SEEKING 'I AM'

Searching in His Word...

My life verse, Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to Me and I will answer you; and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know", guides me to THE 'hands on' way to find His answers, Hear His Voice, Immersing into Scripture away from the evil one..'HeWhoMustNotBeNamed'...who rules over the world.

This is a time I DO NOT want the world's perspective.

I yearn for Heavenly perspective.  A perfection given from "I AM", who created the universe.

Life is throwing INOBVIOUS ANSWERS, and I continue asking WHY while trying to comfort also-hurting younger adults.

Today anger creeps from usually happy corners of my mind and shock splashes back and forth, crunching my stomach.   There is no place for normal hunger while these pangs are rolling back, forth and around inside the core of my being.

Heartbrokenness isn't a comfortable pondering and it has become a close companion while poking and grabbing me; yes, shock's boots intermittently stomp said heart each time memories flash in and out of mind's eye.

Overwhelming sorrow has overtaken. Too many questions...fewer answers...and LOTS of sorrow among all who loved and still love.

 

Dear Jesus, Our Risen and Living Lord,

We are but human, You are Creator

Please guide us to Your Word, Your eternally living Words...

Fill our empty spaces...in, during and after this shock. 

 

Continue emblazing Your Word of Truth into our numbness. 

 

In Your crying over Lazarus, Your compassion for Your people was shared; 

so I believe You are crying with us

Continue interceding to Our Holy, Loving Father on our behalf.

 

Amen & Amen

Let It Be So & Let It Be So

John 8:31

"If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Blessings,

MY NOTES MONDAY

NEED VS. CRITICAL

UPDATE:  CONGRATULATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA!!

WHO WON THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. 

THEY DOMINATED LSU.  WE'RE EAGER TO HEAR AND SEE THE LOCAL CELEBRATIONS THIS NEXT WEEK IN TUSCALOOSA!

ROLL TIDE!

Mondays are somewhat ‘hated’ days of the week  wonderfully welcoming on their own

…knowing you’ll be ‘getting back to work’ or ‘school’ Those things especially tickle your funny bone or eagerness to get started, don’t they?!

Our Monday was even further enhanced by having scheduled a ‘car maintenance’ appointment for BabyGirl’s car, YIPPEEEE, such fun not. 
We had mentioned the maintenance needed to be done earlier during the Winter Break but some of us like to challenge norms for this kind of ‘fun’

GOALS:

• finish work today
• corporate ‘recall’ replacement
• 110,000-mile maintenance
• yearly inspection
• reasonable cost 

Happily, I was successful setting and responding to my alarm clock.  (a praise these days)
…so I quickly checked BabyGirl’s room for ‘movement’ since dread had crossed my mind a time or two I was concerned at waking a sleeping college student.  Thankfully, it was washed away when she blurrily answered my inquiry at her door.

The weather channel had predicted rain and fog (because it’s January and we’ve been in the 60’s with thunderstorms…wha’z up?!).

After running downstairs and filling my travel coffee cup with Italian café/Almond Joy creamer,  I was sliding on my rubber rain boots when Daughter emerged from her room.  

We’ve gotten used to no one parking behind our cars in the driveway.  Why is it we have to “intentionally” remind ourselves there’s a car behind us when she returns home? 
(BabyGirl's car is black…and ‘little’?)  Oh, alright…I’m envious of hub’s ‘backing up’ alarm…it beeps when foreign objects are a foot or closer.  To remedy my not having that feature, I “back” into our driveway using my mirrors…and saving my deteriorating neck.

Arriving at the dealership, only two other cars were ahead of us, so we had accomplished the important task of ‘early’ for an ‘earlier’ finish.  Early bird gets the worm!

Update:  The service manager called with the ‘cost’ of 3 CRITICAL problems and 2 ‘needs’ found while handling the other 3 changes we requested. 

Oh.My.Word.

