I Will Praise Him

                       This song makes my heart shout, what song does that for you?

                  

Testing, Testing, Testing

A spiritual test, according to several religious traditions, is a life situation, provided by God, to evaluate man’s individual moral character and obedience to His laws. Spiritual tests assess one’s virtue in many aspects of everyday life, individual conduct, particularly when no witnesses exist, and reflect the maturation of the character with regards to such moral imperatives as honesty, respect, and consideration for others. Wikipedia. 

The testing has been pretty fierce lately because I am working to put together the contents of a three part session on being " wise hearted".  My mind says, how can I speak on  being wise hearted when I have been everything but wise lately with my attitude, my words, my thoughts?   While in my pit of despair I looked back to some notes I know God gave me concerning this issue.  Maybe you can help me with this list.  

A proud heart is not a wise heart.
A strong willed heart is not a wise heart.
A fearful heart is not a wise heart.
An anxious heart is not a wise heart.
A forgetful heart is not a wise heart.
An unforgiving heart is not a wise heart.
A weak willed heart is not a wise heart.
A materialistic heart is not a wise heart.
A stubborn heart is not a wise heart.
An angry heart is not a wise heart.
A cold heart is not a wise heart.
A comparing heart is not a wise heart.
A boxed heart is not a wise heart. (When we try to put God in our box we limited Him and limited ourselves from seeing God's ways.

  What would you add to my list of what  keeps us from having a wise heart. 

White Hankie Movie.

 

Noah has been on my list ever since it came out even though I understand it really did not give a biblical view of the flood, or why God destroyed a whole race except Noah and his family.    Really I have not heard much on it either and I am sure a few of my friends have went to see. 

       But, all my friends have been talking about,

    God's Not Dead".

  Finally today I got to see it and it was worth every penny we paid too including the price of popcorn and a diet coke.   I usually have low expectation concerning Christian movies so I was in for a surprise.

Of all the Christian movies I have seen, old and new ones they never felt the way this one did.   I felt like I had went to church for one hour and thirteen minute  listening to  this young college student proved God is not dead and listening to the music at the end.




By the end I was wishing I had my white hankie so I could wave it in the air and shout, Amen, Amen and Amen.  I pray God give me the boldness the young freshmen college student had.  I was challenged to look around me more often and look for opportunities to share, God's Not Dead. 



One way we can know if God is real is His spirit in me will testify to His spirit in someone else or a situation.  God paid me a visit in that dark movie house through the message given in the movie.  This was no act of the devil,  I am sure he is doing all he can to stop this movie from spreading.   A person would have to be dead themselves to not be encouraged by the truth presented in this movie. 


                                           Have you seen it, what was your conclusion?

Early Morning

Early this morning, around two a.m. I found myself unable to sleep.  Thoughts of my mother kept me  awake for I talked to her today.  Like most phone calls she starts out telling me her ailments, about the ones who died recently in the nursing home, who had visited her this Sunday.  Then her mind slipped a little and she started talking about her past roommate who died about three months ago.  She kept saying,  she is better off,  all of us in here would be better off if God took us home, we're not much use for anything.  Those phone calls always leave me sad and well, up late looking for some comfort through songs that sing the hope God provided for those who believe.  I think of a  time years ago, 1985, when my mother and mother in law came to watch our children while I had some needed surgery.  Our church was having a revival with Tim Lee, a Vietnam vet who lost his legs in the war and promised God if He would save his live he would preach the gospel till he died.   My husband took my mother, his mother and the children to church.  I don't even know what he preach on but I knew he would present the gospel and give an old fashioned invitation to those who wanted to know more about getting saved to come forward where someone would meet them and explain what the Bible said about salvation.  

After they return from the revival my mother called me,  right away she told me  she had got saved and was baptized too.  She told me the ladies name who let her through the Roman's road right to the Savior.  And then she repeated, I got baptized too.  If you knew my mother you would know she was scared of having her face put under water for she almost drowned when she was young.  I said, Mom were you scared, no she replied. 

Now she is down to her last years here on earth, she is 87, frail, wheelchair bound, pretty forgetful, but she remembers the night she met the Savior.  I was just with her a week before Mother Day, rolled her out those nursing home doors one sunny day to the Dairy Queen across the street to have a fish sandwich.  A few days later took her for a car ride, drove through the drive through of McDonald's, got us another  fish sandwich and  drove  to the park where we had a picnic in the car with all the  windows rolled down.   Drove her around the country where she use to live, stop a few places and had folks come to the car to say hello.  After about two hours she was wore out so I returned her to the nursing home.  I left sad and as always a little depressed.  After hearing her voice on the phone today I knew it was going to be a long night. Grief always move into my heart when it comes to my mother.  I wish I could roll back the time to when she could walk, drive a car, go fishing at the pond,  fry up the caught fish , and drive me around.   Can't,  so I cling to the old rugged cross knowing  someday God will call her home.  She will leave that wheelchair behind and walk those streets of gold on new strong legs all because she believed what took place on Mt. Calvary. 

