On any given day Eowyn or Elastigirl

My friend Kristen had a fun interview post on her blog a couple weeks back. As one of the email responders, I now have the pleasure of answering Kristen's interview questions of me.



Read the instructions at the end and I'll "interview" you too! :)

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First off... this is fun!

• Tell us, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Good question, since I still feel like I'm sixteen. When I was sixteen I wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up. Now that I'm 30 something... I still want to be an archeologist! I'm totally fasinated with history, science... God's creation.

• If you could choose one fictional character to best portray you, who would you choose and why?

Two characters come to mind. The wife on The Incredibles- Elastigirl.
And Eowyn, the niece of Theoden in Lord of the Rings Return of the King. I'll elaborate on Eowyn.
First of all I LOVE THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIES!!! I feel like in each movie I identify with different characters and see the spiritual battle I wrestle against daily in film!

Wikipedia says: Éowyn is described to be very beautiful; she was tall, slim, pale, and graceful, with long golden hair. In temperament she was idealistic, spirited, brave, high-minded, and lonely.

I'm tall, slim, pale, not so graceful but imagine myself to be (desire to be) and my hair's not the georgeous locks seen on Eowyn in the movie. But in temperament I think we're the same- idealistic, spirited, brave, high-minded, and lonely. Especially after I met the Lord in a very powerful way during the time when my marriage was falling apart, I feel like I am this woman Eowyn I see on screen! I think she sort of typifies the woman I am in Christ.

There's a scene at the end of the Lord of the Rings which gives me goose bumps where, I'm telling you, in spirit, I'm living that scene, fighting for the soul of the man who is my "king" (my husband, although in the movie it was Eowyn's uncle), while the enemy seeks to destroy him.

In the scene this giant, demonic dragon-like creature comes to feast on the flesh of the Eowyn's wounded, fallen uncle, in the midst of a mammoth battle. Eowyn sees what's about to happen and runs between the giant monster and her fallen king, holds up a broken weapon and defies the monster with, "I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TOUCH HIM!" The demon-thing riding the monster simply says in response, "Do not come between a Nosgul and his prey." The monster then lunges forward to feast on flesh and Eowyn decapitates the beast! When the evil lord dethrones his fallen beast and attempts to crush Eowyn with an iron slinging thing, she falls on top of her king. The evil lord then grabs her by the throat and says, "You fool! No man can kill me!" With that Eowyn removes her armor helmet, revealing that she's a woman (who by the way was not supposed to be in the battle but snuck in anyway), and says, "I am no woman!" With that she slays the evil dude!

I am that scene!!! I am a woman. I am not a man. But I can, but the grace of God fight for my family, my people, my man! All my fighting occurs on my knees but it looks like that scene in my mind.

• Why did you start blogging?

4 years ago, when my husband and i had just reunited, i was overflowing with wanting to share with "the world" the amazing things God was teaching me about Himself, love, reconciliation, etc. So I decided to write a little something about what God had taught me that particular day in an email and send it to everyone in my address book. Some were people I hadn't emailed in forever. Some were Christians. Some not. Some family. Some acquaintances. A few people responded, glad to hear from me. One friend responded suggesting that I start a blog. I had NO idea what she was talking about. Once I found blogger, I started a blog called, "Encouragement for Women." I think 3 people read it :). Mostly close friends.

• What do you think about it now that you are officially a blogger?

Now that I've been blogging for awhile and have a few more readers :), I'm hooked! It really is a form of Christian fellowship for me, as well as part being able to minister in the gift of encouragement and even teaching God's word.

• If you could share one piece of advice with us, what would it be?

Don't go anywhere without baby wipes and whatever you do find out who Jesus is... everything else will fall into place from there. (I know that's technically two pieces of advice, but although when you get to know Jesus you find out He is truly all you need, I've found that knowing Him and having a baby wipe there for wiping off the peanut butter you just realized is on your cheek before you go into the store is handy)

• Share your favorite song and the lyric line from it you love the most.

My favorite song is always changing. But currently my favorite song is Beautiful Letdown by Switchfoot. My favorite line from the lyrics is:

We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools
What a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound
Hey, let us sing one true tune

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Now...I would love to interview you and you and you. So here is what you do:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

So come on--let's get to know each other better. And do not fear potential questions--I promise to play very nice.