The early bird found a ‘rotten’ worm … or three.

p.s. We have two more vehicles to be inspected and/or repaired before the end of this month…
Oh.My.Word2.

HE IS ALWAYS WITH US...we see Him when we seek Him.

When struggles come into our child's life, we want to help them as quickly as we can...in some way. This becomes difficult especially when they are not within physical reach.


Where can I turn to get beyond my own kind of response? I must again seek God's thoughts on the matter.


His Word is the best place to go and take on the His calming balm. Someone else compelled to help by guiding and/or reminding the new Christians of his day was the Apostle, Paul.


While imprisoned in Rome for his outspokenness of Christ as Savior, he did not yield and wrote to Christ's followers in Collosae (Asia Minor) reminding them to take hold of their "call in Christ".

Colossians 2:5-10 "I'm a long way off, true, ....but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.

My counsel is simple and straightforward: Go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him, deeply rooted in Him. You're well constructed upon Him, knowing your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. Let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk, wanting to drag you off into endless arguments never amounting to anything, spreading ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. (But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in Him, so you can see and hear him clearly.)

Not needing a telescope, microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without Him. When you come to Him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything."

Re-reading this passage in NIV (and posting it here from THE MESSAGE), it captures some very important guidance for those far away and on their own.


Important comforting words, reminding words, truth-filled words, confirming words. 
Yes, communing in the Fullness of Christ...He is the epitome for each of us (be ye writer or recipient).


Blessings,

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

WORDFUL WEDNESDAY: in awe

JOINING 7-CLOWN CIRCUS today for WORDFUL WEDNESDAY

Why such an achy back hath I today?

Lord, only Your hand can take it away...

so, it is on You I will center my pain

because Your endurance was MUCH MORE than mine.

 You gave it ALL without a complaint nor whine.

 

Jer. 33:3   "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Blessings,

POST-IT NOTE TUESDAY...

Linking up with the PINT group @ ONLY PARENT CHRONICLES  ...COME JOIN US:

To make your own stickies,click HERE...then link up

 PRAYING FOR JAPAN IN THEIR PAIN, SUFFERING AND TRAGEDY.

SIMPLE PLEASURES - making prayer cloths

Joining DAYLE for SIMPLE PLEASURES THURSDAY

IT'S A SIMPLE PLEASURE for me to be able to 'crochet' or 'knit' prayer shawls and prayer cloths for people we encounter needing some prayers, reaching out, or a little gift of comfort.  We love making them, praying over them and especially giving them as the Spirit moves our hearts.

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." 

Blessings,

THRONE TRIP TUESDAY...

How are you greeting Christ today? Susan's post always helps me center into His wants for my day...His love of my life...His love of me...and you.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

His promises; pondering them
His continually 'caring for me', His disciple
"Communion-ing" with Him, in me
His Spirit thriving in my heart
His Spirit interacting with my life
Choosing obedience; fighting off my will
Obeying having been pressed in by the law? no
Gracing me, through His sacrifice
Interceding on my behalf, every day, every hour, every minute, every second
Spiritual tokens twinkling in my pocket...Christ's love & constant presence
Following in gratitude
He's taking pleasure in loving me at His feet
He's resting in loving me, each day as I'm opening my heart door where He's knocking
His home; IN me
Privileged, inherited, eternally grateful
Confining during guidance
Sharing His guidance, so permeating
Faith working by His love
Holy Spirit's new-creating grace; forgiving my unworthy humanness
Being His...opening heart-doors for His entering
Eventual, eternal... Christ-likeness

Amen & Amen

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."Blessings,

PRAYERS OF PRESENCE

REMEMBER:

GOD IS IN CONTROL

For the FULL VERSION, GO HERE

It's worth a REPEAT, I think...

Her following prayer especially stirred...

Father, stir within Your people to pray...not just be upset by the ways of this worldbut to intercede for Your ways, Your will.

God so much we don't understand...so much is distorted by the media by the retelling of stories between people.

