken Helper, creamy style... and it was so good - I thought I was in HEAVEN)!
22. Field a call from my friend Mary - who has been on the phone with me three or four times today.
23. Eat dinner while Mary drives to my house, and then review session three of the grief curriculum I've been working on with Mary while my youngest daughter walks through the front door with her best friend...
24. Oooh and Aaah over the new Apologetics Bible my daughter bought for herself and the precious leather Bible she bought for her friend... view her otherwise unmentionable purchase from Wal-Mart.
25. Bid Mary farewell and laugh at a text message my daughter and her best friend send me of the movie they are watching - "DROP DEAD FRED!"
26. Laugh at myself and now I am writing this meme... WHEW! IS IT TIME TO SAY GOODNIGHT YET! I'm a bit worn out! Oh, and now I have time to do my Bible study lesson for NOG and read some of that precious Word from my NKJV Bible... I love Him so...

So now... TAG - YOU CAN BE IT!

An Oddysey of Adventure - the Saga Unfolds....

In this post you will find the two selected forms of transportation that I will be sporting - one or the other - to San Antonio next month! And why, cause this here Greyhound bus and that there Amtrak Train are only $76-79 round trip from Fort Worth to San Antonio! And that my friends beats a plane or an automobile any day of my week!

I never thought I would relish the idea of riding a train or a bus, but you know when I began to explore these travel options my heart began to cry "ADVENTURE." I picture that scene from Pearl Harbor where they are all on the train... I can see myself with laptop blogging away as the Texas Landscape just passes right on by.

Or how about Julia Roberts on a midnight bus ride escaping her abusive husband in "Sleeping With the Enemy." I can hear some sweet elder lady ask me where I am headed and then I will share all my bloggin' plans with her as we ride our bus to San Antonio...

Then a cab ride to the hotel or some sight seeing around San Antonio - what a glorious time it will be.

I am a loner on my way to a fesitval of friends. I can't wait! My daughter would like to go with me and I am still praying about that because she will be staying with people we hardly know. She also has to pay her own way - which is no big deal since she is working this summer.

So... What else can I say about this trip - oh HOTELS... there is one spot left in my room by the way!

I'm excited to be staying at the Riverwalk Marriott with a bunch of our Siesta friends. I have a room I've been trying to fill since March or May - at least I am pretty sure that month begins with an M! Anywho... I had two friends local who had agreed to make the trip with me, one of them was planning to drive... But, a few weeks ago - one dropped out and then the other. I was disappointed not to get to share this grand adventure with my friends. However, I also realized that maybe there is a divine appointment in that somewhere. I had one blogger friend who had booked my room for the weekend when I first learned I had it - and a couple of weeks ago she let me know her health was not so good and she had lost her job... Now, I have an empty hotel room again. A few days later a couple of ladies from Alabama signed up - but life is happening there and the enemy seems to have an assignment agains every single person I have found to share my hotel room with me... I then got a call from a lady blogger from Illinois who wanted one of the newly available spots in my room, and later got in touch with a wonderful blog reader from Virginia who are now my new roommates... and I am prayign they stick! Cause, Lord, I need to share my room with someone!

So now I am meeting two people for the first time in San Antonio and we are spending our weekend together with several hundred more women we have never in our lives met before... AND glory, now I am coming by bus or train... Please Pray... I need it!

Blessings All! San Antonio or Bust in 30 days... and at this rate it just might be BUST! As in, if I don't get there, I'll just bust!

A song and a story...

My son, Justin, lived a lot of years longing for the love of a father to ease his heavy load. His bio-dad abandoned us before he was born and my first husband who raised him from 10 months old had to decide between Justin and his second wife. He chose his second wife. By the time my husband came along, Justin was well into self-destruction and hating any man who looked like a dad except for my dad his lifelong friend. (There are a lot of dads in that paragraph...)

The last summer Justin was with us, I heard this song by Randy Travis and God just gave me a beautiful verse of Scripture and word for my boy. Psalm 68:5 "A father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." I asked my son to stop self-destructing in the name of men who did not love him. I went on to tell him that if he opened himself up to it that he had a Father in heaven who would love him like no man on earth ever could or would. He heard me that night and I played this song for him... Thanks Michelle V for reminding of this precious memory of one of my son's last days!

Praise the Lord, my son is in Heaven today and he knows the love of His heavenly Father in all its fullness. I love him and I miss him, but I am so glad he is at home.

Blessings...

Prayer Requests

I have a couple of prayer requests:

For my friend Rick and his wife, Liz. He is in the hospital battling cancer and they got bad news yesterday. They are holding strong to their faith and God's promises, but who couldn't use extra prayer in the midst of a storm.

Also would you pray for this young man... Ethan. His story just grabbed my heart. His picture is below:

Thanks all...

Names of God - Bible Study

No Post this week, so sorry to do this, but I am going to hiatus my study for two weeks so I can focus on the curriculum. I appreciate prayers and pray that God will use this time to refresh and renew us all. Be back next week with the next name of God... we are moving right along.

Blessings.

I covet your prayers...

Dear Blog Friends,

I am in the midst of writing curriculum for a group for Bereaved Mothers that will start this fall in my church. I am finding that things are progressing forward at a clipping pace, but I know, too, that it makes me a big target for the assault of the enemy. Please lift me in prayer as I write - as I lead this fall (September - December) and pray that God's Will would be done.

Pray also for the women who will be coming to the group - and for the development of a "crisis group" that will begin at the same time for those who are not able to attend my group.

Thanks.

Welcome to the 21st Century...

STOP! Do Not Read any further if you are not interested in Toes, Technology and other various happenings in my life these last few weeks... If you are remotely curious about what Toes and Technology have to do with one another... then you have been WARNED proceed WITH EXTREME CAUTION!

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Okay, ya'll - this is going to sound lame, but I am totally excited about IT!

