TRUTH!

I don't know how you feel about Jack Van Impe, but I personally like to watch him & his wife occasionally. I mean, the man has over 15,000 verses memorized!! They talk about the end times---and use headlines of today's newspapers to show how prophecy is being fulfilled. Last night, he said, "Beware! Seducing spirits have been unleashed."
I was already concerned this week when I read a letter from a young woman who is going to a Christian college. She said, "God is pro-choice. He's always given His people choice; therefore, He's pro-choice." She was talking about abortion.
Isn't it crazy? But Satan is good at that. He twists scripture in people's minds. There's just enough truth to make it sound plausible.
I encourage us all to become TRUTH-SEEKERS! "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 And then, "For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones)." Matthew 24:24 It's going to be imperative the closer we get to Jesus' coming to stay in the Truth!! That's where my heart is today.

HUGS!!

I was so excited to come home from work yesterday and to see a large, no LARGE, envelope in my mailbox. In fact, the mailman had used my clothespin to attach the envelope to the mailbox so it wouldn't fall out! I was even more excited when I saw that it was addressed to Gee & Buff (the names Amy's kids call me & Andy) . I ran into the kitchen and opened the envelope. You can see what was inside....It was a HUG!! A hug from Isaac, Josiah & Olivia. And I didn't even know you could send hugs in the mail---especially all the way from FLORIDA!!

So when Buff got home, I showed him the envelope first. Then I had him turn around to see his hug that was now attached to the refrigerator. He got his hug...even though he didn't know how to do it very well....

But I know how to get hugs---I made sure those arms came all the way around me....

I love hugs from Florida.

Day 30 of 30 Days of Praise

I praise God for His timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says this, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."
I began 30 Days of Praise as a journey to embrace my husband's dreams----the dreams that God has put in his heart. On Day 1, I asked Andy what his dream was. Actually, I had a pretty good idea because about once a month, he'd drop this bombshell and watch for my reaction. After I told him I was willing to embrace his dream, he told me, "I've just been waiting for you to get there!" Ok...suck it up, Becky.
I told him I wanted what God wanted. And I was willing. Let me tell you what has happened since then. Nothing.
NOTHING!! I fully expected him to do all the necessary steps to fulfill his dream. He hasn't. Now I completely understand that the timing just may not be right or he's fully waiting on God. But what I wonder is this: Was what he wanted so unattainable because I was in his way--that he just thought that was his dream?!?
I don't know. Time will tell. So...I praise God for His timing. I don't know what my future holds---but I know Who holds it!
Father, thank You for this journey. I feel fully released after my 30 Days of Praise---released to do whatever You want. If I've been so much in the way that Andy doesn't even know what his heart's desires are, give him new dreams. Or if these really are his dreams, show him. I trust You, Father. I know You have more freedom in our lives than ever before. I praise You!! And I love You, Daddy! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Stiff Upper Lip

I had a depressing experience this week. I went to my hairdresser for a haircut. I always have her wax my eyebrows while I'm there. She looked down at me and asked if I usually had her wax my upper lip. I told her, "No. Does it need it?" Her short reply was, "Yes."
DANG! When did that happen? How embarressing! And now I foresee a lifetime of ripping that upper lip over and over and over....I just hope I don't start growing a beard! Or maybe I have and she is waiting to tell me next time.
And maybe, just maybe...I need new glasses. Sigh.....

Day 29 of 30 Days of Praise

I praise God for those who have blogged before us. I don't know about you, but I begin worrying that I'm just putting too much out there. But look at what someone blogged hundreds of years ago:

"Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth."

If you don't recognize this, it's from Psalm 73 and from the New Living Translation. Ok...I know it was inspired and mine isn't, but don't you love how he talks about those "fat cats!!" HA!! And he just lets it all hang out for everyone to see, doesn't he?
So I'm not going to try and rival this author, but I want to praise God for yet another kind of example He left for us. An example of blogging. An example to get real so that we can help each other. I have so many friends who are willing to get real. And one of those is Rachel. If you haven't read her blog, you need to. (You'll find it on my blog list) What an honest, compassionate person. I love that girl!
Father, thank you for David and every person who wrote the Psalms. Thank you for their example. Use us in each other's lives, Father. Thank You for the encouragement Rachel gave me and so many more people yesterday through her blog. And Father, I know this is off the subject, but would you protect and bless Bristol Palin? Guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus. And protect the baby she is carrying. Guard the Palin family, Father. I love you, Daddy! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Our Trip to Israel

We recently took a trip to Israel. This is where we spent our first night---on the Mediterranean Sea. Awesome!We got to tour Hezekiah's tunnel. It was an incredible rush!! I'd done a study on Hezekiah a few weeks before our trip and it was especially meaningful to me.

Andy baptized me in the Jordan River. It was a beautiful experience for me. (But afterwards, I saw a huge rat by the river that would have freaked me out had I seen it before my baptism!!) One of our last days, we went to the Garden Tomb which is by Golgotha. There, we had communion with our group. It was a very moving experience!
*Thank you, Ilene & Amy, for teaching me how to do this!*

Day 28 of 30 Days of Praise

Yesterday, I was talking to my daughter-in-law, Lindsey, about my "unnecessary journey." The first real house we lived in here in Borger was where we live now on Crockett Street. But because of my fears (finances), we made 5 moves before we came back to Crockett Street. It's a long story...but it's based on fear. The interesting thing is, I really wanted to live near our parents to give my children the added security in their lives of knowing their grandparents. But because of my lack of faith, I created an insecurity in their lives by moving all over Borger---from house to house! How deceived we can be---and not even realize it!
I was reading Hebrews 4---which then led me to Numbers 13-14. God gives us good news of deliverance from bondage--REST--if we only believe. The story of the 12 spies who went to scout out the Promised Land is referred to in this chapter of Hebrews. Ten spies came back with an evil report---the land is very fruitful---but the giants are too big to conquer! Joshua (a picture of Christ) and Caleb came back with the report that the land is so fruitful that it takes 2 men to carry one cluster of grapes---and God has made the giants impotent---let's go get 'em!
The people did not unite in faith with the word given in faith. Numbers 14:1 says, "And ALL THE CONGREGATION cried out with a loud voice,, and they wept that night." Not one person appropiated Joshua & Caleb's word with faith!
Back to Hebrews. This is where we hear about how powerful the Word of God is. But look at it in the context of the word of Joshua & Caleb. "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart."
Because of the Israelites unbelief, they had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Actually, God wanted to kill them off, but Moses reminded God of His own words, and God decided to let them live.
Wandering. My unnecessary journey. Unbelief in God's Word. Is my husband a spy? Has he gone into the Promised Land and come back with a good report? Is his dream that good report, full of faith? Am I the congregation that refuses to appropriate the word of faith? Help me, God!
I want that rest You offer. I want to receive that good news of deliverance from bondage. I want to unite in faith with those who have heard and believed.
Father, thank You. Thank You that You are willing to redeem my "unnecessary journey." Thank You that You didn't kill me off because of my unbelief. Thank You for Your longsuffering. I praise You for Your Word that is living and active and full of power. I receive Your Word to me today. Change me because of it. I want to cease from the weariness and pain of human labors, Father. I want to walk in faith--full of faith! Thank You for loving me, Daddy! I love you back. In Jesus' name, Amen.