Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

The following is a prayer by Max Lucado. Written for the National Prayer Vigil "America Prays" on September 15, 2001. Still very appropriate.

DEAR LORD,

We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, “What a horrible dream.”
But we won’t, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn’t.
And so we come to you. We don’t ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don’t request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We’ve read the accounts. We’ve pondered the stories and now we plead, “Do it again, Lord. Do it again.”
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king’s counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven’s sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you’ve used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.

Feelings.....can you trust them? NOT!

When I started blogging, it was for the purpose of being able to visit and comment on other people's blogs. That's a ton of fun for me. Having permisson to peer into the lives of others satisfies my "inner snoop" and because I am choosy about who I visit, I am almost always edified and encouraged. Writing a blog has never been high on my priority list (as you can well see by the number of my post!). I always feel the self-imposed pressure of saying something "profound" (still don't think I've managed that one). But there are times when the Lord's work in my life is so intense, so personal....so REAL, that I feel the need to share and "strengthen the brethern". Thus, the reason for this post. I am going to allow you to "snoop" into a portion of my prayer journal with the hopes that you have "been there, felt that" and that you leave edified by TRUTH.

9-09-09  (yes...just today)
I don't "feel" like praying Lord. I don't "feel" like believing. I don't "feel" like having faith. I don't "feel" like being a pastor's wife. I don't "feel" like being a Sunday School teacher. I "feel" I am on the edge of a pit and my feet are slipping. And to be honest, a part of me just wants to fall in and be done with it-----BUT, here's the thing......I know the TRUTH......and truth is.....well.....TRUTH. Unchanging, rock solid, infalliable, completely trustworthy.....it's everything You are, Lord. In fact, it IS You. You said You are the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life (John 14:6),and because you are TRUTH, Your Word is TRUTH. Afterall, You are also the Word of God (John 1:2). Your Word says that my heart will deceive me and "feelings" can't be trusted (Jer. 17:9) unless they are based upon the TRUTH. Your Word says that my way is not in myself and it is not in me to direct my steps (Jer. 10:23). So as much as I "feel" like walking right off into that pit......I won't....because I know the TRUTH and I choose TRUTH. "If I say, 'My foot slips', Your mercy, O Lord will hold me up" (Psalm 94:18). "Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts" (Psalm 119:173). Thank you, Lord for the safety and security of the TRUTH.....Your precious Word. You are great and greatly to be praised!

Making Memories

After a little blog make-over (which took me FOR-EV-ER!) I am coming out of hiding! Since my last post, school ended, summer started, school is starting and summer is ending! Much has happened in my part of the Mississippi delta...the beautiful, the good, the bad, and the ugly (thank you, Lord that this world is not my home!) but God is ever faithful and has shone Himself mighty in my family's behalf. God is at work and continues to be at work and I have been having the time of my life watching Him...He amazes me...scares me to death sometimes... but He amazes me. I could write for days about all our experiences over the last few months, but I'll spare you. Instead I want to share the one thing God did that was the highlight of my summer.

After a very difficult year, our family was looking forward to our annual vacation trip to the Smoky Mountains. We are mountain kinda people...we HAVE to go at least once a year to be renewed and gain strength to make it through the next year! To make a VERY LONG story short, plans fell through and it looked liked we might not get to go. As I was praying about our predicament, the Lord brought to mind my sweet bloggy friend Sharon. I remembered she and her sweet family moved from Louisiana to North Carolina in obedience to God to help with a Christian Retreat ministry there. I contacted her and as the Lord would have it, she set us up to stay in the newly built cabin of Mountain Top Experience Christian Retreat. Not only was our vacation saved but I was going to finally meet Sharon and Keith! Sharon warned us ahead of time that the cabin still had some finishing touches that needed to be done, but welcomed us to come knowing how desperate we were to get away.

Off to Maggie Valley, NC we go and meet up with Sharon who leads the way up the mountain to the cabin.....4,000 feet up.....straight up......the more up we go, the smaller the roads get and the less pavement we see! I began to wonder if our Chrysler Voyager (mini-van) would make it, but I dropped it in low and off we went, no problem! It was worth the climb...absolutely beautiful! The cabin, the mountains, the view.....the quiet! I could sense my spirit strengthening and even more so as we got to fellowship with our new friends......the sweetest people you will ever have the delight to meet.....

