Favorites

I do not have newsprint lining the walls of our home, but I do have powerful phrases posted here and there. Words of inspiration to invite the soul to swell . . . wisdom expressed.

One of my favorite phrases lines an old crock: It is plain, really, simple, Oh, but it is the thought that made me plunk down too much money to bring that old piece home . . .

"families are forever" 

I am learning that sometimes forever has to be worked at.

A home was devastated this past week in neighboring town. A young mother, 38, was given a week to live. Cancer. She passed last Wednesday. But families are forever. She waits for the rest of her young brood to follow her someday to her eternal dwelling. She will meet them at the gate. I believe. I believe!

I have chased a bunny trail, I am afraid. I intended to share some of my favorite reads. Works that have moved my heart to better places. Phrases that have opened understanding and helped bring healing to my mind. I thought you might be encouraged by these works as well.

One of my all time favorite devotionals  is Tozer on the Holy Spirit, a 366-Day Devotional compiled by Marilynne E. Foster. Tozer is one of the very best writers ever! His works have inspired me so much!!! I have read through this devotional several times and will again. It gives wing to heart!

Other inspirational works that will never leave the nightstand beside my bed:

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. This book is amazing! I will continue to refer back to it again and again. This book opens understanding.

Crazy Love and Forgotten God two works by Francis Chan. Books that were not written to make one feel comfortable. They are compelling! Very good reads!

Radical by David Platt. This book will stir you right out of your comfort zone. It challenges to the core! One of my favorite things about it is that he gives a plan to help you shake out of the zone. I LOVE that! The cover says, "This is a must read for every believer!" Great idea!!!

Prayer, the Heart's True Home and The Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster.  Life changing works! These books are powerful and packed with wisdom! I love both of them and refer to them again and again.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am reading this right now, nearing the end of it. Ann shares deep wisdom with beautiful phrases. I have drawn little pencil hearts all over the pages of my copy. Those little hearts mark the God inspired wisdom that Ann has received after praying through difficult times. I love this book. It is a treasure!

Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. I could hardly put this book down! Mary Beth is honest and real and shares her heart very openly. My favorite part of this book was seeing how the Lord blessed this family with assurance after they lost their little girl. Their story is awesome. The Lord is magnified through this work. It is a blessing to read! I hesitated picking it up for fear that it would be too sad . . . it has it's sad times, but the next minute I would have tears from laughter. This is a great book!

Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge. This book is amazing! It is definitely among my very favorite reads if all time! I cannot recommend this book enough! It has drawing power to take you to the deeper waters of the Spirit. I love this book!

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. I read this book in one day. It is amazing!!! The first chapter or two were hard for me. Once I got beyond those two difficult  chapters I could not stop!!! The sub-title says, "A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back". I believe there is integrity in this work. I believe that you will be blessed by this read!

Going to read soon:

Between a Rock and a Grace Place by Carol Kent.  I read Carol's When I Lay My Isaac Down which is amazing. It is a must read for mother's who of prodigal children. It is liberating!!! I am looking forward to more of Carol's written messages. I got to hear her speak recently at an E-Women conference. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her testimony will stretch you!

Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. I am looking forward to this read. Lysa's writing is awesome. She has touched my life in a multitude of ways! I am so thankful for her ministry!!! It has made a difference for me! She also has dvd's and a workbook for this book. It is on the New York Times bestseller list. I am expecting great things from this work.

There are so many more wonderful books that I have read that were written by some amazing authors. I did not list fiction this time, I do read fiction, and I love it!!! But I guess I always come back to the non-fiction stuff the most.

Would you let me know if you choose to read one these great books? Will you come back and let me know your thoughts? I would love that!!! Not only do I love to read, I love to share what I have read. That is probably my favorite part! Rich blessings!

Bloomin' Joy

Joy! Feeling JOY in my being today! Stuff has been pushed out of the way . . . stuff that hinders and suppresses the Joy that comes from the Spirit! Today I am feeling joy bubbling, doing a happy dance in my soul! Circumstances are pretty much the same, but the load has been shifted. It is off of my shoulders. The One who now carries the load, He can manage the load! I am celebrating! Freedom of heart has come! Someone says, "Settle down!"

"No Way!!!"

