On Birthdays and Birthday Gifts

Today my little girl is nine years old! And as I woke up and said good morning to her, I couldn't help but think about how awesome God is, and how I see that every day in my daughter.

It's truly amazing to look at the world through the eyes of a child.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:11

Even better, is viewing God through the eyes of a child. Especially my children. They are growing so much in the Lord these days, that it's just remarkable to see. I love reading these words that Jesus said when I think about my children, because it reminds me that God loves me even more than I love my children- and that says an awful lot. It also reminds me to read the verses just before these ones.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9,10

As the days and weeks have led up to Abigail's birthday, she's had the list in mind. And every once in a while, she would tell Andy or I a few of the things on her list. And as her parents, and knowing how much joy the things on her birthday list will bring to her, we've done our best to come up with a few of the things on her list. Or, in the case of a few of them, we've taken the liberty to pick up something better- something she won't expect. Why do we do that? Because we love our daughter, and we want to make her happy by giving her the desires of her heart. For a child, these desires often come in the form of playthings and toys, and we're perfectly happy to acquiesce when we can.

Is it not the same with God and His children? Really. Doesn't God want His children to be happy and have the desires of their heart? I really think that it is just that simple. I think sometimes we just don't think to ask God for something because we think it makes us selfish... but I just don't think it's wrong to desire something that we think will bring us joy. God wants us to be happy, He wants us to experience joy each and every day, and it's not wrong to have things and stuff that bring us joy- as long as we remember who really gave us those things, and as long as we don't place those things on a pedestal and let them take the place of God.

And just as with kids, sometimes we maybe ask God for things that we don't know we don't really want. I find with my kids, sometimes they ask for toys that are really not as neat as they think- or they ask for something that I know they won't really like so much in a few days. As well as I know my kids, God knows us even better. So sometimes, when God says no, it's because He does know better. He knows that even though we desire that thing right now, in a few weeks, the newness will wear off and that thing will just sit unused and unwanted.

God loves His children so much more than I could ever love my own children. And that's remarkable. God is awesome today! And every day! But this morning as I watch my little lady blossom before my very eyes, it seems to take on an extra special meaning today.

Warfare Wednesday: Afghanistan

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

This week, as we continue to pray for President Obama, it seems fitting that we should include prayers for the country of Afghanistan. Tomorrow, the citizens of Afghanistan head to the polls to elect a president- and in the recent weeks, fighting in the country has picked up quite a bit. The attacks by the Taliban are an attempt to keep people from going to the polls to work, and it's a tactic that may very well work. The Afghan government is so concerned about voter turnout, that they're asking the media in the country to stop reporting about violence for several hours- in an effort to get people to leave their homes and cast their all-important votes.

We need to pray for continued diligence and wisdom for the American soldiers that are on Afghanistan soil- as well as abundant protection. The US presence there is not a waste- it is important and vital to helping the Afghanistan people defeat the Taliban, who seeks to rule with a horrendous iron fist.

I was just reading an article the other day about schools in Afghanistan. It's only been a few years now that girls have been allowed to go to school in Afghanistan, yet they still need to adhere to the country's ideals that the girls and boys should be separate. So the boys go to more traditional schools, and the girls get the leftovers. The girls get to go to schools in roughly assembled tents. They are squeezed in, because so many girls want to go to school- and finding Afghan women to teach all these girls is also presenting a challenge. At the same time, every time these girls go to school, they are putting their very lives in danger, as they are frequent targets for Taliban attacks. Can you imagine wanting to get an education so badly that each and every day you're willing to put your life on the line for it?

God loves the Afghan people. I pray that He changes the hearts of those preparing attacks for election day. I pray that he gives the citizens courage to step out and vote, and that He protects them as they go along their way. I pray that a peace will spread through the country, and that the people will be able to celebrate the freedom of voting for their president. I also pray that God will give President Obama continued wisdom when dealing with Afghanistan.

God Has Plans For Us

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Over the last week, this Bible verse keeps coming up over and over again. It has come up in church services, books I've been reading, and even websites I've pulled up. I almost feel as though God's trying to drive it in big time, reminding me that no matter what, He knows what's coming next. Every time I see this verse, I read it, then I read it again, slowly. And in my mind, I picture a man speaking these words to me, and it has such a calming effect on me. It makes me smile.

Just think about it. We spend so much of this life planning for the future. When we are young, we go to school and learn, learn, learn so that we can go to college. Then, when we are in college we are learning some more so that we can get a career. Once we get into the work force it's usually a series of jobs, a progression into better and better positions, and the whole time we're working,we're setting money aside, preparing for marriage, kids, home buying, and eventually retirement. Whew! And then (lucky us) we get to start the process all over again by having children, and needing to have them prepared for each stage of life. It's a crazy cycle, and so many times, I think we get so focused on the future, so focused on the planning ahead that we forget that we don't have to drive ourselves crazy with all this planning. Sure, proper planning is important, but it doesn't have to be so focused- it doesn't have to drive everything we do!

Instead, we can rest and relax some, knowing that God is in charge. It is such a comfort to know that especially when our plans don't turn out as we expect. As I continue to read this verse though, my favorite part happens to be the part where it says that God's plans are not to harm us, but rather, to PROSPER us. Just for giggles, I looked up the word prosper in the dictionary, and it says that prosper means "to succeed in an enterprise or activity, especially :to achieve economic success." Or, "to become strong and flourishing". As I read those definitions, it doesn't say anything about floundering first. It simply says to succeed or become strong. It doesn't say "after much trial and error, then you succeed or become strong".

