Did you know you are one of these?

This morning as you read this I will either be on my way or will have arrived in Houston.  My very dear new friend in my new home is having brain surgery tomorrow.  Yes, thank you for praying for her!

Last week she was telling me about someone she had the opportunity to minister to with the biggest smile on her face!  She could barely contain her joy about loving on this young lady and showing her the character of Christ.

As I listened to my friend's story I thought about something my little 4-year old said recently...

Unfortunately JP parked his Red Rider tricycle right behind my Dad's truck (instead of putting it back in the garage where it belongs) - we've probably all been there and you know where this story is going...

Yes, the tricycle now has a bent wheel.  However, my Dad has assured JP that it can be fixed!  JP was talking about this experience with my Mom - this is part of the conversation...

JP - "Grandmother, I think God can fix my tricycle."

Grandmother - "Yes, JP, I'm sure He could."

JP - "Grandmother, what kind of tools do you think God has?"

Grandmother - "I'm sure God has any kind of tool He needs for anything that needs fixing."

Wow!  Did you hear that question?  "What kind of tools do you think God has?"  I know little JP was thinking hammers, wrenches, nuts and bolts, and such - but as soon as my Mom shared this story with me it reminded me - we are His tools!

I shared with my friend that she has been God's tool in ministering to this young lady!  Imagine for just a moment your own tool box, or tool drawer.  What kind of tools do you have in there?

I know I used to have that "drawer" in the kitchen.  It was supposed to be a drawer filled with useful tools - but eventually it ended up being a drawer with useful tools and a whole bunch of junk!  I always had to search to find what I needed from that "drawer".  Most of the time I just gave up looking for that useful tool and settled for something less helpful or went to another source to find what I needed.

Now imagine that we - the body of Christ - are God's tools.  Are we useful or have we become like that "drawer" - more junk than tools?  I don't want God to be looking to use me and have to go to another source for something more readily available or useful!

Today as I travel to be with my friend in her hour of greatest need I pray that God prepares my heart and that I am found useful.  I pray that I will somehow be the hands and feet of Jesus and that she will experience His peace and see His love coming through my eyes.

When I return I'll be working hard and fast with Vacation Bible School preparations.  This is one of the verses for our week of the "Big Apple Adventure"...

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, "I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Go & teach others what Christ has taught you - and you will be a useful tool in God's toolbox!

You will be the tool God choses to fix and mend broken hearts!

Your sis in the faith,
Penny

Thank you...

Last night I enjoyed talking to my parents about both of their Dads - my granddads - about their service to our country in World War II.  My Mom's Dad was in Patton's army and his battalion rescued my Dad's Dad from a prison camp.  What a really cool story for our family!

Today I wanted to take a moment to honor all the soldiers - those who have gone on to heaven and those who are still fighting for our freedom every day.

I read about a man who faithfully followed his leader today in my One Year Bible... as I read it, I thought about how this was probably the heart of every fallen soldier.

2 Samuel 15:21 (ESV)

But Ittai answered the king, 

"As the Lord lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, 

whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be."

What a statement!  On this day, the Sunday before Memorial Day - John would always sing this song in church as he honored all branches of the military.

Today - take time to thank a soldier!

Life is not a snapshot

Today is the last day of school  - well at least for my kids!

I think a little bit it started yesterday.  My kids got to dig out potatoes from my cousin's garden.  They had a blast and learned so much!  It was a good day!

I'm learning to celebrate those moments as they come along.  I read this verse this morning and it just seemed to go along with a song that a friend sent me this week (Thanks Angel!).

Psalm 119:75-76 (ESV)

I know, O Lord, that Your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.  Let Your steadfast love comfort me according to Your promise to Your servant.

Josh Wilson's new CD is entitled, "Life is not a Snapshot" - Praise God!

I know I can't see the end - but I'm clinging to His promises every day that all this will be for His glory.  In the mean time I'm doing my best to be comforted by the Lord.

Leading through the pain...

Most of you know that I ABSOLUTELY love my One Year Bible!  God never ceases to show me great things in His Word that I've never really noticed before, and I've been reading my One Year Bible for 11 years.

As most of you know, my last 4 months have been riddled with much pain.  Not only have I been dealing with missing John like crazy - a pain that upon hearing the news I thought would be the end of me - but I've also dealt with many unpleasant circumstances as a result of his Homegoing.

