Jesus is in it all......

Today I have been preparing for a wonderful "away" weekend that begins tomorrow.  This is a special girls Scrapbooking Weekend.  Yes, I admit that I am a dedicated scrapbooker.  Scrapbooking is so much more than a hobby for me.  It is a relaxing thing that is also a creative outlet. It has been a time of listening to Jesus and gaining some amazing insights into the people and events as I put pictures and words on paper.   And more than that, I get to spend time with my daughter and daughter-in-law.

When my daughter Gwen was in college, she began to suggest to me that our "magnetic" photo albums were ruining our pictures.  As I have mentioned before, my photo's were all in albums.  So I set out to scrapbook 30 years - YES 30 years of pictures.  I began by choosing only about 6 to 8 pictures from each year - starting in 1972.  And I managed to complete a series of 3 books that have a page a year from 1972 - 1997 with just a couple of exceptions.  I did include an extra page in 1979 and 1982 when Gwen and Doug were born.  Then in 1997, I realized that this was far more than a few pictures a year.  This was the way I wanted to not only preserve my photos, but also journal and leave words with the pictures, so that the story would not be lost.  So now, in 2013, I will have 4 or more albums for the year!  Quite a difference. 

Gwen had begun to scrapbook around the same time as me - while she was in college.  I am so thankful that she encouraged me and pressed me to keep on with my seemingly endless project.  After she was married in 2001, I realized that I needed to go back and scrapbook my own wedding.  It was such a special project.  And I began a "heritage album" with many of the photos I have used in this blog, of my parents and grandparents and other ancestors.  Every vacation was also an opportunity to make a new album.  Needless to say, I have an entire bookcase full of albums. It wasn't long after Susie, my daughter-in-law started being at every family event, that Gwen and I decided it was time to hook her on scrapbooking.  So one Christmas we loaded her up with supplies and promised some "scrap lessons".   Now these 3 or 4 times a year weekends are simply a joy! 

Gwen has a group of friends who also scrapbook and so they are a part of these weekends.  Spending time in fellowship with this amazing group of young women is so life giving.    These women are committed to their husbands, to their families and to Jesus.  I am the "grandma" of the group, but I always feel so blessed to be included.  I have recently gotten one of my friends into this hobby, so she will be joining us this weekend also.  Nothing better than friends and family! 

I just love the way that Yahweh is a part of ALL of our activities - not just our church meetings.  I love that every single thing that we do, we do with Jesus in us.  I love to remember that the Bible is full of stories of people doing everyday things.  And Yahweh was speaking to them, using them, and accomplishing His plans through these people at ordinary times.  The disciples were fishing.  Paul was making tents. So many people just doing the day to day.  Sometimes we miss what Yahweh is doing in our regular activities, because we are not looking for Him or listening to Him.  So this weekend I am going to pay particular attention to those "God Moments".  And I will spend time listening for Jesus to speak.  AND I will accomplish a bit of scrapbooking - hopefully 35 or more pages!

Yahweh, thank you for friends and family. Thank you for creative gifts, for photographs that record our life events and ways to preserve them. Jesus, you are always with us because of your great plan to actually live IN us. What an amazing gift. Thank you for reminding me that you are a part of everything I do,  Continue to remind us, Jesus, to be aware of you acting in us and through us - in ordinary events.  Amen

 

 

 

What's in a name.....

Last night I had a dream about a very high waterfall.  It wasn't big - like Niagra Fall, It was really narrow, but flowing very fast.

 

 

This is a picture of a small waterfall in Rockford.  But I did think of this picture when I woke up this morning.  I know that Yahweh is speaking to me whenever there is water included in the picture.  Okay -  here is more truth telling!   One of the first times that I heard Jesus speak clearly to me, I heard John 7:38 -  "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him".  The Holy Spirit wrote that verse into me, and I knew that verse was significant for me.   Imagine my surprise, when months later, I discovered that my name -Lynnette-actually means "streams of living water" and the verse associated with my name is John 7:38!  To me this was confirmation that Yahweh named me.  He cares for me and he has a unique plan and purpose for my life. 