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I got an MP3 player. Admittedly it is not the fabulously Applish I-Pod, nor is it the trendier Microsoftier Zune... It is a run of the mill, credit card thin 2 GB Samsung MP3 player that I bought after carefully perusing those glass windows under the display case at Wal-Mart. But, I'll get to that in just a minute or so... Right now, I want to tell you about my man. This story will sound like a complaint - but you will get it!

That's my man in the middle with our two sons, Travis (l) and Justin (r)

You see, we had to move at Christmas last year. Like two week's after Thanksgiving and a couple of weeks before Christmas - we found out the week of Thanksgiving the house we were leasing lapsed into foreclosure and had to scramble to find a home and move on short notice. It was wet, cold and frustrating to say the very, very least! My husband was a champ and we got it done in a very orderly and amazing fashion thanks to our families and especially his willingness to fly with me in this crazy thing we call our life... Oh, and did I mention that our car (only vehicle) was also in the shop - getting an engine overhaul to the tune of $1,500. Now, you may be asking what all of this has to do with an MP3 player - but I'm getting there - I promise.

We barely had time to get ourselves unpacked and did no Christmas shopping before Christmas because of the move. We were a bit miserable actually. Through the generosity of a KLTY Christmas Wish giver - our family had a wonderful Christmas... That - five years ago - would have been hard to admit, but today I have seen God move in so many ways that I am just grateful that giving my kids a Christmas is one of them. It blessed us and our hearts to have someone meet us, and have compassion on us.

A friend of my husband's had an extra, brand new MP3 player lying around (Thank You, Steve). And when I mentioned that I was hoping to get my fella' an inexpensive one for Christmas he handed it right on over to me without any hesitation. I have been humbled and blessed by Steve on many occasions, and his generosity has blessed us so many times --- that is another story for another day... Suffice it to say God has blessed us in Steve and his friendship.

So on Christmas, my husband got his Christmas wish. We later talked of getting one for me to use when I go to the Rec Center to work out. I figured it would be better with some awesome praise music just humming in my ears. And so I have waited.

My birthday came and went and not so much as a card came my way - this to me is no surprise. Unless I give my husband the cash in his hand (exact amount, mind you) and a specific item to purchase me as a gift - I don't get one. I asked for Beth's Stepping UP Audio CDs for Christmas and got them because I gave my daughter $40 and a mission for him. I don't know why it is this way, but it is. After 10 years it is not going to change much and so... I have accepted it, sort of.

On my birthday this year, just a few weeks ago, my parents and his parents held my gift until our big Graduation party a couple of days after my birthday. But, on my birthday my friend called and reqested the honor of my presence for a special dinner out with her. My girls both wished me sweetly happy birthday and two week's ago my baby girl made up for her inability to give me a gift by treating me to a pedicure. The elder girl often treats me to lunch or some other novel opporunity - as she did that day. It is kind of sweet how they dote on me. My husband wished me happy birthday as I dropped him off to work and returned home to his usual computer games and sports on television Thursday night. I suppose that I am happy enough that they do not forget all together... and I am, but somehow the overlooking of my birthday, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and Mother's Day every year by my dear husband leaves me upset and aching. I try to prepare but to no avail.

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Taylor and I after the Pedicure two weeks ago...

Feet....

And Faces! Do we look pampered?

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Well this year, Mary planned to take me to dinner and my internet sisters over at the Lifeway Forums also managed to brighten my day with sweet poetry, songs and pictures with CAKE! It was really fabulous. I was viewing my "gifts" while my husband kicked off his shoes in the middle of the living room floor. I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said, "If these ladies whom I have never met take the time to remember my birthday - why can't you?"

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He looked like a scolded two year old and apologized. I told him that I was sorry for having the expectation and being upset when I felt "let down." I agreed not to have expectations anymore... and I let it go.

The other night we somehow landed on the subject of MP3 players and I reminded my husband I was still awaiting the arrival of my own. He laughed.

Tonight we were talking at dinner about something and he suggested we go and look for an MP3 player. I was all about that. He set my limit at $50. I was LIKE WOO HOO! At the store we looked at all of them in the case and I was quite disappointed because I was sure I would destroy anything the size of an I-Pod Shuffle. The only MP3s for less than $50 in the glass display case were 1 GB, reasonable storage and about 1 - 2 inches in length and width. I was somewhat let down.

Then I spotted some "red tag" items in the glass enclosed storage spaces below the display. I started examining them and realized they did indeed have one of adequate size and memory - for $59.99. The reason I could get this one was because there was a particular package marked with a "yellow" sticker - it read, "DISPLAY, take 20% off this price at the register." This sticker was just above the "red tag" marked $59.00 with an original price marked of $99.98. I was pretty excited. They opened the package and I looked at the little sliver of a thing. It looks like this:

Another Picture of My TOTALLY Rockin' Red MP3 Player! (Just Cuz I Can)

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I said, "SOLD." Pulled out the old plastic money card and the man rang me in at $50.88 with tax. Yippee! Yippee! I came home and finished downloading the rest of my worship CDs onto my computer including a wonderful CD that Susan sent me from Bethel Chapel. I uploaded a whole mess of songs and still have more room - but no more songs... :o( - but only for a minute because then I realized I can download the one year Bible readings I hear Tom Dooley do on the radio and then I can fill in any space that might be left over with my favorite Bible teachers! WOO HOO! Can You SAY WOO HOO!
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BTW, I had to take a break in the middle of this post to dye a red (yes, "candy apple" not the unnatural, natural hair color "red") streak in my daughters dark blonde hair. She looks like an Amish "My Little Pony" right now with the dying cap and the foil with the red streaked hair on top of her head. My life is a riot, it is just killing me. Maybe I'll post a picture of the hair art after I get it washed out.

