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,

Mosaic Monday...WAREHOUSE WHOLLY!

Joining MARY @ LITTLE RED HOUSE...

CLICK ON THE COLLAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW...

A collage of our new YOUTH SPACE in Gibson Wing...
can you guess we're 'a little' excited'!!!!!

DON'T FORGET: Go SEE all the other mosaics too!

"Give thanks in ALL circumstances..."
Yes, we give thanks...
we are eager to see

WHO ALL God touches through His blessing...
in this place,
in their hearts while in this place,
in the world as they go out from this place!

May it ALL be to your Glory, Jesus!

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you

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

MONDAY MOSAIC & KATIE UPDATE

First, an Update: A Good Weekend

Katie had a good weekend

--started sitting up in her stroller

--talking a lot

--starting to act like her sweet baby girl self again.

She has even told some of the nurses, “See you again,” instead of, “Lady go bye-bye.”

--The doctors believe they have her infection under control. (PRAISE!)

white blood cell count and CRP

(which measure the body's fighting infection and inflammation) are back to their normal levels. (PRAISE!)

--continuING IV antibiotic

--Her body is healing the wound from the inside out (it’s getting smaller) and there is just healthy tissue growing – no visible sight of INFECTION.

On a cute note: Katie's calling Mommy & Daddy by their first names...when she wants her way... she recently said, “I love James” not, “I love Daddy,” but specified James.

It just melted daddy’s heart.

NOW FOR THE MONDAY MOSAIC, JOINING LITLE RED HOUSE:

WE ENJOYED A GREAT CLOSEOUT TO OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM...THEY START SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.

WE SO LOVE SPENDING TIME AT OUR CAMPGROUND--IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE WE SPEND OUR LAST SUMMER PROGRAM OUT IN THE WOODS ON HOLY GROUND...EATING, SINGING, PRAISING, AND HEARING HIS GOOD WORD TO TAKE US INTO THE NEW YEAR!

THIS SUMMER HAS FLOWN (click on the pic for a LARGER view):

DID YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIAL OVER THE WEEKEND?

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

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

P.S. Great GIVEAWAY HERE @ BELLA VISTA, go check it out :)

PROJECT 365 & iSing'09

Continuing Project 365 with Sara

Earlier this week

we enjoyed our yearly chorus show...

it was actually Saturday night, 5/9/09, but close enough.

I've been busy with "senior stuff" this week and hadn't had a chance to post it.

(kidding around between numbers)

and dd sang in a trio!

:)

they sang "ONLY HOPE"...

they hit all their hard

harmony sections, woo hoo!!!

I'm so eager to see and hear

the DVD that was professionally recorded.

She also sand/danced during the "junior/senior combined" numbers...

needless to say...they ENJOYED it and so did WE!

sorry the quality isn't so great...

let me know if you can see them...especially those who are friends of the family and don't usually leave me a message ;)

WORDLESS WED, 5MINs4MOM Giv'away & 30x5Challengettes

FOR MORE WORDLESS WEDNESDAY, CLICK ON THE PICTURE
"KINDA Wordless Wednesday"
Any guesses what I'm doing ALL day today??
Look what I found in DD's closet...hhhhhhhmmmmm.

L: LITTLE ladies springing up overnight, becoming young ladies
A: ALWAYS seeking the best fit
U: UBER-excited planning a look
N: NOW understanding classic over cute
D: DRESSING quickly for school
R: RUMMAGING through hangers
Y: YES,no…Hang it back up? maybe.


HELPING CELEBRATE MOMS...CLICK ON THE PICTURE :)

AND...

For my "30x5" Challengettes...
click on the following for 5 Shortcuts to Sculpt Your Body Fast

Posted using ShareThis

JESUS-JUMPING JOY & MY 200TH BLOG!!

What says SPRING to you?
I'm participating in WriteFromKaren 's picture challenge...posting a picture representing SPRING...
GO CHECK OUT THE OTHER PICTURES AND VOTE FOR MY PICTURE WHILE YOU'RE THERE!! Voting begins April 18th at 5:00 p.m. U.S. central. time. Voting ends April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. U.S. central time.
(You can join in, too, by following the link)


My "spring" picture below reminds me of the JOY I find each Spring when I'm blessed to be a youth counselor at our spring-break youth retreat at the beach.

During planning, praying, skit writing, studying curriculum and buying agape gifts for our cabin mates and small groups, we immerse ourselves in the teen mindset, striving to become part of their world to reach their inner ears, their inner hearts with the love of Christ.
Sometimes throughout the weekend, we're invited to participate in a game or activity we "older ones" aren't too sure we'll be able to finish or accomplish.

My challenge came while taking pictures on the beach. I had easily caught multiple shots of these young, energetic, fit and thin teens jumping for the clouds (some got at least four feet high, hands and feet extending with hair exploding wildly away from their heads!)