So glad He found me ,

Isaiah 51:3

To Work or Not to Work? That is not the question

A couple years ago my heart was stirred to ask my husband to consider supporting me in staying home full-time. He graciously agreed to do so.

During these years at home, I have experienced sweet fellowship with Christ in doing the unrecognized, unfinished, servant-like, foot-washing tasks that involve keeping up a home. I've come to see the home as a foundational testimony of God in society. I've developed a heart for the simple, priceless things like eating a meal together and being here when my husband comes home. God has also wooed my husband's heart through me being home. But during this time I've clung to the false-doctrine that being a homemaker meant I could not, or should not, work outside my home. I believed that's what being a homemaker meant... not working outside your home.

This past year I have had to humble myself and confess that I've been wrong both in believing and teaching that dogma to others when it's just not what God's Word says! I made homemaking about "to work or not to work" when God's Word is clear... that is not the question to ask.

The Spirit has helped me to understand that homemaking is not the absence of working outside the home but is a multifaceted ministry. In fact, as I study it out, I see a triune service in homemaking.

It is management:

"She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness." - Proverbs 31:27 NKJV

It is doing the "foot-washing" no one wants to do:

"{She} willingly works with her hands." -Proverbs 31:13 NKJV

And it is the building of relationships:

"The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands."- Proverbs 14:1

NO WHERE in scripture do I find God saying that being a homemaker means not working outside your home.

Now, this means I have to eat crow. I have been one who trumpeted the cause of not working outside the home. I know the arguments out there. I've read them, said amen to them, and been caught up in them, as though the message of a woman not working outside her home were the gospel itself! I WAS SOOOOOO WRONG!

As I look at the Word of God I see very clear commands for women to:

• Manage their households (1 Tim.5:14)


• To watch over the ways of their households (Proverbs 31:27)


• To build their homes, that is, the relationships in their homes (Proverbs 14:1)


• And to be about the business of homemaking (Titus 2:5)

In none of those do I see a mandate for women to refrain from working outside their homes. In fact, if anything, I see in the Proverbs 31 woman the example of a homemaker who sells her skills. Her employment to the "merchants" of the world is PART OF HER HOMEMAKING!

"She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants." - Proverbs 31:24

Now, no doubt, the extent to which a woman is engaged in employment for money and can still manage, build and keep a home is a factor. But I can't decide how much is too much for you, neither can you decide that for me. Each of us must walk by faith in the Spirit and decide how best to manage our households under the leadership of our husbands (if we have husbands).

It has been really hard for me to admit this. I feel like I can identify with Paul after having been Saul, zealously, in the name of God, persecuting Jesus by persecuting His church. I feel like I've been so blind to the truth about homemaking and have clung to the cause of "to work or not to work" that I've ignorantly been hurting my Lord and His body in doing so.

Christ has not called me or any of us to trumpet the cause of to work or not to work. He's called us to trumpet Christ! And as far as causes, God has ONE for us no matter what the circumstances of our lives are:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:28-29

Yes, we are to teach sound things, scriptural things. As women of God we're called to obey the teaching of being homemakers and to teach other women in our lives to be homemakers too. And when we add to that command OUR belief that homemaking means not working outside our homes, we add a burden that is beyond the easy yoke of Christ.

"...admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:4-5

Christ calls us to be servants in our homes, managers of our homes, and builders of the relationships in our homes whether we work outside our homes or not! And from Proverbs 31:24 I see Him calling us to use the skills He's given us to contribute to the income that maintains our homes.

Whether our use of skills is in making homemade things and selling them, or serving dinner in a local restaurant, or helping a woman give birth to her child... part of the management of our homes involves using our skills to earn money. This of course will have its season in our lives as homemakers.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven... - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Some of us have the blessing of a husband who provides all the necessary income for the household, freeing us to use our skill to earn money in creative ways. Some of us are doing the unpaid service of nursing and raising small children, an employment for which the compensation is beyond monetary, and one which leaves little time in the day for earning any money. Some of us are single moms, providing is not an option and is a very real part of our homemaking. Some of us are able to work outside our homes and still be available to our families and about the business of managing our households. In each case our call is the same: We are to be watching over the ways of our households and not eating the bread of idleness. This brings God glory in our lives.