Back to the dream from last night...  I was standing at the top of the waterfall and the water looked so inviting.  I remember thinking about jumping in!  And just as I thought about jumping, I was sailing down the waterfall.  It was amazing!  I wasn't afraid and it was a wonderful ride.  Along the way, I was noticing that there were people all along the sides of the waterfall.  Some were standing and some were sitting on the grass.  It was such a pleasent scene.  And it felt like exactly where I was supposed to be. 

So today, I am much more confident that writing this blog, is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.  It is through this blog that I am able to let those streams of living water flow out from me.  I can write about the things that Yahweh is speaking to me.  And I can share with all of you, how great the plans and purposes of Jesus are for you.  He has a destiny for you and He wants to speak to you. So tonight I am celebrating "Taking the plunge" down that waterfall.  Because I know that Yahweh is in charge of this ride. 

Yahweh, thank you for speaking to me in dreams.  Thank you for your plans and purposes and destiny.  Jesus, you are speaking from heaven and we just need to be still and listen.  Thank you for my name.  You work in some of the most amazing ways.  Yahweh, work in the lives of the people reading this blog.  Help them to hear your voice and come into a better understanding of all that you have for them.  Amen

the importance of a pencil

Funny to be writing a blog post entitled "the importance of a pencil" when I am sitting at a computer without a pencil in sight!  But there is so much more to this story than the actual pencil......

Yesterday there was a post on a website that I read daily - The Elijah List - that was written by David Walters entitled "Did you know that revival often comes through children?" The article is actually a portion of a book written by Walters by that same title.  Since reading this post, I have been meditating on this topic.  This is a subject near and dear to my heart.  Children and Jesus.  Children and the church.  Children and Spiritual gifts.  Children.  Many of the concepts that Mr. Walters talks about are some that I have spoken and written about over the last almost 20 years.  Seeing these words in print yesterday reminded me that I have been given a message that I need to bring on this subject.  I have not been relieved of my calling or destiny.  Yahweh has spoken to me about this and I need to continue to bring forth all that is on my heart about children. 



 

Today I was thinking about the times it seemed easy to share.  Certainly, when I traveled to Kenya and Uganda in 2004, it was easy to share.  This picture is of a church in the western area of Kenya near Kakamega.  I remember this particular day very clearly.  My message to the kids and parents that I spoke to on this trip was simple.... God has a plan and purpose for your life - a destiny that is yours and yours alone.  And, most importantly, He will do this through you.  In His strength and power.  On this day I gave out pencils to the children.  Just a simple yellow #2 pencil.  I noticed that some of the kids actually held the pencil in both hands.  One girl just jumped up and down when receiving her pencil.  There was lots of excited conversations all around me.  I finally asked the translator what was going on.  He told me that pencils are very precious to these children.  IF their parents can afford the school fees - and IF their parents can afford the uniforms - and IF their parents can afford to buy the pencil - THEN they can go to school.  I was stunned.  A simple pencil. As our group was getting ready to leave this meeting, there was a shout across the corn field near the meeting place.  A very old women was running through the corn toward us shouting for us to wait. As she got nearer to the car we could see that she was holding avocados in her apron.  She came up to me and handed me the avocados and hugged me tightly.  She had tears streaming down her face.  She was giving us those avocados in thanksgiving for the pencil that I had given to her granddaughter.  With that pencil her granddaughter could take the exams at school that would allow her to go to the next level.   They did not have money for a pencil. We accepted those avocados with great thanks.  But for me, this was a life changing moment.  I will NEVER - EVER look at a pencil the same way.  I understood that Yahweh had a destiny and plan for that girl to continue her education, and allowed me to deliver part of His plan through a pencil. 

 

Now, I just need to figure out how to continue to share this message......in this place, at this time. I know that I feel the message in my spirit.  So now it is up to Yahweh to provide the opportunity and the timing and the exact message. 