Stir up within us a righteous anger toward the evil in this world. Help us to remember we do not battle against the flesh and blood we see..."Put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness,against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Eph. 6

Satan is at work, trying to steal, kill and destroy(John 10:10-11)

Father show each of us what he has stolen from us...peace, joy, love, hope.....so much that is promised us...even in the midst of any trying circumstances, Father, You know us more intimately than we know ourselves..."Search me [thoroughly],O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."Ps. 139

J

esus we need a revival poured out in this country. Your people need awakened. I remember the simple hunger for more of You in the 70's....we couldn't wait for the next time we could gather to hear Your Words...to worship You.

God, please pour Your Spirit out on Your people today. Renew us, revive us, awaken us. Sometimes I think we've become like that frog placed in cold water and the heat was turned up but it didn't realize until it was burned. God don't allow us to wallow in complacency...believing in You, yet without the passionate relationship. Sound the battle cry for this country....Your ways are not ours and the ways of this world are corrupting us and destroying the soul of humanity. God tell us how to pray.

Put a stop to useless new laws,take down politicians not of Your will....raise up a new standard.

true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence, worthy of praise

Cause these things to be our focus....

to lay aside grumblings and complaining...to hit our knees before You

to worship You

to hear Your thoughts

to intercede

May Your standard arise within us!

In Jesus name, AMEN

ONCE we understand His thoughts, his standards, may WE then SPEAK with AUTHORITY and CONVICTION :)...see below:

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
Ps. 42:5

PROJECT 365...WEEK SEVEN

Come see what we had going on this week...CLICK THE ABOVE PIC TO GO TO SARA'S...IN THE MEANTIME, HERE'S some of OUR week:

2/13 brought the most gorgeous blue sky; I just love how it highlights the snow, such an awesome contrast...my front yard river birch

If it weren't for our bench you wouldn't be able to tell there's an island around these trees...I just love seeing the cleanliness the snow makes of the landscape.

What was predicted to be only an inch or so--turned out to be 4 inches confirmed...and NO layer of ice under it. We usually have more ice to deal with in this part of the state.

Below is OUR version of the neighborhood Olympics :)...they were having such fun...

WHILE THE SNOW WAS MELTING I MADE OATMEAL-CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES...YUMMO!

2/12 WAS DOWNRIGHT CHILLY, DD and I had some fun using the 'timer' on the camera and getting some shots Teens always have THE BEST ways to celebrate things...here she wanted to do a picture to send to her friend who knitted the gloves she's wearing! They're adorable fingerless gloves that have a flap that folds over to make them into mittens :)

Before the snow arrived Friday afternoon, I had made a trip to the grocery...to get my milk and bread, of course...that's a local joke here....we NEVER get snowed in enough to REALLY need milk and bread. However, while there I had to turn in a prescription for my allergies...it sure helps me breathe.

Thursday evening one of my buds gave me some buds...(dopey, I know, simple things make me giggle these days)...a very pretty kalanchoe to celebrate another year breathing in His merciful breath of life.

On Tuesday I had my salon appointment to trim my hair...I took some shots but they were SO AWFUL I wasn't about to post any one of them...

As "ARo" is SO GOOD at doing on her blogs...

In summary, I must count my snowy blessings while I have them because they quickly melt away when the temps go up; there is ALWAYS something to praise in and around a storm--the little birdies were still out and about in the snow but I wasn't quick enough to catch them; Times with my DD are fleeting--she'll be off to college in less than 6 months so I am cherishing every moment; Thanks will always be given for grocery stores and pharmacies--providence of such special things; finally, I have some of THE BEST praying mama sisters in the WORLD and thank the Lord for EVERY remembrance of them!

