Remembering the Miracle

We had an awesome service last night.

We have been in revival with Brother Darrell Bennett from Texas.

This man is definitely from Texas! He does everything BIG!

We had a tremendous outpouring for the Holy Ghost last night as we have in every service. He challenged us to remember "Our Miracle."

Yea, how soon we do forget.

And he also reminded us that sometimes the storm comes because we are asleep, and we need to wake up! So instead of whining about the storm, we should be praising the One who sent it!

*In case you didn't know....sometimes bad things happen for our own good....they are not always a product of the devil (who we give way to much credit anyway)*

I had a wonderful time just chatting it up with my kids, and Devin, a friend of Ethan's from school, on the way there and back. According to the standard set by the world, my kids are so abnormal....and I am SOOOOO thankful for that.

Devin prayed at the altar. I expect her to get the Holy Ghost soon!!

We were listening to a CD on the way home by Jars of Clay. There is a line in one of their songs that I love. It says "I have no fear of drowning, It's the breathing that's taking all this work."

I can remember a time when I was young when the thought of death would make me feel panic. But death doesn't scare me anymore.

Not to say living does scare me, but getting up day after day, facing whatever life throws our way, is, well, so overwhelming sometimes.

And I think it's because I forget.

I forget who I am. I forget Who I serve. I forget my miracle.

Last night I stood back and watched as the men (young and older) gathered around praying for my son and I wept. There, with his hands thrust up in the air, stood my miracle.

And over my shoulder I could hear the weeping and praying of my other miracle.

Lord, let me never forget. Look what You have done for me. No, my life is not perfect. Yes, I face problems. But, God, I have a beautiful family. I have two children that would rather spend their free time in Your presence than any place else. And as I look around at the young people of the world I have to recognize how awesome that is.

And I remember so vividly, standing at an altar, with my frail son standing in front of me, knowing You had healed him. I remember the miracle, and the promise I made. How can I ever forget.

Drum Roll Please.....

Ok, so most anybody who knows me KNOWS I have been praying for God to open a door for me with my job. I really am not a job hopper, although my recent employment activities would say otherwise.

I happened across this job while looking for something for someone else. It sounded intriguing, so I applied.

I was called to interview and I went. I prayed "OK, Lord, if this is something I can do then let the door open, if not then don't."

Well, the door opened. So I walked through.

I am officially starting my new position on Feb. 25th. It will be a tremendous opportunity for me. I will even have a chance to advance my career.

It will also be very challenging for me. To start, I will have to train for at least 4 weeks, away from home. I don't know if I can stand being away from my family for that long. I just keep telling myself "this too shall pass."

Another door opened this week. Shain and I have our first job for "This Day Photography." I am all set to order our equipment later today so we will have plenty of time to become acquainted with it before the wedding on March 29. It will be in Savannah at a little Catholic Church. I am thrilled!!!

I will post a link to our website as soon as it is up and running! We need referrals people!!

We decided on the name "this day" for 2 reasons...

During the wedding vows you promise to love from "this day" forward, no matter what. We believe in those vows, in those promises.

And also for Joshua 24:15--And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you "this day" whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

We have made our decision, and it is our prayer that God will use us to reach people through this venture.

Well, that's all my news for now.

Asleep At The Wheel

Years ago when I first started working as a nurse, I was delegated to the dungeons of night shift. At that time we lived about 15 minutes from town.

That was the longest drive of my life.

I would get off and get in my car to start the trek. Sleep would begin to beckon me as soon as I turned the key in the ignition.

I cannot count the times that I would suddenly realize I was sitting under the carport with no recollection of how I got there.

Thankfully this time I only live about 4 minutes from work, so I haven't encountered that problem.

And I am also thankful that I ended all those other trips parked safely under the carport because I know that each trip could have ended so much differently.

I have seen the consequences of someone who got behind the wheel of a car, thinking they could reach the destination they set out for, only to become weary and before they knew what happened their trip turned into tragedy.

I have seen saints sit on pews and sleep. Oh, I'm not talking about physical sleep, although I have seen that too.

What I am talking about is spiritual sleep.

They snuggle down into the routine of life and the next thing they know they are in a spiritual ditch, hoping for a wrecker to pull them out, or in some cases an ambulance to save them.

All those years ago I went to a Ladies Retreat after working the night before. I drove myself and 2 other ladies to the campgrounds about 3 hours away. We all visited a while and then dressed for service.

The guest minister was a very noted man who has writted many books on the subject of Apostolic faith. He is very well versed, and, ummm, maybe not a good choice when you haven't had sleep in almost 30 hours.

Not only did I doze off several times, I was literally falling out of my chair. And since I was only a few rows from the front, everytime I would jerk back up into my seat I was looking straight into his eyes.

I know this walk can cause weariness, but we have a place of rest, we have a refreshing promised in the Word.

And just like our physical body needs rest to function along with the other elements needed to sustain life, so our spiritual man needs too.

We have to feed ourselves on the Word, rest in the comfort of His Promises, listen for His voice, follow His direction, and delight ourselves in His ways.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I got a call from my husband late one night. He had been coming home from working out of town and he told me he had run into the ditch and needed me to come get him.

