Simple Thoughts

Background: Before bed in prayer on Sept 29, 2012, I felt totally overwhelmed.   I knelt down to pray and I realized the song on the ipod shuffle was "Worth it all" by Rita Springer. Good song. In prayer, a phrase came to mind. "Secrets to climbing Mount Everest" I googled that phrase and found a website about training to climb Mount Everest.   On the page, in addition to technical training, it had this paragraph that really stuck out to me.   Psychological and Physiological Requirements Perhaps one of the toughest things about climbing a mountain like Everest is keeping motivated for months. Plan to spend a lot of time in your tent, waiting for the opportunity to go higher on the mountain. Be aware that you probably will be socked in by strong weather for at least part of the time, weather that can intimidate you and weaken your reserve. You may have climbing mates who get sick, have to descend without you, or worse (heaven for...

I had the privilege of speaking at my church this Sunday.  I spoke about on a phrase/paragraph the Lord gave me - "The Secrets to Climbing Mount Everest." Here is the link to the audio: Secrets to Climbing Mt. Everest

Genesis 18 and 19 are fascinating chapters in regards to responses of God's judgment.   Almost everyone has heard of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   I have read these chapters before many times.   However, when I read them yesterday and today, I noticed things that I hadn't noticed before.   (I love it when God does that!) In Genesis 18, three men walk up to Abraham's tent.   Two of them are angels and one is Jesus, revealing Himself as a man in the Old Testament.   (Pause for a minute and think about how cool that is!) They hang out with Abraham.   Abraham makes a meal for them and Jesus prophesies that Abraham and Sarah will have a child.   (This is the scene that made Sarah famous for laughing.) After the laughing incident, the men got up to leave and Abraham walked with them a bit.   Then Jesus decided to share a secret with Abraham.   He did not want to hide what He was doing from him.   So Jesus told Abraham ...

Psa 37:4 NKJV - Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. I love Psalm 37:4.   I hear it quoted a lot.   "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." I think, however, that often people quote this verse because they like the latter half of the verse.   Everyone likes the idea that God would give the desires of their heart.   Most people, though, leave out the qualifier - Delight yourself also in the LORD - or they don't address it, maybe because they do not understand it.   After all, what does it mean to "delight yourself in the Lord"? I've heard many people's definitions.   Recently, I read a verse that had the phrase "delight yourself in the Lord" and believe there is a connection.   Isaiah 58:13-14 says, "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, [From] doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight,...

Carefully protecting. Making sure it has everything it needs. Learning exactly what makes it tick and how it responds different ways to different stimuli. Cleaning and caring for it. Everyone else may be occupied but her assignment is the secret weapon. A few days ago, and for a few months now for that matter, I've struggled with what many moms struggle with. I was watching the productivity of others around me. I was watching my husband learn new things in preparedness... HAM radio, canning, etc. I was watching others respond in disasters and help pass things out to people that were in need. Even seeing ministry opportunities that would be done easier without a baby on the hip. I was really struggling with my contribution to society, to my value to those around me. It wasn't a hard struggle. Just a every-few-days-wrestle. I understand that being a mom is the most important thing you could do but hearing that and having a heart understanding of that is very diff...

Luke 22:7-13 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. God has been speaking to Adam and I about the issue of preparation.   For years, we have heard Him speaking to us to prepare.   We don’t always have a sense of what is coming or when, but one thing we know – He wants us to prepare.   ...

Luke 21:34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” That Day.   What is “that day”? It’s the Day of the Lord.   The Day of His return.   In Luke 21, Jesus describes the events leading up to his return.   (See also Matthew 24). People have many opinions regarding when the return of Jesus will be.   For example, will it be before the tribulation, in the middle, after, etc.   I personally believe He will return at the seventh trumpet (seals, trumpets, bowls) to come down with the saints and make war on injustice and take His rightful place as King.   If you would like to discuss – I am more than happy to discuss the issue … just not on this blog. I want to focus this blog on being ready. Jesus tells us to take heed to ourselves - be careful, beware, be watchful, attend to yourself. Why? Because if we aren’t cautious, we...