In the Stillness . . . a challange

As I sat up very early this morning the Lord was trying to calm my spirit because of the excitement of preparing to lead a team and leaving with them for the DR.
I sat and went to the living room and just sat and thought of all the time to be ready for this moment! All I could do was praise HIM! Besides yesterday there really hasn't been any "worry" because this trip has been bathed in prayer since last July 2007! Last year after returning from a two week/ two mission locations God placed it upon my heart to take a team to the DR with the Bernard's'. It was soooo strong that I prayed, prayed and prayed that someone would be led to take our team there. He said in the stillness . . . "Ana, I have been - I placed that hunger in your heart! Now what are you going to do with it?"

Since the 15 July 07 God has brought this Psalm across my reading and thoughts. Led by the Holy Spirit and then challenged in an AWESOME vision."Praise the Lord all you nations, extol him, all you peoples; For Great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 117

From that time until today many changes have taken place in our family! New job locations, responsibilities, relationships, and the blessing of another baby brought into our lives. And finally the hunger to share the gospel . . . with our church body to have God Vision and be led by the HOLY SPIRIT. Where there obstacles? Sure. The DR had many obstacles: cost, distance, "no one will be interested", Who's going to lead? etc., etc., etc., But now 23 people later and after hours of working together with our local bodies of churches, everyone has had a job and done their task diligently - thru God. I love it! All in the stillness. Yes, God IS Good! Even when the stretching of our walk allows us to sit in the stillness and work thru any challenges and see His Hand. He will and does guide our every step. Why not take the challenge and see where he moves You?

A New Heart

In the vastness of the heart condition of the soul which is connected to the heart, why do we try and fill everything else in the hole designed only for the Lord? Often I see sports fanatics willing to pay a very high price with the time, economics, and competitiveness but often not see that same MOVE for the King of Kings. There is nothing wrong with sports in any way shape or form but what is the focus of our lives? Where do we put it into correct perspective. Maybe it isn't sports but one can fill in the blanks with anything.

I was reading this morning in my quiet time and it struck me how much I desire to be like Enoch and Elijah or one of my favorites, Esther. People who had their hearts totally in tune with The Lord. The I AM. I desire that same walk even more today than yesterday! Why? Because they LOVED Him so much. They would perish for the cost of not loosing him. When the accepted the Lord as their Lord their heart strings beat with a Heavenly Beat not and earthly one.

I like how Juanita Bynum put it: "Whatever is programmed in your new heart when God sets it into your chest cavity is the assignment that you will beging to carry out-and that's when you will fulfill your purpose. If you can't find your purpose, the revelation of God is not in your heart. The new heart always reveals new purpose." Read Isaiah 55:7-8,10-11 and see how God IS

I so deperately desire my heart to beat as His. That my heart strings throb with an unending pounding that never ceases. There is so much to be bowing down and giving him my entire heart surrendering to him fully. I desire more than anything to be Holy and set apart like Enoch, Elijah and Esther. That if necessary I will not depart from him because my heart had HIS transplanted 100% and for that I am eternally grateful!

What is your hearbeat really like?

No regrets

In the wonder of the day. Lazy and wish vs Active. The girls and I spent another great day together with a chance to be "rained" out. We took our chances and it was one of the best days together!

So many times we take the lazy way and let it determine our outcome. Not for Faithy and Em! "Come on Mommy, we got to go! You promised (if when you say maybe we can go ____{you fill in the blank} you children think it's an automatic 'promise' :-) ) we could go this week!" They called our local temp to hear that we have a chance for showers. We went and became active participants taking our chances. No lines, no crowded areas, and all the clouds you want - watch out burns those sneaky UV rays. They loved it! I froze in the water, yet loved playing tag with them. It was so great that we actively stayed for 6 hours! Yikes did I get a nice first burn (age does that to me now) but for them to smile, giggle and have another memory made together - priceless no matter how hot my skin feels now.

I could have missed out on their joy! We could have stayed home and they wouldn't have made a day of fun and I would have missed out on an opportunity to enjoy them in the water and laughing and saying over and over and over - THANKS for bringing us Mommy! They spurred us to be active and MOVE today to do something fun together. I Loved this day with Faithy and Emily! I will cherish today knowing they were active in our decision - NO REGRETS for our day today - NONE!

Another day to be thankful for being ALIVE and Active with two wonderful little girls who are growing up way too quickly. Won't you make the best of today and be active in your day?

In the eyes of Emily

"Mommy, do you realize that even with our new baby . . . well . . . we are all family of brothers and sisters in the eyes of God." Emily remined me of a conversation that we had on June 1 this year on our way home from church in Illinois with our extended family. Riding in the car in the backseat between her daddy and me, while Uncle Keith drove and Aunt Tabby sat next to him. She giggled and told us 'adults', "Did you know that really . . . we all are brothers and sisters and we are all loved the same to God!" with a huge grin on her face and glowing at her new discovery. She told us she accepted the Lord into her heart and that she knew she was now our sister and she was ready to talk to her 'Daddy' here on earth so that she could be baptized and be his brother. I smiled down on her and gave her a huge hug June 1st while a tear formed in my eyes and we all 5 laughed together at her frankness and very real reminder of God's Love.

Only today (7-8-08) she made me smile again when she, Faith and I went to the movies and she said, "Mommy, I'll bring some money for us to get treats so you don't have to this time." Emily ran very quickly to the back room where her piggy bank/jar was and brought all of her 'change' and reassured us she had us all covered. When we ordered our goodies Emily quickly handed over all her money and said, "I got it Mommy" and handed me all her loose change of $2.49 I could only smile and tell her Thank You for her generous giving. She smiled as we left to take our seats, carry our goodies for "everyone (3)" to our theater pleased she could give and provide refreshments for us.

Emily gave all she could and was so thrilled to give us pleasure in the simple thing thru her LOVE to provide. She loved us and desired to make our moment pleasureable. I loved today with her and Faith. We gave food for the hungry to see the movie and Emily gave us refreshment from her heart. She smiled and hugged and for a moment in her life she was the provider the ultimate giver of simple joy.

Have I given lately like Emily. Maybe more of us should live like Emily . . . with all she has. I often tell this precious little one, "Emily, when I grow up . . . I desire to be just LIKE YOU!!!!"

The Wonders of Him

Last week I was in Michigan were I was teaching, but mostly learning about the Holy Spirit and true authentic discipleship! That was amazing! In the grandure of everything, I was at Lake Michigan where the Beach was absolutely wonderful!!! I had some of the BEST conversations with two very Godly young ladies that were the other sponsors of our trip! MOVE!
Are you MOVING? I know I was truly challanged to MOVE once again with my walk with the Holy Spirit in a way that probed my heart to listen from the depths of my soul! He - the Holy Spirit was AMAZING!
The last time I participated in the ministry outreach was TEN years ago when Mya and Tia were 6 and 4. This time it was with my children being MOVED! That is AMAZING to see your children respond to HIM where you can NEVER touch them! It was a wonderful experience for all three of us, but I was touched in a way that is beyond words when you see the Spirit working with your children! Absolutely breath taking!
When was the last time you were truly MOVED by the Holy Spirits guiding and not you trying to guide HIM? When? Why? How? Where? Are you LISTENING?