God is alive

God is alive.

What happens when we forget this?

Our lives reflect it. ..... If we forget this, we might stop meeting with Jesus, we forget to pray or listen to God and we stop expecting God to meet us. And the downward spiral continues to decend from there.


I was at Church planting congress for the last 3 days, from all the worskshops, plenary speakers and conversations with fellow sojourners I came away with something simple yet powerful.

We have to live the reality that God is really alive.
Do I live like God is alive?

Do you know God is living?
What happens in your life when you live the reality?

God is alive!

Do I mean it?

"Why do we sing songs we don't mean?" My 10 year old daughter has been listening too closely to the worship songs, .... During worshiping in song I've encouraged her to read the words and sing along and she has done this and become a beauty to watch and join with in worship but now what? She has noticed a problem, a discrepancy. .... we sing "I surrender all" but yet we don't really surrender all. .. give my everything ... with all my heart ...sing of your love forever ... we sing it but do we mean it? She asks because she sees within herself the age old battle between God and self. She is wise beyond her years to proclaim such insight into the human heart. I've often pondered on this myself and maybe you have too. Pondered, reflected, confessed and then asked the one we praise for the power to over come our failures.
Ariel's question should be our question for this week, bring it with you into this weeks worship service.
When you're singing to Jesus this week, ask yourself "Do I mean it?"

Abba is Reminded

Interesting what is really said about the rainbow in Genesis 9 it wasn't really a reminder for humans but a reminder for God. "The rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth."

I forget a lot of things, I know I need reminders ....
Abba needing a reminder- is a funny thing, it makes me smile, I like God....Can he really forget?
Either way it's plain to see he wanted a reminder, so he made one.
Somehow I feel I can understand God better knowing this piece of information, and in a strange way I can understand myself better like I've been able to connect with myself- the made-in-God's-image self... I guess that is the point of reading the bible- to know God better, to connect with Him and to know ourselves in the process.

When God sees the rainbow He is reminded of his covenant, "never again will a flood destroy the earth"

When I see the rainbow I'm going to remember how near God is, and how we both need reminders.

The Earth will never flood, that's a promise ... but he didn't say anything about the Red River Valley.

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.

The presence of God

This day has been a wonderful day. It's not about what I did but it's about the feeling in this day, it's about God in this day. Maybe it started yesterday or the day before but I feel it for sure today. I feel so at peace with God, so full and full filled. It's like I am in the most perfect spot in my life, I am at the look out on a long hike and I can see a breathtaking view. I actually feel so good it is almost overwhelming, like I am not sure I can stand it for too much longer. Maybe it is the spiritual residue from the Tuesday evening "Encourage to Freedom", all those people who prayed for the evening and who are still praying for it's effect in women's lives. Maybe it's the feeling of doing the will of God (As i really know I did His will by sharing the other night). This feeling is the presence of God, I want to keep it and never take it for granted. I am in awe of God! In utter awe of His miraculous ways! In awe of His grace to allow me to have this beautiful day.
This is the day that the Lord has made!

Will God really have a word of direction for me?

God thrills me. He is so so amazing....
When I am agonizing over an issue and my heart is breaking and I begin to think and mull over the issue. Maybe you too are like this, you know you need to go to God, but you delay, at least I do, it's almost like I fight it. Then eventually as if I've exhausted all other avenues of help, I do it. What the reason is I do not know because I know my God is more in love with me than I can imagine and he wants to help me. (And that is true for you too) so I Go to God in prayer and to his words. But there is a thought in the back of my mind "Will it really help?" I open the bible to the place I last left off which sometimes seems more random than planned... will God really have a word of direction for me? I do this yet I know I have a very close connection to God, You too may feel it, but yet we all seem to have this innate nature, our sin nature I guess, that wants to go it alone. This morning I was like this and then I read the words I needed from scripture. He is truly amazing for his words are living and active, sharper than any double edge sword it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. and nothing in all creation is hidden from God he knows everything in us. (Hebrews 4:12-13) Which is also some scripture that God showed me this morning. I am not telling you these things ever to bring glory to myself but to God and actually to get you, yes you, to go to God, the living and active God who knows everything anyways. Like I said I struggle to get there too but once you go to Him he has a word of truth to speak into your heartache, illness, broken relationship, confusion, anger, daily grind. don't delay because here is the words I was given from God today
Hebrews 3:12-14 " See to it brothers(and sisters), that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. but encourage one another daily as long as it is called today. so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."
Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.
It may not be daily but these words from God plus the agonizing issue I am dealing with right now only drives me more to share this hear.
The answer to the blog title: YES!

The Light vs darkness Cont.

I can only imagine you all think I've gone off the deepend or something, being so down right depressing. If you know me at all, you'll know I see the positive side of life, but not always I guess. I have had a few weeks of interesting questions for God and doubts and seeing more darkness than light it feels.... I am not sure how to explain it, I do feel like I am on the up swing though. The positive me is coming back. God and I have had some "chats", I've wrestled it out with him. Not that I have it all together now but feeling more confident... hard to explain..... One thing I want you to know is that when you doubt and when you feel more darkness than light you are not alone. I mean that in 2 ways, you're not alone because I can personally say I relate and you're not alone because God cares about you and he is walking through it with you leading you toward the light again. We just need to open our minds to hear what he is telling us.
Now any stories? Share a story about the Light overcoming the darkness.

The Light vs Darkness

Sometimes it seems that darkness is overcoming the light and I begin to doubt that the light of the world is more powerful, more intense than the darkness, the enemy, of life. If you have a story to lighten the day with how The Light has poured into you please tell me I need to know that God is at work.