The question is not should I work outside my home or not. These are the questions I need to ask:

• Do I love my husband and children as a friend?
• Am I a home-maker or a home-destroyer?
• Do I watch over the ways of my household or have I abandoned that for self indulgence?
  

I'm so thankful for the past 3 years I've been able to dedicate solely to our home. My heart is full of gratitude for my husband who has been, and continues to be, the willing provider and leader of our home. As God has rid me of my own law concerning homemaking, and taught me His will, I'm excited to see how He will provide the perfect way to make my own "linen garments" and sell them as part of the testimony of homemaker He's building in me for His glory!

In the rest of this first part of the Matters of the Home series I'll be sharing more about the triune ministry of homemaking I see in God's word. I'd love to hear your feedback, even if it's in disagreement with what I've written here. Whether you feel passionate about a woman not working outside her home or not, if you are a new creature in Christ we are sisters! We are part of the same body! I want us to be united in Him in love!

Comment questions:

• Is working outside your home a season of life you are in right now?
• What skills/talents do you have that you can do your own modern-day making of linen garments and selling them?
• Is your mind engulfed in personal career goals or in the building up of your home for God's glory?
  
  So glad He found me ,

Isaiah 51:3

John Piper- This is powerful!

Let me not forget Your Word God! Let it be a sweet lozenge, releasing sweet, soothing, truth into my soul all day long!!!

Thanks Layla for sharing this!

So glad He found me ,

Isaiah 51:3

Meet the house I'm building

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

I so love the part in Ruth where the elders of Israel get together to bless Boaz. They say:

May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel... - Ruth 4:11 NKJV

The "house" Rachel and Leah built was not made of brick, wood or stucco in my case :). The house they built was a nation of people who came through the children they bore and raised.

Here's the house I'm building:

Meet Mr. C. Mr. C is my oldest son. He's gonna be six in a month! Man the time flies fast!!! He's the spice of life in this house. He's my little BMXer. He's super competative and physically active. He keeps me on my toes and appreciating the fingerprints of God I see through the eyes of my Mr. C.

Meet Mr. R. Mr. R is my second and last child. He's the baby even though he's 4 and would say, "Nuh uh mom! I'm not a baby!" if he read that. :) If Mr. C. is the performer in the family (which he is) then Mr. R is the director. He likes rules. He likes to point them out. He likes to make sure everyone is following them. He likes to narrate life and tell people the way things should be in a very matter of fact way. He's my little teacher I think!

Those are my two sons!

Here's my man:

I wouldn't have much of a house to build if it weren't for this guy! He truly is God's man in my life. God teaches me a lot through my man about HIMSELF and about life. I love my man's smile and his zest for adventure. He loves mountain biking and over the years has taken me with him as he explores bow hunting, treasure hunting, hiking, scuba diving, metal detecting and now mountain biking. I know where my Mr. C gets his gusto for activity :) My man is also a great investigator. He researches things very carefully. He also has a gift for pencil art and enjoys a dinner out with his bride for sushi! I think I have a treasure!!!!

So, that's the fam. Now you know a little bit more about this homemaker's home :)

"Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain." - Psalm 127:1

"The wise woman builds her house..." -Proverbs 14:1

So glad He found me ,

Isaiah 51:3

About Sheila- A Woman Found

I am a redeemed, 30 something, wife and mom working as a school nurse.  

Sheila's experienced the pain of divorce, the fragileness of reconciliation, and the loneliness of being unequally yoked in her own marriage. She knows first hand that though giants loom in the land of marriage, our God is bigger, able, and willing to walk us through in victory over them all.

Because she's been there, Sheila has a heart for all women to know that their worth is found in Christ. She also has a passion for God to be honored in marriage, and for wives to find great satisfaction in their part in displaying God's glory.

Sheila clings to God's Word like a drowning woman and has a desire to draw others to God's word. She does not consider herself a writer, but has a need to write, feeling "woe is me" if she doesn't share her life and what she's learning from God's word through writing. You can find her doing just that here at her blog.

For more about Sheila and her testimony visit these links:

• Why a Woman Found? Some of my story


• Called like a woman forsaken


• I'm not all my blog makes me out to be


• I'm just a regular irregular gal

So glad He found me ,

Isaiah 51:3

I changed the title but it's still me :)

Just an FYI...

