Today's devotional

Today's Verse: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 / KJV

In The New Living Translation, we read ... "I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. "

The message of the Cross does seem foolish to many these days. I wonder at the number of Chruch Fathers who wrote exactly these words in generations past. How would they feel if they were to be living now ... in 2005? Do you wonder how they would look at our world today?

I could write for pages on the difference between 'our time' and 'their time', but I suspect that Paul's purpose at the time he penned these words from a prison cell so many years ago was much different. I suspect that his purpose was to turn those who read the words to the Cross and its 'message as the very power of God'.

As I sit at my computer in a world much different from Paul's and that of our Church Fathers, I listen to an internet radio station playing a song with the lyrics ... 'What can wash away our sin, what can make us whole again, nothing but the blood, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Thank You for the Blood!'

The very power which raised Christ from the dead, resides within us as His people. (Romans 8:11). With that power available to us to do His work, we can indeed rest that the message of the Cross is 'the very power of God' and the most beautiful message of all. I challenge you today to meditate and speak upon this truth today.

now this is funny

I found this all over the net, but i understand it found its start at Faith Or Fiction

Please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND ME. It can be anything you want--good or bad--BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.

Memories - light the corners of my mind~

Misty, water-colored memories~

Of the way we were....

this is hysterical ... i always thought it was ... like the corners of my mind!!! teeeeeeheeeeeee

Word of Faith

what do you know?
what do you think?

i'm struggling with it in my church.

topics please ...

i have been requested to develop and record a series of devotionals for our internet radio station ... wordnetradio.com

i have been thinking of doing a series on 'walking in the Spirit' as that seems to be what God is revealing to me through my counselling practice.

i've been praying that the Lord would reveal what He wants to speak through me.

any suggestions?

maybe some of my friends with more 'well travelled' blogs (you know who you are!!) could suggest what appears to interest people?

robert called today

that's him with 'the world's most beautiful granddaughter'. i wish i had taken a picture of him all dressed up when he was going to school. i bought him several suits and he looked so good ... so pastorly.

here i go digressing again ...

anyhoooo, he did call. i miss his precious face so much, it has been three weeks since i saw him. he sounds terrible. he is not feeling well. it seems that they are dealing with drama after drama ... every time i talk to him there is 'lots of his plate'.

please do pray for my precious boy.

i know he is safely tucked in the Father's Hand. God's will for Robby's life ... it WILL be realized.

ever feel like you need to find a place to rest??

and a friend to rest with??

walking in the Spirit

this is where i have been for the last few weeks or so. life is incredibly busy ... i'm teaching two post graduate courses at two colleges, preparing for the upcoming Cleansing Stream retreat at which i am one of the speakers (on freemasonry!!), and trying to keep up with all of the demands of full time ministry. people are struggling. i have heard little from my son since he left with milly. i have been doing all i can to walk in the Spirit ...

there are many Scriptures to support what i am going to write, but i do not have the time this morning to link to them. i'll come back later to do all the linking.

the foundational teaching of the Cleansing Stream Seminar is teaching the church how to Walk in the Spirit. Based upon Galatians 5 and Romans 8 for a start, the growing Christian is taught that we must crucify our flesh and walk according to the Spirit of God.

Once we are able to truly give the Lord control ... to surrender our lives to His perfect plan for our lives, we are ale to live in that secret place ... the strong tower of the Lord ... the peace that passes all understanding. the joy of the Lord becomes our strength. it's a beautiful place.

the Lord allowed me that awesome revelation in a powerful way the day that i pulled robby's bail. i had a client show up at my home later that evening... it was his regular time but he had not been scheduled. i was really out of it. sad. crying. afraid. since he was going through something far worse than i, i 'sucked it up' and went down to meet with him.

well, God does meet us when we crucify our flesh, because then we are 'in the Spirit' and able to hear His voice. the fact that i had been fasting for a week didn't hurt either. so i find myself telling this precious man that although he finds himself in a place that appears to be a set back, that God knows all ... that He may be taking him out to do the work in others, and in him. That God is in control. He knows all. Nothing surprises Him. Not 'their' actions. Not our actions. and ... He is able to bring all things togther for all of our good. He is interested in our eternal future ... our character ... our likeness to Jesus.

ding
ding
ding
in my own heart

i could release my son, his girlfriend, his career, his school, his safety, his future ... and our relationship.

i've had a sense of peace for the last two weeks that is beyond understanding. and joy. and strength. and purpose. and trust. and ... well, it is well with my soul. why? because my soul (and body) is securely tucked in under my spirit, which is hidden with Christ in God. yoked up with the Lord ... easy and light.

sigh

it is a beautiful place.

so my question is ... why do we struggle to stay o u t of that place? are we nuts? why do we fight the Lord's work in our lives when we know it will bring us into perfect peace? i speak to myself as much as i ask others.

i think of you ...

when i read today's Scripture ...

Romans 10:15 ...it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

thanks so much to those who have held us up in prayer during this trying time. it has been a journey for sure and i'm so thankful for those who have walked it with me. i know that God will be glorified in this process ... and that we will all end up more like Him in the process.

thanks friends.

Scriptures ... hanging on them today ....

Zephaniah 1:7
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Deuteronomy 31:8
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."

i pray that i will be able to form a sermon around these Scriptures tomorrow. this has been an incredible time for me. how He has proved Himself faithful to me emotionally when i but submit my Spirit to His and crucify this screaming flesh!

anybody know any good time management courses or books? lol

a day i thought i would never live through

thanks so much for your prayers, from the bottom of my heart.

i thought i was going to die last night. my heart was so heavy and broken. bill was really getting scared.

then one of my clients came. i did not have him scheduled, but it was our usual time. well, i sat and talked with him and God really intervened through this man's struggle. i found myself talking to him and God was talking to me ...