So many days I just wanted to run and hide.

I've never been one to avoid an email or a phone call.  But since December 30th, I must admit, I have not been the best communicator.  This is just real talkin here...

But I read something last week in 1 Samuel that really encouraged me and has given me new strength and a new perspective.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (ESV)

David departed from there (Gath) and escaped to the cave of Adullam.  And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.  And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him.  And he became captain over them.

Let me set the stage for you just a bit...
David is running from Saul.  Saul is king of Israel and yet the Lord is exalting David in every way.  David was winning battles and gaining popularity with the people.  Saul didn't like this and therefore wanted him dead!  David is on the run to save his very life!  What a devastating time for him.  He has lost his home, his best friend and is away from everything he knows to be home.  He is in fear that at any moment an entire army may find him and kill him.

Talk about despair!  Talk about pain and heartache!

And yet... what do we find him doing?  Leading.

Did you see what happened?  He escaped to a cave and his family surrounded him to love on him and comfort him.  But they weren't the only ones to arrive.  Basically everyone who had a need came to him as well - those who were in distress, in debt, and who were bitter in soul.

They obviously saw something in David that encouraged them - even while he was experiencing a tragedy!  What a message for us all today!  While we are hurting and experiencing pain and sorrow - God can turn that into a tool to lead others to Him!

We never read that David questioned why they were there or that he sent them away.  Instead we read that he became their captain.  Ladies... God gives us opportunities to lead and guide others at what seems to us the strangest of times!

David could have said,

"Not now! Can't you see I'm busy!"  

"I'm not up for seeing people today!  

Dad, make them all go away!"

"I've got to figure out my own life 

before I can lead someone else!"

He didn't say any of these things!  He just lead through the pain.

Don't miss these when they come your way!  It's okay for others to see you hurt.  We know in this life there will be pain and sorrow.  It's what you do with the hurt and the pain that counts.  We can teach God's Word all day until we're blue in the face - but sometimes we have to teach others how to hurt as well.  I believe this is what David did and that is why they followed him.

This has become my prayer -  that even in the middle of me trying to hide in a cave on some days - that others would see Jesus right here beside me.

" Real Talkin' "

Every job has its own "language."  I'm sure you've experienced this before...  you take a job and learn a whole new world of acronyms which are used much like words in a sentence.  Typically, everyone knows them and throws them around as if you know them as well.

I'm learning day-by-day that teenagers have their own language too.  While having lunch with some other teachers last week, I learned a new "term" if you will.  It's called "real talk" or "real talkin'".

This is how you would use this term properly.  If someone says something to you and if believed it to be true, instead of saying, "that's true," you would say, "now that's some real talkin'."  Or, if you wanted to say, "I'm going to be honest with you..." - instead you would say, "This is real talk..."

So today I thought I might put my new vernacular to use... and give you some "real talk" here at Living Above.

The real talk is that I'm about to head into some very emotional days in the upcoming summer months.  I'm just going to lay it out for you...

June 1 - would have been our 9th Wedding Anniversary
June 19 - our first Father's Day with John being in Heaven
July 7 - his first birthday in Heaven

These days have always been very full.  Typically John would find something that he wanted and instead of 3 presents, he would ask for 1 really big thing.  I loved his heart!  He would search all year that for 1 special gift that he knew he wanted.  He was like a little kid around this time of year.

I'm not dreading these days, for I know I'm not going to be alone.  The kids are wonderfully resilient.  And I've got plans for every single one of them already!

June 1 - I'll be with a friend in Houston who's having a very serious surgery.
June 19 - we'll all be with John's brother and his precious family.  Jordan asked early on if she could call her Uncle Joe - Uncle Daddy - since he's taking care of us like Daddy would have done.
July 7 - we're having a birthday celebration for John at the place where he went Home - with all the people that were there on December 30th.  We have plans to plant a tree and release balloons and just be together again.

As I was reading my One Year Bible, I realized that although "real talkin'" - I've got some difficult days ahead of me... the biggest Real Talk is God's Word.

I knew I wanted to talk about Real Talkin today.  I just hadn't worked it out in my brain yet - but God had - for today in my One Year Bible we started Psalm 119.  I'm sure you know that Psalm 119 is all about His Word.

Check out this Real Talkin'... especially regarding my next couple of months!