I changed the title of the blog to Meditations and Confessions of A Woman Found {a homemaker looks at life through the eyes of her Redeemer} because it more accurately reflects the truth about me.

Before I am a homemaker, wife, mom, neighbor, sister or friend, I am a woman found by Christ the Redeemer. Homemaker still ranks up there in the top three titles I am glad to go by, but I wouldn't be much of a home maker if Christ hadn't redeemed me and if I hadn't first found my worth in Him.

The term homemaker is dear to my heart. But being a woman found is even dearer!

So glad He found me,

This is what happens when you're home sick

I'm passing the time with dayquil, hot tea, lots of tissue, photobucket, istock photo and paint... all of which I know NOTHING about. This could be dangerous!!!

Redeeming the time

Sin

I'm over at Exemplify today.

Sin is the LOGOS for the day. I know, that probably doesn't make you want to speed over there and read. Just come on over... I think you'll be encouraged!

Redeeming the time

Timothy Mom Thoughts: Learning about The Lamb through Passover

****WARNING! THIS POST HAS SOME IMAGES THAT YOU MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE OF A SLAIN LAMB****

(image found here)

"1 Now the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt... 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family just choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice... 5 This animal must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no physical defects. 6 "Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast... 14 You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD... 26 Then your children will ask, 'What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?' 27 And you will reply, 'It is the celebration of the LORD's Passover... " -Exodus 12:1, 3, 5-8,14,26-27 NLT

One of the key things the Spirit has impressed upon me in my quest to teach my sons God's word is the importance of not cleaning up God's gospel into a nice flannel-graph Easter story. He's drawn me to the Old Testament as a source for what He REALLY wants to impress upon my kids' hearts.

The volume of writings which create the Old Testament speak of Jesus. And it's in the types and pictures God has drawn for us there that we really learn of Him.

I think we do our kids a disservice by sterilizing the gospel for them. When I hear about teens jumping the Christian-family-church-going ship I wonder, "Lord, have they ever trembled at Your word?"

I wonder if many of our kids grow up with our neat little stories and devotionals but they never really see the horror of God's sacrifice for them. They never really are impressed with the great price. They never really get a visual in pews, worship bands, hymnals, seeker-friendly messages, and groups for every classification under the sun.

In Moses' day, a child would see the family lamb, the perfect family lamb, laid down, throat cut, blood poured out and then wiped all over their doors. And each year, if their parents were faithful, they'd hear about the story of God's awful (in the sense of full of awe) deliverance from Egypt and they'd see a spotless lamb slaughtered as a reminder. God says seeing all this would cause their kids to ask, "Why?"

I truly believe as parents we'd quicken the fear of God in our kids (which the scripture says is the beginning of knowing the Holy One- Jesus... see Proverbs 9:10), spark true seeking of answers in them, and cause them to tremble at His word, taking seriously the gospel, if we'd take the time to regularly remember the cross of Christ with them. And I think learning through the Passover is an especially good way for our children to see the price of the cross and learn about the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

So that's what we're doing in this house. Last year was our first Passover. It was truly covered by grace as I'm sure in every way it was less than stone-written-law-perfect, but in Spirit it was flawless and penetrating. My kids really did ask, "Why are we doing this mom?" Even my sweet husband asked why I was teaching the kids this, which gave me an awesome oppurtunity to speak the gospel of Christ to Him with joy!

This year, in preparing a little more than last year, my boys and I are studying lambs, bread and plants to help us understand the typology of Christ in the Passover even more.


One of the decisions I made was to let them see a video of a sheep being butchered (after it was dead). I know, I just lost a bunch of you. I promise it is not as graphic as you may think. After I showed this to my boys I read Isaiah 53:7 to them and talked with them about how Jesus is our Lamb who takes away our sins, and how He willingly, and silently died for us.

This left a huge impression on my boys! Boys like gross stuff anyway. Seeing the video and then talking with them about Christ's sacrifice really made them think.

Personally, I hate watching anything die! I don't even watch those videos on Animal Planet of a lion taking down a deer. I just feel it and it makes me shudder. But when it comes to seeing myself in desperated need of Jesus, I need to shudder. If I don't shudder I may not run to Him or taste of His love. I want my kids to shudder and run to Him too!

