When you end up in the right place....

Tonight I ended up being uncharacteristically late to a meeting.  Normally I arrive around 15 minutes before the start of any meeting.  But tonight I walked in the building at 5:57 for a 6:00 meeting.  When I opened the door, this was what I found!  The room was completely empty!  I went back outside the room, just to make sure I was in the right place.  But, yep, there was the sign and this was the correct place.  So it really didn't make any sense that there was no one else there.  People did start to arrive shortly after I got there.  And I can say with all confidence that I was certainly in the right place tonight!

This week I have been thinking about so many different things... most related to Spiritual warfare. Mixed in with all that kind of heavy stuff,  I have also been thinking about my mom and dad.  Saturday would have been their 78th Wedding Anniversary.  That just doesn't seem possible.  Isn't it funny how you never, ever stop missing your parents?  My dad died in 1985 and my mom died in 2011.  But I still sometimes find myself thinking I need to call my mom and tell her something.  

So in honor of their anniversary, here is our family picture from their 25th Wedding Anniversary.  I am that little 7 year old!  I remember posing for this picture but I know that I didn't appreciate what this day was about.   So many memories of my birth family and especially feeling so thankful for my mom and dad and all that they into my life.  

Yes, tonight was all about being in the right place.  There was no big "event", but all I can say is that I KNOW that I got to the right place at the right time.  It was the best 2 hours spent in prayer that I have had in a long, long time.  It was refreshing and filling and just what I needed.

Don't you just love it when Jesus knows exactly what you need?  I had no idea how much I just needed to be in a room of people, joining together in prayer.  My encouragement to you today is to follow those gentle pushes of the Holy Spirit.  You know, the times that you really feel like you need to get to a meeting or conference?  When you start coming up with all the reasons why you just want to stay home?  Well, that is the time that you need to just push through and GO!  And here comes another Spiritual Warfare update.  That urge to stay home, to NOT go, is a prime example of Spiritual warfare.  Satan wants to keep us out of the presence of Jesus and the company of the Saints.  It is at those times that it is good to shoot up an arrow prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to help us press through and get to that meeting.  When you do, you will be blessed!  

Jesus, thank you for tonight.  You are a God that gives good gifts!  Thank you for providing a sweet treat tonight!  Holy Spirit, continue to give us encouragement to gather and worship and pray and fellowship!  Thank you for family, for mothers and fathers and thank you for memories and anniversaries.    Amen

Cleaning out a closet.....

So now that the outside of our house is MOSTLY completed, Ken and I have been talking about the INSIDE of our home.  Yes, it needs as much work as the outside did!  Thirty seven years is a LONG time!  And certainly, raising two children here was also hard on the house.  So now it is time to bring this place out of the 1970's and into 2015!  Yes, I am being realistic and know that the work will not be done until 2015 at the earliest.  There is certainly enough to be done right now.  Ken and I began the clear out this afternoon.  We tackled one closet.  I know that is not very much.  But to us, it seems like a big deal.  This picture represents the items that will be going to Goodwill next week. (Gwen will be especially glad to see that very ugly framed hook rug leaving the house.  It used to scare her when it hung in the hallway near her bedroom!)  And I am happy to say that we filled one garbage can and one recycle bin.  I actually condensed the items from three large plastic tubs into one tub.  So I was able to take other items that had been stored in cardboard boxes and move them into the now empty plastic tubs.  We now have a very organized closet in Ken's photography studio.  The hope is that the closet in the scrapbook room will be pared down just as much and we will have organized space in there also.  Alas, we ran out of steam today so that will wait until another day.

I was thinking about how messy everything looked when we were in the middle of this clear out today.  Every room in our upstairs was filled with STUFF.  Even the hallway was almost impassable.  It was necessary to make a big mess in order to really clear out and organize.  Isn't that what happens when we start to deal with those really hard issues that our buried deep inside of us?  You know, the things that are buried way in the back of that dark closet that we would prefer to not open.  Sometimes you just have to pull out all of the junk and deal with it!  Yes, it is messy and there might be stuff all over in every area of your life.  But doing the work, sorting through those issues, throwing out the stuff that just doesn't belong, taking the time to appreciate and save and preserve the things that DO matter.  And then making sure that you can find these treasures when you want them.  I have been through this process many, many times.  And I confess, it is painful.  But the good news is, you feel so much better once you do the hard work!  The biggest reason for this is that once all of this junk is brought out into the light, Satan can not use it against you anymore!  Honestly, it is always the things that we are trying to cover up, that Satan whispers in your ear.  Once you do the work, get rid of the junk, deal with the stuff, and then keep whatever is really useful and good, there is nothing left to torment you. The best news about this process is that you are not doing this alone.  The Holy Spirit always stands with you and Jesus will lead you through the process.   I said that I would be blogging a bit more about Spiritual Warfare, and here is the first installment.  Getting real and dealing with your issues is the most proactive, offensive thing we can do to fight those attacks of Satan.  I really think this is just as important as putting on that armor.  We just can't leave anything hidden that can weaken our spirits.