He showed me that this does not surprise Him and thus, He is in this with robby, milly, bill, and i. He wants them both for His kingdom and He is capable of holding them and bringing them there. i immediately had such peace, it is amazing.

the kids came this morning and removed all of their stuff. and although it broke my heart to see robby carrying his things out, i was able to have such peace. finally, as he came for the last load, he was by himself. calmly, he came to me and said ...

mom, i'm not leaving you. i'm just leaving here. we can't all live together, but i still love you. i'll see you next week for school. i'll call you. i love you.

i told him that although i thought he was making a mistake, that i still respected his right to make it and that i would be here for him if he ever needed me. he will always be welcome here.

he gave me a hug.

i'm positive the Lord is working in him. i'm not happy with the way i have dealt with milly and one day soon i will have to apologize when things calm down.

i'm so thankful that the Lord continues to deal with me in His mercy.

oh Lord, bless them ... have mercy on me.

amen.

they are moving

finally, things came to a head and milly has been asked to leave. unfortunately, he has chosen to go with her. it makes me sad, but it is probably the best for evening involved.

:(

i will update later, when i get myself together.

my heart is breaking.

Zephaniah 1:7

This is on my daily Bible Verse today:

Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

*sigh* this really speaks to me today...

ooooo ... i'm on a roll

i will teaching the material from my doctoral dissertation next week at the Bible College associated with our Church.

since i have to present the students with a textbook, i have been preparing the material to publish. they will get a simple copy of the first edition ... and i cannot tell you how excited i am to edit this again.

woooooowwwww, God did an awesome job of writing this book! can't wait!

great quote

"It takes guts to go and tell a complete stranger that something is seriously wrong with you but it takes a really tough old bird to then go forward and fix it because doing so often changes every aspect and every relationship in your entire life. " Hey Jules

Commiting everying to God!

tonight was our third cleansing stream evening.

i have been involved in this ministry for almost 10 years and have led the seminar for the last four.

God has blessed me with the most incredible group of people this time around. they are so hungry for the Lord and for His presence in their lives, we can barely stop at 10:00. i'm sure if i did not close the door and turn off the lights that they would still be there praying and praising God until 1:00 in the morning! what a blessing!

our first two sessions focused on 'walking in the Spirit'. Tonight we talked about 'committing everything to God'.

to hear these precious people talk about how God has led them through the last two weeks ... shown them when they are in flesh, helped them to walk in the Spirit ... and the testimonies that they have about His great faithfulness in their lives ... well, it is so satisfying.

i've come home revived. rejuivinated. renewed. refreshed.

how thankful i am for these days ... and how i realize after all these years ... it is so easy to find ones-self in the flesh ... sigh.

He's a good God and i guess i do not have to tell you what i commited into His precious, capable Hand this evening.

thank You Lord!

Thankful for His keeping grace

it's been a long few months.

i've been reflecting on what has happened and the challenges we face. even yesterday when i went to visit with sr. pastor (my boss) and his wife, i am so aware of the challenges those in ministry are facing right now.

i see it in my practice. marriages are challenged. people are tired and stressed. they're looking for something ...

i have many non-Christian clients because of the Employee Assistance Plans i work with. this has truly been a blessing for me. what an outreach! people come into the office and they immediately sense the peace and tranquility there. it's not me. that office is consecrated to the Lord. His presence is truly there in a precious way.

what an outreach to offer this place of peace and sanctuary to seeking people ... they are looking for that peace that passes all understanding that can only come from a personal relationship with Jesus!

but i digress ...

what i have been thinking on this morning is God's keeping mercy. my daily practice is to soak in the tub in the morning and read my Bible. the Lord blesses me with sweet communion of Spirit, and often i am overwhelmed that i have read 10 or more chapters before i stop. He is showing me a consistency in the Scriptures i have not seen before.

today it was romans. after chapter 12 i had to get out of the bath and start to get ready for my day. robby is struggling today ... he was up all night with a terrible croupy cough and he's wanting to sleep in a little later. it's 11:30 and he must get up as my first client is 1:00. (today is his study day at my office)

i want to cry with all that is going on in our house. there doesn't seem to be any place where i can get my peace ... the oppression is strong ...

then the Lord met me in my tub. lol. we had a time of sweet conversation. He infused me with strength and peace. He gave me the love and desire to make it through one more day with the issues we have been challenged with.

today is the first day of my fast. i am praying for His wisdom. we've been here before with milly and robby and yet, i still do not have the peace i need to tell her to leave. how He loves her. i need more of that ... i also need to know how i can possibly help this girl if she is to be left here for us to help.

sigh

that's why i'm fasting. there is no other way to get to the heart of God for me right now.

thank you penni, for your comments to yesterday's post. the Lord wouldn't let your comments out of my head ....

What about this room?

the entrance to the room ...

this is the laundry pile!

This is what milly's room looks like today.

does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get her to get this place under control?

we've tried contacts. we tried threats. we've begged. we've cried. now we're at the point of telling her to leave.

my concern is that robby will leave with her ... it's obviously not the best choice, but it is his choice. if i could work this out in a respectful manner maybe we will not lose everything we've worked so hard to gain.

ack. sob.

her true personality

although the picture we chose is very peaceful, this is Jadzia's true personality. i love the photographer, she sets up a booth in the local mall and takes the pictures in this little black 'booth' ... you can see kelly's hand to the right, mom stands in a little alcove.

She then uses an advanced version of 'photoshop' and adds a background. last year we chose a garden, this year we chose the top steps of a church. you can see the door behind her. it's very pretty.

when we were finished, Jadzia just stood up and started to dance for the 'crowd' which had formed. the photographer caught it.

last year's picture ...

how she has grown.

thankfuls ...