Tuesdays Together

A few weeks ago, I experienced a week of work that really tested my limits. I wound up working 5 days in a row! Now before you say "huh??" keep in mind that nurses do not generally work 5 days in a row, unless you work the 7 on 7 off kind of schedule, but those are usually 8 hour shifts. I should clarify, nurses who work the floor or 12 hour shifts in recovery do not usually work 5 days in a row. Well, I did. I found myself signed up for 2 days on the floor and 3 days on the outpatient surgical unit. These are the two units I work, but I usually do not work more than 3 days a week, and occasionally four. Not including the driving in and out, I worked 4 ten hour, and 1 nine hour shift. The week was sandwiched between two weekends packed full of activities. I was tired, I was weary weary weary!! I felt discouraged about half way through, thinking that I had lost my edge, feeling very old and wondering "why did I sign up for this again?". My housework suffered, my connections with my husband and child suffered. But I knew it was temporary and did my best to plow on through.

Getting up pretty early is part of this working routine. In order to be clocked in by 6,7, or 7:30 I often leave the house before any one else is up. I must hit hwy 280 before a certain time in order to catch the best traffic window. This sometimes puts me at work early. I have started bringing my bible with me in my car, so that I can have my quiet time in the parking deck. I like to read at night, but sometimes when you are soooo tired, it just doesn't happen. Anyway, during my week of 5's I found the Lord especially sweet to me. It put a little pep back into my spirit and my step. I happened to be reading in Thessalonians 1 and 2. I won't rewrite the whole 2 books but if you go there and read, you will most likely see what I saw--or maybe something entirely different--that IS the beauty of the Living Word of God. It was certainly timely.

Lord's words to me:

Hard work pays off.

Be gentle.

Be a model so that others might believe.

Thank God continually.

Endure, inspire hope.

Encourage one another, build up.

Respect those over you.

Live in peace with each other.

Be patient, joyful and thankful.

Pray continually.

Hold onto the good, avoid evil.

Relief is coming.

Do not be deceived.

Do not be a busybody.

Never tire of doing what is right.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thess. 2:16

I am called to be a nurse, and also a wife and mother. My callings affects lives. I work hard at these callings. Balancing those takes diligence. My husband and I have also felt led to become debt free. We are working diligently to accomplish this goal and have been for some time. For a time, I could pick up zero shifts, this really slowed us down. Now that I am being offered more than I can handle, we are finding our way to progress. Our Lord has always been faithful to us in dry and plentiful times, this does not change. He is faithful. He is always on time. His Sweet words do not change. His strength does not change. My parking deck time with the Lord was precious............ and did I mention timely? :)

May YOU find encouragement from the Lord's words today. Blessings!!

Tuesdays Together

I would love to tell you all that I got it right today. That I did everything just right. But I didn't. I can't tell you such a thing. I would love to say that I read my scripture FIRST thing this morning instead of noon, and that I woke up bright and perky this morning ready for the day! I didn't.

I would love to say that I have excercised already and had plenty of water to drink. That I didn't wait until 1030 to take a shower and only then because I needed to run a quick errand. I would love to tell you that my house is clean and my laundry finished and my to do list completed, but it isn't. That I have been productive and have accomplished great things today. I haven't.

I will tell you that I have been rebellious this morning. And frankly my spirit has been a bit contrary. I have said mean things to myself today. I am under attack. I have been inconsistent with most things important over the past 2-3 weeks and it is catching up with me.

I will tell you that I have enjoyed my screen porch today and the cool weather. AND the halloween candy on the top of the fridge has had a few visits today. I WILL tell you that the Lord has been faithful to me anyway. I went back to Psalm 111.

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;(v2-4)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.(v5)

The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.(v7-8)

Aren't you thankful that the Lord is not inconsistent? Did you catch all that? Great. Glorious. Steadfast. Trustworthy. Forever. Gracious. Compassionate. He has CAUSED his wonders to be remembered.