Speaking of Hair Dye! Follow me down this rabbit trail... A few weeks ago I commented about my recent "hair dying" escapades over at the LPM blog. Yes, I actually did dye my hair dark, dark brown and then try highlighting only to get classic brassy orange highlights in a random pattern atop my head. So the next morning, after a midnight trip to Albertson's for another highlighting kit, I tried again only to get lighter more random brassy orange streaks. So that afternoon after a trip to Wal-Greens for a blonde hair dye I set about trying to correct my fiasco. So yes, you did count that as four times in about 36 hours that I applied some sort of color treatment to my hair - Can You SAY LUCKY TO HAVE HAIR? I have ultra conditioned it sense I started this little journey about a month ago. Well, the night before we went to my parents for the Fourth of July - I did it again! Thank the Lord there is no "OOPS" attached. This is my lovely golden blonde hair with it's dark chocolatey undertones. End of Rabbit Trail!...

Okay, so I just arrived with my laptop (in bag), MP3 player and my cell phone ... and a little hair color... into the 21st century - I'm only what a couple of years late really! San Antonio Here I Come! I just can't stand myself right now.

P. S. - My husband totally redeemed himself for the no birthday gift issue. I'm happy as a lark!
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Me, totally please with the events of today!

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And only in the 21st century would it be possible to upload the pictures from my digital camera of my MP3 player, my hair color, my toes and other random pleasantries onto my laptop and then upload those to my blog on the Internet so that all the world would know the kind of cooky things I do with my time and get excited about in real life... Welcome to the 21st century!

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BONUS: And the only thing Toes and Technology have to do with one another as far as I can tell is that I included them in this POST!

Amazing Testimony - Jeremiah 29:11

I pray you are blessed, as I was, by Nick's Testimony:

Fiction Fridays... Momma's Girl

She heard the blaring call of the alarm clock resounding in the dark recesses of her mind. The sun’s morning brightness broke through the window in cascades of light. Momma just wanted to get a few more winks in before rising for the day. She slung her groggy frame across the bed to snooze the alarm and pulled the warm handmade quilt up over her head.
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“Just a minute more.”
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The buzzer was sounding again when she remembered her oldest daughter had gone out late last night. Momma flew from her bed hustling out into the hall down to the front of the house. The floorboards were creaking as she went.
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She came up to the closed door noticing it stood a hair ajar. She pushed it open and found a mess of yesterday’s wardrobe scattered on the bed and floor. Her daughter’s purse lay open and cast aside while her cell phone wearily buzzed as a text message appeared in the window.
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Momma snatched up the phone. The message was from that boy, Frank. She’d left with him just before midnight. Momma had agreed they could go out for a drive. A drive does not last all night long. Where is that girl? She’s gone out late and come back in an hour most nights.
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“How could I’ve done that? I never sleep when my babies aren’t in their beds.” Momma rubbed her soaked forehead. “She might be 18 years old, but she’s gonna get herself an ear full of Momma when she pulls her tail home.”
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The frazzled woman waddled around to her other child’s room. She found her youngest girl curled snoozing like a Cheshire cat. She moved closer to the big ball of flannel-covered teenager sleeping in the middle of the hand-me-down bed. Momma smiled to herself. She edged in close and kissed the mop of hair that was covering her daughter’s face.
She snickered. “Must’ve been chasin’ rabbits again little girl.”
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Tanner roused for just a moment, “Momma?”
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“Go on back to sleep, honey-girl. I’m just checkin’ on my kids.” Momma closed the door and returned to the hallway.
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A small beam of light shown in the darkened corridor, it was coming from the bathroom. Momma hoisted her top-heavy frame over to the door and rapped three swift times. “Bella, you in there?”

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The muffled voice sounded wrung out through the door. “Momma?”
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“Who else you expectin’?”
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“Oh Momma, I’m sorry. We forgot time and ‘fore we knew it the sun was coming up and I had not got home.“ Alarm crept up Momma’s backbone as she listened intently to her daughter’s voice. “I’ll be out in a minute. Just give me some time to wash up.”
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“I’ll put some coffee on. You meet me in the kitchen, ya’ hear?”
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“Yes, Momma. I’ll be right out.”
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Momma’s voice filled the kitchen as the tune to an old hymn drifted along. She counted out five heaping scoops for the filter. Hasty hands slid the white paper cup into the coffe maker before she filled the glass pot with water. Once the water sloshed its way into the well she hit the on switch and pulled out her tired old copy of the King James Bible. Her trembling hands fished a small, wire-rimmed pair of reading glasses from the dry sink next to her kitchen table. Trying to steady her nerves, she flipped on over to the book of Colossians and read aloud.
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“Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Momma chuckled to herself. “ God has no advice for Mommas who are provoked by their children. Um-hmmm.”
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She pulled two worn white coffee mugs from the cupboard and sat them by the brewing pot. Her rotund frame seemed to scuttle around the quaint kitchen on autopilot as she pulled a loaf of bread from a wooden box next to the sink. She added a yellow tub of margarine from the ancient white refrigerator and let her fingers dance across a worn black and white picture of Fredrick.
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“Oh Freddie-baby, where are you when I need my man to help me with these kids?”
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She caught two tears as they escaped her eyes. Her long, tapered fingers deposited the moisture on the shirttail of her pajamas.
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“Lord, give me strength. Your Word says You’re the Father to the fatherless and a husband to widows… And I need ya’ this mornin’. Bella done gone off and laid herself out all night, Lord, and I don’t know what to do. Trouble’s afoot God and we don’t need no trouble in this house. Help me Lord. I need ya’. In Jesus’ sweet, sweet name, Amen.”
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Momma’s eyes opened and saw Bella’s downcast face. “Baby girl?”
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“Yes, Momma?”
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“You want some toast?”
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“Will you put a little sugar on it like when we was little?”
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“I will, baby. Now sit on down. I have to go open up the cafe in an hour, but we need to talk.”
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“I know, Momma.”
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“Um-hmmm.”
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Momma slathered a generous helping of Parkay on two slices of bread and laid them on a baking sheet. She sprinkled a handful of sugar on each slice and turned the oven dial to broil. Her plump round hands placed the pan in the oven and turned the dial on a hand timer sitting next to the stove.
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“Five more minutes and we’ll have us some toast.”
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“Thank you, Momma.”
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The elder woman walked over and sat down in the small white chair across from her daughter.
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“Baby what you doin’ layin’ out all night like that?”
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“We just forgot time, Momma. Honest. It won’t happen again.”
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“Ya’ know that’s right. You’ll be in this house by midnight ever’ night girl or you’ll find yourself another place to live. Ya’ got that?”
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“Momma!” Bella’s eyes welled with tears. That faint prickle of alarm began creeping up Momma’s arms and spine again. “It wasn’t like that… We… We… Just forgot time is all… I wouldn’t, M-Momma – “
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Bella’s head fell to the table top and she wept deep mournful sobs.
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Momma slid her chair up beside her daughter, “Bella, baby. What is it, tell ya’ Momma?”
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Bella lifted her head just a little, the wiry curls she inherited from her father poked out everywhere on her head. Momma caught a stiff odor coming off her daughter.
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“Is that cigarette smoke and liquor? Bella, what is goin’ on?”