Psalm 119:50, 52 (ESV)

This is my comfort in my affliction, 
that your promise gives me life.

When I think of your rules from of old, 
I take comfort, O LORD.

Do you need to hear some "real talk" this morning?  Open His Word.  I promise there is something specifically there for you.  And it will address the very "real talk" of your own life!

His Word Sunday

Whose Glory so I seek?

Well, it's Sunday, May 22, 2011 and we're all still here.  I think I must have been hiding under a rock for the past several days.  I just learned yesterday that the world was supposed to end last night.

And yet... here I am on Sunday morning - writing my blog!  No worries, the topic of today's His Word Sunday is not about this "prophet" - but rather something much more important.

Today I read the follow verses in my One Year Bible.  It was written about the people who actually got to hear - audibly - the very words of Jesus.  Imagine for a moment what it would have been like to hear His very words - out loud.

I prayed this morning that I never do what these people did after hearing a word from the Lord:

John 12:42-43 (ESV)

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, 

but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, 

so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 

for they loved the glory that comes from man 

more than the glory that comes from God.

Meditate on these verses today.  Which do you seek?  Don't let the approval of men (or yourself) be louder than glory that comes from God!

Just a few verses earlier... I read this and I  believe this is the key - proximity to the Lord...

John 12:26 (ESV)

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; 

and where I am, there will My servant be also.

Brave the dark... and let it shine!

Today is my little girl's birthday!  Our sweet little Jordan Paige is 7 years old today!  I remember the day we found out Jordan would be a girl.  John was so excited!!

Those 2 were such a great team!  They really had a super special Daddy/Daughter bond.  So to keep his memory alive today I have a special song for my blog.

On almost any given day or evening you could find Jordan & John outside singing songs.  Either making up new ones or singing some old faithfuls.  They were constantly saying to one another, "Hey listen to this new song I wrote..." or "let's sing this song together."

There was always time for music in the Franklin house!

I know today is going to be a happy day.  Jordan is going to make sure of that for sure!  However, it's yet another "first" that we're experiencing without him.  I miss him so much today.  John LOVED to celebrate.  The big the small - but especially birthdays!  Sometimes I just can't believe that he won't be here for all the birthdays to come.

I'm so thankful to have my family and friends so close by during this time.  It makes being brave through this dark new road so much easier.

I recently heard this song and I LOVE it!  It reminds me of the innocence of those younger days and yet maintains a wonderful message for us all today.

I love the line that says, "I'm gonna brave the dark and let my little light shine."  This is exactly what we're all doing day by day!

What do you open first?

Whew!  I'm not sure what part of my day is the most hectic - mornings or evenings?  Mornings are filled with many personal activities plus getting kids dressed and out the door... evenings are filled with dinner, homework, piano, T-Ball, bath-time, story-time, etc.

So this morning as I realized my alarm was going off at 4:30am... I ran through my list - prayer time, write my blog, exercise, pack kids backpacks, pack my own necessities for a day of subbing at the high school, you know this really could go on and on...

I was extremely tempted to open Facebook and email to see what had gone on overnight.  I love watching Fox News - so I really wanted to turn on the TV to get caught up in the news department.  I wanted to turn on my treadmill and get that knocked out first.  I for sure wanted to turn on the coffee pot and get that brewing so I could function for the rest of the morning!

What do you turn on or open first?

My Rockstar (my husband) always had a personal rule - and he did his best to pass on to me - that he would only first open his Bible before "opening" or "turning on" anything else.  He knew that in order to properly function throughout the day - his Bible and time with God had to come first!  He always used to say, "Before I open my computer, before I open the door to my office, before I open up voicemail - I open my Bible to listen to God first!"

I recently heard a cable TV commercial.  The lady in the ad says this, "The first thing I turn on every day is my TV - and right after that, it's my computer."  This ad encourages us to put a tangible thing first!  How backwards!

I must admit this is often a struggle for me - I want to turn on the news, open my Facebook, open my email, open my Twitter, turn on my iPod - all so I can "feel" connected - plugged in to what's going on!

I'm curious this morning... do you struggle with this too?  What do you turn on - or open - first thing in the morning?

Think of the difference we could make for God - or the difference in our very own spirits -  if we opened God's Word before we opened our computers!

Terrified... yet brave!