God's plans are to prosper us, give us hope, and give us a future. I love reading that over and over, because the more I read it, the more I say it to myself, the more it builds up my faith for the future. The more I hear this "God Voice" saying that He has plans for prosperity, the more I actually believe what it is saying to me! And I do believe it! I believe wholeheartedly that God has plans to prosper us, because if he didn't, he wouldn't place all these desires in us to give that prosperity away. There are so many ministries that we would love to support, people who we would love to bless with a little something, and charities who are near and dear to our hearts- but first we need the prosperity to do so.

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." 1 Chronicles 28:9

God knows the desires of our hearts, and He also knows what the future holds for us. Just thinking on that, just dwelling on those different verses fills me with all sorts of joy, and it makes me want to run around and tell everyone that God has great plans for us! The best part of all this is that those verses in the Bible are not just meant for me! They are meant for all of His children! I believe that the time is coming when it is no longer going to be the Christians who are poor and struggling. Instead, we as Christians are going to be favored and prospered, and we are going to be able to help those who need it- and also be able to show them the love of Christ while we help them.

We are in for an exciting ride, and the devil would love it if I would just sit here and dwell on the past, and dwell on the present, and dwell on the potential bad that the future might hold. Instead, every time I start thinking in a negative light, I think about God telling me "I know the plans I have for you." And all those negative thoughts just fly out the window. I'm looking forward to seeing what God's plans are.

How To Get More Out Of Worship

"Your procession has come into view, O God,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.

²⁵ In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the maidens playing tambourines.

²⁶ Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel." Psalm 68:24-26

"These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there." 1 Chronicles 6:31

I've been debating doing this post for a very long time. Every time I think about doing it, something else comes up, or I get caught up in knowing exactly the right words to say what it is in my heart to say. I still doubt I have the right words, but I've decided that I'm just going to go for it, because I think there are so many misconceptions about having a "good worship experience". I know we all know what I'm talking about, do any of these comments seem familiar?

"It just seemed the worship team had a hard time getting into it this morning."

" Boy, that worship leader was really on this morning!"

"I just didn't feel like worshiping today."

I have learned something about the worship experience over the last several months, and that is that corporate worship- the act of gathering and worshiping together cannot possibly be a solo activity. There is no one person responsible for making or breaking the worship, every person present can affect the direction a worship service will take. But before I talk about the group dynamic, let's talk a little about the individual components.

First, there's the worship team. This team is whatever group of musicians and singers your body has in place for worship. Sometimes it's simply a keyboardist and a singer. Sometimes it's just one person, sometimes it's a full out band, sometimes it's even a lone singer and a CD background. These are all valid "worship teams", and really should be regarded as such. As worship team members, we are considered the front lines- and think about the task the worship team has in front of them. In most services, worship leads off the service. So it's the worship teams job to take the congregations thoughts and minds off their problems, outside lives and plans after service, and turn those minds towards God and praising and worshiping Him. In order to lead a whole group of people into a state of worship, the worship team itself has to be able to focus on God first. Sometimes this can be so hard! There can be a major distraction going on in that person's life, or you can simply be suffering from a lack of sleep the night before. But when the moment comes, when the appointed time of worship arrives, it's amazing how a simple "Praise Jesus" under your breath can totally clear your mind of distraction and bring God to the forefront.

Then there is the congregation, which, while you may think that they are separate from the worship team, really aren't. The congregation, whether they know it or not are also part of the worship team. The group of people making the music may be leading the whole group into the act of worship, but it's the congregation who makes up the bulk of the worship team. How about that? Did you know that you were part of the worship team? And I have to tell you, while the musicians and the singers love being on the worship team, many times, they wish they could just be a part of the congregational worship team, because worship is even sweeter when you are not focused on a sheet of music.

But how does this all help a person "get more" out of worship? We've already established that each person has a role on the worship team-whether they are an active musician or the congregation, but did you know that these two groups of people have a huge impact on each other? Let's give an example. Let's say our worship leader has had a long week at work and is just simply tired, they haven't been sleeping well, and getting through Sunday morning service is going to be a trial. But they prepare themselves, step on stage to lead, welcome everyone, smile, say a little prayer perhaps, and then the music fires up. They start singing, and the music and the praise to God erases the rough week, and with eyes closed, they begin to worship God with all their heart. But then they open their eyes, and they see the congregation talking amongst each other, sitting with their arms crossed, or otherwise being distracted. Maybe there's some people singing along, but that's all they are doing is singing along, not full out worshiping. The worship leader then can become distracted, wondering if they're doing something wrong, and just like that the worship is broken and seems to just drag along the rest of the morning.

Here is another scenario. We have the same tired worship leader. This time, they start praising God with a smile on their face, eyes towards heaven, ready to spend some time praising and worshiping God. This time though, when they look at the crowd, they see praise and worship in full. They see smiles, they see hands lifted towards heaven, praising God. And the worship leader feels encouraged, they feel bolstered and fires off into one of those memorable worship services.

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2

"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1

"I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good." Psalm 54:6

When I, as a congregation member, walk into church with an attitude of "I don't really want to be here", my attitude can totally affect how the rest of the service is going to go- both for myself, and for those around me! The worship team as a whole, including the congregation, feeds off of each other, and subsequently can build up the atmosphere of worship when everyone participates fully. So do you want to get more out of worship? Participate! When I am on the worship team, and I am up front, seeing the congregation, nothing boosts my spirit more than seeing response from the crowd. And then, because I have just seen the smiles and the joy on that one persons face, I become even more worshipful, and then someone else sees how I've become more worshipful, and they become more worshipful, and then someone else sees that person, and it just goes back and forth and on and on! The real key to getting more out of worship is to check life at the door and come into church ready to spend some time with God.

Because really, with all that is going on in the outside world, wouldn't it be such a blessing if you could just set it aside for a few hours? Dwelling on your problems and issues isn't going to change them, but dwelling on God and focusing on God may very well give you the answers you need to take care of that problem head-on when you walk out the church doors.