I asked the Lord to help me get my rear end out of the recliner. He did. I asked him to help me gather up some energy and get something accomplished. He did. I asked him to speak to me. He most certainly did. It was gracious and compassionate. His wonders were remembered. My spirit was renewed.

To Him belongs eternal praise.(v10)

To learn more about our group and Tuesdays Together please visit DeeDee.

Tuesdays Together

I have been absent from blogger world.  I'll explain later.  Tuesdays Together is as good a time as any to jump back in.  I'm sharing from 2 Corinthians today.  It's long, so bear with me.   If you are not familiar with Tuesdays Together, please visit DeeDee to check it out and to visit others who participate.  

Yesterday  while working in recovery, my patient looked up at me and said, "This won't keep me from going over seas will it?  cause I'm going in February and I don't want to miss it this time.....".  Patients rattle on about lots of things while they are waking up from their "twilight sleep" as we call it.  He went on to talk about his unit in the National Guard and his future deployment and about his herniated discs and how he just really did not want to miss going with his unit.  Men.  The voice in my head answered him,  "well, I hope it does keep you from going".  I of course could not say that out loud.   That was the answer of a mother and a wife.  Surely they feel differently about his enthusiasm to deploy.  Surely they do not want him to go overseas.   Driving home, I was thinking about his conversation and it dawned on me that today June 9th, 2009 is a type of anniversary for my family.  On Nov. 9th, 2008 just 7 months ago, my husband returned home from Iraq.  And so, in honor of this anniversary and in honor of Memorial Day ( albeit very late) I wanted to share an essay that I wrote back in November.  Keep in mind that I wrote this essay before I became a blogger.  I wrote it the week after my husband returned.  Also keep in mind that our group at church had just finished the bible study, 'What Happens When Women say Yes to God' by Lysa Terkeurst.   I never really imagined that I would be sharing this essay with others.  It was just my way of pouring my heart out on paper, and it is also  dedicated to my church family and others who know who they are....

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2 Corinthians 5:14

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

Christ's love compels us.  COMPELS.  Because we are CONVINCED.  Powerful words.  Striking verse.  It is not difficult to imagine a love so convincing that it moves or COMPELS one into action.  Especially when you have witnessed it for yourself.

My most recent encounter with Christ's compelling love occurred during my husband's deployment to Iraq.  He left the house in Nov. 2007 and returned in Nov. 2008, just 1 week ago.  The last 7 months of this deployment were in Rutbah, Iraq,  A remote western city.

I am so moved by the expressions of love that were directed my way that I felt it necessary to write them out; chew on them a little and savor what inspiration might come from them.

Thanksgiving, Christmas--Love called and invited me to the family dinners even though it was suspected I would travel and join my own parents, you still called and invited me.... Each Sunday after church,  Love took turns inviting me to lunch  instead of allowing me to go home alone to eat.  Love visited me at the hospital.  Love sent emails and cards.  Love PRAYED for me.

When I was very largely pregnant, Love rolled my big trashcan down my steep driveway every Thursday.  And even when I protested, Love sometimes managed to get it back up the driveway--if I  let him.

The day my husband left again to return to his unit, my infant son was 6 days old.  I rounded the corner and witnessed my husband bent over the bassinet with large tears hanging from his eyes.  Don't see him cry very often,  But Love will do that to a person.

For weeks, I hurt from the stitches.  I didn't move very well.  Love organzied and sent food, for what seemed like a month!!

Love came and helped me clean.  And then there was a babysitting list that Love concocted so that I could leave the house for a few hours and Love signed up.  Week after week.  Then when the daycare spot we had prayed for opened up, some of you did not get the chance to babysit, but your names were there, on that list.  Written in love.

Love called to check on me.  Love PRAYED for me.  Love raced across the yard with the other neighbors to see who could cut my grass first.  Love returned week after week with the mower and the weed eater.

When my dog busted down a section of the fence, Love watched my newborn while I went out looking for my dog.... And then the next morning when I heard voices outside my window, I realized that neighbors  had joined together to shore up my fence, with a bag of quikcrete that came from a neighbor's garage.  Love did that....