 

Yahweh, I pray for that girl and her family who received that pencil in 2004.  Touch them and remind them of Your great plan and purpose for their family.  Thank you for your provision that allowed me to pack my suitcase full of pencils for that Africa trip.  Jesus it is your heart to see children raised up and becoming a part of your army in this world.  You always have used children and you will continue to do so.  Bless all those in ministry to children.  Open their hearts and minds to your plans that are so much bigger than just keeping kids busy during church.  Yahweh, speak to pastors and leaders and to parents and other adults, to encourage children to go deeper in You.  Help me to carry out your plan for my life by being bold and courageous to share Your message.  Thank you Yahweh.

Amen



Celebrating healing.... and praying for healing!

Yesterday we had one of those wonderful days spending time together as a family.  However, we were missing Doug - my son!  Unfortunately, he is sick with a fever.  He stayed home and rested while the rest of us met at a local water park. For me, water and swimming are closely tied to spending time relaxing with the people I love the most.  (See the previous post on Lake Maud!)  We had the almost ideal day.  It was warm enough without being HOT.  And we had plenty of shade available and to top it all off, the park wasn't very crowded.  With 5 adults and 3 kids there were plenty of hands to help with the little ones.  We all spent some time just riding those tubes in the lazy river.  Then after hours of swimming and time in the sand area and splash park, we knew it was time to head out.  Zeke, our two year old grandson, had not had a nap.  He could barely walk he was so tired.  But before we left, we all gathered together to have a wonderful meal, provided by my daughter-in-law. There were a couple of picnic tables in a grassy area of the parking lot.  So we all sat down to eat together.  I don't know why it is, but any food that is eaten outside always tastes so good!  It was at this point that I think I most missed Doug.  Looking around at everyone eating and laughing together.   Then, just as we were getting ready to leave, my three grandkids went to explore one of the trees.  I took the opportunity to snap some pictures.  Here is Zeke (2) Ellie (4) and Lia (7).

 



 When I downloaded those pictures last night, all I could think about was this picture from the past...

 

This picture is Gwen and Doug from 1985.  Gwen was 6 and Doug was 3.  When I sat and looked at these two pictures, I felt the passage of time.  But more than that, in spite of Doug not being present with us at this event, I remembered Yahweh's blessings over our family that included Doug's health. I realize that there is an irony about Doug being under the weather yesterday, when I am posting about Yahweh's provision of  his health.  But I am truth- telling here.  Doug was a very sick little boy. With very serious kidney and immune system problems that actually began when he was born, there was a point when we were not sure that he would survive.  After many, many days in the hospital, a lot of medicine, surgeries (that included Doug losing a kidney) and seriously too many doctors to count, I know that it was GOD that brought healing to Doug.  There was not a dramatic healing moment, rather there was a gradual return to good health that included medicine.    Part of the frustration about the years of sickness that Doug experienced, was that the doctors never could pinpoint the exact diagnosis.  Nothing exactly fit. But there was a point when Doug was five and half, when we had to make the decision to take him off of the medicine and risk him getting sick again. It was Yahweh that brought us to that point and gave us the peace to follow through with that decision. And Doug never experienced that sickness again. Recently, I happened upon an article about a little girl who had a very similar medical history as Doug.  The article detailed the diagnosis of her disorder.  It is a recently discovered genetic problem (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome) that grouped together many children who had never had an accurate diagnosis.  Reading that article was an answer to questions that had always been in my mind.  But even if Doug does have that genetic deletion, it simply doesn't change that Yahweh has a plan and purpose for Doug that included his healing.  Thank you Yahweh!

 

I love the way that Jesus reminds us of who He is.  He is our healer, our provision and our peace.  I especially love that when we gather around a table and eat together, we can remember that we are a part of Yahweh's family. 

 

Yahweh, thank you for family time, for laughter, and swimming and hugs.  Thank you for your provision of good food and fun.  Jesus, you are an amazing God that loves us with an unending love.  Thank you for providing answers to long ago questions and then giving the peace to know that the answer doesn't matter.   Especially, thank you for your healing both in the past and today. Yahweh, bring your healing power to Doug right now!    Amen

 

 

  



 



When Jesus knows your heart......