"But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered]." Psalm 22:3 (AMP)

If God dwells in the praises of His people, it seems to me that we should all want to be there. So I have a challenge for everyone this morning. The next time you find yourself in a worship service, try going full out. Try worshiping and praising God with all your heart, no matter what is going on outside the church walls.

In fact, because we know that God inhabits the praises of his people, the next time you find yourself in a time of crisis, try putting on some worship music and praising God. Grab a worship CD- or if you don't have any, fire up the Internet and check out some worship music on Youtube- there's tons of it available. We've started doing that in our household. Several times over the last few months we've been in a situation that, quite frankly, bit the big one. What I found was that as I stewed and mulled over the yucky situation, I was feeling worse and worse as the day went on. Thank God for worship CDS! Both times, I made my way to the CD player and filled the house with praise. Before long I was singing along, the kids were dancing, and we were celebrating the joy of the Lord instead of dwelling on an enemy attack. And you know what? We still had situations to deal with, but instead of dwelling on the negative, I became focused on God, and before anything had been done, I was able to thank God for getting us through the situations at hand, and I actually found myself looking forward to seeing how the situations would resolve.

Praise indeed, can be a soothing balm to any situation. And whether you are at church in a corporate situation, or at home alone in your living room, I strongly suggest that when times get tough, you give praise and joy a try. After all, what have you really got to lose?

"Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

² Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed." Psalm 103:1-6

For Us, With Us, AND In Us

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

If we have God in all aspects of our lives, how can we ever lose? Truly, if we have God with us, in us and for us, how can we even think that maybe we're losing at times? Of course, it happens. Things go wrong, bad things happen, and we feel like maybe God has forgotten about us.

But do you ever have those bad times, and then you look back at those bad times and you see exactly how those bad things changed or shaped other events? Here's an example for you from my own life. Back in June, we needed massive repairs on my van. It wasn't an option, we had to do it, and in doing so, we spent an entire month's worth of salary. Subsequently, we spent a good deal of July catching up on the bills we couldn't pay in June. Even now, it's August, and we're still cleaning up after not being able to pay any bills in June. Yet, had the van not broken down, we'd be sitting just fine financially. And here's where I see exactly where God's hand was in it all.

Because in this time, God has also stirred up our hearts to move, and had we had the financial means to do so, we would have simply picked a place and moved already. But because things have been tight, we've been very selective, trying to find the best bang for our buck, and trying to find the right place that God has had for us. And ultimately, what it comes down to is that while our hearts are ready to move, God isn't ready for us to move, and so we are staying where we are planted until spring. While part of us is already checked out and moved on, there is a part of us that is relieved that we've made this decision- but to be honest, this decision would not have been made if the finances were in place to do otherwise. We likely would have settled for a temporary solution just to be on our way to where our hearts already want to be.

So did God cause our van to need repairs? Who knows, but I do know that where and when the van actually died couldn't have worked out better for us. I also can look and see where having us really scrutinize each and every penny that we've spent this summer has been a benefit- nothing un-necessary has been purchased, and we've been making do with what we have.

I can also take a lot of faith and hope from the events of this summer. I know that God is with us, in us, and for us, and as we encounter a few mountains that need to be overcome, we can take great courage and great faith in knowing that God has His Hand in everything, and we can also know that ALL THINGS will work together for good.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Lessons From White Buffalo

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

"There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." Deuteronomy 12:7

I've been busy getting ready for the coming school year! I've been assembling everything we need for Abigail's year of fourth grade, and it's really been fun getting familiar with the curriculum and seeing just how much she is going to learn this year. Her focus this year is going to be American History up to the Civil War, and this means learning a lot about Native Americans. As I've been preparing myself and familiarizing myself with her curriculum, I've been reading the books that she will be reading, and one in particular, taught me something I have long suspected.

I have always thought that Native Americans are very spiritual people, and in the book Vostaas: White Buffalo's Story of Plains Indian Life, I learned exactly what the Indians take on God was when white men first came over- here is an excerpt from the book.

Worship of God, known to the Indians as the Great Spirit, was an everyday, common way of living. The early Plains Indians tried to live with God all the time. They believed God was in everything. All the earth was a holy place. Therefore, everything on the earth, under it, or above it, was sacred. They believed that they were always in the presence of God. All of the Plains Indians people prayed to God for His help in anything they dud, in every move they made. They believed God was merciful and that He loved His people. They sang songs to God in praise of Him. They carried out ceremonies and dances in His honor. They thanked Him every day. There was no Sunday on the Indian calendar of seasons. Every day was God's day.

Wow! He goes on to talk in the book about how when the preachers and missionaries came in, they worked very hard to try and get the Indians to attend church on Sundays and cease a lot of their own worship because it was strange to their way of thinking.

Here we are, nearly 2010, and a lot of the things I've been reading lately or studying have involved the art of being in God's presence more than just on Sunday. People here are talking about these things like they are new- like it's some new idea to spend time daily with God. And here I learn that thousands of years ago, the indigenous Native Americans were already doing that very thing- and were encouraged to stop!

I can't help but wonder what else we could learn from the old forms of Native American worship. We certainly know they danced in their worship, and that is a form of worship that is very slowly working it's way back into the church thankfully. I think about the Plains Indians of long ago, and I think I can imagine what it would be like to wake every single day thanking God for His beautiful creation. I get a glimpse of that life every year when we go camping, and I wake each morning smack dab in the middle of the wilderness.