The other day my husband and I caught a piece of a documentary about animal sacrifice in religions throughout history. As I watched it I thought about how sterilized we are in America.



Our nation is so secular... our meat is purchased in neat little packages in the store without a thought to the mooing cow or bleating lamb that laid down its life so we could have a nice dinner. I thought about how its hard in the culture we live in to really grasp the cross of Christ. We don't suffer and we don't know suffering. We don't see it and if we do we try to hide it. We certainly don't want to walk our dinner down to the local butcher and watch its throat get cut and its body get chopped up and ground so we can eat. But if we did I think we'd have a much greater appreciation for the cross and the story God is trying to get across to us and to our kids through the Passover lamb.

We have such a pretty, clean, American image of Christ in our minds. But the slaughtering of a lamb, blood strewn all over a door, and blood sprinkled over priests, people and offerings... these pictures that God chose to illustrate His story and our salvation are not pretty, neat, clean or American!

I challenge you to take a look at the stories of the Old Testament, the animal sacrifices, the Passover, etc., and picture what that would be like in real life. Picture yourself sprinling blood all over everything. Picture it drying there. The stains. Would our kids ask questions if we had blood all over our doors?

Now, take a look at the One about whom all those graphic pictures were written. Read about the Lamb of God in the New Testament. How would God have you remember the fearful and amazing message of the cross? What can you do to cause your kids to ask why?

Here are some links to videos about sheep, shepherds, Our Shepherd, and even the butchering of sheep. Maybe a little study of these things as a family followed by telling them about the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world is in order?

• Facts About Sheep


• Goat and Sheep Farm Tour


• Psalm 23 The Shepherd and His Sheep


• Psalm 23 sermon intro


• Sheep Butchery

Redeeming the time

A piece of my heart...

I've had a million posts floating around in my head. I've wanted to share with you all about how God's redefined homemaking for me (I think that could be a series!). I've wanted to explain to some of you who've followed me because I homeschool why I'm now taking my son to public school. I've wanted to share more of my love dare journey with you, and I have about 12 different LOGOS posts going through my head that I want to get written down.

But for now, can I just share a piece of my heart with you?

I read this in Amy Charmichael's book The Edges of His Ways the other day:

"It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." -Luke 12:32

These words have been life to me many a time, and have held me steadfast. Not the devices of the enemy, but our Father's good pleasure must be accomplished. That word was rock. So when we are facing the impossible, we can count upon the God of the Impossible.

I have been reassuring myself with this sweet promise from Jesus like Amy did years ago.

The desire of my heart to love like Christ, or rather, to be the vessel through which He loves whomever He wills; the impossible walls that separate me from many I love; the giants of deeply rooted wrong ways that are in my life and the lives of those I love; the people all around me in whom I can find no refuge...all of these are impossibilities. I'm overwhelmed! And then I hear the sweet promise, "It's my pleasure daughter to give you the Kingdom! Ask for the Kingdom. Seek first the Kingdom. Believe ME! It's my pleasure to give you the Kingdom!"

Oh King of the Universe, come conquer my heart! Come wipe away every fear of man, his looks, his judgements, his prejudices, his anger, his poison gossip. Unite my heart to fear You only! Teach me how to scale walls and how to slay the giants. Be my refuge! Give me courage to walk out there believing that it's YOUR pleasure to give me these things that I ask for which are in accord with Your will.

Redeeming the time

today's the big day

Today is the first day of school in this house!

I know, you're wondering where we live that the 1st day of school begins in February. We live here, in America, but we've been walking a different path. The Spirit's led us down a path of homeschooling this past year, requiring faith and obedience on my part. And now He's leading us down the path of public schooling, requiring faith and obedience on my part too!

Today I'm trusting in these promises:

• The LORD is building this house and my children are a gift from HIM, so I can trust Him even when I'm not present and I don't need to eat the bread of sorrows. Psalm 127
• I am a servant of the Lord, my righteousness is from Him, and He promises that some of my heritage from Him is that He will be my children's teacher and their peace. Isaiah 54:13 and 17
• I don't have to pretend that I'm not concerned or don't have complaints about the way things are going, instead I can pour them out to the One who created the Universe and died both for me and my children. Psalm 142, 1 Peter 5:6-7.