Sharon and Keith Brumfield

Me and Sharon

They helped us settle in the cabin, didn't have near enough time to fellowship, but then left us to enjoy our vacation. First on the Worsham agenda....FOOD. So we headed down the mountain to go to the grocery store and eat dinner, just slightly disappointed it had begun to rain, but all would be well since we had planned to spend the evening enjoying the cabin, the large screen TV and the Wii.......or so we thought. Did I mention that one of the finishing touches that needed to be done was gravel for the drive up to the cabin? No? Well you need to know that little piece of info because we never made it back up to the cabin in the van....on foot....yes....van....no. After dropping it in low for the final ascent up to the cabin, the van began to fishtail toward the edge of the mountain and my family bailed on me....literally. They jumped ship quicker than the crew of the "Dauntless". I put the van in park and decided I'd better join them. By this time it is very dark.....the only lights we have are the lights left on up at the cabin.....no we didn't have flashlights in the car...I know, I know...and thus we began our slip and slide adventure up to the cabin.....the whole time chanting my mantra for these type of family adventures, "we're making memories girls!" When our mud-caked feet finally hit the solid ground of the cabin porch, my two teenage girls declared they were NOT leaving the mountain until the ground was dry (forecast called for rain for the next two days). Seeing as how we had big plans for getting out and about in the mountains every day this posed a problem. As we went to bed that night I prayed I would still find the van where I left it and told the Lord that I knew He had provided this vacation and that I was looking to Him to continue to provide. Early the next morning I was able to hang off the side of the cabin balcony to get enough signal to text Sharon and let her know of our predicament. With their four-wheel drive truck and a four-wheeler they came to the rescue...

Keith bringing Mark and Jordan down the mountain!

Again...the whole time I was chanting my mantra....we're making memories!! And how sweet those memories were made with this precious couple. Not only did they rescue us from a wet slippery mountain, but they rescued our vacation! They made arrangements for us to stay in a lovely little cabin down in the valley for the duration of our stay.

God is so faithful and so good and He made those qualities so tangible to me and my family through Sharon and Keith. I desire that for my life...help me, Lord!

Sharon and Keith.....Jesus looks so good on you! I love you to pieces!

His Word of Life for Today: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Hebrews 6:10

National Day of Prayer

Father God,

With gratitude that my life is hidden in Christ's and that I can boldly approach your throne because my confidence is in Your precious Son, I worship You, as Creator and Sovereign LORD. Father, I join my heart with others today who are praying for our nation. You are our only hope and what a strong hope that is! We look to You, Lord to heal our land. We look to You to protect her people whether here or abroad. We look to You as our source of security. When we waver, undertake for us Lord, and turn our hearts toward You. Let us rest in the knowledge that....

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

The LORD looks from heaven, He sees all the sons of men. From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army. A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory, nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.

(Psalm 33:11-22)

In the name of Jesus, Lord and King...Amen.

Don't worry....start praying!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil. 4:6

My man is preaching through the book of Philippians on Sunday mornings. And boy did he "bring it" this morning. I got me a now kind of word today and wanted to share a small portion of it, hoping it will bless and encourage you.

In Paul's admonishment to the Philippian church, the emphasis of the verse is not so much on stopping worrying as it is on starting praying. The word for prayer in the original language is their word for prayer, but it also brings with it the connotation of worship, adoration, devotion. Worship and worry cannot coexist. When we worship our God, exalt Him, magnify Him, anxious thoughts disintegrate. As we bring our supplications (our earnest desires) to Him, anxious thoughts are replaced with trust and when we do this with a thankful heart, we are reminded of the faithfulness of our God......it is to this God we make our request! And then you know what happens?

...the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7

You want to stop worrying? START PRAYING!!

Prayer Alert!

To anyone who happens to find their way here, I am asking you to join me in praying for Stellan McKinney, a precious 5 month baby boy who is having heart surgery even as I type. His mother is Jennifer, known as "MckMama" on her very popular blog "My Charming Kids". If you haven't read his story, you should. This sweet baby boy is a miracle and his family are big time Jesus lovers with a beautiful testimony of God's grace and strength in the midst of uncertainty.

One of the scriptures I am praying over them today.....

"Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Our God is to us a God of deliverances. To God the Lord belong escapes from death." Psalm 68:19-20

They need our prayers...would you join me?

Going boldly to the throne.....

Just as He said...

"The angel said.....He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying." Matt. 28:6

They didn't remember. On several occassions Jesus had told His followers of His predestined death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21), but they didn't remember. Fear...despair...worry... have a way of doing that to us don't they? We forget His words....His very sure words. How ironic that those who hated Jesus remembered what He said (Matt. 27:63), but not His sheep.

Like the angel who reminded the women at the tomb that He had risen, "just as He said", the Holy Spirit reminds me of a few "just as He saids"......

Your needs will be met (Phil 4:19)...just as He said.

He is your stability (Isaiah 33:6)....just as He said.

He will never leave you (Matt. 28:20)...just as He said.

He's listening to you (Psalm 116:1-2)....just as He said.

He is for you (Psalm 118:6)...just as He said.

His righteousness is yours (2 Cor. 5:21)...just as He said.

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, may we remember what He has said to us and not only remember, but believe Him! His word is as sure as the resurrection! Praise His glorious name!

Celebrating our Risen Lord......

The Glorious Impossible

Here are just a few of the Glorious Impossibles that I have been meditating on the last few days...