As I go back and read that excerpt again, I wonder how life would be enhanced by applying some of that same spirituality today. What would it be like to spend every day believing that I am in the very presence of God. Because I am, you know. I don't just spend time with God on Sunday mornings, I know that God is present in my life always, but what about actually knowing that and focusing on that? Would that change anything? Would that change the way I spend my day? I think it might. I think that if I behaved each and every day as if God were present with me that I would be more conscious of wasting time. I'll be that there was no such thing as wasted time for the Native Americans. On the rare occasion that they got to sit and rest, I'll bet that they spent that time resting and in quiet reflection, reflecting on all that God had done for them.

I pray that the spirituality of the Native Americans, that spirit of being in God's Presence all the time has not been truly forgotten. Perhaps it lies dormant in some, but I pray that a great awakening takes place, and that people truly realize that we are all children of God. That we are to rejoice in all that God has blessed us with each and every day- and not just on the days we go to church. That, to me, sounds like a great life well worth living.

Warfare Wednesday

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. ¹²We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

We really need to pray for our country!

This week I've started pre-reading some of Abigail's schoolbooks for the coming year. She'll be studying US History from the beginning to the Civil War, and as I'm getting into some of it, the Hand of God on so much that went on in this country is amazing! Yet here we are, hundreds of years later, and if those same people who worked so hard to get to America saw the same country today, I imagine they wouldn't recognize a thing.

And as the issue of healthcare reform continues to take center stage, it seems our country becomes more and more divided, with every passing minute. There is so much... bad stuff surrounding this reform, it's driving that divisive wedge deeper and deeper, and it's causing even the best of person to scream out in frustration and curse the opposition. Everyone is complaining, and if there's one thing I've come to realize over time is that complaining doesn't achieve anything. All it does is bring those negative feelings back to the surface over and over again. Every time I decide to complain about something to someone else, it stirs up those feelings of anger and hate and frustration- so if I repeat that over and over to people throughout my day, what is that doing to myself? It's filling my day with a constant reminder of anger and rage and frustration... not exactly a good frame of mind to be in.

So I've made a decision for myself- I'm not reading or listening to the debate and controversies surrounding the healthcare hoopla. Instead, I'm choosing to pray about it. There is no sense stirring myself up over and over in a negative way by going from headline to headline. Instead, I am choosing to pray for peace and for wise decisions. And for a release from the fear that this nation is gripped in.

Don't you feel that? Everyone is afraid right now! I hardly ever hear or take part in a conversation among neighbors where the economy is not being discussed, it has everyone in a vice grip, and everytime someone else decides to live by fear, the devil is rejoicing.

But God has a better way, God is not a God of fear and warmongering, He is a God of peace and understanding. When the election of 2008 was finally over, so many people thought our country would begin a long process of healing from the divisiveness that came out during the election. The devil clearly doesn't have any interest in healing or in unity. And so, it really comes down to this, it comes down to fervent prayer for our nations and leaders, because only God can heal the wounds that are running deeper and deeper. Only God can bring this country back together.

And perhaps the right man for the job has the office right now, only he doesn't know that he really is the one that God will use in a mighty way. And I pray just that. I pray that God will bless President Obama abundantly, that He will raise up Godly men and women to surround the President with prayers and with good counsel. I pray that the divisiveness in this nation ends now, and that we stop being a nation of fear and hate, but of love and acceptance. When President Obama ran for office, his slogan was "Change", and I confess with my spirit that it is indeed time for change, it's time for the Winds of Change to sweep across this land and heal the hurt and the discord, and bring us back together under the same notions of love and acceptance and freedom that this country was founded upon.

I also pray this morning that the citizens of this country will stop speaking poison into the air, and instead speak words of grace and words of encouragement to one another. I pray that the people of this country will truly be blessed "under one God" and be indivisible. Liberty and Justice will prevail, and the true beauty of this nation will not succumb to the evil that is trying to consume it. For the real beauty of the United States of America is her people. It's the people in this country that make this nation shine, and I pray that they will realize that Americans all over the world will speak in one voice- the voice of love for all.

Some Notes About Fasting

"Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." ¹⁴ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. ¹⁶ So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." Daniel 1:11-17

My recent fasting experience was completely eye-opening in more ways than one, and I thought it more than appropriate to talk about it, and share what I learned about fasting food directly. Because let me tell you, fasting food is a whole different ball of wax than fasting something else. In the past, I have fasted TV for 30 days, and I also fasted reading anything other than my Bible for a period of time. Both were challenging in their own right, but in both those cases, I developed some wonderful new habits. When I fasted TV, I realized that TV and the shows I watch are not as important as they seemed. If I missed a few episodes of something, my world wasn't going to come to an end. I learned that it's okay to spend time in the evening doing things other than watching TV, and overall, my crutch- my habit of watching a lot of television was completely broken. I watch so little now, it's wonderful! Fasting the fiction reading was also eye-opening, because I became aware of just how often I sit down to read something. I am back to enjoying reading fiction or magazines, or the occasional cookbook, but now, I am more conscious in my mind when I've been into something far too long, and I need to pick up my Bible instead. I notice when a day goes by and I haven't read my Bible. This is a very good thing.

