Soothing Balm

Does anyone remember the old hymn, "There is a Balm in Gilead"?

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin sick soul.
Some times I feel discouraged

And think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again.

I know the hymn is referring to Jesus as being that "balm" for our souls and praise His name, He is, and what a soothing balm He is, but may I say that I find this place, "blogville", to be a soothing balm also for this wounded soul.

As most of you know I am married to a pastor and I was wounded today in church...yes I said church...by negative comments made about him. I did not retaliate or respond how my flesh wanted....the Holy Spirit keeps Colossians 3:12-14 ever before me when it comes to church family relationships. So after I spent some time "telling on them" to Jesus, I came here. Visiting your pages and seeing God at work in your lives is so uplifting and encouraging. In my mind, this community of "blog sistas" is what church should be like...always encouraging, always uplifting, we bear one another's burdens, we weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, and always Jesus is magnified! Thank you girls, for ministering to me. Even when I don't get to post as I would like to, I still visit with you and gain strength and encouragement from your journeys.....your the BOMB! The Holy Spirit has used YOU and the promises of His Word to revive this wounded soul! Praise Him!

May we all live out the teaching of Colossians 3:12-14 (especially me, at this time!):

So as those who have been chosen of God , holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity

To God be the glory!

And the award goes to.....

As I mentioned in my last post, my "twin sis" Patty has given me the "You Make Me Smile Award". Just like her, I would like to give it to all my bloggity friends because that is the very reason I visit them all.....they make me smile! But since I can only pass it on to one, I would like to bestow this upon my sista Susanne at Truly Captivating. Since I began visiting with her I have watched her love for Jesus and His word grow more and more and it has made me smile big time! Another reason she makes me smile is because she's a dancin' Baptist just like me and we love to praise Him in the dance! I look forward to the day when she and I can get together and get our praise on! Maybe at the Siesta Fiesta?

Continuing to go "Deeper Still"

WOW!!! What a weekend I had ! I would have posted sooner, but it's taken me the last few days just to assimilate all I experienced. I wanted to go Deeper Still and I was not disappointed (does He ever disappoint?.......NOT! or as Kay Arthur says.....DUH!) I heard the word of God taught with such power and authority, I worshiped in spirit and truth with 20,000 plus women, I met and fellowshiped with my online "siestas" who have prayed for me, encouraged me, and have inspired me with their love for Jesus, and I got to go to the event with my best friend of 25 years and...and...we traveled with a group of precious women she works with as a home health nurse. They were so much fun! We bonded immediately (that's what Jesus will do for you!). Heaven practice....that's what it was.....heaven practice! Except when we get there, we won't need the Word taught to us, we will be with the Word...in His very presence, and we like the disciple John, "will behold His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Come Lord Jesus, come! I so want to go to Atlanta next year...trying to make that happen. If you haven't had the chance to attend "Deeper Still" go...just go...it's so worth it!

Meeting the "siestas" was so much fun! I finally got to meet my "twin sis" Patty who, by the way, was the coordinator and T-shirt designer for the siesta meet-up Saturday afternoon. You can see our picture on her blog (I left my camera in my seat and just didn't have the strength to go back and get it!) and also on the LPM blog. What fun.....thanks Patty! I also want to thank Patty for the sweet award she bestowed upon me today. The "You Make Me Smile Award". She makes me smile too! I will be passing this award on tomorrow.

Remember sweet friends, every day is an opportunity to go Deeper Still!

I'm going "Deeper Still!"

Ok girls....I'm asking you to "rejoice with those who rejoice" and am I ever rejoicing! Tomorrow morning I am headed to Nashville to attend the "Deeper Still" event with Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shirer! My best friend lives near Chattanooga and I'm meeting up with her, then Friday, it's off to Nashville we go to "sit under the spout where the glory comes out!" And if that were not enough, I am going to get to meet some of our "blog siestas" there also! Ain't God good?!!!!!! Patty at Girlfriends in God has arranged a little siesta get together for us and we even have T-shirts so we can find each other! You're the best twin sis!! I have been looking forward to this for almost a year now and my heart is just beating wildly in anticipation of what God is going to do. There is no doubt in my mind He is going to do BIG...HUGE...GINORMOUS things this weekend! Oh, how I need a word from the Lord this weekend and I know I will receive it and much more! I wish you all could be there! I'm really not kidding when I say I will be thinking of all of you who I visit so often and who come to see me. We need to be making plans for the "Siesta Fiesta" so we can all get together! I have camera packed and plan to give details when I return. Pray for us!!

Can't Wait!

Feels good being here...I miss everyone!

As I have said in a previous post, my new teaching job is a 40 minute commute for me. It is great prayer time for me and also GREAT praise and worship time! CD's are scattered everywhere in my car as I try to decide who I am going to worship with each morning. Currently, Kirk Franklin and I have been getting our praise on each morning. His "Rebirth" CD is the bomb! It's been very difficult keeping both hands on the steering wheel! Between the tears in my eyes and my hands going up, my guardian angels (I just know it takes more than one for me) have been working overtime. One of the songs on the CD talks about the day we will finally see Jesus...the song says "I can't wait to see you." My heart began to race as I thought about that and I realized that really and truly, I can't wait to see Jesus. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for a death wish. There is so much more I want to learn of Him and know of Him before that day, but I honestly look forward to the day my eyes finally behold the One who has loved me before time began and caused me to fall in love with Him. As the song says, "I can only imagine...." Wow!

So tell me my sweet blog sistas...who are you currently worshiping with? Let's make His praise glorious!

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4

MINOR PROPHET: MAJOR LESSON III

I so miss being here! I'm afraid that until I find my groove with my new job, my postings are going to be few and far between....yuck! I have a 40 minute commute everyday, the early mornings are my coffee time with Jesus and by the time I get home and take care of my family and prepare for my next day, the day is gone...no computer time! Pray I learn the ropes and find my groove...soon!

In the midst of this transiton time the Lord has been reminding me about ATTITUDE! I've been studying the book of Malachi (another minor prophet with a major lesson) and the Lord God had a few choice words for His priests and His people about their lackluster devotion to Him and the slipshod way they worshiped. Words like, despised, contemptible, useless, just to name a few. They began to question God's love for them and thus began the descent into the pit mediocrity, complacency, and flat-out disobedience. People were offering and priest were accepting defiled sacrifices. The people served in a perfunctory and mechanical manner, going through the motions with no heart or conviction about what they were doing. They came to believe that offering stolen or lame or sick animals as sacrifices to God was not a problem as far as worship was concerned. They had the nerve to believe God would accept these offerings and be pleased with them. Worship was a mere drudgery, a meaningless activity they did out of habit. Their attitude toward God was reflected in their actions....are we getting a clue? I know I am! The Lord has reminded me that my actions are always connected to my attitude...my actions are always set in motion by my attitude! My actions reveal what I believe about God. Some of the harshest words the Lord God utters in this book are found in Chapter 1 verse 10...."I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you, says the LORD of Hosts, and I will accept no offering from your hands." Can you imagine that kind of rebuke on our worship today? What would we think if God said, "I would rather you nail the doors shut than have you worship me halfheartedly as you do." I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

So, I have had an attitude adjustment. Just because I am experiencing some difficulties in this time of transition does not mean He still does not deserve my very best...He is God...the LORD of Hosts.....King of Kings.... the great I AM. He wants my wholehearted devotion and nothing else will do!

Quick Note

Just a quick note to let everyone know I have not completely disappeared! This past week with my new job involved more than I anticipated and I never even got to turn on the computer! My first day with students is tomorrow and I hope things will settle down a bit after that. I have much to share and much to VENT! See you later....I hope!