Yesterday was such an amazing day for me!  All the hard work of studying, assignments, crying, and so much more finally paid off - when the Head of the Science Department of my Alma Mater offered me a Teacher position!!!

It almost doesn't seem real!  So... in celebration my Mom decided to make her famous chocolate chip cookies!  They are seriously the best thing you ever put in your mouth!  When all of a sudden, we hear terrifying screams coming from the driveway!!!

All of my emotions are on super alert and very sensitive these days and I immediately jump out of my seat and am barreling out the door.  We find little 4 year old JP holding the mouth of a really big dog's mouth closed as he stands there screaming in fear!

This big black dog had wandered into our yard.  And yes, this dog is bigger than my sweet little boy and he was so scared, but he didn't want this dog to bite him, so he stood there holding his mouth tightly closed to ensure his safety, all the while still calling out for help!

I scooped him up into my arms assuring him that he would be okay.  Tears still rolling down his sweet little face, I told him how brave he was.

Later, as I thought about that moment... I realized it's a great picture of how we can be when we walk with the Lord.

We can still be afraid of danger.  We can still cry when things look scary and we're not sure if they will hurt us or not.  But to stand firm in the face of possible pain, calling out for help, yet standing brave is what Christ wants us of  - I believe.

Take a look at what Paul said:

Ephesians 6:10, 13 (ESV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

JP stood firm yesterday.  He was so very scared.  And yet, he stood there - holding that dog's mouth shut - while waiting for his rescue.  He knew I would hear his cries and and he waited for me to scoop him up away from the danger.

What a picture!  I learned such a valuable lesson about standing firm in what I know to be true about my God!  Rarely in scripture do we see God telling us to run from hard situations.  Most of the time we see Him telling us to stand firm, be courageous, call out and wait on Him.  This is exactly what JP did and we can do the same!

The past 4 months have been extremely difficult.  I'm not sure that I've been as brave as JP was with the dog - but I've had to wait on the Lord.  And yesterday He showed me that He's heard my cries and He scooped me up and rescued me with this amazing job!

Thank you Lord for this visual - I will hold this close to my heart as I continue to follow in your path for my life!

 photo credit: smerikal

"And Mommy..."

I wonder just how many times a day a Mother hears this word, "Mommy."  Either in a whine or a scream... or perhaps in a sweet voice or in an inquisitive tone - we hear this said over and over and over and over.

JP (my four year old son) adds the word "And" to the front of every "Mommy" that is said.  I didn't really notice it until we moved to Lufkin.  My Mom brought it to my attention one day and said, "I can't wait until you write a blog about how he says, "And Mommy..."."

For many weeks I thought, what significant does this even have?  JP acts as if we've never left each other, he talks as if we've been together all day and have had one continuous (long) conversation when he addresses me like this.

I looked up the definition of the word "and" & read that it implies continuation.

Then it hit me!  This is exactly how God wants to be with us.  He wants us to know that He is really is with us all day long.  Wouldn't it be neat if when we started praying, we too say, "And God..." - as if we never stopped talking to Him, that we never even acted as if we had walked away from a conversation with Him?

I read about David this morning in my One Year Bible.  It's a very familiar passage and I almost skimmed it instead of meditating on it.  Then I saw this - and it reminded me of how JP addresses me.

1 Samuel 18:14 (ESV)

And David had success in all his undertakings, 

for the Lord was with him.

"The Lord was with him." David truly walked with the Lord.  We see much of David's prayer times in Psalms and you can almost hear him saying, "And Father"... or "And Abba".

There are times when I hear this from my son that it does not rest sweetly on my spirit.  Sometimes it has a bit of a whiney tone to it... but now, in light of this - I might just have a little bit more patience with him.

I know God is patient with me.  There are days when I feel God's strength filling me and I'm ready to take on this assignment of being a single mother, a widow, a leader in my family and then there are days when I can't believe this is where I am - and I just want to cry to God and say, "And Father.... why does this have to be so hard?!"

But all the while... just as with David - the Lord is with me.  Today I want to talk to Him like JP talks to me - with continuation!  I wonder what He'll show me!

His Word Sunday

No Sword - Just the Lord

This morning I read a very familiar passage from my One Year Bible - David & Goliath.  It's easy to skim this story because we all know it so well.  But these verses stuck out to me today and I wanted to share them with you.

