Friday, September 28, 2007

God's Word to whom it may concern...

Joshua 5:13 +

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy. " And Joshua did so.

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days...

(Joshua obeyed)

But Joshua had commended the people, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!" ...

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in teh same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spare, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble upon it..."

(And so it was done just as God had promised)...

So the Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread throughout the land.

_______________________

Sometimes in a battle, to be silent is wisdom (as it says in the proverbs). Sometimes God requires that we take a stand...for Him, for what is pure, true, holy, righteous. It's ared to tell when to do what, but now God is telling me to rise up! I'm scared. Not so much for me or what God requires of me, but I'm scared for those on whom God's judgement rests. As we pray for revival on our personal level, God is drawing us to call out for revival on a much begger level. If I have to die to be a catalyst for this then so be it. I'm yours God. Use me as you see fit!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Catchin' Up






This post is a catch up post. Thank goodness those "hot" dog days of summer are on their way out (even though it was 91 degrees today and yesterday). Even so, here are some pics from a really hot, stay-in-your-pajamas-all-day, picnic that Cuz and M had indoors! It was Nickelodeon, french fries, corn dogs, corn, and who even remembers what else. It was an abandon most of the rules day and just have fun! They had a little dance party too with Yo Gabba Gabba (even mom can get into this). These Are the Days...to Remember!

It's a desk too!



Remember this?! Well, my 2.00 purchase is not only a high chair and rocking horse, but a desk as well. I may have mentioned that one of my readers commented that she has the same one and tipped me off to the desk portion, or I may never have put it to good use. It makes a very useful tv dinner position (on the occasions that we actually do that). Good for containing crayon and craft messes too.

Picture Post

I finally got the pics off of my phone. It's so convenient since I don't always have a camera when I need one the most. Enjoy!




Good Idea Mommy

We are playing clean the pantry and/or clean the freezer. So we broke out the popsicles that were almost forgotten.


M has a thing about not liking cold foods too much, but she has recently figured out that ice cream is really good once you get past the fact that it's cold. So, out came the popsicles.
I let her pick the color (pink of course!) I took yellow since there seemed to be an overabundance of them. I fished her gloves out of the sock bin and she was a happy girl! The gloves helped alot.

My Latest Shpiel

O.K. Since this is a "family friendly, " G rated posting, I have to be care what words and such I use so as to not attract unwanted visitors. Hubs and I have been visiting a new church start where it just so happens that they started a new series called Undercover the first week we visited.

It was so great that first week that I told J that I needed to go back and hear more. Now the S to the E to the X is something that all married couples ought to be dealing with on a regular basis and it is extremely important, but in most Christian circles it is still swept under the covers (hence the series name). I'm not saying that this guy is the best preacher that I've ever heard...actually he is raw and real and human, and that actually makes me like him more. The way he biblically and humorously addresses such an important and everpresent topic speaks right to me.

Hey, I'm just being honest, but after nearly 6 years of marriage, one child and two enormous life changes (Katrina and the unspeakable one I'm currently in the middle of), the "S" word is barely in my vocabulary much less marriage...And that's just sad. The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy, but Christ came so that we could have life! And get this...even more ABUNDANT life. I'd say "being married" (catch me on that one) is part of that abundant life. He gave us so many blessings, why this....ABUNDANCE!

So, if you have been around me lately and you are of the female persuasion, you've already heard my reminders and such about being there fro your man...If not, or even still, go to the website and click on the two most recent "sermons" in the new series Undercover.

(Anyone else notice I'm terrible at using quotation marks? Yeah. O.K. Anyone else notice I've given you ample opportunity to link to these "sermons")

Seriously, as a married person I can not stress to you how important being reminded about this "stuff" is. I said to Hubs that people pay good money to go to counseling for this stuff and he is just telling it like it is.

Go Here. And revive your marriage.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

M Antics!

What can I say?! I love my family! And M keeps us rolling! What personality! I wonder where she gets it? Today there were many funnies, but the ones I'm posting are these.

First, when I picked her up from "school" her teachers asked me what it was that she was saying all day about her best friend? "Nigua?" "Negro?" (to these I'm think 'good heavens!' and get a little anxious). No you preschool teachers, It's Uniqua the backyardigan!