What he failed to tell me was he had run *through* the ditch and stopped under and between several pine trees. If I had not been awake and paying attention, I would have missed the car altogether.

So is it important that we stay alert for problems in our brothers and sister, and be ready to stand in the gap for them in prayer.

I want to be waiting with my lamp lit when He comes for me, instead of sleeping though and losing out.

Lord, as my exhaustion washes over me today, I long for rest for my body. Help me also to rest in You. I need that refreshing that comes from You, that lifts me up and renews my commitment to serving You. Help me to remain alert to any problems, big or small that may drive me off my course before I even know what happened. I don't want to end up another casualty of complacency. I want to be watching, listening, waiting and ready when You come.

Can't Never Could

I have spent my whole day stretched like a bow string, waiting to pop. The thing I dreaded came, just as I anticipated.

I have so much inside of me that wants to come out. It almost feels like I am a bottle of soda that has been violently shaken, and now waits for someone to open me up so all this inside of me can come shooting forth.

There are things right now that for various reasons I cannot do. Oh, how I want to. How the desire burns within me. It is a passion that is so hard for me to contain.

As I was talking to my *best Friend* today, I asked for something to help me in my situation. He was quick to answer.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." -John Wooden

There are things right now that I cannot do, but there is so much I can do. And if I switch my focus off of the things that are out of my control, and channel that unused passion into other areas, like increasing my prayer time, or working on playing the keyboard better, or increasing my study time, then those things that I cannot control will become His focus.

I know the plans He has for me are all for my good. I am trusting Him fully, for He has NEVER, NEVER, NEVER let me down!!!

I have some other good news to announce, but now is not the right time. I'll leave you in suspense for a while longer. Suffice it to say, He always provides.

My precious Friend, I am longing for You today. Like the song I played over and over today, "If home is where my heart is, then I'm out of place." I long to be with You, putting the world behind me. I am comforted by Your words, for You said that You have overcome the world, so the things that would hinder me are nothing for You. Still, Lord, I've never been more homesick than now.

The Sentinels--Guarding the Truth

One of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life was spent standing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery watching the Changing of the Guard.

Not everyone is qualified to stand guard. These soldiers have to not only meet certain physical standards (they have to between 5'10" and 6'4" with proportionate weight and build), they also have to pass rigorous training before they are allowed "a walk." Over 80% of the soldiers who try out for this duty do not make it.

These men are members of the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the US, serving our country since 1784. This unit is known as "The Old Guard," a nickname given by General Winfield Scott during the victory parade at Mexico city in 1847. These elite men have been guarding the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of the weather since April 6, 1948.

The men always follow the same pattern:
*The sentinel marches 21 steps across the black mat, past the final resting places of the Unknown Soldiers of WWI, WWII, Korea, and the crypt of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War.
*With a crisp turn, the sentinel turns 90 degrees to face east for 21 seconds.
*The sentinel then turns a sharp 90 degrees again to face north for 21 seconds. A crisp "shoulder-arms" movement places the rifle on the shoulder nearest the visitors to signify that the sentinel stands between the tomb and any threat.
*After a moment, the sentinel paces 21 steps north, turns and repeats the process.

The practiced cadence is timed so that the sentinel paces at a rate of 90 steps each minute.

A uniformed relief commander enters the plaza to announce the changing of the Guard. When the sentinel assigned the next walk leaves the guards' quarters, he unlocks the bolt of his M-14 rifle to signify that he is ready to begin the ceremony. The relief commander approaches the tomb, slowly salutes, then faces the visitors and requests silence during the ceremony.

As the new sentinel approaches the relief commander, slowly and with great precision, conducts a white-glove inspection of the sentinel's weapon, The two then march to the center of the mat where the duty sentinel stops his walk, and all three men salute the Tomb.

"Pass on your orders." the commander instructs the active sentinel.

"Post and orders, remain as directed." He replies.

"Orders acknowledged." Answers the relieving sentinel, who then steps into position at the center of the black mat. As soon as the relief commander passes, the new sentinel begins his own walk, 21 paces south, turn and pause for 21 seconds, turn and pace 21 steps south, and then repeat the actions without distraction until relieved by the next changing of the Guards. (http://www.homofheroes.com/)

These men have not varied in this since the beginning so many years ago.

The Sentinel's Creed

My dedication to this sacred duty
Is total and wholehearted-
In the responsibility bestowed on me
Never will I falter-
And with dignity and perseverance
My standard will remain perfection.
Through the years of diligence and praise
And the discomfort of the elements
I will walk my tour in humble reverence
The best of my ability.
It is he who commands the respect I protect
His bravery that made us so proud.
Surrounded by well meaning crowds by day,
Alone in the thoughtful peace of night,
This soldier in honored Glory rest
Under my eternal vigilance.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

There are men today who are part of "a walk." This is the same walk that their fathers walked, and they are determined not to falter in their steps. These Sentinels of Truth are following the "old paths," determined to remain the "watchmen" they were appointed to be.

I have seen the ridicule they are now enduring at the hands of men that once walked beside them. And it shames me.