1 Samuel 17:45, 50 (ESV)

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."  

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.  There was no sword in the hand of David.

I love this picture!  We CAN prevail - even when we're up against some pretty deadly weapons!  This week as you come up against the giants in your life take with you the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel and fight confidently!

The Confidence of a 4 Year Old

Each Sunday as we arrive at church my children go through this little routine. I've actually come to love it and I wanted to share some of these precious moments with you all.

We're still living with my parents have come to call it home rather naturally. We all 5 ride to church together and have the most interesting conversations all the way to church. But as everyone "unloads" the routine begins. JP loves to yell, "I want to be the leader!" - as he runs ahead of everyone else as we traverse the parking lot.

As pass by the "greeters", JP likes to do his best to open the big heavy glass door (and we let him) and hold it open for us all. He likes for you to say he's being a gentleman!

What is Jordan doing this whole time? She likes to be right beside me - walking like me, holding her purse and Bible like me... it's really kind of cute!

Now we're approaching my favorite part of JP's Sunday routine. He says and does this every week. I wait for it just to make sure it's still true - I know it is - but I love hearing & watching it all the same...

As we're walking into the really big and open church foyer, he says, "Mommy, I know where I'm going!" Then he walks very boldly and confidently to his Sunday School room. I absolutely love it! He walks with such sureness about how not only how to get to where he's going, but excitement about what he knows he will find when he gets there!

This past Sunday as he went through this entire routine, and got to the last part about "knowing where he was going" - I looked over at my Mom and we both smiled a proud Mother and Grandmother smile - then I said, "I wish I could say that!"

Obviously not about how to get to my Sunday School class - but just about life in general. Don't you?

I wish I had the confidence of my little 4 year old. JP knows what is around each corner of his little pathway to his room. He also knows what will be found in his room. He knows once he gets there he will be given God's Word and he runs with excitement to his destination.

I want this! I want to move with excitement down God's path for me. I want to walk with bold and confident steps, knowing that He is leading me and holding my hand every step of the way.

 The specifics of my career, my future may still be unknown. I may not be able to answer the question, "What will I be when I grow up?" - even though I'm 40! And I may not be able to know the twists and turns like JP does - but I do know that God is there waiting to tell reveal to me His great story.

His Word Sunday

What an amazing amount of love!!

I know it may seem strange to hear this coming from me.... but this morning I'm actually at quite a loss for words.  I know I need to put something in a card to give to my Mother - but earthly words are just not coming to my mind that seem adequate for all that my Mother has done for me.

And I'm not referring to "all that she's done for me" in my 40 years of living - I'm really just talking about within the last 4 1/2 months!

She has traveled 4 hours in the dark to a remote place that was extremely hard to find to be with me when John moved to Heaven.

She held my hand through all the very hard parts of planning John's Celebration of Life service - and of course watched her 2 very energetic grandchildren at the same time.

She then traveled with me to New Orleans and worked tirelessly packing boxes and cleaning out a very very full & messy garage!  (Whew - I think that was the worst part!)  And of course watched her 2 very energetic grandchildren at the same time!

But it doesn't stop there... she then funded and helped transform their very comfortable house for 2 into a house for 5!  And of course daily watches, bathes, feeds, guides, trains, teaches, her very 2 energetic grandchildren!

Daily she listens to the drama of my new life - the good, the bad, the hard, the "Oh-my-how-am-I-going-to-do-this?" conversations.

So what do I say to a woman who has done all this for me?

I think I'm just going to let Paul say it for me - for this is how I feel about my Mom today...

I Corinthians 13:4-8  (NASB)

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.

I love you Mom more than you will ever know!  I'm so glad God gave me you as my Mom!

What exactly is a "blessing"?

What exactly is a blessing?  And what exactly is the vehicle of this "blessing"?

I've always thought that blessings were the wonderful things that God provides for me.  And that they would always come in beautifully wrapped packages.

But what if I've missed it.  What if blessings are perhaps much better than this?

Lord, I don't want to miss one single thing You have planned for me.  I don't want to miss the blessings You want me to experience... no matter how they arrive.

This is an AMAZING song!  It hits home for me and I hope it does for you too.

Thoughts that make Him smile

I have often shared with friends and family that since John moved to Heaven I think I use my voice less.  It's kind of a funny thing... but a serious one all the same.

