Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Jedi Squirrels
I got this pic in an email and laughed really hard because I think the squirrels in my yard have those abilities!
But, after laughing, I realized that it's true in my life as a Christian, too.I have a powerful sword that I can not see...the Word of God! I may look like these squirrels with the natural eye, but when I wield my sword, I can do some damage in the heavenlies.
These squirrels don't care what they look like - believe me they do. not. care.
And, if I stop caring what other people will think and use my Sword as if I believe that it's powerful and that it's REAL, then great and wonderful things will happen.
God always responds to belief! It's what He searches for in the hearts of His children and when He finds it, He smiles and responds.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Phew!
As I mentioned before, I've been directing a play this semester (the Lion, the Witch, & Wardrobe). It's been a couple of weeks, but I'm just now recovering from the whirlwind! So, here's the scoop...
It was AMAZING!! What an incredible experience! Through the entire semester, God came through again and again...providing for every detail...even details I didn't know I needed to think about! I learned so much! I'd never done a production of this caliber, so I had much to learn. And the kids were great...they learned more lines than they'd ever had to before and were able to not only remember them, but act out their characters as well! I was simply amazed at their performances.
Pevensie Children
It was AMAZING!! What an incredible experience! Through the entire semester, God came through again and again...providing for every detail...even details I didn't know I needed to think about! I learned so much! I'd never done a production of this caliber, so I had much to learn. And the kids were great...they learned more lines than they'd ever had to before and were able to not only remember them, but act out their characters as well! I was simply amazed at their performances.
The production ended up being 2 hours long including a 20 min. intermission. Four of the moms learned how to do face paint from a professional make-up artist - and it all looked so professional! (I wish I had pics of the cast with make-up, but I don't yet). Several families made our props - incredible...the wardrobe, the backdrops, the stone table, the beaver's home...just incredible! (Again, no pics of these yet, either). And the costumes - one grandmother volunteered her service of making the costumes - absolutely amazing! Aslan's mane was velcroed on so that at the Stone Table, we could "shave" off his mane...and then he could re-enter with his mane on again :) So cool!
I must say that we couldn't have pulled off such a large production without the help of every parent! Or without the help of my buddy, Josiah...a homeschool teenager with drama experience who volunteered to help me coach the kids - 3 days a week for 3 months!! Wow! What a commitment - he did a great job!!
So, here are a few pics - again, without make-up or props - but just an idea! My Rebekah was Susan (one of the 4 Pevensie children...she's got long brown hair and a gold cape). Alyssa was the Unicorn and Anna was the White Stag :) I was so very proud of my girls!
Pevensie Children
Fenris Ulf (Malgrim), White Witch, the Dwarf
Aslan (center) & his army of animals (some do not have their costumes and again, no make-up...I hope to get a pic of their make-up, it was that good!)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Laminin
This video is worth 8 minutes of your day!
check it out and comment on how AMAZING our God is:
check it out and comment on how AMAZING our God is:
Monday, May 12, 2008
Deliverance
In the last 6 months, we've had 2 huge pine trees cut down in our back yard. Not only for safety and plumbing reasons, but also because we'd like to have a vegetable garden. Alas, we couldn't have one... not only were the trees in the way, they also blocked all of the light into the yard.
After cutting the trees, a few things were immediately obvious:
It completely changed the view from our house, allowed tons of sunlight in, and actually will (eventually) change the landscape in the yard as well.
Then we needed to have the stumps ground up in order to kill the roots...because otherwise the roots would have continued to live, and grow into our pipes, for up to 20 more years!! Now that's determined, huh?!
The stump grinder had to go 18 inches deep to really kill the root. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to haul off all of the ground up roots yet. So, now, my backyard looks like a giant gopher has been playing in it along with 2 of its friends! It's a mess!! It's mounds and mounds of mess!! And, though we now have plenty of sunlight, and our pipes are root-free, we can not plant a garden until all of these roots are hauled off.
So, as I've look at it day after day, I realized that this whole experience has been a perfect illustration of how the Lord has been delivering and setting me free this year.
For many years, I have been cutting down problem "trees" in my life, but the roots have continued to flourish. It hasn't been until last year that the Lord began to expose the root of those problems and go deep to take it all out. I've been desperately willing to have Him do this work in my heart. Just like our trees...we didn't get them cut until we were truly tired of the effect they were having on our home.
However, I learned, too, that when the Lord removed something from my heart, it left a mess...holes that needed to be filled with good stuff, like Truth and His Spirit...and rubbish that needed to be hauled out! Thankfully, it's not taking the Lord as long to haul off the rubbish as it's taking us to do the same in our yard :)
After the Lord delivered me, He began to heal me...and like the results in my yard, my perspective has changed, there's more sunlight (or Light from the Son) coming into my heart, and the landscape is slowly changing as well.
Thank God for deliverance...from trees and roots!