Do you know how you have some people that you have never met, and you can't wait to get to heaven to talk with them? Well, Corrie ten Boom is one of those people for me. I imagine that I am one of thousands of people who have been touched by her through her books, writings or the movie "The Hiding Place."  By the time I read about her and then read her book in the late 1980's she was already dead.  This morning I found a link on my Facebook feed to this amazing video.  Corrie ten Boom - in her own words.  It is 45 minutes long, but so worth watching.  I had never heard her speak and there is something about hearing her voice that spoke so much to my spirit. 

This reminded me of an interesting thing that happened to me, a LONG time ago.  (Well actually, about 22 years ago)  My walk with Jesus had been influenced greatly by reading Christian books - most of which were not new releases at the time.  I had read books by Larry Christenson, Dennis Bennet, John Sherrill, and heard stories about Kathryn Kuhlman.  I remember thinking how amazing it would be to actually get to hear these people speak or to see them at a conference. I knew that Kathryn Kuhlman had died in the 1970's, so it would not be possible to see her.  One evening, I was flipping through the channels on the TV and happened upon what I knew to be a very old program of a worship service.  I could tell by the way people were dressed that it was not a current program.  Suddenly there was an introduction, and Kathryn Kuhlman walked onto the stage.  I sat fixed on the screen and listened to her speak about the relationship between faith and healing.  It was mind-blowing.  Then much to my surprise, she introduced Dennis Bennet!  He joined her on stage and spoke a small portion of his testimony.  For me, it was an amazing gift.  I felt as if I had been given a chance to see these two in a real way - through the rebroadcast of an old television program.  It was such a God thing.  Then, just a short time later, I got to meet Larry Christenson and actually spend time fellowshiping with him at a retreat held by my church.  It was such a personal desire, that I felt Jesus had answered, just for me. 

And this morning I felt the same way.  Once again, I am so thankful that I live in a time of television, computers, the Internet - the information age.  It has allowed me to really see and hear these true saints of the church. 

Yahweh, thank you for all those who have put their faith stories onto paper so that they could be read generations later.  Jesus you know the desires of our hearts and it is your blessing to us to provide them.  Yahweh, continue to use the many books, videos, stories and testimonies of your people.  Thank you for your plan to use us, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate to the world, who you are!  Jesus, thank you for posts on Facebook and old television programs!  Yahweh, you are an amazing and wonderful Father.   Amen

Not all spiritual things are good........

As I was praying this morning, I had an amazing vision. I saw a wonderful "rainbow" colored butterfly. It was quite unlike anything I had ever seen.  While this butterfly in the photo above,  is very beautiful (thanks to my husband for this picture), it is no where near as beautiful as the butterfly I saw this morning.  As I was praying for various people, that butterfly would appear over them.  I knew that the rainbow was a symbol of the covenant and the butterfly represents transformation. How great is it that Yahweh chooses to speak to us in pictures and symbols that we can recognize and understand?  So I was praying for each of the people with thanksgiving that they are under the covenant of Yahweh and in thanks that Jesus is in the transformation business. 

Then, as I was driving, I saw a sign on a Hindu temple near to my home.  It said "religion unites people and doesn't divide".  This stirred up something that has been rolling around in my mind, heart and spirit for some time.  There are a lot of "spiritual things" bombarding us everywhere! I have been more and more aware of the great deception that is in our society that is reflected in the words on that sign.  The lie says that all religions are the same.  It really doesn't matter which you choose - all good people will end up in heaven.   I was so thankful for the vision this morning that reminded me that I need to be under the covenant of Yahweh - the great I AM and know that Jesus is the only way to the Father. But also on my mind are the many "spiritual" things that abound everywhere!  The psychic readers, the palm/tarot card readers, the crystals, horoscopes, fortune tellers.  The danger of all of this stuff, is that it IS spiritual!  Just not the Holy Spirit!  In America we have been desensitized to the ways that demonic spirits are active and in the business of lies and deception.  When people say, "well these things are real" my reply is "YES - VERY REAL" just not Godly.