A New Life.....Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Reconciled to God....For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10

His righteousness is ours...God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21

A Holy God dwells within us....Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Cor. 6:19

The power of the resurrection works within us....I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...Eph. 1:18-20

Access to the throne of the King of Kings...Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb. 4:12

Every need supplied...And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

How great is our God? He faithfully, lovingly, consistantly makes the impossible....possible! Now take a few minutes and have yourself a little mini-worship service as you watch the video.

Worshiping with you.....

I'm in!

I'm joining my sweet bloggy friend Susanne in the "Shrinking into Summer" challenge. Care to join us? The more the merrier!

UPDATE: 2-4-09: I lost 2.4 pounds since this post...not bad seeing as how I didn't really get on the wagon til Friday. Thank you, Lord...You are a very PRESENT help...

Let Me Hear...

I hear so many things throughout a day. If I hear nothing else, let me hear this.....

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;

For I trust in You.

Teach me the way in which I should walk;

For to You I lift up my soul.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;

I take refuge in You.

Psalm 143:8-9

"Lord my sorrow makes me deaf - let me hear.....Only God can take away from our weary ears the din of our care and charm them with the sweet notes of His love."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Praying your listening.....

Minister's Wives Conference

Last weekend I had the absolute joy and blessing to attend Lifeway's Minister's Wives Conference led by Beth Moore. What made it even more special was being able to go with my dearest friend of nearly 28 years, Sarah. She and her husband David and me and my husband Mark, have been friends since college. Both of us married our men after graduation, knowing what we were getting ourselves into....life in the fishbowl....life in the ministry. We had no idea what lay ahead (thank you, Jesus!), but we loved our God and we loved our men. We have walked through the good, bad, and the ugly of ministry....and have found God faithful at every turn. Both of our husbands and us and going through great difficulty in ministry right now, so this conference was a much needed time of refreshment and renewal. We were not disappointed! Beth brought it as usual! She taught and admonished us from the book of Galatians...the topic? "When Misery Visits Ministry". Wow! How did she know? Only God! She helped us recognize 6 aggravations in ministry, then gave us 6 alternatives for them. I have listed them below...all Christians (since we are all made ministers by Christ) will be able to identify with these:

1. Aggravation:
Ministry by default. Life long misfit.

Alternative:
Chosen by God. Have holy fit.

2. Aggravation:
Seek Their Approval. Become Their Slave.

Alternative:
Seek God's Approval. Find Your Peace!

3. Aggravation:
Work With People. Expect Titanic Problems.

Alternative:
Choose to Trust. Not to Rust.

4. Aggravation:
Trade Your Bondage. Keep Your Chains.

Alternative:
Don't Ignore. Get Restored. Then Restore.

5. Aggravation:
Sow the Flesh. Reap the Dregs.

Alternative:
Sow the Spirit. Reap the Life.

6. Aggravation:
Lose What Counts. Watch Misery Mount.

Alternative:
Keep the King the Thing - JESUS!

Not only did God give us a word, but He gave us such a sweet time of fellowship with other minister's wives. I even got to meet some siesta's.....Georgia Jan, Amy W., and KristiB!

That is Amy on the left, then Jan, yours truly in red, and Kristi on the right. You would have thought we had been friends forever! Isn't it amazing what Jesus does? They were the sweetest things!

Keep the King the Thing!

Quotable Quotes

I love a word fitly spoken...or written. I like to collect quotes. I have them written all over every Bible I own ....well, not every Bible, just the ones I use in my study, because that's usually when I find great quotes. I especially love the ones that have reference to God's Word. Here are a few of my favorites........

"The Scriptures are in print what Christ is in person."

A.W. Tozer

"The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy child Jesus; unroll them and you find your Savior."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"You don't have to out shout him or out muscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to "out truth" him. Believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God's Word and you will thrwart Satan's strategy."

Neil Anderson

"All the reverence we owe to God must be paid to His Word."

John Calvin

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word."

God

(through Isaiah the prophet)

Would you share one of your favorite quotes with me? I would love to add to my collection!

Enjoy Him today!

Funny Friday

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing...Proverbs 17:22 (Amplified)

Showin' the love....

I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6

The beginning of our family's next generation that God is graciously showing His love to...

Brandon Andrew "Andy" Powell, Jr.

Born August 22, 2008

With the birth of this little guy, 3 generations on my side of the family know and love the Lord, 4 on my husband's side. Praise His faithful name! What about you? What is your godly heritage? I'd love to know.....let's give Him some glory!

Working my way back....

That old Spinners song from the 70's keeps running around in my head as I attempt to get back to my blog....Working my way back to you, babe...with a burnin' love inside...boy did I just date myself! So much has happned over the last 10 months that I feel like I need I to share everything, but I probably won't...so emotionally draining. Suffice it to say the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 has been my reality the last several months:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

God has been so faithful...He IS so faithful and Jesus is Life! But not everything has been difficult. God has blessed us with showers of blessings amidst our storms and I'll be sharing a couple of them in the next few days. Here's a little preview...
Meet my first grandbaby....Andy!



Oh, I got lots to say about this little guy...until later....

I'm on my way....

Preparing for a comeback...soon I hope!