But fasting food... can I just say that it was so much harder than I thought it would be? When I first determined that I would do a Daniel fast, I purposed to follow the Bible literally- vegetables and water. Then someone encouraged me and mentioned that in Hebrew, the root word for vegetable actually meant "from a seed" and when they'd done Daniel fasts before, it included grains and fruits. So I modified the vegetables just a touch. I permitted myself to eat vegetables, whole grains only (no bread, no flour), and fruit only as a condiment. (Think raisins in oatmeal, lime juice in a curry.) There were no eggs, no dairy, no meat, no sugar, no sweets, no soda, no tea. At first, it was a fun challenge though. I have plenty of experience cooking vegetarian meals, I just needed to modify them further to be vegan, and I was sure I'd be fine. But then I read this verse in the Bible:

"But King David replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing." 1 Chronicles 21:24

In participating in the act of fasting, I was actually sacrificing my dependence on food to sustain me. I decided that in my act of fasting, it wasn't much of a sacrifice if I just swapped out cows milk for rice milk or butter for vegan butter. I needed to adhere to the veggie principle and rely on God to supply the energy I needed to get through a day, and after about the third day, I found an actual physical shift. By the third day of just vegetables and water, I have to admit I was feeling a touch shaky, and almost a little foggy- I just was having a tough time finding motivation to do anything, and that was where I found myself spending more time talking to God. I still had tasks to be done, I couldn't just shut down and fast, I also needed to be busy and I prayed that God would supply the energy I needed to get through each and every day. And after I prayed that, after I confessed my reliance on God, I physically felt better. I was no longer shaky, and I no longer felt foggy. In fact, other than the fact that my stomach pretty much never felt satiated, I would have never known that I was actually fasting.

And I began to delight in reading God's Word at meal time. In fact, I would sit down with my plate of vegetable something, and not even finish the small portion I'd served myself, because I ate as I read, and as I read, I just felt like reading the Word was filling me much more than the bowl of soup or salad was.

But the most interesting part of fasting came with the church experiences. I was sharing with someone else that I found much more open-ness on my part while I was fasting. When it came time to go to church, to worship corporately, I was more than ready and willing. I was almost desperate, and you know how when you go to church, worship starts, and sometimes it takes you a few songs to get into it? I was into it before the music even started! I walked in the building and I was already in worship mode. The worship felt more alive and vibrant, and I clung to every word that came out of the Pastor's mouth- it just seemed so much...more, I guess. And this open-ness and desperation carried over, even after the fast was done. My spirit has taken over, and I feel ready for worship, and I feel open to whatever God has to say to me almost all the time. It's different, that's the best way to describe it. It's like my spirit took notes during the fast, felt what it was like to be reliant on God, and has stayed in that frame of mind, even while my physical body moves on.

I also feel like I have to say that the last three days of the fast were definitely the hardest. My fast was for ten days, and by the eighth day, I was soooo over the vegetables. I didn't want to eat anymore! Just thinking about eating vegetables started making me nauseated, and me, the person who always thought I could swing a vegetarian lifestyle found out that I really desired the taste of a hamburger, or even a slice of cheese. And I battled those last three days. I can't tell you how many times I found myself wanting just one bite of something- and I would be sorely tempted. By the grace of God I resisted completely, and in fact, on the last day, I was so disgusted by the thought of eating vegetables, that the last day, I fasted completely, drinking just water, and eating two handfuls of air-popped butter and salt free popcorn (read:cardboard).

I would also be lying if I didn't report that day eleven was the sweetest day. I broke my fast with two eggs and blueberry pancakes, and they were so wonderful. And every bite of food I ate for the next few days, I just kept thanking God for his wondrous variety. I'm still thankful for food, for all the wonderful flavors that God has given me to put in my mouth each and every day.

And I think I learned a lot from my fasting experience. I would be lying if I didn't say that I'm dreading doing it again. It was so much harder than I thought it would be. But at the same time, the lessons I learned, the training of my spirit was so worth it, and I have to wonder what kind of results there will be from more fasting. What will my spirit learn next time? The fasting was worth it, and I definitely feel that my relationship with God is at a whole new level now, and I'm excited to see where that takes me.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

I was filled indeed.

God Is SO Good!

"Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more." Mark 4:24 (NLT)

"For God speaks again and again,
though people do not recognize it." Job 33:14

I have learned so much in the last few days, that I think I'm still fully digesting all that God had to share with me. I will probably be piecing out a lot of it for months- and hopefully sharing what comes to the forefront of my mind. But this past weekend, spending it in The Glory just makes me want more! I am literally exhausted today! My body hurts in various places, I slept almost two hours later than I normally do, and I'm just lacking much motivation for doing anything. Yet if there was another service going on today at church, I would be at the door an hour early, I am just so hungry for more! And I'm hungry for the day it doesn't stop!

What I want to share with you this morning is a story about listening to God. Do you ever have those random ideas pop into your head? Something unexpected, and you wonder where the thought came from? Often times, that's from God. One of the things about being on the worship team at church is that I get the opportunity to do a lot of people watching. While I may not personally meet many of the people who come to our church for a conference weekend, I do feel like they're my family- I see them as they worship. I see them as their faces light up with joy, and I see them as some of them bare their sorrow. I often find myself praying blessings and joy over those ones. This weekend though, there was one person that caught my attention in a different way. I saw this person, and I instantly thought that I needed to give them money. Specifically, I needed to give this person $40. I thought on this thought for a minute, and thought about how much fun it would actually be to just bless someone with an unexpected gift of money. But then, I kind of dismissed the idea- I had no cash on me at the time, Andy had no cash either. I also kind of filed the idea away though, and thought to myself that if I went somewhere where there was an ATM, I would try and remember to get some cash.

Well wouldn't you know, as the weekend went on, and each session came and went, I felt more and more like I needed to give this person money! And finally, after the Saturday morning session, after feeling it so strongly earlier in the day, I purposed to find an ATM on our lunch break and take out the cash I needed.

Except that I was too late. That person had left to go home after the morning session. I felt so awful! I felt like I personally was responsible for robbing this person of a blessing that God had told me to give two days ago, and I so wished I would have just acted sooner. So instead, I gave the money to the kids to put in the offering. And then I prayed. And I prayed kinda hard, and I really apologized to God for not listening, because by that point, I knew that it was the Holy Spirit who put that idea of a gift of money into my head. And I prayed that God would bless that person anyway, despite my inability to act, and I also prayed that God would bring that person back for the next conference, so I could follow through on blessing them. I also prayed that God would not give up on me, and I totally prayed that He would give me another chance. What I didn't expect though was that the second chance would come right away and it would be as loud and crystal clear as it was.