After cutting the trees, a few things were immediately obvious:
It completely changed the view from our house, allowed tons of sunlight in, and actually will (eventually) change the landscape in the yard as well.
Then we needed to have the stumps ground up in order to kill the roots...because otherwise the roots would have continued to live, and grow into our pipes, for up to 20 more years!! Now that's determined, huh?!
The stump grinder had to go 18 inches deep to really kill the root. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to haul off all of the ground up roots yet. So, now, my backyard looks like a giant gopher has been playing in it along with 2 of its friends! It's a mess!! It's mounds and mounds of mess!! And, though we now have plenty of sunlight, and our pipes are root-free, we can not plant a garden until all of these roots are hauled off.
So, as I've look at it day after day, I realized that this whole experience has been a perfect illustration of how the Lord has been delivering and setting me free this year.
For many years, I have been cutting down problem "trees" in my life, but the roots have continued to flourish. It hasn't been until last year that the Lord began to expose the root of those problems and go deep to take it all out. I've been desperately willing to have Him do this work in my heart. Just like our trees...we didn't get them cut until we were truly tired of the effect they were having on our home.
However, I learned, too, that when the Lord removed something from my heart, it left a mess...holes that needed to be filled with good stuff, like Truth and His Spirit...and rubbish that needed to be hauled out! Thankfully, it's not taking the Lord as long to haul off the rubbish as it's taking us to do the same in our yard :)
After the Lord delivered me, He began to heal me...and like the results in my yard, my perspective has changed, there's more sunlight (or Light from the Son) coming into my heart, and the landscape is slowly changing as well.
Thank God for deliverance...from trees and roots!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
One day...
It occurred to me tonight during our worship service at church, that one day we will look back on our lives and see all the things that hindered us from loving people and wish that we would not have allowed those things to get in our way.
things like unforgiveness/bitterness, selfishness, fear of man, lies of the enemy that we believe, jealousy, just to name a few...they all stop us from loving people and showing the love of God to others.
And one day, I want to look back on my life with no regrets...and so, today I want the Lord to remove all inhibitions so that He can love through me and I won't get in His way.
things like unforgiveness/bitterness, selfishness, fear of man, lies of the enemy that we believe, jealousy, just to name a few...they all stop us from loving people and showing the love of God to others.
And one day, I want to look back on my life with no regrets...and so, today I want the Lord to remove all inhibitions so that He can love through me and I won't get in His way.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
I am Raising Eagles!
A few years ago, I was praying...actually crying out to the Lord to help me to be the Mom and Wife He wanted me to be, feeling very inadequate and out of place.
At this point, I'd been married to my adorable husband for 10 years, and had been at home with our children since our first was born 9 years before. We have 3 beautiful girls, and they are a blessing!
So, I was thinking that by now, I should have a little more confidence at this job, and I should be feeling a bit more adequate in the daily routine. But, NO! I did not. And, so, I cried out to the Lord for help.
And, He answered...
He showed me a picture of myself, staring out the window of our living room, longing to be anywhere else (that I thought would be more valuable). And, He told me to turn around and look at my home. When I did, it looked like a giant nest...an eagle's nest! I saw baby eaglets in the nest, and immediately I knew that they were my girls...and I had a job to do right here in my home...and instantly my job became the most important job I could ever imagine having. No longer would I long to be somewhere else. My gaze would be on my family and on the Lord. He showed me in that instant that I was missing out on all that He had for me right here in my home, b/c my sights were set in the wrong direction.
That same afternoon, I began my research to find out all I could about eagle's nests, and how to raise eaglets, since I had no knowledge of this subject. I have gained great spiritual insights in studying these birds. Perhaps I'll post some of my findings here in the future. Raising my "eagles" has become my calling, and becoming an "eagle" myself has been the journey of a lifetime.
At this point, I'd been married to my adorable husband for 10 years, and had been at home with our children since our first was born 9 years before. We have 3 beautiful girls, and they are a blessing!
So, I was thinking that by now, I should have a little more confidence at this job, and I should be feeling a bit more adequate in the daily routine. But, NO! I did not. And, so, I cried out to the Lord for help.
And, He answered...
He showed me a picture of myself, staring out the window of our living room, longing to be anywhere else (that I thought would be more valuable). And, He told me to turn around and look at my home. When I did, it looked like a giant nest...an eagle's nest! I saw baby eaglets in the nest, and immediately I knew that they were my girls...and I had a job to do right here in my home...and instantly my job became the most important job I could ever imagine having. No longer would I long to be somewhere else. My gaze would be on my family and on the Lord. He showed me in that instant that I was missing out on all that He had for me right here in my home, b/c my sights were set in the wrong direction.
That same afternoon, I began my research to find out all I could about eagle's nests, and how to raise eaglets, since I had no knowledge of this subject. I have gained great spiritual insights in studying these birds. Perhaps I'll post some of my findings here in the future. Raising my "eagles" has become my calling, and becoming an "eagle" myself has been the journey of a lifetime.
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