The tomb is empty and my heart is full of LIFE! Death was not a difficult foe for God! Sin is painful and gives death license to rule. Sin had to be defeated. Jesus had defeated the first death before the cross. "Lazarus, rise!" Death surrendered to the Word of Life! The second death was defeated in the tomb of Jesus. Eternal death. Death that is a result of sin, defeated!!! Jesus defeated eternal death so that we might have eternal hope of heaven with Him!

Did you know that there are two deaths? When our flesh dies that is the first death. Most of us will experience this one. The second death happens when we stand before God and He says, "You cannot come in here. I do not know you!" However, there is good news! You do not have to experience the second death! Jesus defeated the second death and God was pleased with His sacrifice. Do you believe that? If you do, tell Him so right now! You have said that before? Tell Him again! He doesn't mind hearing it over and over again! Tell Him you believe!!!  When we believe, we will stand before God when our flesh dies and Jesus will step up and say about us, "I know you, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest." That is our escape from the second death. Are you jumping up and down yet???

How are you feeling today? Feeling JOY?

There is hope, my friend. I have been in a war lately. Hurting, struggling, disappointed, frustrated, etc. Now my focus has shifted! It has been readjusted and hope is blooming in my heart! Our time here is short! Eternity with Him is forever!

Nothing is impossible with God!!! The tomb is empty! Let's believe! And walk in JOY! Celebrate!!!

One Thing

I read a devotion this morning that was penned by Charles H. Spurgeon over one hundred years ago. It is truth that resonates with the deepest parts of who I am. I needed to hear this message. I thought perhaps you would be inspired by it as well. My advice, pray before reading, pray during your reading, meditate, and pray after reading it. These are rich, rich thoughts, a deep well of cool water. I offer this cup to you. Blessings!

One Thing is Needful

One thing is needful. This one thing, according to this passage, is faith in Christ Jesus, the sitting down at the Master's feet, the drinking in His Word. If I may expand for a minute the "one thing," without seeming to make twenty things out of that which is but one, I will refer it to the possession of a new life. This life is given to us when by the power of the Holy Ghost we are created anew in Christ Jesus, and it develops itself into a simple confidence in Jesus, in a hearty obedience to Jesus, in a desire to be like Jesus, and in a constant yearning to be near Jesus. "One thing is needful;" that one thing is salvation, wrought in us by the Holy Ghost, through faith, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. The new heart, the right spirit, a filial fear of God, love to Jesus . . . this is the "one thing needful." . . . Ten thousand things are convenient; thousands of things are desirable; but there is one thing, one only thing, the one thing we have described to you, of which our Saviour speaks as the "one thing needful." And oh how needful this one thing is! Charles Hadden Spurgeon

Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

More Than Filling a Page

I have a goal this year. So far, I am on target to memorize the book of Colossians in one year by tackling two verses a week. It has been hard, hard work for me. I have had to be extremely repetitious and diligent in order to get the words to "stick to the pan". That is the phrase I pray when I am working on a verse that is difficult. Have you ever cooked and had a mess of eggs or gravy or something stick to a pan and it was really hard to scrub off? Me too! So I ask the Lord to make these words that I am working on to "stick to the pan of my brain". I have had to ask Him for that on almost every verse.

It is really something, though, when He makes it stick to my heart. A miracle has happened many times over the last few months . . . a miracle of revelation that only God can give. I pray that the transformation process that is happening on the inside of me will be obvious to the outside world one of these days.

It happened this morning. I am working on the final three verses of chapter one and this verse nearly leapt  off the page at me:

"To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29

Should I share with you what that verse did to me? Or should I urge you to say it over and over, out loud, at least 100 times (like I have) and see what it does to you? Go ahead, write it down and say it over and over again. It will make much more sense if you read the previous verses. Paul is talking about admonishing and teaching. He is talking about disciplining, sharing the gospel, with sacrifice, for the sake of Jesus and His body, the church.

The verses in chapter one are so powerful! Paul didn't write to fill a page, he wrote words that would change the world.

I guess I had to ask, to what end am I strenuously contending? Am I adequately using the "energy which Christ so powerfully works in me"? I am humbled by Paul's words.

I have had a dream to write for more years than I can count. I don't want to write to fill pages with worthless thoughts. I want to write words that will strengthen the His body, the church. Help me to do that, Lord! Infuse me with Your energy to admonish and teach Your word. For Your glory!