Because that initial random idea I'd had to give a person $40 was nothing compared to how it felt the second time. I felt like my brain was going to explode when the second idea came to mind- I knew exactly who it was supposed to go to, and it was also much more than $40. There was also much more than this one time gift of money... I knew in my very heart that God wanted Andy and I to begin giving to this person on a regular basis. How crazy is that? Who does that? I mean really, think about it, we make monthly payments to pay bills, pay utilities, buy necessities, or pay someone for their services- you don't just randomly decide to give someone a monthly amount of money. But apparently we are going to do just that. *Insert huge grin here!*

Let me tell you how this one played out. We were at the tail end of worship when this exploding idea came into my head, and I tell you, we couldn't wrap it up fast enough. I made a beeline for Andy, told him what was up, got the okay, and literally ran to my purse. I could not write that check fast enough, and then I went to give it to the person that God laid on my heart. When I told them what we were going to do, I thought it was going to be an unexpected blessing to them... or was it? They lit up, and told me that they had been praying to God for the EXACT AMOUNT that my check was written for. We both were so excited at this turn of events! And I was beyond humbled that God used me- so quickly after I'd failed, to meet the desire of this person's heart. And I'm even more excited to follow through on the monthly commitment we've made, because this person is such a treasure, and I'm excited to see what God has in store for them.

And really, the whole point of this story is to say that God is always speaking to us. Sometimes those random thoughts and ideas are not so random and strange- sometimes, it's God giving us that idea. And according to the book of Mark, the more we listen and pay attention, the more God will show to us- and that is an incredibly exciting thought. I am just so thankful this morning that God saw fit to use us in such an incredible way. God IS so good, all the time! And as he speaks to us again and again, I've been praying that I won't miss what He has to say. I am trusting that His Word is truth, and that I will hear what He has to say when He says it.

Preparation For Eternity

"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal." Psalm 119:160

I've been talking a lot here the last several months about love. Maybe not so much in the last few weeks, but there have definitely been posts about loving others- whether it's loving the unlovable, or learning to love your neighbor with God's love. It's been something I've been learning and discovering and today, as I read this verse, I was blasted with the reality of all this love.

It's meant for an eternity.

Just look at this Psalm, look at what it says: "ALL your righteous laws are ETERNAL". I'm thinking about this, thinking about the fact that all the righteous laws in God's Word are meant for eternity, and it kind of changes my perspective a little bit. I've often thought that these lessons on love that I've been learning have really just been something to move me forward in my relationship with God. And while it is doing that... that's not the reason for all the love lessons. The reason is to prepare myself for an eternity of loving.

Think about that! This means that as we move on to eternity, as we leave this earth and take our rightful places in heaven, that this love will continue. All this loving that we're doing here on earth is part of the ongoing learning process that will prepare us for our heavenly bodies and our heavenly homes. That's kinda cool!

And so this morning, as I prepare for our most awesome weekend away, I'm going to have Psalm 119:160 in my mind, and I'm going to be dwelling on it for awhile. Maybe a change in perspective will bring about something interesting. As I watch and observe people in the everyday, there are always new ways to show and share God's Love. May God keep my eyes and heart open, and may he totally bless the weekend ahead- not just for me, but for everyone. It's going to be a great one.

I'll be back on Monday- be blessed!

Warfare Wednesday!

"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea," Psalm 46:1-2

It's actually a fairly quiet morning over on the Presidential Prayer Team website today! It's birthday week at the White House, as President Obama has turned 48 years old. May God bless him abundantly and give him a wonderful year ahead. I know we pray a lot here at Warfare Wednesday for Godly influence and wisdom, but I think it's also important that we pray for the president's happiness and well-being. On a paper level, I can totally disagree with a lot of the things that have been going on in Washington. But on a human, more personal level, President Obama is a child of God! God loves him, and Jesus died just for him! I wish him all the best as he looks ahead to his 48th year of life, and I pray that God will become very real to him in the year to come. Only God can make his job as President of The United States easier.

It's also August, so this morning, I think we should also pray for the school system in our country. It's just not going so well. With budget cuts across the board, schools are letting teachers go in record numbers, and class sizes are increasing as a result. The quality of education simply cannot improve under these conditions. While we've made the choice to school our children at home, so many people cannot make that choice, and those kids going to public school deserve the best education that they can get. Somewhere out there, God has a solution for improving the schools in our country. I pray that it comes to the forefront and that this coming school year is a good one for students all over the country. May they be safe in their learning environments, and may God bless the teachers who sacrifice so much to educate the children of this country.

Man vs. Devil: We Always Win!

"On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him." Job 2:1

How many times in conversations with other Christians have we heard about how someone is being attacked by the devil? I bet you've heard it a lot. A string of bad things happen, and you hear about how the devil is attacking, and prayers ensue for the bad stuff to come to an end. The other day though, I think I heard one of the more profound thoughts on this very statement, and I've been thinking on it ever since. If even the devil answers to God, are we really under attack from the devil?

"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. ¹⁰ "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." ¹² The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Job 1:9-12

If you read any of the book of Job, it quickly becomes clear that the devil does nothing to Job without permission from God in the first place. So while the devil is the tormentor and the troublemaker, it was God who gave the devil permission to lay siege to Job in the first place. Huh. I really think there is something here that if we can just grab ahold of what the Bible is saying, we'll be onto one of the keys to a relationship with God- and a huge (and I mean huge!) faith booster. So I am going to think out loud this morning, and see if we can come to any kind of conclusion about this very unique relationship.