I am thankful that I have a Pastor who sounds the trumpet of warning, a Pastor who does not cower down to the dictates of man, but lives by the Word. I am thankful that he stands before us as a man that is respected for his wisdom and his steadfastness. And he remains on guard to the snares of the world, sounding the alarm with boldness when danger comes that may take us off the path.

I can qualify my concern. Those that I used to fellowship with, that have decided to embrace these new thoughts are virtually unrecognizable to me. Things that I was taught in the beginning of my walk by these same people are of seemingly no significance any longer.

And I think the biggest problem I have with the whole issue is once upon a time these men stood up and gave their word, promising to uphold a certain standard. Until the written *bylaws* were changed, they were still bound to uphold what they promised.

These "watchmen" stood in pulpits, with the souls of their saints riding in the balance of their presentation of the Word, and they were living a lie. And now that there are men who say "Nay Nay, we will not do this," these "watchmen" with one eye closed to their own indiscretions raise the battle cry and begin the rock slinging.

Today, I honor those men who refuse to bow down to the dictates of those that have so blatantly let down the guard. I honor them because I have seen first hand the destructive power of the world. I honor them for continuing to walk the "old paths."

I honor them for being the Sentinels of Truth. Like the Sentinels guarding the Tomb, these men have had to prove themselves. Every step along the "walk" has been measured by the Word. And when the time comes for the "Changing of the Guards" of our faith, they will be met by young men that have been trained in the "old paths," young men that are unafraid to stand.

"Pass on your orders," the young man will say.

"Post and orders, remain as directed by the Word, never to stray from the path," he will reply.

"Orders Acknowledged," the young man of God will say, and he will step into position behind the pulpit and deliver the Truth, guarding it with his very life, dedicated to his own "sacred duty," his standard will be perfection, his call held in "humble reverence."

Walk on, faithful Sentinels, walk on. There is a lost world counting on you.

When They Still Don't Understand

I am a believer in the fact that each of us that serve God do so with a purpose.

I am blessed beyond measure in my walk with Him. I feel like He has given me a measure of "talents" and I want to use them for His glory.

When I use them, it becomes my worship. I leave the outer courts, pass through the inner courts, and am ushered into the Holy of Holies. And it is my responsibility to bring others with me.

This is no light thing for me. I will never discount what it truly is. It is not a pass time or a hobby. It is a ministry. It is my way of opening up my heart and pouring out of myself all the praise that is inside of me.

How do I explain that to someone who has not yielded to God?

There is a chorus we sing that explains my heart.

"I worship You with all of me
My heart, my life
I give You everything
I'll pay the price
Such a small sacrifice
To worship You with all of me.

I give You every part of me
Each song I sing
Each breath I breathe
I give to You my heart and soul
Take my life
Take control"

It is worth it all to me. What am I actually sacrificing? Time, energy? Is that a sacrifice?

The money spent is always honored by God and is apparent in our lives.

But for someone living on the fringes of God's great blessing, someone who is content to listen to a great message as long as they don't feel conviction, someone who comes to church for the entertainment value instead of coming for the value of the message it would be next to impossible to grasp why.

The "why" is simple for me. It is as necessary as each indrawn breath. It is the longing of my soul.

So to all who still don't understand this need inside of me, to all that want to know what it is like when the Lord places a burden in you, when He gives you a calling, no matter how big or small, and it consumes you with the need to fulfill His plans and designs for you, maybe it's time you sought your purpose.

Maybe then your own song will change, too.

But as for me, I'm going to serve Him. I'm going to serve Him.

When They Don't Understand

In the Book of Acts in the 5th chapter you read an account of Ananias and his wife, Sapphaira. In order to understand the significance of what happened to them, though, it is necessary to back up some.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them ALL. Neither was there any among them that lacked..." (Acts 4:33-34)

Oh, what would it have been like to have been in that upper room when the Holy Ghost fell? I can only relate it to my own experience, and knowing how it was for me, to imagine everyone with one mind, in one accord, worshipping, praying, waiting, anticipating the promise, excites my heart.

Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession, and unlike the others who "sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet" (Acts 4:34-35), they kept a part of the price, thinking no one would know.

Peter addressed first Ananias and then Sapphira. "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" he spoke to Ananias in chapter 5 verse 4. This transgression cost them their lives.

It is hard for me to understand some things. I have been a partaker of His grace, a recipient of His mercy. I have been in my own upper room, and I lack for nothing.

And there is NOTHING I want to hold back from God.

Did Ananias and Sapphira simply not understand the price of what they had been given? I'm not speaking of the money they received for the land, I am talking about that glorious day when the Holy Ghost moved through that room.

I know people who have received the same as I, the same as those waiting in that room so many years ago. And yet they still hold back, keeping part of themselves from God, they give only a portion to Him, to His work.

To these, it seems, they never have any depth to their walk with God, preferring to stay on the outskirts, afraid they may be found to still have a portion withheld. But what they don't understand is God knows.

I give You my all today. I give You my everything. It is such a small sacrifice for all You have done for me. Search me always, every part of me, and help me to know my failings, help me to see my shortcomings, and let me reach deep down and pour out all that I am to You. For I know the richness of what You have given me. I worship You with ALL of me.