When my 2 cats and my dog brought into the house such a fierce flea infestation that both tortured and embarrassed me, you sent your hubby over to spray my drought stricken back yard.

Love served in the church nursery and cared for my child.  During Wednesday night suppers, Love took my infant and allowed me to eat a normal meal....with grown ups.

Nursing and raising a newborn on your own brings great joy and weariness.  Some nights the darkness would come and the kind of weariness that seeps right down through to the very bone would set in.  On these nights, when all I could utter between the sobs were the words to 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' over and over, I know that Love was praying and intervening on my behalf.  I know that YOU were going deep into your prayer closets and praying for me.  Love does that.

I know these weary nights of weakness all to well.  Nights where Christ's LOVE and strength really were enough.  They really were.... They still are.  Not just enough, but abundantly so.

'Crazy Love'.  Haven't had the chance to read the book yet.  But I'm guessing it's there.  On the pages, between the pages.  This Love that I've mentioned.  Compelling. Convincing.  Amazing. Crazy.  What happens when Love says yes?  Well,  I hope I've given you a glimpse.   The folks of CBChurch said yes, and I will never be able to repay them; except to stop and give Glory to the God who has given that COMPELLING Love for us all.

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I realize now  how late and out of date these words might seem and I probably should have shared these thank yous and  sentiments earlier, but the leading didn't come until today.  Maybe someone just needed this today.  I hope so.  

Tuesdays Together

Welcome to Tuesdays Together in the Word.  We are a group reading the bible together and sharing each week the nuggets that the Lord's Word has left with us.  Join in with us, wherever you are.  Please  visit DeeDee for more Tuesday Together posts.

In my reading this week,  I wanted to linger a bit in Psalms and Proverbs.  In Psalm 39,40, and 41  I  could really sense David's despair and his frustration.  His awareness of his own inadequacy  is overwhelming here.  There are scourges and weeping, wicked enemies, and slimy muddy pits.  There is shame and foolishness.  There is slander and betrayal.   Then, Here comes the best part.  David exalts the Lord. 

2) He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;  he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

3) He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

4) Many, O lord my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

In Proverbs 10 there is reassurance for those who trust in the Lord.

24)What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

25)When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

All through the reading I imagined David and his despair and then his freedom.  I was reminded of a scene in a movie that so impressed me that I openly wept in the theater.  The scene is from a Lord of The Ring's movie.  I went to see all three in the theaters when they were released.  The scene I thought of this week involved the great trees with their strong roots.  A  flood of rushing water comes to "wash away" the underworld that has been created and where an oppressive evil army is born and prepares for battle.   The waters rush over the land and over the edge into the pit and you see the trees clinging to stand firm.  All around them is destruction.   The trees do stand, because they are the only ones with roots deep and strong enough to withstand such a destructive force.  My emotions at this point in the movie just overwhelmed me and I cried.  As the great rushing waters leveled the playing field, I could not help but get emotional.  The symbolism was not lost on me. 

Are you planted firmly on the right foundation?  If you are, do you strengthen your roots through His word? Do you trust in the ONE whose wonders are "too many to declare"?  I surely hope so.  When Christ died for us, he secured our place in eternity.  Once we belong to Him, we cannot be pulled from him.  

Prov 10:30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.

2Tim.2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his...

Psalm41:13  Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

Tuesdays Together

Welcome to Tuesdays Together in the Word.  We are a group reading the bible together and sharing each week the nuggets that the Lord's Word has left with us.  Join in with us, wherever you are.  Please  visit DeeDee for more Tuesday Together posts!!

I felt as if I was visiting with an old familiar friend while reading the Psalms from our reading list.   It has only been a month since I posted about a heartfelt step into Psalm 34.  A few of you have read it, but if you have not and wish to take a quick peek, please visit here.

Recycling is always good, but I wanted to share something new from this week as well. It is from Mark chapter 3.

