All Saints Day: Remembering we're surrounded by a cloud of witnesses

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also
lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of
God. -Hebrews 12:1-2

Part of the burden I have to let Christ's light shine brightly on Halloween comes out of the passion I have for remembering those saints who've gone before us, and learning from their testimonies and lives, and also, remembering that even today there are those who are persecuted and suffer for their faith. And not just that, I am a saint too. Not in the holier-than-thou connotation the word saint usually comes with, but in the truth. I am one of God's holy people, set apart, not by my good works, by my faith (which is a gift of God and not conjured up by me) in what the Son of God has done for me. If you trust (wholly lean on) Christ, you too are a saint. (1 Peter 2:9)

Take some time to remember who you are identified with and what trail has been blazed for you as a saint of God's today.


Thanks to Jennifer at Gathering Grace for reminding me about the Sarah Groves song too! How perfect for All Saints Day.

I am His workmanship tag

I was tagged by Summer for this: I am His workmanship. I've never done one of these on my blog. So just for fun, here's a little bit about how God made me:

A. Attached or Single? Attached
B. Best Friend? My husband
C. Cake or pie? A berry pie!

D. Day of choice? Saturday, cause my man's home and we usually do something together as a family.

E. Essential item? Bible/journal/pen
F. Favorite color? Red
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears
H. Home town? Roseburg, OR
I. Favorite indulgence? Chocolate

J. January or July? January in Arizona

K. Kids? Two precious sons!
L. Life isn’t complete without? Knowing Christ!
M. Marriage date? September 4th, 1993
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2

O. Oranges or Apples? Oranges if they're sweet.

P. Phobias? Being underwater and unable to breathe (I'm thinking scuba diving and the air runs out)

Q. Quotes? "Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes - The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." -Elizabeth Barrett Browning
R. Reasons to smile? This could be a VERY long answer... I have many reasons to smile, I'm the most blessed woman on the planet! God loves me! He calls me His friend! I get to be changed into His image this side of heaven and when I get to heaven I'll be made like Him and see Him face to face! And here reasons to smile fill my days: My husband wrestling with the kids on the floor. My son saying something about Jesus that only could be said with the faith of a child. The sunset Jesus painted just for me! :)

S. Season of choice? Spring... even here in the desert new life is seen in the spring!

T. Tag 2 people: Jennifer (Diary of 1) and Jo Princess Warrior
U. Unknown fact about me? I've been keeping a journal since I was 8 years old. I have like 20 full ones in my closet and I'm almost finished with my current journal.

V. Vegetable? Asparagus
W. Worst habit? Picking at my cuticles!

X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound. Ultrasound means new life being knit together and getting to see it happen... x-ray means something's broken.

Y. Your favorite food? Steak, baked potato with all the fixins and a loaded salad with house dressing!

Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Lions

October 31st is the Lord's!

I have a burden for October 31st. I feel jealous for my Lord on this day it seems more than others. I know the controversy amongst Christians concerning Halloween and I'm not speaking to that, except to say I pray all Christians will act by faith, according to their conscience before God this day just like any other day. What I'm writing about here is this voice that's crying out from within me, "October 31st is the Lord's! It's not Satan's birthday, or the darkness's special day. It's not a day for witches or ghosts. It's not a day to celebrate decapitation or evil (which I've seen twice today already, just going into Walmart... that's another post!). This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

I guess because so many are so blatantly enjoying dressing up like death and murderers and various depictions of evil and horror, I feel like I cannot keep silent on this day! My worship and my shine must be all the more bright.

And I can't hide my kids from the celebration of evil they see everywhere on this day. If I go into Walmart, there's a cashier with perfectly done makeup and costume realistically displaying herself as a nearly decapitated, beaten to death woman. If I go into Micheal's to get a frame for my kids' latest artwork, there I see a moving, moaning statue of a decapitated bride holding her own head. Because the violence is everywhere, I've vigilantly been talking with my boys about what Jesus says about death and evil. I've been teaching them the truth that God is Love and love does not rejoice in evil!

Love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6
(Good News Translation)

I've been seeking to redeem the time as I teach them to follow me as I follow Christ in speaking what's true and rejoicing in it.

Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will
give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:14-16

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech
always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to
answer each one. - Colossians 4:5-6

What's true is God created everything for His pleasure, His glory, His honor and to reveal His power! So I've been teaching the boys that because we hope in Christ, though we will die someday (unless Jesus comes for us first) we will live.

I've been telling them that God is love and love doesn't rejoice in evil, so when we see a murder depicted in costume, I literally fight back tears and look in their eyes and say, "That's murder sons. We are sad about that, not happy. God is sad about that, not happy."

I've also been buying back what God created that seems to be attributed to evil and darkness this time of year. For instance, I've talked with them about the spooky and yucky things God made, like eyeballs, and guts, bats and black cats... even the night God made. I've been walking around saying, "God made bats. Thank you Jesus for bats. God made cats. Thank you Jesus for cats." God made all these things to reveal Himself and His attributes, His creativity and His beauty... they don't belong to the devil or hell!

As for witches and ghosts I've talked to them about the heart of our Father and the wonders of the unknown spirit world we don't see with our eyes. I've said, "Boys, God is like the best daddy in the whole world... even better. He knows what's best for us. He doesn't want us to participate or celebrate or identify ourselves with witches because witches don't know Jesus and they talk to demons... angels that follow the devil. And God wants us to be unafraid of spirits, though there are real spirits, some who obey God and worship Him, and some who hate God and try to destroy everything He made."

My boys are going to see witches, ghosts, murderous costumes and the like tonight, but I trust that God's word is mightier and the open worship of Jesus as the creator of all things is brighter, even more in the darkness.

You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For
you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were
created." - Revelation 4:11

So tonight we are worshiping Jesus, Lord of October 31st LOUD! We are playing this music on our front porch:

We are displaying the truth about death (when you know Jesus) in these signs and fake gravestones which have the stories of faith that go with the person who was a witness of Jesus to this world, along with a sign declaring, "It's all YOURS God!" We're also praying like crazy and looking forward to inviting the kids who come by our house to play a game with us in the yard and enjoy some hot cider and treats... just to be in our presence that Christ might shine on them.

I love You Lord Jesus! I offer these signs and activities, these interactions and discussions, these intercessions and conversations as worship! Be glorified! We were created for Your pleasure!

John Piper spoke my convictions concerning voting as a Christian much better than I ever could have

I'm not really "here" as far as I have much going on and not much time for writing (which really bothers me... to everything there is a season though. :)), but I just had a minute to sit down and do some computer errands and read this article from John Piper concerning voting (which I found through the links at Gina's place, Chats with an "Old" Lady), and all I can say is a humongous AMEN!!!

I've been wanting to write what's on my heart concerning voting, but haven't had oppurtunity and John Piper expresses it perfectly.

If you're a Christian and you have any thoughts, concerns, convictions, etc., concerning voting, I encourage you to go read this article!

Here's a tidbit:

Voting is like marrying and crying and laughing and buying. We should do
it, but only as if we were not doing it. That’s because “the present form of
this world is passing away” and, in God’s eyes, “the time has grown very short.”
Here’s the way Paul puts it:

The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who
have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

What I'm singing this morning

This morning the words of this song are overflowing from my heart and reminding why I feel drained, poured out, emptied, and spent in a day. I've given my life, all of it, to Jesus. I'm poured out and drained for Him. Each morning He gives me the grace and mercy sufficient for the day. And this morning as I sang these words to Him I heard, "Remember Sheila, that You gave me all of you today." And as though He was giving me a slide show with that reminder I saw myself on the kitchen floor, cleaning up the fiftieth glass of spilled something, sighing, secretly thinking, "I'm so tired. I'm so spent."

"That's when I want you to remember Sheila, that you gave me all of you. Then you'll be able to smile and gladly worship me in your offering of cleaning up what never stays clean."

If you're a mom, I encourage you to sing this song to Jesus from your heart. And then today your emptied out life as a mom won't seem vain to you. You'll remember that you offered Jesus ALL of you!



Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my king.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold not a might would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use every power as you choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for thee.

Take my will and make it Thine it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour at your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee,
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for thee.

Here am I, All of me.
Take my life, It's all for thee.
x3

(Take my life, Lord take my life. take all of me)

Here am I, All of me.
Take my life, It's all for thee.