One more confession tonight.  I did NOT sleep well last night.  My dreams were filled with scary and troubling images, mostly associated with Halloween.  Normally this stuff doesn't bother me.  But I realized that I had not been surrounding my thoughts with prayers of protection.  And I had been just letting the things of the world sort of seep into my mind and my spirit.  So I turned up the tunes in my head, brought a flood of worship into my spirit, and prayed!  I can feel that I am much more settled today, so I expect to sleep well tonight.  But this is just a reminder that  we need to be on guard and not be OVERCOME by the things of the world, but overcome the darkness with the light that is within us.

Jesus, thank you for these reminders today.  Help us all to search our hearts for those hidden things that might cause us trouble in the future.  Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to me after troubling dreams.  You are always right there to help us when we face situations that unsettle us. What an amazing counselor you are, walking with us as we deal with difficult and sometimes painful issues.  Thank you Jesus for your light that\ eliminates the darkness.  Thank you for times of refreshing amid the work!   Amen

From Wiggles to the Armor of God.

I had another great day at Gwen's today.  It is amazing to me that in just a week Anna seems to grow and change so much.  I mean, just look at her!  Here she is standing at her play table.  Now, I admit that I stood her up there, but once she was there, she stayed standing and played for a long, long time! She is so determined and so curious.  There is nothing that girl can not find on the floor...even the tiniest little piece of paper.  I can't wait to watch her grow and see all that she accomplishes.

 It is no surprise that Anna and Zeke have a special relationship.  It has been a bit challenging for Zeke now that Anna is wanting to play with HIS toys.  Zeke is in love with balls of all kinds and he has a giant tub of bouncing balls that he is always going to.  Sometimes  he will share with Anna.  Today Zeke had a "feather duster" and was playing "hockey" with a small ball that flashes and blinks when you touch it.  Anna was just thrilled watching Zeke in action.  I could not get him to stand still long enough to snap a picture.  But you can get the idea from this blurry shot.

I couldn't help but think about The Wiggles!  Lia and Ellie both watched a lot of Wiggles, but Zeke doesn't really know the show.  One of my favorite people of that series is "Captain Feathersword".  He is exactly what you would expect from a show for preschool kids.  Instead of a weapon, he has a feather that is his sword.

\

And that is what I was thinking about today, when I was watching Zeke.  Let's face it, a feather duster is a lot less likely to cause an injury to another person (think that little 8 month old sister sitting on the floor) than say a hockey stick!  

I've been thinking quite a bit about spiritual warfare in the last couple of days. And today Gwen and I were talking about the armor of God and the Sword of the Spirit.  Actually we were talking about a flaming sword!  Isn't that what we really have?  As we speak the word of God, the Holy Spirit ignites those words.  And the Bible says in Hebrews 4:12

"The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword"

Of course this fits with my FIRE word from yesterday.  It is just taking it one step further. So my mind has been focusing on swords today.  And I am so thankful that we know that we have the DEFENSIVE piece of armor....that sword.  Yep, there is more that I have to share about what I have been receiving in the last couple of weeks on this subject!  So, watch for future blogs!  

Jesus, thank you for the reminder today of the armor that you have given us.  Help us all to put on this armor every day....The helmet of salvation that keeps our thinking and focus on you.  The breastplate of righteousness that covers our heart and protects our emotions.  The belt of truth that encircles us and keeps us encompassed with the truth.  And our feet are fitted with the shoes that are our peace.  We have been given a shield of faith that is our protection.  And thank you for that sword of the Spirit.  Holy Spirit, thank you for reminding me of the importance of this armor.  Amen