Still in process.........in so many ways!

Here is a picture of our house, while it was under construction, around Christmas in 1977.   I am happy to say that, as of tonight, all of those windows and that old door are now gone.  Replaced with much more energy efficient models that will actually open and close!  Imagine that!  Since we started this rather large project (windows, doors, siding) we have not had great weather.  Today our contractor and worker spent the day on ladders, in the rain.  And the temperatures were falling through out the day.  By the time they left at 3:00pm, I could tell that they were cold and wet.  But they are trying to push through and finish this job.  There is still more work to be done.   I am so anxious to have this all done.....so that we can move on to the next project!  Yes, the house is truly a work in process.

So today in my small group I shared these verses that had showed up on my Facebook wall this morning.  They spoke to me so clearly today.

Ephesians 1:17-20 (TPT) personalized
17 - I pray continually that the Father of Glory, the God of my Lord Jesus, the Messiah, would unveil in me the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation through the fullness of being one with Jesus.
18 - I pray that the light of God will brighten the eyes of my innermost being, flooding me with light, until I experience the full revelation of my great hope of glory. I know that is the reason He called me to Himself, and I pray that I explore and experience for myself all the riches of this wealth that has been freely given to me, for I am His true inheritance!
19 - My prayer is that every moment I will experience the measureless power of God made available to me through faith. Then my life will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through me!
20 - This is the resurrection power that was released though Jesus when God raised Him from the dead. This resurrection power raised me up and seated me with Him at His place of supreme authority in the heavenly realm!


Ephesians 3:14-19 (TPT) personalized
14 - When I think of the wisdom of His plan I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of my Lord Jesus, the Messiah,
15 - the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth.
16 - And I pray that He would pour out over me the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods my innermost being with His divine might and explosive power.
17 – Then, by constantly using my faith, the life of Jesus will be released deep inside me, and the resting place of His love will become the very source and root of my life, providing me with a secure foundation that grows and grows.
18, 19 - Then, as my spiritual strength increases, I will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences – the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Jesus, the Messiah in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement, beyond academic knowledge – this extravagant love pours into me until I am filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

While I am in this process of growing closer to Jesus, I need to be about the business of telling myself exactly who I am and what I have because of Jesus.  And more than that, I love from Ephesians 1 verse 19, that I am an ADVERTISEMENT of the power that is working through me.  Think about that!  How many different commercials can you recall without thinking to much about it?  I am sure it is lots and lots.  I want to be an unforgettable advertisement of all that Jesus can and will do for the world.  I think I am going to make this my new goal and daily prayer.  I want to experience the power and then show it off to the world!  And, interestingly enough, as I typed that last sentence, I make an error and wrote "sow".  Maybe that wasn't an error!  Thinking back to a blog a couple of days ago, this is a season to sow and see that multiplied greatly.  So, yes, I will be praying that I will SOW that power of Jesus into the world even as I SHOW that power to the world.

I am so loving these posts from the Passion Translation Bible.   I strongly encourage you to seek out their Facebook page and also get your hands on these amazing books.  They are even available at Walmart and Sams (at least some of the stores.  I tried to find them in my Walmart and they did not have them or any record that they were getting them).  You will be blessed!

Jesus, thank you for leading me deeper into relationship with you.   Thank you for my small group and the strength and power we have as we join together to worship you and share our burdens and blessings.  Thank you again, for Brian Simmons and The Passion Translation Bible.  Holy Spirit, bring encouragement to us all that we are making a difference in the world as the power of Jesus shows through us.  Thank you for completing all of the work in process.  Amen

Thinking warm thoughts.....

Like so many people I have been thinking about vacation!  This winter of snow, ice, freezing cold followed by more snow and days and days of subzero - AGAIN has made most of us, well TIRED OF WINTER!  Ken and I have not arrived at any decision regarding where or when or how we are going on vacation.

With this reminder of last years wonderful, warm, oceanfront trip, today I spent some time looking at lots of different options. We have not been able to decide where, when or how we will go on vacation.  We have even been considering an all inclusive vacation of some kind.  So I spent some time researching different destinations and various ways to get there.  For the past several years we have taken driving vacations.  As a matter of fact, in 2010 we drove 3850 miles on our vacation!  Today I was checking airfares and car rentals and hotel rates.  After hours of frustration and no decisions made, I shut off the computer. 

I was thinking of an important truth.  It doesn't matter how you get there, its the destination that counts!  Gwen and I were just talking about this!  It really doesn't matter if you have a "natural" delivery or a cesarean delivery - what matters is a healthy baby.  And when considering a vacation, it really doesn't matter how you get there, whether by car or plane, its all about the final destination!  Now, granted, there are positives and negatives to each of these examples.  Considering the vacation... last year we drove in some of the most horrible stormy weather that I have ever experienced.  And we have seen our share of traffic jams and road construction. And we have driven some VERY LONG days.   But on the positive side, we can take anything that we want that fits in the car.  We can change our plans and come and go as we please.  We can take a different route and travel when we want.  Considering the air travel, you get to that destination much more quickly - usually in just a matter of hours.  You really get to enjoy every bit of your vacation.  There is no thought of that long car drive home.  However, there are delays and even cancellations.  And there is no changing your plans (at least not without paying fees).  And then there are the security checks and baggage fees.  And the car rental. 