ENJOY WEEK EIGHT OF THE LORD'S PROVIDENCE

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST...seek and find

THIRSTY? delve in His Holy Word, drink in His Living Water

REJECTED? abide in His Peace surpassing all understanding

EXHAUSTED? rest in His loving arms as He speaks through His Word

BOMBARDED? cuddle into the palm of His hands, rest heads on the scars of His providence

SUFFOCATING? breathe in deeply His breath of Life

SURRENDERING? persevere; He'll crown us with eternal life through his love

INACCESSIBLE? open mind and heart; He is our God, we are His people

HOPELESS? look to His new heaven/earth; our eternal, righteous home

DENYING? know the Lord's Words will be accomplished

IGNORING? know, not one of the good promises He gave us has failed

REJECTED? His marked seal is upon us...the promised Holy Spirit

WITHERING? grow on His vine, heirs with Israel, one body sharing Christ's promises

NEGLECTED? let Him renew our 'inner'; He will show on our 'outer'

Blessings,

THANKFUL THURSDAY (heavy-duty or wispy blessings)

SO THANKFUL ... Our 3-yo great niece, Katie, had some minor surgery today for two infected breast-bone wires from her last heart surgery...all went well and no wound vacuum was

needed...just some antibiotics and follow-up checks. Yeah!

Having prayed this little angel through some heavy-duty surgeries and recuperating seasons, I'm re-awakened to the blessings sent our way...

Blessings might not even be seen at all...dismissed as a coincidence of fate, if there were such a thing.

Knowing God hears the prayers of His faithful, I love acknowledging God's hand in our heavy-duty and in our wisps of blessings.

In addition to our Katie-girl's minor surgery, Charlotte also captures her understanding of a blessing...she was awakened to a blessing she didn't envision...on her February 3 post...a thankful one, indeed, for her results...for her doctor.

Her sweet words started me pondering on doctors & illnesses & unexpecteds ...situational and personal.

WHAT UNEXPECTED, WISPY BLESSING HAS GOD GIVEN YOU TODAY?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BLESSED TO PRAY WITH ONE OF YOUR DOCTORS?

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

I borrowed the 'cloudy' Bible tag above from Charlotte...thanks!

Blessings,

THANKFUL THURSDAY #61

WHAT THINGS ARE SPEAKING TO YOU THIS WEEK REGARDING 'THANKFULNESS'?

COME WITH ME...AND ALL THE OTHERS, in JOINING SONYA FOR #61 THANKFUL THURSDAY...

"EVEN THOUGH" :

...IT HURTS LIKE BLUE BLAZES AND FEELS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA POP...IT WAS MAMMOGRAM DAY TODAY,

"Lord: Thank you for providing a way for women to be tested for early breast cancer which helps save lives! (BTW, could you plant seeds in someone's research and development lab to come up with a LEFF PAINFUL SCAN?)"

...THE ROOM WAS VERY WARM AND I WAS HAVING A MAJOR 'PERSONAL TROPICAL VACATION' EARLIER THIS WEEK DURING OUR PRAYER SHAWL MEETING...OUR GATHERING PLACE WAS COZY:

"Lord, thank you for moving the hearts of many women to participate in our church's prayer shawl ministry as their hands create beautiful items to comfort your people in recovery or pain."

...THE CLOUDS WERE DARK AND THEN THE RAIN WAS MAKING TRAFFIC HORRIBLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY THIS MORNING, IT WAS A CHALLENGE TRAVELING 32 MILES TO THE SCANNING CENTER TODAY: "Lord, you provided rain for the birds and plants, and my new azaleas were needing it :)"

...DD HAS TO DRIVE TO ANOTHER CITY TO WORK AT A REHABILITATION CLINIC DD'S 2ND SEMESTER INTERNSHIP HAS BEGUN, "Lord, Thank you for placing her in a place to learn patient care with professionals who are kind and helpful while showing her the ropes."

...THE SEMINAR WE WANTED TO SIGN UP WAS FULL YOUR TIMING IS PERFECT,

"Lord, continue to grow your nurturing in our family's hearts, so we will treasure your creation in each of us...we are nothing without you."

AMEN & AMEN