                  I wonder what comforts your heart when it's heavy?

My Favorite Post/Second Time Wife

NOTHING I HAVE EVER POSTED BEFORE OR EVER WILL POST IN THE FUTURE IS AS IMPORTANT AS  THIS ONE.  IT'S THE STORY OF OUR PRODIGAL SON JARED AND HIS SECOND TIME WIFE. 

Jared and Grace Draper
2008

                                                             GRACE'S TESTIMONY


Three years ago my world was turned upside down when my husband (Jared)  told me he wanted a divorce and walked out the door bag in hand. I was shocked and completely devastated. So many things went through my head at that moment but what scared me the most was being alone. How was I going to support and raise our two kids alone? The thing is I wasn't alone. God was, is, and had been with me through it all! He came along side me to be a shoulder to cry on and my strength to stand on. He gave me family, friends, and a loving church to take care of me. He used such a difficult time in my life to grow in my faith in Him. I never stopped loving my husband. I prayed for him often and always held on to the hope that he would come back. Well, a couple months ago God did something amazing! He got ahold of my husband's heart and turned his life around! God brought my husband to himself and in doing that brought him back to his family. We are getting remarried April 12. I can't wait and I'm so grateful for what God is doing in my life and in Jared's life. He's given us such a beautiful story and all of it gives praise and glory to God! It shows His love, His grace, His mercy, His strength, His sovereignty! God is so good!

                                                                          JARED'S TESTIMONY

I've re written  this post a few times trying to get the words right but it's just easier to say what's on my heart! Three years ago I made the decision to divorce my wife (Grace) of almost 5 years. We had two small children but I still thought the best decision was to walk away and not honor the commitment I made to her! I have spent the last 3 years living for myself and trying to justify the decisions I made. I've hurt a lot of people by doing that and my heart breaks because of that! It wasn't until recently that God, miraculously, did a work on my heart and has not only brought me back to Him but has brought Grace and I back together. I am so excited to announce that Grace and I are getting remarried April 12th! Emarie and Austin, our two beautiful children, are so happy that mommy and daddy will be together! I can only claim that this is possible because of the power of prayer of Grace and other people that this is even possible! I am so thankful that she never gave up on me and continued to pray that God would change my heart! I only share all of this to say that God does work miracles and I am so excited that He is giving us an opportunity to get our family back together! I hope that anyone that reads this will share in our excitement and that it will be a testimony that God is a loving God. I'm so thankful for His forgiveness! I'm so thankful for the mercy and grace that He shows me everyday
Jared, Grace and children on their wedding day, April 12. 2014

Sometimes marriages cannot be put back to together for lots of reasons so we prayed for Jared to come back to the God who loves him more then we did.  We prayed for strength and courage for Grace as she  faced being alone.  Then we put ourselves out there to just love on them and build up our relationship with both.  Boldly we prayed, God make Jared miserable and ask others to pray the same and then we watched as God brought  sweet conviction to him over and over. Loving others as Christ loves us is never a waste and it carries a punch

 that our human love does not carry.  Their incredible story is not over.  The pastor who married them said it was his first time to re-marry someone and he challenged Jared and Grace to share their story of what God has done in their life so others will be encouraged to trust God for their love ones who have strayed from the Lord.
 Is there someone you are trusting God for? 

Lifeline

 What or who are you trusting today for that trial in your life.  Our faith is built through the storms in our life.   Try as we may we cannot calm the storm but God can calm us through the storm.  Who is your lifeline today?

Today I want to highlight a post written by my wise hearted blogging friend, Diane at,   an encouraging word.    Change is never easy, read how Diane chose to handle the change in her life.

Wanted: Job Title

My Father is an awesome God.  I wrote this post very early a week ago Sunday morning, but didn't post it.  I wanted to go over it one last time after I got back from church. Please read the post first, then I'll tell you how awesome The LORD is to me. This is what I wrote:

Is there a lost and found for job titles?  I’ve lost mine.

No longer a wife. No longer a mother.  What’s a woman to do?

From my earliest remembrances all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. No career aspirations. Except that. That was my career, as well as serving The LORD in whatever capacity.  

So, what’s a woman to do when she finds herself no longer an active mother – as all her children are self-supporting adults living everywhere but here?

A mother is prepared for the day when her children will “fly the nest”.  I did not suffer any kind of empty-nest syndrome, except for the months of August/September when I would ache to shop for school supplies.  Nine years later and I still experience those pangs come school time.

This woman continued to fill her life with ministry work and serving/supporting her husband and his business venture, just as she did for the last 40 years.

So, what’s a woman to do when she finds herself no longer a wife?

A wife is not prepared for her husband to "fly the nest".  

So, what’s a woman to do who now has no husband to serve/support?

What’s this woman to do?  My purpose in life abruptly ended…

Yet, my husband is still my husband. He just no longer wants to be served or supported – not from the wife of his youth anyway…

I’m still his wife, but not. I have a husband, but I’m not a wife. 

It’s no longer my job title.