Verses 1-6

 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.  Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."  Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?  But they remained silent.  

He (Jesus) looked around at them in anger and , deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.  

Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

We don't pay much attention to this man mentioned here.  This man with the shriveled hand.  Who was he?  He braved the crowds and went to the synagogue.  Did he go there to wait on Jesus?  Scripture just says he was just "there".  Had he heard all the stories about this man called Jesus?   What must it have been like to witness Jesus, the SON of God looking around in "anger" and "distress"?  And then to have him tell YOU to "stand up" and make a point to the stubborn Pharisees using your ailment?  Whoa!!  When angry Jesus tells you to "stretch out your hand" you had better stretch out your hand!!  But then there IS an implied faith here.  He stretched out his hand on the Sabbath because there was authority in the voice that told him to do so, the voice that heals.  He stretched out his hand because he was incomplete.  He stretched out his hand because he BELIEVED that Jesus could help him, even if it meant being on the Pharisees list.  He stretched out his hand in obedience and HOPE.  It was HIS moment, and in that moment, that singular moment,  there can be found a life-changing obedience, hope, and restoration!  As far as I know, we don't hear anything else about this man with the shriveled up hand.  Did he take his restored hand out into the world and proclaim the good news?  I hope so.  He really makes me think......  Did you notice that the scripture never even mentions Jesus physically touching the man? We assume that he did, but could it have been even simpler than that?   When was the last time you stood up, stretched out, obeyed and experienced life changing Jesus?  .........just something to chew on......I know I need to......

Tuesdays Together

Welcome to Tuesdays Together in the Word.  We are a group reading the bible together and sharing each week the nuggets that the Lord's Word has left with us.  Join in with us, wherever you are.  And visit DeeDee for more Tuesdays Together!!

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Before I share my thoughts on our reading, I first must apoplogize to the Tuesday crew if I have misled you in any way.  From your sweet comments last week I realized that some of you might be under the impression that my husband is STILL deployed.  He's not, he is safely home.  Praise the Lord!!  I am just slow in the sharing.  I have blogged some about the homecoming in a previous post.  He came home in November and things are finally getting back to normal around here (sorta).  "This time last year" is my favorite phrase right now.  I'm still standing in awe of the enormous journey that I traveled.  Yesterday marked a painful one year anniversary- My husband left on March 30th after spending only 6 days with his newborn son.  But, like I pointed out, he's home now and I am different.  And I will continue to share bits of this journey as the Lord leads.  OK, now on to Tuesday.....

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Although I enjoyed reading Philemon and Titus, I need to go the Psalms again.  It's just that kind of season, for lack of a better explanation....

Psalm 32

8-I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you.

9-Do not be like the horse or the mule, 

which have no understanding but must be controlled 

by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

I laughed when I read that,  Did God's word just tell me..."Don't be a dumb stubborn mule" ?  Yes!! I think HE did!  I guess we all have seasons of stubborness and "lack of understanding".  This world really wants to lead us mindlessly around by a bit and bridle so to speak, when all along there is a book lying on our tables that gives us the PROPER  counsel  and instruction, and I do mean God's Word.   There is freedom in THAT instruction.  No bits, No bridles. 

Then we move on to the next verses:

10-Many are the woes of the wicked,

 but the LORD'S unfailing love surrounds

the man who trusts in him.

11-Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Isn't it comforting to know that when you are surrounded by a wicked, bit, and bridled kind of world, that you who trust in HIM are  SURROUNDED by UNFAILING love?  Did you catch that?  Unfailing.  and Surrounded.  Our world will fail us.  Job's world failed him.  He came out okay in the end, I'm sure he was different on the inside,  but the Lord was not.  Unfailing, steadfast, unchanged.  We know this.  Now that IS something to sing about!!  And the watching over you part in verse 8?  Can't let that be missed either.