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“Momma, Frank said we’d just goin’over to Paulies’ house for a minute. When we got there they’s havin’ a party. Frank was smokin’ and drinkin’, Momma. I couldn’t stop him. He passed out on Paulie’s couch and I had to wait there for him to come to. I didn’t know what to do, Momma.”
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“Bella," Momma's hand stroked her daughter's back. "Frank ain’t the right boy for no girl of mine. Ya’ hear me? No girl of mine is going to be hangin’ out with a boy without the good sense enough not to drink.”
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“I know. He wasn’t like that before… I’m sorry, I lied to ya’ ‘bout the time… I knew you’d be mad.”
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“Um-hmm. Go on now and bring me that cellular phone.” Momma tapped a long red finger nail on the scarred white wooden table. “No phone for a week. And next time you come in at an ungodly hour – you better have you a place to stay, girlfriend. I’m tellin’ ya’ I’ll pack your bag and change the locks afore you can get back home.”
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The timer dinged pulling Momma away from the table. She used a hot pad to retrieve the baking sheet from the oven and slid two golden, crisped pieces of toast onto a saucer. The white chipped china was the last piece from the set she had received for her wedding twenty years before. She ran her finger along the notch in the rim before depositing the dish on the table in front of Bella.
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“Yes, ma’am.” Bella wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry, Momma. I wish… well, I don’t know what I wish. I love you, Momma.”
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Momma scuttled back to the counter pouring two cups of hot coffee before answering her daughter. Her resolve was to remain stern, but Momma’s heart melted.
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“I love you, too, sugar pie. You go on to bed and get you some sleep. What time you comin’ in to the cafe this evenin’?”
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“Five-thirty. Lydia is coming by to pick me up early, we’re going out to dinner before work.”
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“Okay, honey. I’ll see you tonight. Make sure Tanner does her chores, you too. I got to get me a shower.”
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Momma waddled off toward her bedroom, the old floorboards creaking underneath the soft thud of her feet.
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“Thank Ya’, Jesus, for bringing my baby home.”

Yahweh Roi - My Shepherd

This week we are going to look at the Hebrew name, Yahweh Roi. This is a combination of Yahweh or Jehovah and Roi. Translated it could be the "Lord who sees" and considered in contrast to El Roi which is "the God who sees." The primary difference I see is the Covenant name, Yaweh is applied, making this a more personal and intimate title. He is the God who not only sees and acts according to your circumstances. He is the Lord who sees and acts according to His relationship with you. A significant difference as I am sure we will learn. We have reviewed the Hebrew definitions for both Jehovah or Yahweh and Roi. Today we will be reviewing those name meanings and looking at Scripture that will better help us apply this name to our relationship with God.

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Hebrew Strong's Dictionary Number: 3068

Transliteration: yhwh

Phonetic Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'

Root: from Cross Reference: TWOT - 484a

Part of Speech: n pr dei

Vine's Words: Lord

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Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: LORD 6510, GOD 4, JEHOVAH 4, variant 1 [Total Count: 6519]
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from (hayah); (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God :- Jehovah, the Lord. Compare (Yahh), (Yehovih).

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From Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

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yehovāh – “Lord.” The Tetragrammaton YHWH appears without its own vowels, and its exact pronunciation is debated (Jehovah, Yehovah, Jahweh, Yahweh). The Hebrew text does insert the vowels for ‘ādōnāy, and Jewish students and scholars read ‘ādōnāy whenever they see the Tetragrammaton. The use of the word appears in every period of biblical Hebrew.
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The divine name YHWH appears only in the Bible. Its meaning is much debated. God chose it as His personal name by which He related specifically to His chosen or covenant people. It first appearance in the biblical record is Genesis 2:4: “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord god made the earth and the heavens.” Apparently Adam knew Him by this personal and covenantal name from the beginning, since Seth both called his son Enosh (i.e., man as a weak and dependent creature) and began (along with all other pious persons) to call upon (formally worship) the name of YHWH, “the Lord” (Genesis 4:26). The covenant found a fuller expression and application when God revealed Himself to Abraham (Genesis 12:8), promising redemption in the form of national existence. This promise became reality through Moses, to whom God explained that He was not only the “God who exists” but the “God who effects His will”; “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord [YHWH] God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord [YHWH] God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites…” (Exodus 3:15-17). So God explained the meaning of “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). He spoke to the fathers as YHWH, but the promised deliverance and therefore, the fuller significance or experienced meaning of His name were unknown to them (Exodus 6:2-8).