…sigh…

I don’t know how to not be a wife.

…sigh…

So, what is this woman to do?

Is there life after 40 years of being a wife?  Of course there is. Ask any woman who has forged on after her husband has died. But, in the lost and found department of job titles, I’m definitely in the "lost" section.  

For this you can pray, if you are so inclined…

~~~

And now for the postscript:  

I closed my computer and went to church.  I entered into worship and immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit speak one word to me: "Daughter".  I knew in my heart what He was saying.  My job title is now Daughter of the Most High God.  

"Lord, I know I wasn't the best mother, and obviously I wasn't the best wife, but I will do my best to live the rest of my life being the best Daughter I can be", I sobbed back to Him.    

Two days later, I was praying with my prayer partner and I shared about the post and then going to church and what The Holy Spirit said to me.  As I was talking, she gasped.  "Oh my gosh, as you were telling me about the post, I was going to say "Daughter of God".  

We rejoiced in The LORD confirming His Word to me.  We rejoiced in His Lovingkindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness. We were thankful for those who are praying for me during this transition in my life.

For those of you who have been praying for me, I thank you. God is faithful. He meets needs.  He supplies.  He comforts.  He promotes.  He hands us our job titles. 

Because of Him and Unto Him,

 

 

 

Even Though



  Even Though (C.Wells)
 We’ve watched the house fall - right before our eyes,  we have seen countless  children die
We have wept tears at - the end of dreams, no one is free here from suffering
But the life we gain through Christ cannot be taken

Chorus
 Even though we lose it all, we’ll not be lost, we’ll not be lost
Behold, this love of God has ransomed us, He’s ransomed us
Even though

We’ve been the lepers outside the gate,  we were the poor man without a name
The unfaithful woman falling at His feet, I am the unloveable and He came for me
His arms are fastened firmly round us now

Chorus again

 We had nothing when He found us, we had nothing to recommend us
His grace is like an ocean, His gifts are overflowing
He will care for those who know Him, His promises are certain
We will not walk alone

I don't know about you but I get probably 40-50 some request for prayer a day on my facebook wall from all over the world.  Friends with dying family members, families who have lost it all because of a job loss.  Children being abused,  spouses left to care for children after their mate walks out.  Family and friends who are battling cancer.  Prayer request for missionaries for wisdom, strength to continue on in the face of danger.  On top of that there is the news, families grieving for their love one on a missing plane.  Soldiers fighting wars across the sea,  countries in civil war.  Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes (just had one today here in southern California), disasters everywhere.  Everything we hold valuable can be taken from us here in a moment here on this earth.        EXCEPT HIS LOVE. 


Roman 8:35-       Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Verse 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, verse 30 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 


Even though you may be suffering at this moment, even though you may feel separated from God because of your suffering,   you are not alone. His love follows you, pursues in you, dwells with you, keeps you, hugs you and does not forget you in your suffering. 

   Today I needed to hear the message in this song, how about you?

IT'S OVER

It's over!

It's over...all the boxes are unpacked, everything put in its place, pictures hung, former place clean, keys turned over to owner, scouted  the new neighbor for closest store, gas station, pizza hut and taco bell, (those last two are important).  Cooked my first meal in our new place.  If you are one who prayed for me during this move, thank you, thank you.  I think I have come a long way in adjusting to stateside living again, I mean I found the closest Taco Bell within one day?

Last move it took me three or four months to realize God had given me several of my desires.  1. To live surrounded by  mountains.   2. To live close enough to at least one of my children and grand children.  And 3. a fireplace, got that.  Depression causes a blindness that keeps one from seeing how God is not only meeting our needs but giving us some of our desires.

Something has changed for it only took me a couple days before I realized God had answered all my prayers concerning this move.  1.  This place would be cheaper then the last, $55 dollars cheaper, praise Him.  Second for a place with a washer and dryer hookup...got that.  Third, the apartment would be downstairs, got that.  Forth,  it would have a fenced in patio for the grand children to play outside , got that too.

Since my word for this year is, "perspective" God has been helping me see from a different place.  I love it that God gave me some of my hearts desires but what if He hadn't.  What if...it had cost us more, what if there was no hook up and I had to go to a laundry mat to wash clothes.  What if...they only had upstairs available.   What if...there was no patio. 


I love what Jim Elliot wrote in his diary, God I pray to you, light these idol sticks of my life, that I may burn for you. Consume my life God, for it is yours.” And then he said,  “I seek not a long life but a full life, like that of Jesus Christ.” His prayer was answered, his life was not long, he died taking the gospel to the Auka Indians.  His prayer was answered in that his life was full. 


That prayer of Elliot's makes my prayers for my desires look so weak and well, selfish.  You see, they were all about me...what I wanted, not what my Lord wanted.   But as a blogging friend pointed out, God perspective was , "my child needs these things she prayed for."   They will help me lead a more productive life for  Him.  Easy to compare and disvalue the answered prayer.   I have lived a long and full life already but I know there is more to learn about God's perspective for the rest of my  life.