Oh mighty hand of God who calls me His daughter! You know me inside and out. Nothing is hidden from You! Lead me today in YOUR path! Set your angels guard over the two souls You've entrusted to my care! Build them up today Lord. Teach them. Be their peace. For YOUR glory. Give me sensative ears to YOU today, not to my emotions, but to YOU. And I ask for wisdom in the decisions I seek to make today concerning the kids and work and home and husband. Lead me through the darkness Lord with the light of Your word and Spirit!

Redeeming the time

Where I'm at today and What I'm learning

Where I'm at


I'm over at Exemplify Online's blog today with my LOGOS series, talking about longsuffering. Come visit me and the other ladies at Exemplify!

Oh, and be sure to download your FREE copy of February's Exemplify e-zine. It's loaded with love and lovely articles!!

Look for my article at Exemplify in February

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What I'm Learning

Gina is the hostess for What are YOU learning? at her blog Chats With an "Old Lady". Be sure to head over and read what she and others are learning, and even join in by sharing what you're learning too!

Thanks to all you who answered my little prayer and fasting poll.

Looks like most of us are like me, we fast and pray when there's a need or a crisis.

I wanted to share some of what God is teaching me personally about prayer and fasting since I recently (at the start of this year) began dedicating some time to regularly doing just that, rather than only resorting to prayer and fasting in a crisis.

Over the next couple of "What are you learning?" fridays, I'll share on this topic.

Today I wanted to share a little bit of treasure I discovered in the back of the book Edges of His Ways- Daily devotional notes by Amy Charmichael.

Before I do that though, real quick, I just want to say I realize that there is definintly a place for prayer and fasting in a crisis or need and that's not to be discounted. Daniel, Ezra, Esther and others all model that for us. But what I'm learning is that there's a place for the initmate time of prayer and fasting on a REGULAR basis in our walks with Christ. I'm learning that this regular practice really builds up our spiritual muscles. But more on that later.

On one of the first days of prayer and fasting this year I was overwhelmed with confusion and doubts and bondage about HOW to fast and pray. Then I discovered the section below. I'm only going to share some key pieces of it because it's four pages long. But I HIGHLY recommend the book! I pray it helps you as much as it has me:

Note on Prayer and Fasting

This not is to those to whom the idea of "prayer and fasting" is new, and who are rather puzzled about it.

First, what does it mean?

It means a determined effort to put first things first, even at the cost of some inconvenience to oneself. It means a setting of the will towards God. It means shutting out as much as possible all interrupting things. For the thing that matters is that one cares enough to have time with God, and to say no to that in oneself which clamors for a good meal and perhaps conversation. It is that which is of value to our LORD. Such a setting of the will Godward is never a vain thing. "I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain." (Isa. 45:19)

But we must in earnest. "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." (Psa. 27:8)

A few simple Dont's:

1. Don't get into bondage about place of position of the body. Where did our Lord spend His hours of prayer? We know how crowded and stuffy Eastern houses are; we know that sometimes, at least, He went out into the open air to a hillside; to a garden. Where did Elijah spend the long time of waiting on his God? Again, out in the open air. I have known some who could kneel for hours by a chair. I have known others who could not. David "sat before the Lord." (2 Sam. 7:18) Some find help in going out of doors and walking up and down; this was Bishop Moule's way. Some go into their room and shut their door. Do not be in bondage. Let the leaning of your mind lead you; a God-directed mind leans to what helps the spirit most.
2. Dont' be discouraged if at first you seem to get nowhere. I think there is no command in the whole Bible so difficult to obey and so penetrating in power as the command to be still- "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psa. 46:10) Many have found this so.
3. Don't feel it necessary to pray at all times; listen. Solomon asked for a hearing heart (1 Kings 3:9). It may be that the Lord wants to search the ground of your heart, not the top layer, but the ground. Give Him time to do this. And read the Words of Life. Let them enter into you.
4. Don't forget there is one other person interested in you- extremely interested; he will talk, probably quite vehemently... As far as I know the only way to silence his talk is to read or say aloud (or recall to mind) cournter-words, "It is written... it is written... it is written"; or to sing, for the devil detests song... But let the Spirit lead as to what to read. "Let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness." (Psalm 143:10)
5. Don't give up in despair if no thoughts and no words come, but only distractions and inward confusions. Often it helps to use the words of others, making them one's own. Psalm, hymn, song- use whatever helps most.
6. Don't worry if you fall asleep, "He giveth unto His beloved in sleep." (Psa. 127:2)
7. And if the day ends in what seems failure, don't fret. Tell HIM about it. Tell Him you're sorry. Even so, dont' be discouraged. All discouragement is of the devil.... Then let your soul hang on Him. "My soul hangeth upon Thee" (Psa. 63:9)- not upon my happiness in prayer, but just upon Thee. Tell Him you are sorry, and fall back on the old words: "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee"- unworthy as I am. Let these words comfort your heart: "The Lord lifteth up all those that are down." (Psalm 145:14) "CAst not away your confidence," there is a "great recompense of reward" waiting for you a little later on. (Heb.10:35)

