day 27

I knew this time would come and .... LOL I know you've all been checking back to see "Has Cindy posted a 28 days update?" Ya sure you came to read but you were still wondering .."Would Cindy do any follow up?" LOL..... yes here I am..aaahhh.... welll... doing the update ... following up ....aaaa.. - It went terrible! If I can use that word in this context. Honestly I/we was expecting/envisioning a very different outcome(not going into detail on that). We couldn't do it(that is the challenge) LOL. Ben was sick for at least 14 days, I was sick or otherwise for at least 5 days and the excuses go on. I am not sure if anyone reading this took the challenge or like us planned to take it. Were you able to do it? Or did you end up like us. I figure even though I say terrible, I know we got to talk a lot more about sex and some other personal lessons learned. Not as expected but never would I say it was a waste. But I think you can be assured I won't challenge you to do that again... lol.. Hey but isn't it great that in this day and age we can talk about sex openly in a healthy way.
With your spouse, talk about it and ...dare I say ... make it interesting! .. even if it's not that often.

To my unmarried or teen readers - Sorry, this one wasn't for you but hey when you're married you'll be all the more prepared to be a good spouse, till then keep yourself pure - it's the best thing you can do for your marriage, You future is based on now.

One more good thing that came out of this experience, a friend brought my attention to a site for married Christian women(also useful for husbands) with question about sex and a place to dialog about this topic. I have not surfed the whole site but from what I see from the onset it is bible based and a visually safe site to view for all married Christians but I have to put in this disclaimer that because of the nature of the subject you have to judge for yourself if it is appropriate for you. *added in edit(Some may find some topics uncomfortable to read about--don't read it then)* That said I learned a lot and it made me think and I know we will use this site in out marriage bed.
Wow that was a whole lot said to give you this : Christian Nymphos

If anyone wants to post comments about how it went for you, you are welcome.

The Provider

When it comes to getting meals on the table it's my job to provide(generally). But I was shown again who the true provider is...
Ben was sick for a week or so and I was doing double duty, taking care of the kids and Ben(I was actually sympathetic this time..LOL), taking care of all the details of a house we usually share. One day while Ben was sick I thought about asking God if he could send someone with a meal because I was getting a little tired...I didn't ask, but that day we got a pail of cookies, don't get me wrong I was very appreciative of the cookies but I distinctly remember thinking I shoulda asked for a meal .. we enjoyed the cookies none the less. Ben got better and then I was sick, in bed all day. I had no supper plan, nor did I want to think about it. I fell asleep saying to God "Today you can bring supper." ... Was I surprised when at 4:30 a friend arrived with a meal? .... Not so much surprised as completely delighted to know who my provider is. I was really excited for being sick. I thanked my friend for listening to God(she was thrilled because she had no idea that's what she'd done) and I thanked God for the food.

I know my provider ... Do you know Him?

Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2 Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

1 + 1 = 2 x as much

Don't know what to say when you pray?
Take a part of scripture and turn it into a prayer for yourself or for someone else.

I felt this scripture speak powerfully to me in prayer this week as I prayed it for myself.

Ephesians 1:17-20
"I keep asking you, Abba, my God and father of my Lord Jesus Christ, please give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know you better. I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened so that I will know the hope that you have called me to(Oh glorious day) That I might know the hope to which I have been called, that is the riches of your glorious inheritance I have in you. And I pray that I might also know and understand your incomparably great power for me because I believe. This power, is the working of your mighty strength and it is the same power that raised you, Jesus, from the dead. Amen"

Maybe I'm paying more attention these days but I've had more opportunities these days to pray with people, specific requests, than I even have. Humbling and a blessing, and I think this Ephesians prayer means that much more in these days. I need to know God better, be open eyed, know where my hope is, be enlightened to his thoughts and know His amazing power and authority is working through me. Scripture has such power and then combine that with prayer ... wwheewww ... envisioning amazing things!

The challenge to you - Use scripture in your prayer time.