So I know that the most important thing right now is to decide on the destination.  How we will get there is yet to be determined.  Yes, I think this will change how I view many things.  I will be spending more time thinking about the end rather than the process.  Sometimes the process is long and difficult.  Sometimes the process is a short easy road.  Again, it is the destination that really matters.  I will be spending less time thinking about my ongoing path to the destiny that Jesus has for me and more time thinking about what that destiny is.  I am really not in control of the process anyway, so fretting about it doesn't make much sense.  I will just keep my eyes on the prize.  And that includes thinking about a warm, sunny day sitting on the beach, with the waves lapping at my feet!

Jesus, thank you for helping me to understand more clearly, how important it is to let go of the worry about the day to day.  Thank you for reminding me that your destiny is the most important thing I can think about.  Holy Spirit, guide and direct us as we make vacation plans.  Help us all to look at the end result, rather than the process.  Thank you for the reminder that there are many roads that lead to the same end.  Amen.

Celebrating the seasons..

Summer is winding down and fall is almost upon us.  This week the temperature has been really "fall-like".  This morning it was 46 degrees.  That is down right cold for August!  This has been an unusual weather summer.  We only really had one stretch of moderately hot weather.   We are flooded with "back to school" ads and the school supply aisle at the stores are nearly impassable.  For me, back to school means back to work.  While I have enjoyed the summer off, it feels like time to be back at work. 

I have been thinking today about seasons.  I am very grateful that Yahweh planned for us to experience the ever changing weather and seasons.  There is a progression about this that, for me, helps me to know that there is something else coming ahead.  I am  always aware of the fact that my life is a process.  Sometimes this process has seemingly been stalled out (or even seemed to go backwards).  So, when I am living in the change of seasons, it is easier to  hold on to the idea that my personal process is ....... well PROCESSING!  I am so thankful that the Kingdom of Yahweh is always increasing.  And I am so grateful that we are all in the process of going on. The change of seasons reminds me that although I feel stuck and it may seem like nothing is happening, there is a PROCESS going on in my life. 

Last night I had an interesting dream.  There were fields of crops growing all around me.  There were fields of corn, there were fields of beans and fields of grains also.  Everywhere I looked there were just fields and fields.  As I was looking around, I realized that there were no roads, no houses, nothing but fields.  Everything was healthy and green and looked so wonderful.  There was also an aroma of freshness.  And then I heard a voice singing.....   The song was about the coming harvest.  When I woke up, I quickly wrote down the words.............
                    Green and growing, tall and strong
                    small seeds sown in the dark dark ground.
                    Plants sprang up and rain fell down
                    Soft breezes blow, crops all around.

                    Life filled water, flowing from heavenly springs
                    waters all the seeds sown by human hands
                    Sun shine and warmth bring forth great joy
                    Its harvest time all across the lands.

                    Reach out, reach out and find the place
                    Come on and join the race.
                    North or south or look west to east.
                    All around far and near, the harvest is here.

So now I will be looking around for the harvest. And celebrating that Yahweh has great plans for the changing seasons.  This is a reminder that no matter which season we are in, Yahweh is at work.  During the winter he is at work deep in the soil, preparing it to receive the seeds.  He works in the spring time when the seeds are sown.  He works during the summer when the sun and rain water the seeds and he works during the fall, when it is time to harvest. 

Yahweh, thank you for your great creation.  Jesus thank you for working in the seasons and in us!  You are an amazing God that plans everything and then bring revelation to us as we walk through our life.  Help me to see the harvest you are preparing for me and to remember that you are in charge.  Yahweh, please bless everyone preparing for this school year.  Be with the teachers as they are preparing for their classes. And Jesus, thanks for singing to me in my dream!  Amen                   
                   

                   
                

                 
                  

Moving on.....

My daughter Gwen and her family are moving this weekend to a new home.  The process started for them in February and it is now the end of June.  Even though this is really quick (on the current real estate timeline), it has felt rather long and drawn out.   I have lived in the same house for over 35 years.   So I can't say that I am an expert on moving.   The most important part of this move has been the fact that God has been in it all.  At every turn, the process has been surrounded by prayer.  I am so thankful for all the friends who have prayed and just listened as this process has gone on.  And the blessing is, that although they are leaving a house that was well loved, they are moving into a wonderful much bigger home. 

Yesterday, Gwen shared something she discovered in her college days, that has stuck in my mind!  "Home is where ever your stuff is and your people are!"   Isn't that great????    It's about what is really important to you - your things and your family.   And when you come right down to it, even the things are not that important.  Its all about the people.  When Yahweh is leading you and directing you, things seem to fall into place.   I am so thankful that Gwen and Tim spent a lot of time letting Yahweh put things together for them.  And what a blessing it is that they spent some time today, as a family, praying in their new home.  A great way to move on.

Which brings me to another nugget from HUB!  Yahweh is in the business of restoring all things! That redemptive work of restoration comes with shaking and sometimes even "crisis" for us.BUT when Yahweh is in it, it will work for our good.   So that means that we will MOVE from CRISIS to PROCESS.  That process is the way that the Holy Spirit works in us.  Because of that working in our spirit, a SHIFT will happen inside of us.  That SHIFT will move us to BREAKTHROUGH!  

So.....  CRISIS moves us to PROCESS moves us to SHIFTING moves us to BREAKTHROUGH!

Yep!  I want to be moving on to breakthrough in my life!  Just understanding this business of restoration makes it so much easier when you are caught in the the crisis or process part of it.  We are moving on!   We will not be stuck in that crisis or even in the process!  There is an end in sight. Psalm 23:4  reminds us that even in the dark, scary times we are walking through the valley. We are not stuck there.  There is movement going on.

Thank you Yahweh for speaking to me through my children and grandchildren.  And thank you for reminding me that you are not done with me yet.  You are moving me onward  to those breakthroughs.  Hallelujah!