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Strong's Reference # 7210

Transliteration: ro'iy

Phonetic Pronunciation: ro-ee'

Root: from

Part of Speech: n m.
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Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: see 4, look 1, gazingstock 1 [Total Count: 6]
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1) looking, appearance, seeing, sight; 1a) seeing; 1b) appearance; 1c) sight, spectacle

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The Bible Knowledge Commentary - Old Testament, Walvoord and Zuck, Victor Books, 1985. p. 811.
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Psalm 23

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Using the images of a shepherd and a gracious host, David reflected on the many benefits the Lord gave him in the dangers of life, and concluded that God's persistent, loving protection would restore him to full communion.

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A. The Lord as Leader (23:1-4)

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23:1 The psalmist employed the figure of a shepherd to recall the blessings he enjoyed from the Lord (cf. God as Shepherd in 28:9, 80:1). The metaphor was a natural one for David, the shepherd-king. It was also a common metaphor in the ancient Near East, as many kings compared themselves to shepherds in their leadership capacity. The prophecy of the coming Messiah incorporated the same (Isa. 40:11), and Jesus identified Himself as that expected "Good Shepherd" (John 10:14). He is also called the "Great Shepherd" (Heb. 13:20) and "the Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4). Because the Lord was David's Shepherd, his needs were met.

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The commentary goes on to say that the first blessing received by David from the Lord as His Shepherd was spiritual nourishment and food for the soul provided through the Word of God. One who follows the Lord does not lack spiritual nourishment. The second blessing identified is spiritual restoration - salvation. Just as a shepherd leads his sheep by still waters to refresh and cleanse them, so it is with our Good Shepherd. He provides us with of restoration and cleansing through the sacrifice and atonement made for our sins. Forgiveness and peace belong to those who follow Jesus. The third blessing identified is the Lord's leading us in the right way or direction. He leads us in the ways of righteousness for our good and His glory. This path will ultimately lead us safely home. The fourth blessing we enjoy is protection, just as a shepherd watches over his flock and protects them from the dangers around them - so do the sheep of God's flock enjoy this same benefit in their daily lives. God as shepherd provides for our every need. As the Shepherd He is the ultimate protector and provider - His sheep do not survive or thrive without their Shepherd. The safety of the sheep depends upon their nearness to the Shepherd. We must maintain an intimate relationship with God to enjoy the benefits of our relationship with Him as our shepherd.

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Now let's look to Scripture for more insights.

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The Shepherd tends the sheep. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. He tends to our needs. He gives us rest and searches for the lost and the ones who have gone astray. He binds the wounds of the injured and gives strength to the weak. His sheep are dependent on Him and those who defy Him will be destoyed. Our loving Shepherd is also Just.
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The role of the Shepherd is to rule over His sheep. Christ is the arm of the Lord who rules over His sheep. He brings His reward with Him. In the No Other Gods Study by Kelly Minter (Lifeway Resources) that I am currently journeying through reminds us that "God is our very great reward." He repays each for what they do.

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He takes care of His own like a Shepherd tends the flock and gathers His lambs, his small and growing sheep in His arms - the same arm He uses to rule. Baby Christians are gathered up by Christ - Do you see that picture? He carries us close to His heart. Think of it, the Heart of God is expressed to us through Jesus Christ and when God carries us - through our early days as baby Christians, through the tough times when the storms come and through the times when we are wounded and weak - picture yourself being carried close to the heart of God. In His mighty arms, where you are safely kept until you are able to once again follow your Shepherd Home. He is gentle with the young - the immature. I have often said that God holds us accountable for what we learn and know about Him. I believe this verse confirmst this notion. God's love for us and His mercy for us is so vast. When we have revelation of Him we are responsible for what we do with that revelation. We must be accountable for applying the knowledge we gain about our God and allow it to influence not only our lives, but the lives of those we relate to every day.

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When we go our way instead of God's way... even before we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we sin. Our times going astray cost God and us a relationship with Him. Yet, before we were even created, born or given place to go astray - God had a plan to bring us back to Himself. As the Shepherd, Christ risked and gave His own human life in exchange for our debt - the debt of going astray. The price is paid in full. He paid the price of His life to keep us from having to do so. Take a moment and praise Him for being the kind of God who would give Himself up to save you. He is so good to us, so much more than we could ever deserve.

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Just as Christ is known to His Father and His Father is known to Christ, so we are to Christ. He knows each one of us. A Shepherd knows each sheep on sight. He recognizes them, He knows how many He has and He recognizes the cry of His sheep. What does it do for you to realize that when you cry out to God - He recognizes your voice the moment He hears it. You are not just one voice in a sea of thousands. But you have the distinct cry of a child of God. He know you, recognizes you as soon as He sees you and He knows just where you are every moment of every day. Even when you have gone astray - He looks, listens and goes after you to bring you Home. A Shepherd loves His sheep.

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Jesus' sacrifice not only purchased the sheep that already belonged to God, the Nation of Israel, but He also made the way for the Gentile believers to come and be a part of His flock. One Flock, not two. The marriage of the Old Covenant was put to rest when Christ breathed His last on the cross and the New Covenant was brought to life when Christ rose from the dead. This fulfillment of the Old Covenant and introduction of a New Covenant is all born of one plan that originated before time began. A plan that was set in motion the moment mankind sinned in the Garden and a plan that time has been moving toward that will culminate in the ultimate victory of God over Satan and the welcoming of ALL THE SHEEP OF GOD into His Kingdom... Oh Glory will it ever be good to finally go Home.

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Another thing we see in this verse of Scripture is that not only does the Shepherd know the cry of His sheep, but the sheep also know their Shepherd's voice. They listen and follow His direction. We don't just follow anyone claiming to be the truth, the more time we spend with our Shepherd, the more we know Him and are able to recognize Him as the truth that sets us free. We are His sheep, are you listening for His voice.