On Tuesday evening, I was blessed to hear from a couple from Uganda. They shared about their ministry in a small village in northern Uganda.   I was remembering my own visit to Uganda in 2004.  

 
During that visit, the local Pastors had told us that there wasn't really any problem in their congregation with witchcraft.  However, it was revealed to us that, in fact, there were "authorized witchdoctors" that everyone visited.  When my friend, under the power of the Holy Spirit, spoke about the dangers of witchcraft, and then asked anyone who needed to repent of this to come forward for prayer - the entire church went forward!  My thought today is that, if you asked the "witchcraft" question to a group of people in the United States, most would say "oh no, we don't believe in that!"
But then they would read their horoscope in the paper, call up a telephone physic to decide about a new job,  watch the Long Island Medium on TV, go and have their palm read, and simply accept that sign that says that "all religions unite people".  Hence, the title of this post - not all "spiritual things" are good! 

Thank you Yahweh for reminding me that I am under your covenant.  Jesus, you are the only way to heaven - to the Father.  Thank you for the new covenant that provided us true transformation.  Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that lives within us and reminds us of the truth.  Yahweh, speak to those who have gone astray and become drawn into spiritual things that are NOT of you.  Draw them to your truth.  Protect your people from the evil one.  Thank you Jesus that you are in the process of awakening us to a better understanding of the deceptions around us.  Amen

Once again, it's the little things that amaze me!

SPOILER ALERT!  IF YOU DON'T WHAT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE BOOK "MARK OF THE LION" STOP READING THIS BLOG POST!  I will be discussing the ending of this book!  I am not going to name names or divulge details - just what Yahweh impressed on my heart as I finished reading this wonderful book.

A little while ago I wrote a blog post (A little more of my story...) and it included a picture of my great-great-great grandparents.  If you have not read that post, go there now and read it.  This post will not make much sense if you don't know that story.  I know that Yahweh has been reminding me of that post and that story over and over again.  There must have been something that I needed to be reminded about or something else I needed to see/learn from that post.  Then, over the last several days, I have been reading a series of three books that were recommended to me by my daughter.  I have posted about this in the last couple of days.  This morning I finished the series.  As I sat with tears streaming down my face, looking at the last paragraph, I flashed to my blog post of just a few days before and my great-great grandparents.  While I remember clearly that this book is a FICTION story, based on Biblical truth, I felt woven into the plot line. 

In the end of this book, in about AD100, there are a small group of Christians, worshiping and serving the Lord - in Germany.  They were telling everyone that they could reach, the Gospel message and the saving grace of Jesus.  And then they were sending out missionaries.  One to the Vikings. 

Pause here to catch my breath.  Yes, I felt the connection to my family.  So in 1850, in Germany, my family sent out missionaries to  the ends of the earth.  It was as if I saw - maybe for the first time - the real connection in my life, to the time of those who actually walked with Jesus.  And then, just to cap it all off, they sent off people to share the good news, to the Vikings - my Swedish and Norwegian ancestors.  I went back and looked at that picture of my great-great-grandparents.  And I marveled at the power of the Gospel.

This is my mom and dad on their wedding day in 1936.  My mom is of German/Norwegian heritage and my dad is Swedish.

Do you know how it is to feel like something was actually written just for you?  Well, this morning I had that feeling.  It was amazing.  Once again, I just can't imagine the plans and purposes of Yahweh for His creation - for the earth and all who live.  The plan that took a small group of ordinary people, filled with the Holy Spirit, covered by the love of Jesus, under the plan and direction of the Father they managed to reach out to the world.  And they were able to do this with NOTHING.  With only small parts of the written Word.  With no cars, no planes, no telephones, no internet, no computers, no blogs.  It had to be Yahweh. 

Yahweh, thank you so much for Francine Rivers and this book - one of many in her library of books.  Bless her, Father, with more of your compassion and direction as she continues to connect us to you and the Bible.  Thank you for opening my eyes in a new way to your destiny.  Yahweh, your kingdom is increasing and your glory will fill all the heavens and all the earth!  Amen