I would call John every time I got in the car - rarely did I drive anywhere really by myself - because I would give him a quick call just to say a whole lot of nothing.  We loved it!

So now, I find myself getting in the car and.... being quiet.  I actually have a ton of time to just be quiet and think!  Sometimes this is good and sometimes this is really hard.

I find myself praying and just talking to God the way I used to just chat with John.  I guess this might be considered a form of meditation.  We talk about what's going on and how the scriptures that I'm reading might apply or strengthen what I'm experiencing.

I guess what I'm trying to say this morning is I want my conversations with the Lord to be just as pleasing to Him as those small little chats were to John.  I could almost hear John smile when he picked up the phone.  I want to make the Lord smile when I meditate on Him.

I found this verse this morning and it's given me a new determination to make sure that even my thoughts be pleasing to the Lord.

Psalm 104:34 (ESV)

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

I do rejoice in Him - even through this! I don't know where "this" is taking me - but I want to have pleasing "chats" with the Lord while we're walking this road together.

Heavenly Heat Transfer

I have not been as faithful to my blog lately - mainly due to tests, assignments, and course requirements...

Last Tuesday I took my Math Certification Test.  It just about consumed me completely!  My test started at 9am and wasn't over until 2pm!  Yes, I stayed the entire time!

The results?  I learned on Friday I did not pass.  Okay, to be honest I technically passed - I made a 70 - but I must pass with an 80 for it be classified as "Passing."   Therefore, I'm on the schedule to take it again on July 5th.

In the mean time, I'm still going through the Science Online Coursework for my Alternate Certification.  I have 132 hours of coursework I must complete online before June 20th.  Scattered throughout these websites are quizzes, tests, assignments.  In good 'ol East Texas vernacular... I gotta tell ya - I'm tired of tests!!!

As I was studying the Science material I came across this question and just had to laugh, "How has Heat Transfer made a difference in your life?"  The author's intent was to make you realize that Heat Transfer is in your everyday life whether you realize it or not.  Well, I'm here to tell these folks, I'm VERY aware that Heat Transfer has filled my life!

The technical definition of Heat Transfer is this:

The transfer of heat is normally from a high temperature object to a lower temperature object.  Heat transfer changes the internal energy of both systems involved according to the Law of Thermodynamics.

The transfer of heat from a higher temperature object to a lower temperature object.  Interesting.  I know you're probably all getting tired of learning a bit of physics and chemistry from my blog - but let me explain....

Have you ever thought about how the Lord uses heat in our own life to move us to action.  I think we've probably all experienced times in our life when "the heat has been turned up."

I think God was more than aware of the workings of the Laws of Thermodynamics way before any famous physicist!  

He's been moving His higher temperatures into our lower temperatures since the beginning of time!  This process of heavenly heat transfer has been the start of great works - Moses and the burning bush and countless altar experiences - just to name a few!

Let's see, my husband and I work for 10 years planting churches that struggled every day, then the Lord brings him home, I'm left with many financial issues, two small children to raise and obstacles at every corner trying to find a career that will sustain us all.  I could write a book answering the question above about how heat transfer has made a difference in my life!

Right now I think I could go for a little "cooling off period" - but then I read things like this...

Zechariah 13:8-9 (ESV)

In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.  And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them.  I will say, "They are my people"; and they will say, "The Lord is my God."

While I am getting burned from all this "heat transfer" I know that my God is refining me for His work.  I just must  be willing to endure.  I want this heat transfer to show that I belong to the Lord.  I want my God to say, "This one's Mine!  Don't you see the markings?  This one's been through My fire and has come out tested and pure!"  I was His higher heat to move into my lower heated life and cause me to move to a move excited state - a more useful state!

"Lord, please give me the strength to endure all this Heavenly heat transfer.  I know parts of me needs to burned off - help me to make it through this painful process and come out refined on the other side!"

His Word Sunday

Dwell Secure

Have you ever thought about who, what, or where you place your security?  I'm talking about your every day living security...

If it's in anything but God, you're going to feel empty when (not if) it goes away....

Psalm 102: 25-28 (ESV)

Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

but You are the same, and Your years have no end.

The children of Your servants shall dwell secure; 

their offspring shall be established before You.

Did you see it..."they will ALL wear out like a garment" - everything but the Lord.

Make sure your security is in Him before anything else!

This is how we "dwell secure."