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Think of this... The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world is introduced in Heaven. The promise and the provision of God are declared and fulfilled in Him. We will be there before the throne of God and serve Him night and day in His temple. If that were not enough, we will never experience hunger, thirst... Our bodies will never be scorched by the sun and its searing heat. We will have the ultimate sunblock in Heaven! Think of that the next time you go to the pool! WOO HOO! Why is Jesus such a good Shepherd, because He has also been a sheep. The perfect spotless Lamb who was sacrificed and returned to lead His sheep Home to the House of His Father. He will exchange our tears for living water... Water that once poured from our eyes and our broken hearts will be removed and water that brings life and quenches our eternal thirst will be given to us so that we will truly thirst no more. Glory, Glory, Glory she cried all the way HOME!
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As you weigh the Word today, read this standard Psalm of our faith with fresh eyes. With eyes that Identify Christ as not only "The Lord is our Shepherd..." Personalize it, get specific and then Praise Him for it with everything you have. To Him be the Glory, Forever and Ever, Amen.
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Tuesday's In Other Words: Good Stewards, Godly Friends

This week's In Other Words is being hosted by Bonnie at the "Ink It" Blog .

For more information about In Other Words visit Loni at Writing Canvas.

I have found in my own experience there are times in my Christian walk that I have been assigned the task of traveling that particular leg alone. Other times, I find that I am in need of a few sojourners to mark out my way with. While I often can have many Christian acquaintances, I will only have a few close godly friends. I think of Jesus and the twelve disciples. There were many more than twelve with him. But, Scripture identifies twelve by name.

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In Matthew, Jesus sends out at least 72 and who knows how many more were with Him as He traveled and ministered those three years of His life. If we look at the twelve, three are called to go deeper still. I don't want to speculate on the numbers... I want to look at why we are called to be friends to one another.

1. Because having a friend to bear the load with you makes the return for the work accomplished more. If you grow weak, you have someone along side of you to help you up and if you grow cold, your partner will help warm you back up.

Think of this - a load carried by two who evenly balance out the weight is much easier to labor through than just one person trying to do all the work themselves. We, as individuals are called to live together, in relationship with one another. The Acts 2 church was selling their personal possession and giving to any one of their fellow Christians as they had need. They worked together, prayed together and ate together. They lived their lives out together. Sharing their possessions, their distresses, their triumphs and tragedies. They lived in community. Edifying and Encouraging one another along the way... All the while spurring one another on in the faith.

2. Because God created us to live in relationship first with Him and then with others, we must share our lives with others. That is why our closest friends, our friends we share the most intimate details of our lives with must also share an intimate relationship with God. 1 Corinthians 6:14 warns us not to yoke ourselves... Tie ourselves to and depend on... unbelievers in life. This goes for our friendships as well as our marriage and business covenants. We should not be sharing our lives with those who are not a friend of God.

This does not diminish the fact that we need to be out there meeting with and ministering to all sorts of people in our lives - the call is to make disciples. But, our inner circle - those we depend on must be equally yoked with us in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us that bad company corrupts good morals... and we should heed this caution when we are involving ourselves with friends.

3. Having godly friendships should help keep us accountable in our daily lives. This will give us a pure heart, and in our relationships with others we should watch our speech making sure it is gracious and worthy of our friendship with the KING!

4. Our closest friends will bring pleasantness to our lives through godly counsel and concern for us. They will help us and we will help them maintain a consistent walk with Christ. We need people who are willing to speak easy and hard truth into our lives. Receiving godly counself from our friends is a dynamic part of living in godly community as by His design - Iron Sharpening Iron as Proverbs 27 encourages us in seeking godly friendships.

5. Our friendships must be based on reverent fear of and trust in God Almighty. We must have friends who live closely by the Word of God or else we run the risk of being led astray. If we ourselves do not do as God commands, we cannot call ourselves His friend. If we are not a friend of God then we cannot be in godly relationship with one another.

6. Finally, we cannot live as lukewarm Christians. Friendship with the things of this world is hatred toward God. We must be very careful that we are influencers bringing the virtues and character of God to the spheres of influence we are given rather than allowing the spheres of influence we have to corrupt us. The last place we want to find ourselves in this world is as an enemy of God.

In this journey God will send us godly friends to draw out His purpose in our lives and theirs. We must be good stewards of these relationships just as we must be good stewards of every other gift God gives us as His blessed children. I am praying that through this post we will at least have a better idea of how to be a good friend to those God sends to us to go deeper still. And ultimately we will find ourselves a faithful friend of our God and King.

Lead Me To The Cross...

In February, the worship team sang this song at a Women's Ministry night at our church. It brought me to my knees in brokenness and I had a true moment of worship and breakthrough with God that night. I knelt and wept at His feet praying, worshipping, crying out to Him in surrender.

I pray you are blessed!

Xanga, My Space... etc.

Hey, guys... I know this is weird, but I was just going back and visiting a "xanga" I started right after Justin died. I did it because a lot of his friends had xanga - my kids had xanga and well, it was easy to communicate with these kids this way. Most of the kids switched from xanga to my space in 2006 - and I did, too.

Somehow, all of that led me here - so thank God for xanga and my space... where I learned what online community was... Now my kids have facebook - and I am just gonna' keep my blog!

Blessings.

Inappropriately Funny Stuff!

Yesterday was not only the Fourth of July, but it is also a big family reunion day for my mother's side of the family. She has five living siblings and ten total. Plus add in all the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and glory be... It is a festival ripe for some good story telling, good food and great fun... Not to mention an annual poker game that baits the young 'uns right in.

Okay... Poker aside. I had the best time playing with BEN... my one and a half year old nephew. Sweetie Pie. Watching the baby bop, Wyatt, my youngest nephew weighing in at 17 lbs and nearing 5 months and just laughing with my cousins.

Have you seen "The Bucket List"? Okay, if not - this shouldn't be too much of a spoiler, but one item of the Bucket List was "Laugh until I Cry..."