"For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:20

One of the biggest things I think we can take away from Job is Job's relationship with God. God is up there in heaven, seated on the throne, when the angels and Satan come before Him. God knows Job inside and out- He knows Job better than Job knows himself, and I believe that when God says "See my servant Job?" He knows that no matter what Satan threw at Job, that Job's heart would stay true. God knew this. He knew this with absolute certainty.

"Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Job 1:8

Now let's think about Job. Let's think about the trials he begins to experience, simply because God gave the devil permission. Much of the book of Job is Job lamenting the situation he is in, and wondering why it seems as though God has forsaken him. Think about how much easier that time in his life would have been endured if he had known what we know- that God was bragging on him and knew that Job would stand firm in his faith. God was bragging on Job! God knew Job's heart so well, that he knew that no matter what the devil dished out, Job would stand firm in his love for God. Now lets think about ourselves:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Let's just think about this for a second. God loves us, God knows us- God knows our hearts better than we know them. And the devil needs to seek permission from God before he tries any kind of attack on us. So the more we seek God, the more we spend time in God's Word and in prayer and reflection, the more we get to know God better- the more established our relationship with God becomes. And we begin to draw closer. And then one day the devil realizes what's going on and says "hey God, I'm going to throw a little something their way." And God looks upon us, sees our heart, and knows that we will make it through whatever the devil has in his mind to dish out to us. So He gives permission- but just as he restricted the devil when it came to Job, he places restrictions on the devil, because God knows exactly where our breaking point would be, and He will never allow the devil to tempt us beyond what we can bear.

Not only that! If we read 1 Corinthians 10:13 correctly, it also says that God will provide a way out for us! It stands to reason that if God knows our hearts and knows exactly how much temptation we can handle- He also knows exactly what we need to get us out of that same temptation, and He will provide it for us.

So why does God allow the devil to tempt us in the first place? Well first of all, we've already established that God knows our hearts, and since He's probably been bragging on us, He knows that we can handle what the devil dishes out. But secondly, God allows things to happen to us to give us an opportunity to grow in our faith, and to learn to rely more on Him.

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

And if we really think on this, think about how excited you are when you emerge from a trial victorious? What do you do? You tell everyone you know about how God helped you through a trial. And every time you tell a story about how God helped you overcome, you're not only giving your own faith a boost- but you're giving your audience a faith boost. The more times I tell a story about how God provides for our needs, the more times I believe that He will indeed provide. And when I tell people how God met a particular need in a way that only God could, it helps to show them that it's okay to trust in Jehovah Jireh- our provider.

So as I'm thinking about certain trials we may be experiencing right now, I can't help but wonder what kind of conversations went on in heaven. I can take heart in knowing that God was probably bragging on us, talking about how we've grown so much in our faith. And I can also have complete faith that God will present our "out" when the perfect time arises- because God knows us and loves us and will not give us more than we can handle. Just thinking about this, gives me the biggest boost this morning! We will make it through whatever gets dished out to us, as long as we stand firm in our faith, and continue to seek God for the answers.

Amazing God

"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;

¹¹ the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.

¹² Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion," Psalm 147:10-12

I have so many blog posts rolling around inside my head! It seems over the last few weeks, I've just been inundated with so many things that God wants to say to me, and it's totally awesome! Yet rather than just spew out little bits of this and that, I'm going to try and just choose one or another something to talk about over the next few weeks (and really, I should get in the habit of writing down some of the blog post topics as a reminder). Today, though, I want to talk about how there really is no one like God. And there is no one who knows me and my family better than God, and how He provides for our every need- and then some.

I posted a few weeks ago how God provides for the fun things some times. It's truly something to be able to sit down at my computer again- just a few weeks later and tell another story about how God provides- it's almost like He's trying to out-do Himself with provision, to show us that He does indeed see every need and want.

We have a conference coming up this weekend at our church. I am soooo looking forward to it, and am expecting God to do some great things- not just for myself and my family, but also for our church family. I pray for that most of all. When we have a conference, we have early mornings as we have to be at church early to prepare for worship, and we have very late nights- we don't leave church normally until around 11:00 or so at night. Living 35 miles away makes conference time really exhausting for us, but especially for our kids. Our kids have been such troopers at the last few conferences, we just love seeing God working in their little hearts. The last time we had a big conference, we decided at the last minute to snag a hotel room, to save us the drive back and forth every day, and it was so wonderful. We were able to sleep well, rest well, and in-between times, we had a pool available for the kids entertainment.

This conference this week just comes at an inopportune time for us, financially. We're preparing to move, and so every dollar is really spoken for and needed elsewhere. Yet, the thought of driving back and forth every day... I really didn't want to do that to the kids. So I did the only thing I know how to do, and that is that I prayed. And I prayed specifically. I prayed on Wednesday and Thursday morning last week that God would provide us with $200 so that we could get a hotel for the conference. Thursday afternoon the kids and I went grocery shopping, and while we were out I talked to the kids a little about the conference, and how Mommy was praying that we'd be able to get a hotel room. I think they added their own quite prayers, because when we got home from shopping, there was a message on the machine for Andy- someone had a tree that needed to come down, and could he help?

And wouldn't you know, Andy was able to go take care of that tree job and come home with exactly $200, so that we could get a hotel room this coming weekend. He offered to do the job for less, even, and the lady insisted on giving him $200 for it. Isn't God amazing! So now while Andy and I have been totally looking forward to this coming conference for spiritual reasons, now the kids are really looking forward to the conference as well- they love staying in a hotel, and especially love the opportunities to take breaks and play in the pool!