How could I say no once the gauntlet was thrown--one of the girls wanted to see OUR jumps. (I realize this looks totally ridiculous...an older, larger lady jumping on the beach. But, I COULD that day, rather I DID that day, and God-willing I will jump again another day!) Another day to possibly embarrass my daughter in another way she never expects (when I do something unexpected, she tilts her head while rolling her eyes, leans in to her friend and moans, 'welcome to my world!').

My goal was not to embarrass but to PARTICIPATE and show I was very happy to be there and be able. There was something very "freeing" when I allowed myself to jump...letting go of inhibitions of dd's reputation and mine, letting go of "they're gonna think I look stupid"...allowing myself to "feel like a kid" for a brief second as I hurled "my all" up in the air.

Being in my "year of jubilee" makes it harder than ever to get up my gumption to do something this daring...I could fall over and break something, step wrong and pull something, or fall backwards into the freezing water and bring up half the sand in my shorts!


I'm glad I didn't listen to my head that day and decided to follow my heart...it was FUN...and it makes me LAUGH when I look at the picture...and I didn't fall or get wet!

May I carry this "Jesus-jumping joy" throughout the remainder of my year, appreciating where I am, what I have, who I have in my life and how His grace covers my human sin for all time! ... now that's something to JUMP about!



So, now I'm gonna use this as a "jumpin' off spot"...jumping into my first-ever give-away!

Have you celebrated your 200th blog?? I enjoy seeing how different people commemorate this point in time. I've enjoyed writing and sharing on my 200 blogs...some written quickly, some written after pondering for days. I've also enjoyed getting to meet many other believers as we share across the web.

So to give something He has given us...
something reliable,
easily accessible,
and applicable to every situation...
God's promises came to mind.






GIVEAWAY:
pocket-sized BIBLE PROMISES FOR YOU (Zondervan's, NIV).
Name 'em and claim 'em...His promises NEVER fail. Leave me a comment between now and Friday, 4/17, to be in the random drawing. (and don't forget to also go vote for my picture @ WriteFromKaren)

2 Peter 1:4 "...given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...."

SAFELY HOME...HAPPY EASTER!

TO SAY WE HAD A GOOD TIME IS AN UNDER-STATEMENT.



I'LL BE BACK MONDAY WITH MY 200TH BLOG AND A GIVE-AWAY!

PRAYING FOR A BLESSED WEEKEND...

HAPPY EASTER...

CHRIST IS RISEN...

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!

Ephesians 6:13-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything,

to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

PHRIDAY PHOTO-PHINISH PHIESTA...& PRAYER REQUEST

Thanks to Carrie for hosting ...

EXTENDING A PRAYER REQUEST...

...SPRING BREAK'S UP-COMING RETREAT

...150 HIGH SCHOOLERS

...ENERGY, ENDURE, ENJOY

...EXCITEMENT IN EVERY MOMENT

...EARS HEARING NEEDS OF PRECIOUS GROWING SPIRITS

...EYES RESEMBLING EAGLES, SAFETY

...EMBRACING ARMS, COMPASSIONATELY AND LOVINGLY

ALL FOR HIS GLORY! !

(COLLAGE FROM '08 )

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FROM A YOUTH RETREAT?

Psalm 69:33-35
The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them!

"Stage Presence" & ABCs of the Word...

ABCs of the Word is being hosted by:

http://greylikesnuffie.blogspot.com/2009/03/abcs-of-wordg.html. Go check out more scriptures...

Last night I heard ADAM LAMBERT

Did you get a chance to hear his rendition of "The Tracks of My Tears" on American Idol last night? I remember the original version written and sung by Smokey Robinson ...we'll not mention just how long ago that was, ok? "Outside I'm masquerading/Inside, my hope is fading"...wafting through the airwaves falling softly on my ears...in a whole new way...his re-make gave this song a "new life".

Were you as surprised as I was by this performance and appearance tonight?! ... Previously, he has mainly shown his "rockin' " prowess, edgy hairstyle and black-painted fingernails.

You know, when looking at his previous Idol pics, Adam and I share the same haircut...it looks better on him!

...and I don't paint my nails black... and goodness knows I don't have the same singing talent.

Last night I was 12 again...kinda swooning-- the way I once did when Donny or David Cassidy would sing their solos!

His stunning ability to "morph" into his songs and their genre is breath-taking...

I felt like I was looking at an entirely different person...WOW!

One word is too small to convey this young man's GOD-given ABILITY to CANTILLATE, CROON, or ROCK OUT. Whatever word you use, it's apparent he's worked hard and fine-tuned an "AMAZING" gift... in his voice & stage presence...

In whatever language you prefer: sorprendente / italian; einmalig / german;asombroso/spanish; or 깜짝 놀라게 하기 / korean...God has given him an AMAZING talent !

Each of us can often change, too...like shifting shadows. We can manipulate our appearances, our demeanor, our commitment levels even.

