a life blessed

During my quiet time today, I read a good word in relation to the disappointment you might face with your world leaders. It was geared towards world leaders, but it is a good word for ANY disappointment we might face in any arena of our life. The following is an adaptation from this devo with words extracted straight from the reading mixed with my own gleanings: "WE HAVE MISPLACED OUR FAITH. Buried beneath the panic we feel due to the state of our 'world/church/job/life' is systemic disappointment. This makes us feel weak and pathetic, so instead of owning our disappointment - in our country, in our world leaders, in our church, in our jobs, in one another, and God help us, in ourselves - WE RAGE. Mad feels better than sad. It's painful to long, in the words of Hebrews 11:16, for a better country and embrace the hard, cold fact that we are strangers and exiles on earth (Hebrews 11:13). " Grieve, mourn, and weep, " James 4:9-10 says. " Turn...

In the book 'The Circle Maker', Mark Batterson speaks of the life of a carob tree, stating that we must have a carob tree mentality when praying, praying long and praying hard.   I did a bit of research on the carob tree, as I was intrigued by this.  The carob tree takes years to start bearing fruit, as early as 6 years, but it can bear fruit for up to 80-100 years. Although irrigation does help its production, it can thrive in dry areas.   In a world of instant gratification, we are not accustomed to bearing these times of drought in our lives.  We pray 'pop-up' prayers wanting them to be answered as soon as we finish praying. We pray, and then expect a "presto" answer as toast popping out of a toaster.   The truth is, "As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given" (Daniel 9:23), however, you may not see the answer for quite some time, maybe not even for years and years.  The ability to withstand these periods of drought is the s...

Don't give up.  Be persistent in prayer; pray without ceasing!  "...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:28).  Pray through and never give up.  I feel God reminded me of this through His little creature, the praying mantis, who has been following me over the last couple of weeks.  I've been struggling with faith and trust in God in the form of 'worry' over the last few weeks/months.  I am usually pretty good about letting go and letting God do His thing, but there are 2 main areas that have given me anxiety recently.  One, of which, the praying mantis more than spelled it out for me! There is a 'thing' I've been wanting to happen for a long time now...for several years. I have wanted it so badly that it has become an area of frustration in my life.  I have felt, for so long now, that this thin...

It's been a while since I've put my ponders to pen, and a lot more thoughts have been swarming around in my head since my last post.  I've penned a total of 5 posts in the year 2015, a year that has proven to bring about major life changes in my family.  It's just part of the natural ebb and flow which the tides of life bring about. The biggest change in our immediate family has been our first born, Grant, graduated high school in May. About six months have passed, and many adjustments have been made. #1)  College life is an adjustment in itself, with the biggest adjustment being made by the graduate; but it is an adjustment, also, for the whole family.  College life is a whole new world, so to speak, and we are adjusting to living in and around this new world.  Life as he knew it, and as we knew it, no longer exists. Friends fly off to their new nests as they attend their respective colleges in different states, never to flock together in their...

"Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land." (1 Kings 17:7) If you look closely, you can see a shimmer of light in the center of this photo. This shimmer is the reflection of light off of a little creek, or brook, behind our hotel room where we are staying for my son's travel ball tournament. Last night it rained pretty hard and steady, and the brook's flow was roaring heavily as it brought debris and trash along with it in its path. Today, the sun is shining brightly and the brook's roar has mellowed into a faint trickle with its flood line decreased to almost nothing. Both scenarios are equally beautiful to watch. With no more rain, however, this brook will dry up completely.  Are you experiencing a drought of sorts in your life right now - maybe financially, emotionally, spiritually, etc? Do you find yourself completely 'dry' with no rain in sight to nurture and water your soul? If not a drought, then may...