I can't tell you how many times over the past year, when I really wanted to rejoice.  I wanted to sing (vs11) I did,  but friend I was weary. I'm being honest.  Singing did not happen every day, let me tell you.  Wasn't it enough just to trust and be carried by his unfailing love?  Wasn't it enough to just put on my big girl undies every livin' day, work hard,  and just trust?  Your heart knows what it knows but somedays the singing just did not want to come despite itself.  Despite it's stubborn mule self................

 Glad that is soooo last year....(insert chuckle here).

Tuesdays Together

Welcome to Tuesdays Together in the Word.  We are a group reading the bible together and sharing each week, what the Lord's Word has left with us.   Join in with us, wherever you are.

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I cannot let this Tuesday Together pass by without sharing some thoughts from the Psalms.  As I have mentioned before in a previous post, I promised to share some about this past year.  I cannot read these Psalms from our list without thinking about my journey through new motherhood and deployment. Psalms like these carried me through.  I cannot read these Psalms without my heart being stirred.

Psalm 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation,

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life,

of whom shall I be afraid?

3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me, 

even then will I be confident.

5 For in the day of trouble 

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

13 I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

There are more than a few folks out there in this world who know what it is like to go to bed at night wondering if they will wake up a widow.  Knowing that you very well could and trusting that you won't....... This is the war of the spouse left behind during  a deployment, during a time of war.  It is a battle on the insides of her head and heart.  I don't pretend to think that I am the only person to ever have their Marine go off into harms way.  Many wives have done this before me and more still will travel this journey in the years to come.  Often it was the knowing that got me through an hour- knowing that someone always has it worse and knowing that my blessings are plentiful.  Knowing that God and I were okay before my husband came along and would be still even if.........

Often, in the late hours, when the baby was down for the night, the pumping was still to be done, the bottles and accessories still to be washed, and all the other "stills" that occur when you are running a household by yourself.......I would talk out my cries of the heart and my Psalms would frequently sound a  bit like this:

The Lord is my light, is my strength, is my salvation.

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

Of Whom shall I be afraid?

Not these thoughts, certainly not tomorrow.

If HE is for me, Who then can be against me?

Though my aloneness bears down upon me,

He shelters me

I am confident in the Lord's tomorrow,

This too shall pass, This too shall pass!!

Although my weariness is heavy,

I SEE the Lord's goodness and I am strengthened.

I count my blessings and am uplifted.

Take heart, have courage, wait upon the Lord!

have courage, have courage!

Of Whom shall I be afraid?

Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!!

Amen

May my mutterings bring you encouragement, wherever your journey may be taking you today!!  

For more Tuesdays Together in the Word, visit DeeDee.

Tuesdays Together

This week I was reading some more of the parables in Luke.   The parable of the Lost Coin stands out to me.  Jesus is speaking...

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.  Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Luke 15:8-10

It is the rejoicing that AWES me so.  Have you ever lost anything so valuable to you that there was such great rejoicing when you recovered it?    I try to imagine what the rejoicing must be like, must sound like,  in the presence of God's angels.  I can only tear up at the mere thought of it.  Strangely enough,  It is my pastor's Sunday sermon that I'm thinking of while reading this parable.  He is speaking on the beatitudes.  Sunday he covered the second one..."blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  

Imagine the very moment, this precious moment in time, when the  "light" of conviction breaks through and a heart is broken.   MOURNING  is found there and repentance  and then, Mercy here it comes,...... "great rejoicing" in the heavens!!!  I am so not worthy, and well,.....I get a song anyway!!!    

Today I pray for a strong lamplight, for a good sweepin',  for eyes to see,  and a heart that's willing to break over my own sin.   May my  repentance be found worthy of a good singin'!!

Please visit DeeDee for more Tuesdays Together in the Word

 

Is it Friday? or Tuesday?

This is the post that I tried to put up on Friday.  I don't know what I did wrong, but it looked like a crazy person typed it. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it became.  So, I'll try again.  I was gonna just let it go, but my Heart Friends informed me that I couldn't. Keep in mind that this was Friday.   So here goes......