And yesterday, we did! Let me set the scene for you:

All the kiddoes (and the younger sets parents) were all awash after lunch in the chlorine goodness of the local swimming hole while the rest of us middle-aged folk were sittin' around the dinner table(s) yes... there was more than one. Most of us, who were not gambling, were steadily fighting sleep, when Cousin-Uncle Kevin, as he is lovingly called by my offspring, sits down amid a group of women discussing various aspects of life.

The cast includes: Aunt Jewel, Cousin-Aunt Sherry, Cousin Bev and her daughter Kimberly (AKA: K. K.) who is expecting first grandchild/child respectively and the soon-to-be notorious Cousin-Uncle Kevin, and later... Cousin Mark - Cousin Bev's dear husband.

Well the conversation goes something like this:

Cousin-Uncle Kevin: I often find myself drowning in estrogen. (Meaning he is often in the company of a lot of women being the only male.) As a matter of fact right now I'm swimming in a sea of estrogen. [He motions to the women sitting around him.] And, I need some floaties.

ME: [Thinks to myself, "I've already got some." In other words, most of the women at the table are genetically predisposed to be "top heavy."]

Cousin Bev: I already got mine.

LAUGHTER ERUPTS AROUND THE TABLE, Aunt Jewel blushes and pleads the fifth. Kevin sputters and hangs his head.

ME: I was thinking the same thing. [Hi Five's Cousin Bev.]

Cousin-Aunt Sherrry: My brain edits my thoughts before I speak them.

ME: Mine, too. But Bev said it for me.

Cousin Mark: [walks up and sits down] What's so funny?

Cousin-Uncle Kevin: Here's Mark, he understands what I'm talking about. You need some floaties, Mark?

ME: He already has some...

[More rolling on the floor laughter....]

ME: I can check off the "laughs until I cry" on my bucket list...

Inappropriately family funny... Shamelessly true.

Getting Real...With No Other Gods

UPDATE: Thanks to those who visited my blog and commented on this post - I regret very much that I had to turn on comment moderation and hide the comments on this post due to a comment that included a link I did not wish to promote on my blog. Again, I regret having to take this action, but I am only trying to honor my convictions and could not in good conscience allow anything at my blog to redirect others to something I did not believe to beneficial in every way.