**If you're one of those fabulous people that prays for me and reads my blog, wow may God really bless you. First - thank you and Second - now you have a specific request, Ephesians 1:17-20 for me:).**







1(scripture)+1(prayer)= 2 x as much

Just Breathe

Do you ever call God daddy?.... I don't it just seems strange.
Or how about this one
When talking to your dad or husband do you say "man" in the place where you might say his name or "hun"? or to your wife say "woman come here?" **advice from a woman -that one might not get a response or at best a negative one**
Your answer to the second is probably "NO". That's true for our house too I don't say to the kids "Go ask man." or "Go tell man it's noon and time to get out of bed." or "Where's man I need my feet rubbed."... :)
So what do these two questions have in common?
Ben pointed something out to be the other day that I want to share with you.. **Some of you have probably known this for years and this won't be a newsflash**
"God" is God's being title like "man" is Ben's title or "woman" is my title, why wouldn't we call God, when speaking to him, by a more intimate name than a being title, if he in fact is more intimate to us than that. God is so close to me I feel His presence, I would call him intimate. Jesus is a good personal name and I definitely call on Jesus but I mostly speak his name as "God" still. So if daddy is strange then here are some ideas- Father, Abba or Yahweh could work. I like Abba it means - "Oh father, or daddy" in Hebrew. I'll have to get used to that I think but I think it is worth the change, at least in most cases. What do you think?

Ben also taught me a prayer that also brings God..I should say Abba.. more intimate. I'm not sure where he picked it up but it is very practical and I'm going to call it "Just Breathe".

It all happens in one deep breath. It starts with breathing in and as you inhale you softly say "Abba" (it's almost as if your body softly says it on its own) and as you exhale you softly say "I am yours." or anything you need to give to God if it has 2-5 ish syllables it should work. Keep saying the prayer until the worries subside or say it as you fall asleep.
**I am not a professional at this I just tried it a few times**

My example of how I have used this already - these past few days I've been thinking a lot about my sister and brother in their situation. Instead of worrying, I Just Breathe "Abba, They belong to you."

I find it a good way to release to God and to put things into perspective.

Remember "Don't worry be happy!" **Flash from the past**
Cindy's words......
"Don't worry Just Breathe!"

Depression

Every movement is a choice
Every movement is forced
Every moment is a fight
Every moment is long

I see no light
I see no hope
"you sense no purpose"
"you sense the end"

"Lost your will to call out?"
"Lost your will to live?"
Lost in this place
Lost in emptiness

There is a place so deep and dark that unless you've been there you don't believe it exists.
There is a place where some feel so beyond the reach of help, even beyond the reach of God.
There are people around you and I who are struggling to see hope and a future in their existence.
These people struggle with depression.

I offer no fix
I offer no steps
I give no wisdom
I give no understanding

I know one thing
I know one who does
I know who knows you
I know who He is

God your creator
God your life
Jesus in your darkness
Jesus beside you

He loves you now
He loved you then
He is here now
He is here forever

I have experienced depression for but a few days(a long time ago) it really gives me no grounds to understand or speak about the place people go in these times, but I have been burdened to pray for the ones I know and in that I have somehow experienced an empathy for these people in these times. It might be you. I am so so sad at times with you. From the outside looking in I see hope and light but you don't see what I see, you see darkness and ...I don't know ... I wish I could give you my eyes for one day.
Jesus really loves you and us all and he comes to truly set us free, I believe Him for my own life and I know He can do it for you too.

I hope, I pray
if you read this today
you'll look for Jesus,
He's near you,
that's where He said He'd be.

Thanks Canadian Lumber

Seems the 28 days Challenge has created some buzz .... especially around the Canadian Lumber yard:)(or so I hear). LOL ..... something about men printing my blog post to show their wives. Great idea! Getting more readers is great - I should a thought about the "sex talk" a long time ago... just kiddin' that's not why I did it... but I sure don't mind. Anyway come by and read more often if your up for the challenges? .. ah even if you just come and read for the entertainment... :)
....Now is when I wish I had one of those vistor counters to see how many people have just popped in for a read... curiousity!