Unfortunately there are manipulations, deceptions all around us....especially on television...fooling the world.

But, our Lord does not change...does not shift...He is the rock, He is steady, He is creator, provider of every good and fruitful thing!

He knows our "real" hearts, our "true" intentions, and recognizes us even when we think we've "fooled the world".

Lord, Help us each recognize what You do in our lives;

Give us Your steadfastness to do Our Father's Will.

Give us the "stage presence" to stand up for Your truth as we "take each curtain call"...

seeking Your face in everything we do...

using our Hands and Feet to praise You and work for God's kingdom!

Amen & Amen...Let it be so!!

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

In Christ ALL things are NEW!

How often do you pray for your children, by name, with scripture?
I know I get caught up in the busy-ness of the day and don't lift my child's name as I should. However, the older my daughter's becoming I have moments of fear encompass my thoughts, making me breathe faster. Things in the world that are riskier...driving, dating, socializing with young adults whose parents I DON"T KNOW, going off to college, making decisions out in the world without being under our roof, and so forth.

This is when I MUST rely on God's Word and His Promises to hold me up, hold her up while facing each day's newness. Fear is not in the Lord--We are to be anxious in nothing but lift our concerns to Him for the peace that passes all understanding.

Psalm 34:4I ...sought the LORD, he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 112:7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Philippians 4:6 ...be anxious about nothing,...in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

From liftinghands.blogspot.com (you'll see a new link in my border). Would you join us today in saying this prayer over your child, by name?

I pray that my child(ren) will not inherit any sin traits from his/her earthly family, but will "inherit the kingdom prepared for him/her from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

Thank You, Jesus, that in You the old has passed away and all things are new.

What changes has He brought about in your life after you've asked for His protection in your kids' lives?

THEN SINGS MY SOUL SATURDAYS....

Very often during our weekly accountability group meetings either before, during or after our prayers, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Chris Tomlin's song, We Fall Down--

We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of Mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy

And we cry holy, holy, holy

And we cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb.

And we cry holy, holy, holy

And we cry holy, holy, holy

And we cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

I first learned this song when I went to Emmaus, and then really learned to worship with it through our youth group...watching teens praise and sing to Jesus with this song is overwhelming and beautiful.


The promise of Heaven always comforts me in ways I can't explain, especially when we've come together in prayer and in His presence...His holiness, loving us, hearing us; he is worthy yet we are not worthy to be there-- but,....He cleansed us AS WORTHY by His death, for US! He was love and knew love would win out.


What a blessing He has given us through the inheritance!

I once heard Dr. Dobson on a broadcast explaining a future appointment he wanted to make with his son...he was explaining that one day he/Dr. Dobson, would die. He told Ryan about death and eternity...and the importance of making a decision to follow Jesus so he could "keep the appointment with him/Dr. Dobson and Jesus"...wanting Ryan to meet him on the other side of the East Gate.

Thinking of that day just beyond the East Gate, beginning the never-ending praising...seeing His face yet bowing, laying crowns before Him for eternity-- goes beyond what my mind can comprehend. Every knee bowing, every tongue confessing the name of Jesus! It puts a spark in me like no other.

p.s. Dear Daddy, Granny, Thomas and Jesus: be at that gate--cause we've got an appointment!

Revelation 4:9-11

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

\0/ ELEVATION EXPRESSED \0/

ELEVATION EXPRESSED

Succeeded Brent, New
Learned names, Teens’ hearts opened
Building trust, devoted

Prayershare, Explosion
Togetherness in God’s Word, fellowship
Many homes hosted, always stood on chairs

December Third, his B’day
Calls galore, brownies, Peeps, Krystal, Starbuck's
Shared his day

Prepared weekly lessons, staff meetings
Bounced ideas, Nooma videos inspired
Mentor, guide, Pastor D

Collins Hill, Central, Mill Creek
Peachtree Ridge, GAC, Providence, Brookwood, too!
Lunch visits, high fives, big hugs

New worship service, then came Equate
Loving ALL teens, Christ’s compassion
Built Christ’s vision

January, betrothed here
"R", heart’s desire, soul mate
Whose name inspires smiles.

Gobbler, Super Bowl
Family Life Center, waiting tables, inflatable bouncing
Served plates, welcomed visitors

Laguna, Spiritual refuge
Love sheets, praised with “Less”
Bus caravan, unshackled souls slumbered

LAP, service
Lawrenceville neighbors saw God’s hands
TB, June 20, now experiencing Glory

Campground Tuesdays--Joy Class ruled
Thursdays-- skits, non-stop laughter
Fridays, tear-stained altars

AndEr, MerBen
AdCour, ErBlon, KathPet, helpmates
Honoring Jesus

In our hearts, forever!
To Mt. Bethel (NOT), our one-and-only, AlWhit
Still teaching, “It’s still about Christ and His teens”!

Written 3/22/08 (SuKirk)

Tweaked 4/20/08 "Welcome Back!"