OK, so I was feeling a bit like a slacker this morning.  at 10am-still in my pajamas-haven't exercised -feeling gross- busting out a diet coke for breakfast with my 2 big zits on my face.....(what's up with that?)....We all overslept this morning.  I've been cooped up (except for venturing out to the doctor)  in the house since monday night with my sick 10 month old.  You would think I could get a LOT of things done during such a hideaway as this, but not so....(sigh), did I mention the sick 10 month old?....

Then I open my bible and read this.......Luke 8

Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God.  He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women he had healed....Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;  Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager, Susanna; and many others who were contributing their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (vs1-3)

It just jumped out at me.  If I have ever noticed this before, I had forgotten it.  Jesus was touring about and ministering alongside women.  Not just any women.  It is clear from this passage that these women were not ordinary for their day.  They had resources.  They had Goods!!  They were contributing their "own resources to support Jesus and his disciples". Dude--they had stuff!!    And what about Joanna?  Ever wonder what Herod and Chuza thought about her hanging around Jesus?  

The enemy would love for me to sit around and compare myself to others, to doubt myself,  to REALLY consider myself  a slacker about the Lord's work, but the voice in my head :) says "NOT today!!  Rise up (off that couch)  and resist!!"   (that's God's way of saying --my creation shall not call thyself a slacker--get up and get moving)

Hey!!  I've got goods!!  I've got resources!!  I've got talents and gifts and stuff!!  I know, cause the Lord gave them to me... (I really feel the need to stick out my tongue,  but I won't) I need to be using those gifts as HE guides.  

Sounds  sassy.....

Sounds like boasting, but it's not meant that way....

We are His, we know this. We might be lowly sinners but  We are NOT slackers!!  We are precious to Him. He paid the price already.  He equips us for the "tour" to be about His work with our own individual goods and resources.  We ALL have stuff.

Sounds like........a Victory!!

as a Tuesday afterthought, I am thinking of the contrast between  these women and the women in scripture who had little to give.....a touch of the hem,  or some oil,  or some savings.......

They still offered these, and Jesus accepted them wholeheartedly.  They gave these in faith.  They took action.  ....and the result was Victory.

Have a victorious Jesus Filled day!!!

It's Tuesday....

I've been checking in with my blogger friends who participate in Tuesdays Together in the Word.  I enjoy reading their thoughts and insights.  If you go to Tricia's or DeeDee's blog you can learn more about it, and visit others who participate.  I started out the year skipping around some, so I'm not exactly on schedule with these guys but it really does encourage me. 

 Yesterday, I worked a 6-3 shift, which means I left the house at 0455.  I've been working mostly 11am-7pm shifts, so this abrupt change might have been a bit ambitious for one my age, but I got over it.  Once I got there I learned that a friend was dealing with the death of her husband.  He committed suicide.  For the sake of her privacy, I dare not write more, but it was not a quiet passing.  My heart is breaking to know she is in pain.......

Luke 22 describes the "sifting like wheat" that Satan relishes in, even "demands".  I know I've experienced bad that God uses for good,  and I pray that my faith "did not fail"........but what about when you are watching it happen to someone else??

In college, one of my favorite conference speakers was Esther Burroughs. (sp?) Because I was in college for such a long time,:)  I heard her speak at more than one BSU conference.  Now that I think about it,  I even had to speak BEFORE her during one of those conferences.  (Weird?)  Her words on "living water" stick with me even now, 13+ years later:).  Do I overflow with the living water of the Spirit on a daily basis?  Am I filled up enough to actually overflow?  Will MY feeble attempts at comfort irritate or soothe my hurting friend?  Will I listen to God's voice for appropiate timing and divine appointments?  I'm still chewing on it......

I really did not FEEL like blogging about this stuff today.  I really wanted to blog ( for days now) about my cool new water bottle that I bought and how it might encourage you all in your 2009 health and wellness efforts.  I guess I will have to share that on a later date, cause this other stuff just came on out........I guess the subjects are related.?....sorta...........if you dug really deep and had the energy to go there............living water..............whew, my brain is tired........