I love that God loves my children so much to provide them with this hotel room this weekend. And I love sharing the story, of how God provided a completely frivolous want, just when we wanted it too. See, all we need to do is ask! If our hearts are focused on God, and delighting in God, just as David's was, then God will want to delight in us. And I know He totally delighted in providing that tree job. And I know He also delighted when he saw the joy on my children's faces when I told them we'd be staying in a hotel- and He's certainly going to delight in watching our children exhibit joy this coming weekend.

Thank you God, for your amazing provision.

Born of God

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12-13

Read that verse a few times-slowly. Children born of God. When I think of that, when I think about that, I think it's so much more than the "born-again" experience we Christians make it out to be. We get all excited when someone accepts Jesus as their savior, we get excited and happy about it ourselves. We walk around, all excited because we've made a commitment and we're now a Christian. And that's usually about as far as it goes. But this verse really made me pause this morning,because it states right there, plain as day that our relationship with God is so much more than a moment. It's so much more than that of a God and a follower. It's that of a child and parent.

Let's think about that for a minute, because it states volumes. I remember when my daughter was first born, and so many people stopped by to visit us. Often times, these people were people who watched me grow up, or had grown children of their own. Each one of them would hold Abigail and ooh and aah over her, and then tell me to cherish every moment, because they grow so fast- before your eyes and before you know it, and then they're gone and on their own. And while they were correct in telling me to cherish every moment, I have to beg to differ about children just being gone. As long as my children are alive, I am going to be their mom. That is a unique relationship that simply doesn't go away. They can hate me all they want as they go through their running-around years, but that doesn't change the fact that I am still their mother, and no matter what they do, and no matter what happens, I will always love them with all my heart, and I will always pray for them. I don't just stop being mom all the sudden.

God is just like that. He doesn't just stop being God, and he doesn't leave his children. Maybe for a time, his children run around and do their own thing, and maybe for a time, the child cries out about how much they don't want to hear what their father has to say, but you know what? He's always there, ready to listen again, ready to welcome His children back. And He always wants us to be happy, healthy and full of joy.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:9-11

God loves us, just as a parent loves their own children. I think about these verses, about the snake and the fish, and I know just how God thinks. Abigail's birthday is coming up, and it could be really easy to just walk down the aisle and throw this and that into the shopping cart, and think that maybe she'll like it. Instead, I take my time. I look for just the gifts that are going to bring her joy, I look out for just that one thing that is going to bring the biggest smile on her face. I don't just pick up and give her random junk. And I know that God is the same way. He doesn't just give us junk, rather, he wants to give us the best of the best, and he wants to dote on us... except that a doting father doesn't just lavish gifts, usually, a doting father also has an excellent relationship with his children. They spend time together, they talk, they go on adventures together- and God wants the exact same with us. God wants to dote on us, and lavish us with the best gifts, but he also wants to spend time with us. He doesn't just want to be a Sunday Daddy, He doesn't just want an hour or two of our time Sunday morning. He wants to be a part of our lives, each and every day.

Because I suspect another thing about God. Just as I miss my children when they are away from me- for even a few hours- God misses us when we're not spending time with Him. He has so much to share with us, but first we need to give Him some of our time. Sometimes, that seems like it's asking an awful lot, I mean, we're all busy people. Except that there will always be more time. Always. We will always have another minute, another hour, another day, another week, and another year. But there will never be another yesterday- we can't go back and change a thing, but we can make changes so that the days ahead are wonderful and full of joy.

As David Did

David was such an example for us in so many ways. Every time I read a snip of David's life, I can't help but be amazed.

⁴⁵" David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. " 1 Samuel 17:45-51

David knew God with all his heart. He knew that God was with him, and would fight his battles for him. Yet... he didn't just sit by and wait for God to do the work. David did what he knew how to do. In this instance, with Goliath, he didn't know a thing about fighting with a sword or wearing armor. So instead of putting on armor and bearing a sword, he wore his sheepherder's clothing, and grabbed his sling and some stones- tools that he used every single day while protecting his sheep. And God used David in such a mighty way. David single-handedly gave the Israelites courage, and gave the Philistines fear through his one simple action- of swinging a sling over his head and throwing a simple stone with it.

And even better than the victory at hand, David allowed himself to be used in a situation that is shared with others-even today. Even thousands of years later, we tell the story of David killing Goliath, and every time we tell it or hear it, we bolster our faith in a God who prevails and will use the smallest stone to fell the largest giant.

This is such a blessed reminder that God will use us if we allow Him to. Not only that, but He will use us in a way that we already know how to do. Let's think about someone who is ill- how about appendicitis. If I come across this person with appendicitis, God isn't going to bless me with the sudden ability to diagnose, operate, and treat appendicitis, (which is usually treated by removing the appendix). Instead, God is going to use an ability that I already have. In this case- prayer. God could use me and my ability to pray to cause the faulty appendix to start working again.

Right now, we have a giant before us, I freely admit it. I'm trying not to focus on this giant, and instead, focus on the God who is going to take care of this giant for us. It's really frustrating to me that we haven't found an acceptable place to live yet- and our deadline is clearly looming. Yet... yet, I have such a peace, because I know that God placed this desire to move in our hearts. He had to have, because there is nothing else I would rather do less than move. It's remarkable to look back over the past year and see how each major decision we've made over the last year has gradually brought us to this place where we are know. And I know in my heart that God has the perfect place for us to live. I keep telling myself that. We look at place after place, and we're just not finding where we think we should be, which can become discouraging. But then I remember David. God brought David to the exact place he needed to be at the perfect time. God took care of the whole situation and used David in a mighty way.

I will learn from David, and I will do what I know to do in this situation. I will load up my sling with prayers and fire them away. I will pray that God will reveal to us the perfect place at the perfect time, and that we will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, which place is the one for us.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness " Psalm 23:2,3
for his name's sake.