*Martha*Martha*Martha*

Once again I found myself feeling too busy, (and finding me a little bit sick) I ask God, “why?” What has brought me to this place of feeling like there is not enough day for my duties? You have promised me rest and peace.


Then I hear His voice saying, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest….for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Ah Lord! (I am hearing Him)…I can see that I am living once again in my own strength and perhaps doing some things for the wrong reasons.

“Help me Lord!” I cry, “What does it look like to be yoked with You? “

In my mind I see two horses joined together pulling a plow. …Me…Jesus…hooked together…working…His burden is light…that means He is pulling the load…I am working with Him, but it is His plow, His field, and His goal to get the field plowed. My goal is to walk with Him. Enjoy being with Him and rely on Him for everything pertaining to the plowing.

So He questions me, “What are you plowing? Where are you going? What are your goals? Why do you do the things you do? Are they yoked with Jesus’ goals? Are you spending time in His word and prayer? Are your eyes fixed ahead on Heaven?”

He and I sat down to review my schedule. As we looked over my calendar, and I kept track of my doings for my family, my church, my business and my online time, I found lurking in the background that old sense of duty, or obligation to Him or others. I recognized again, that the old law had usurped the freedom I have in the Spirit. When I begin to take on the load myself, I am really dealing with the pride of my old nature. I am failing to crucify it, and submit myself to the Spirit.

The Lord showed me that under the surface of doing too much for the wrong reasons is really a sin of unbelief. In my heart was unbelief in His love for me, unbelief in His willingness to bless me or care for me and my needs. Whose yoke are you wearing?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1


BUSY:  Bound...Under...Satan’s...Yoke

Ch ch ch cha changes...

Oh yeah, the times they are a changin'...What happened to my babies? What a whirlwind! Where is the rewind button???

"September 11th, Mom." That is Kayla's due date. She had her first visit yesterday with the doctor. Woops! I forgot to tell her about that. She hadn't been in that position before! She had been reading books though, so she wasn't traumatized. Plus the Lord provided her with her friend's mom for a doctor. ~So I am off the hook for that one! And if you think I am a bad mom not having her in that position before... Well, please keep that opinion to yourself! I am not the doctoring kind. I grew up on a farm. With lots of kids. We only went when absolutely necessary and I have kept that practice all my life. It's worked well so far...

Today, my baby had his golden birthday. Eighteen. So my oldest baby is having a baby and my baby is a big boy...all at the same time. We had a wedding in September. We have a graduation in June. We have a college drop-off in August. And a baby in September. (can you see my eyes crossing behind my new reading glasses?)~lol!

I took balloons and candy bars to school today. He happened to be in study hall playing chess with a dozen other boys~most of who are in choir with him. Guess what!?! They sang "Happy Birthday" to him in spanish! I left feeling like I was the one who had a treat!!

I am attending everything I can at the highschool.  I only have until the end of May...then this chapter will be over. *sniff*....

Changin...

ToTaLlY rAnDoM

I would like to introduce you to Ralph the goat and my nephew John who was in Kayla's wedding.

I don't think I will ever tire of enjoying the fruits of our labor from that glorious day!

(Especially now that I am expecting a grandchild!!!!~surprise!)

Tammy, our photographer, brought over Kayla's coffee table book yesterday.

As we were looking through it, tears welled up.

Gratitude filled my heart~ her capturing so many moments of the day we worked so hard for.

A dream realized and witnessed~came true.

The hours of prayer~answered.

The photos in the book, maybe not what I would have chosen, but they are Kayla.

Like her hair~do. I was doing the french twist thinking that is what she wanted.

When she found out, she "took over" and 10 minutes before photos,

she wet it down, started pinning and spraying...

I know her. I thought, "this is Kayla"!

I like smooth and orderly.

She likes fun and free!

The memories.

Of the hours of preparation.

Of talking to the Lord. Pleading for a sunny day.

Which He gave. !

Blessings.

Sweet memories.

Precious Moments.

Thanks for visiting and reminiscing with me.

Abide in the Vine

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Saturday morning found many of us at the altar in tears...Alicia was speaking on John 15 using inductive tools to explain the text 'in context'.  Jesus is clear that the branches that are in Him will bear fruit as the Master Gardner prunes and tends them, and they will receive eternal life. He is equally clear that the branches that do not remain in Him will be cut off and thrown into the fire. It grieves His heart that people reject Him. He is not willing that any would perish, but they do.

As the Holy Spirit prompted me, I walked forward in tears of greif, grief over my timidity, grief over the darkness that is swallowing people up. I also had tears of dedication. Dedication to serve the Lord more faithfully, more diligently. That I will speak the truth, pray more zealously, and seek the face of Jesus more passionately...that I may be like Him by getting out of the way and letting Him have His way in me. That I will bear the fruit that He prepared in advance for me. I prayed for a bold spirit. I prayed for a humble, trusting heart. I prayed for people who have yet to see the risen Christ who died to save them. That they will see Him. Know Him. Receive Him. Abide in Him...and bear fruit that will last...

The theme of the conference was "Remain" or "Abide". The sub-theme was intimacy with Jesus. How is it that we can have friendship with The One we cannot see?

By the Spirit. By faith we meet Him in His Word daily, listen to Him as we sit down, talk with Him as we walk and work and play.

I recently heard Suzie speak about intimacy with God; she broke the word "intimacy" down into: IN-TO-ME-SEE. Isn't that true about intimate relationships? Intimacy is knowing and being known. Talking and lisenting. I think that is the most exciting news of all. That we can sit in the Presence of the King of Heaven. We can know Him and are known by Him!

He's A Beauty!

Evan Lysacek ...I have been so taken with this young man. I call him beautiful. But really, it is God I admire when I watch him because I know it is He who created beauty, and gave him such ability, and discipline, and everything else that got him here...for us to enjoy God's handiwork!

Beauty, like a sunset, or a mountain, or a canyon or a sweet figure skater... are breathtaking displays of God's splendor!