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I'm doing the Siesta Summer Bible Study with the LPM crew and the Lifeway Forum girls. And, ladies, I just covet your prayers this day. I have had some real breakthrough issues related to strongholds I have that are idols and footholds for the enemy.
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I want to share what I posted at the forum, because I am sure that others will relate to what I wrote... and it tells us in the book of James to confess our sins one to another... Confession is good for the soul and God and I are doing business.
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The response is to a personal reflection question on p. 39 of the study: "What sinful desires are obscuring your identity in Christ? I don't want you to end on the negative, so after praying and naming those things, write how dealing with those sins could exposse yor God-given goodness and give you a greater identity in a world of hungry people?"
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Here is what I responded this morning:
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Mine was related to my desire for approval and acceptance... In the past I have gone and spent money I don't have on a new wardrobe - literally 3 or 4 outfits at one time complete with shoes, jewelry and what-not accessories, hair style/color, etc. just to get the "right" look [whatever that is]... It is insane.
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I realized at the end of my first marriage I had a bad habit of shopping to make myself "feel better." Then my demon of choice was the craft store. We had the most well decorated home in three counties, I'd dress it to the nines. And, this because I was angry at my abusive husband so I would spend every last dime in the bank account to feel like I had control over something and to get even! FOOLISH BEHAVIOR.
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I carried that behavior into this marriage to some extent. The only thing, I was better at covering my tracks. I'll never forget the realization that I was "pulling my house down with my own hands" to paraphrase Proverbs 14:1.
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I found a way to "undo" the compulsive nature of that problem, but not my emotional response that triggered it. So, this is an area where I need prayer - these are deep strongholds ladies - years - decades old. There are also some generational sin issues attached. And, there is that nagging fear that at some point the "jig will be up" and someone will discover my "nasty little secret." [So, I confess it to you all, and to God before men... I'm not kidding myself - there is much work to be done here... even if the light is shining and I am ready to clean house!]
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The second thing is the desire I have to fix it myself. Whether it is a relationship, finances, a stronghold, someone else's pain - I want to be the rescuer - and that just ain't (pardon my grammar) how it's done. Can you say CONTROL FREAK!?
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Laying down control is the single hardest thing I find I have to do to overcome the idols in my life. I can't play at life like one plays out the moves on a chess board. I will end up in check-mate with the enemy... and a grand chess player I ain't.
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ALL OF THIS DRIVEN BY FEAR OF REJECTION, FEAR OF EXPOSURE, but most especially FEAR THAT I AM THE ONE THAT GOD CANNOT MEND...If I were to deal in truth with these areas I believe several key things would happen:
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1.) I could be myself and stop hiding what I fear people will despise and be real for a change.
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2.) Giving things over to God would alleviate the fear in my life. It would shift the control to God and away from the footholds I have given the enemy who stands accusing me before my Father in the throne room.
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3.) What I once did to "protect" and "control" would be turned to time spent devoted to God - to pleasing Him by allowing Him to be elevated fully in my life - thus His honor and glory would be revealed as He is truly first in every area of my life.
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This little post just saps the energy right out of you.
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I must find the will to surrender all of this - it must start today...
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I surrender it Lord, You can take this miserable life I've made for myself and do with it as You will. I cannot live this way any longer. I don't want to take one more step in any direction Lord if You do not go with me... I long for YOU THE MOST! You are my heart's one desire, sanctify me Lord, wash away the crusty, nasty filth I have immersed myself in for years and show me who You created me to be. I long to be full of YOU so that nothing of me remains. Show Your glory in this place Lord, Show us the way Home.
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In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
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You know I was broken an hour ago, but now my heart is filled with such joy... You see last week on Thursday night I began the monumental task of putting my physical house in order. We were having a walk through scheduled for Friday and I being the eternal procrastinator - put everything off to the last minute. Including the mountain of laundry that had been on hold for a couple of months now.
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Now you know why I have a penchant for buying new wardrobes, because the one I already have is perpetually in the laundry. I digress...
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So around midnight on Thursday/Friday I had gotten the entry hall, kitchen and living room standing tall! I mean the high order of eat off the floor clean. I had even spot cleaned the carpet with a hand brush and towel - it was truly inspired because I would never do this of my own free will.
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The next morning I rolled out of bed early and began to hit it again. I had some loose ends like the kitchen table to clean up. Then I started unloading the piles of laundry collected around the house. I had asked my daughters three times to clean their rooms and their bathroom to no avail. So at 10:00 AM I threw open their doors and rolled them out of bed, too. They both were up scrambling to tidy up their rooms while I began to tackle their bathroom. One end of the house accomplished, I looked at the massive pile of clothes sitting in front of the laundry room door and thought - Oh Lord, I'll never get it done. I pulled out a laundry hamper and all the laundry baskets I could find - and my eldest and I sorted every last piece of clothing in and outside of the laundry room.
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It was a chore and we had about 20 loads of wash amassed when we were through. I started the machine and inserted load #1... 30 minutes later I loaded it in the dryer and started load #2... 30 minutes later load #1 was still damp, so I unloaded #2 onto the top of the dryer and put #3 in the washer... My task continued at this pace for three days... No Kidding... THREE DAYS! By the time of the walk through I had done half the laundry and PUT IT AWAY which is to date the coup de grace (which I now know means the death blow to end the suffering of a wounded creature) of the entire laundry event was that my entire house is now fit for company anytime, any day - when can I expect a visit? LOL! I really should have taken pictures because it was such a remarkable moment in my life.
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While the laundry was washing on Friday, I finished off the master bathroom, bedroom and closet and found that I was quite satisfied with the entire experience by the time I got through just in time to shower and dress for the walk through at 5:00 PM. Now let me tell you why this is so important... Because my physical house is in order while my spiritual house is still a bit askew.
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That is what this "No Other Gods" study is all about for me. Cleaning up my spiritual house and getting things in order. I believe this process started last summer when I woke up to some serious lies I was buying and began to work my way out of that situation into a new one. The problem with buying a lie is -- you can't just return it to the sales clerk and undo the damage. I can't even sell this particular lie in a garage sale - I have to deal with the effects of the lie in my life and believe me these are lies other people have told me, lies I have told myself (obviously) and lies have been a party to by virtue of immaturity in my faith. It is a large tangled mess of cords, cobwebs and "junk" for lack of a better word.
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Last summer I went into a season of alone that I thought would do me in, and then all of a sudden - God started speaking... I think He had been trying to get my attention but could not get through over the den of my own voice ringing in my ears. Habakkuk 2:2-3 was where He started and then on to a journey through the Hebrew Names of God - which you guys have been on board for since the first of the year - and now this study.
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God is slowly unknotting and untangling the cords that I've allowed to twist me up and keep me bound away from Him --- He is blowing the dust and cobwebs out of those deep recesses and corners of my heart and mind and showing me places where I have pushed some things out of sight for a season or so... even decades. He is gently revealing to me the truth about myself and He is showing me that I am not the one person He cannot mend. He is God and with Him all things are possible - His Son died so that I could mend. He wants all of me, not just what I am willing to surrender.
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I see myself as Rachel after Jacob left Laban. She had stolen the household idols and was sitting on them when her father arrived to recover the family gods. Rachel sat on them claiming she was on her "monthly" to keep them from looking under her skirt. (Genesis 31).
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I feel like I been sitting on my gods pretending not to have them when my Father knew they were there all along. No Other Gods - is not a terrible lot of homework, but what there is brings a depth and richness of empowerment to the broken and wayward soul.
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Let's not sit on our idols - let's give them the Heave-Ho! And let's do it right quick! I'm going to forego my Names of God post this week... I feel I really need to spend a great deal of today just focused on my relationship with the Lord. Next Week, we will study the name of God, Yahweh Roi - The Lord is my shepherd. Love Ya'll!

To order a copy of Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" Bible Study from Lifeway Resources - click on the picture above.

**COMMENTS CLOSED**

Tuesday's In Other Words: For His Glory

This Week, SUSAN at "Forever His" is hosting. Pop on over and read what others are saying In Other Words.

Please visit Loni at "Writing Canvas" by using the link in this post to learn more about In Other Words and how you can participate!

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More than three years ago, this verse had such a different meaning for me. It meant that God's plans would not harm me - they wouldn't hurt and they were for a future and a hope. I coupled it with Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV) Believing that the past where I had chosen not to follow God would result in a glorious future, and as long as I walked with Him life would turn out just as "we" had planned.
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I could not have been more wrong. As I planned for writing this post today, I heard Romans 8:28 ringing in my ears just as I quoted it. But, I realized that the coupling of Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28 does nothing for the hurting because at times they don't ring true. At least that is what I found in my own experience in suffering and loss. Then I read the Message's paraphrase of Romans 8:28 and I could declare, "That's IT!"

That is what I feel like is happening in my life today: God is taking every painful, ugly and even glorious detail of my life in His love and working it into a masterpiece that reveals something that will benefit us and show off His amazing glory for all to see! It is His plan, He has had it from the beginning and He is working it out even in the writing of these words. He is showing how even pain, though it hurts for a little while, will not bring harm to my relationship with Him. He is showing how in spite of what hurts and how life deals us blows we can neither anticipate nor understand... We can still have hope in the One True God who gives and takes away, and blesses us in every season of our lives. Even if the blessing is only His peace and His love in a season of great pain. He alone is God, He alone is good and His glory makes this journey all worth while!