This animal? monstrosity was adopted near the end of August. M is pretty good about playing with things in the store and then saying her goodbyes and leaving the toy on the shelf. Uniqua was a different story. She spotted this creature as big as she and the excitement was expressed in whisper tones of great awe and wonderment. So Uniqua was invited to ride along in the shopping cart as we did our further shopping. As the trip progressed, it was obvious to Hubs and me that Uniqua was here to stay. M was holding long, meaningful conversations with her. She called her by name and said that she was her best friend. So we put things back on the shelf, so that "Niqua," M's nickname for Uniqua, could come home with us. To our pleasant surprise Uniqua was half price that day as well.

Now, M rarely sleeps without her and misses her when they are separated during school. I do think it is a tad sad for a little girl to claim a mere stuffed toy as her BFF, but since she doesn't actually grasp the BFF concept, I'll relax about it for now.

I will say that when M pronounces her name in that sweet little voice it does sound like a slightly offensive term. What can I do? That is her name and to see the child's love and excitement for her erases any awkwardness.


Next I guess M got cold, cause she figured out this little get up and continually recreated it all afternoon. She used one blankie as her "hat" and one to "wrap me up." Gotta get a pic of that!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Mom to Mom

Whew! Thank God for Mom to Mom. I mean that in it's literal sense. Us women need eachother. Us Christians need eachother. That's the way that God designed us. Today was our 1st real gathering since last week was sort of just introductory. Man, I've missed it. And the girls! Even more than the revival bible study I'm doing I have begun to be convicted by God through this study.

Today we talked about parenting expectations and myths. God hit me between the eyes with the reminder not to overschedule my family...me and/or M. Now how can you over schedule a 2 year old?! Oh, I don't know...maybe Monday is play with Cuz day, Tuesday is school, Wednesday is Mom to Mom, eating out, play with Cuz, eat at church, choir, Thursday is school, Friday is school! And to think that I was jealous that M wasn't going to be able to be in ballet class!

I don't know if I like her being in school 3 days a week, but I have to admit that she really thrives in school. I'm contemplating taking her out of one of the days. I've also contemplating changing my bible study commitments. I love them all, definitely, but monday night is bible study with the gals from Sunday School, wednesday is mom to mom, choir, sunday is church, sunday school, small group. whew! I can't stand being churched to death...but it is a choice. So, I'm having to choose. What is best for my family is priority.

So, please pray for me as I try to reorganize and reschedule this family to God's glory. Believe it or not, I doubt if God is oh so pleased when we give ourselves away to bible study and church.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Revival

So, I'm in this bible study...Seeking Him. It's a bunch of gals about my age and such and we are praying for individual revival. This is really scary and I knew it was, but I had no idea. The wiles are already at work. A gal who had done this study before said to get ready cause in order for us to be ready to receive the revival work that God is obviously working all around us, we have to ready our hearts....like preparing the soil for a harvest. 6 weeks of toiling, and tilling and breaking up the fallow ground! This is painful! It's terribly uncomfortable! I wanna go back to bed and wake up when God is finished, but it doesn't work like that. Unfortunately.

After all that went on in Katrina and the experience that it was, the last thing I need or want is to lose a sense of stability and footing, and yet that is where I am...stepping away from what's comfortable and has gotten me through a very rough time in my life. I accepted the challenge from God this a.m. with great reluctance, looking forward to what will be more of an end result (thought there's never really an end with this growing in Christ stuff), and dreading the process!

He is not holding back. This has been one of the worst days I've had in nearly a year! For reasons I can not say, and many unknown to me, things are kind of turned on their side and I'm in a place of waiting, kind of stuckness. I'd rather be moving forward, but things in life are on hold again. Ugh. So I wait. And I pray. And I ask you to pray too...for me and my family and our emotional and spiritual health. I'm still clinging to God's truth's in his word, but I want to be angry and I want to rebel. Keep praying please.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Blog Funk

So I guess either I'm just too busy or to say it in a more positive way, my life is too full right now to find time for blogging OR I'm just in a blogging funk right now. At any rate, I have found a blog (or two) far more worth your time at this point. PLEASE look into my dear friends Jamie and Aaron Ivey and their blogs as they are beginning their first international adoption. My heart goes out to them as do my prayers and money! In so many ways I'd love to be in their shoes, but I do know that God has His time and His plan. Join so many of us as we act as the community that surrounds them and aids them in raising and creating their family. As it should be with and in the body of Christ! See latest pics of their future son, Dowensky from Haiti.