Maybe it will be quite different. "Sometimes a light surprises the Christian when he sings," or waits with his heart set upon access to his God; and he is bathed in wonder that to such dust of the earth such revelations of love can be given. If so it be, to Him be the praise. It is all of Him.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." -Hebrews 13:20-21

Redeeming the time

Just praise Him

Over the past three or four years one refrain has been continually spoken by the Spirit to me, "Just praise Him."

• "Just praise Him," when you're sick and can't do your household stuff.


• "Just praise Him," when you're well and could easily forget what a gift that is.


• "Just praise Him," when your husband doesn't respond the way you desire.


• "Just praise Him," when your husband treats you like a queen, taking you out for an expensive meal, while the enemy's there accusing you of betraying Christ for enjoying such a delacacy, reminding you that there's only a few bucks left in checking.


• "Just praise Him," when your kids roll their eyes, growl and fuss that they don't want to go to church and just want to stay home with daddy.


• "Just praise Him," when your kids run up to daddy and tell him that Jesus died so they can be with God forever.


• "Just praise HIm," when you get to be home though it's full of never-finished chores.


• "Just praise Him," when you're away from home because the Lord is watching over the house.


• "Just praise Him," when you get to teach your kids about grace and the Lamb of God in a Passover celebration at home.


• "Just praise Him," when you're away from your kids and they tell you about the bad day they had with their teacher.


• "Just praise Him," when you're tired.


• "Just praise Him," when you're energetic.


• "Just praise Him," when you're sad.


• "Just praise Him," when you're thrilled.


• "Just praise Him," when you're alone.


• "Just praise Him," when you're surrounded with friends.


• "Just praise Him," when you're accused.


• "Just praise Him," when you obey.


• "Just praise Him," when there's nothing you can do.


• "Just praise Him," when God let's you hold the wheel too.


• "Just praise Him Shiela! Just praise Him!"

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That He may seat him with princes-- With the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of
children. Praise the Lord! - Psalm 113:1-9

**** Okay, I just went looking for this song to sing while I'm starting my day and I found this video. I had to add it on here, cause it's EXACTLY the image of what God is speaking to my heart... Just praise Him even while all the world around carries on and the circumstances of life continue... Oh Praise HIM! Sometimes I just need to burst forth in praise like this guy no matter where I am.

Redeeming the time

can i just ask for your prayers

There's a big disconnect between what I share here and what's going on with me lately. I feel like I've gotten to know so many of you via this blog thing and I'm so grateful. So can I just ask for your prayers.

So many things are changing for me right now, and with my recent revival in desire to abandon myself to return to being a vessel of daring love to my husband, it seems all hell is rising up to oppose me!

Today I'll be making daycare arrangements with a woman who is practically a stranger to me (we have no family here to trust with our kids when there's a need) and enrolling my kindergartner in the public school right in the middle of this year/term, all because I have to go find a part-time job that will still allow me to watch over this home I've been entrusted with.

I've been doing as much of the looking as I can from home, but because I haven't landed a part-time job yet, I need to go do some face to face talking with people.

None of this is what I planned for, but I am entrusting myself to God's Sovereign love in it all. Nevertheless, this momma wants to curl up in a ball and bawl!

So I'd appreciate your prayers much!

Redeeming the time