Don't have a title for this one.

I love worshiping God in church.  I love singing songs of worship to him, it's one of the ways that draws me near to him.  I also love being in nature and worshiping God on a good hike.  I love sitting on the sofa with my bible in hand when a scripture jumps out at me and stirs in my heart.  These are times of worship for me.

This morning I was reading John 4, about the Samaritan woman at the well.  Jesus talked with her about living water, he talked with her about her life.  The Samaritans followed their own traditions rather than the Word of God.  Jesus said to her, "But the hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."  So if the hour was here for this Samaritan woman it is certainly here for us.  What does this mean?  I am not a bible scholar but I do know this.  He wants you - just you - to come to come to him, to worship him, with all your heart.

I was imagining what this woman at the well must have felt.  After the above words she said to Jesus, "The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ.) When he comes, he will tell us all things.'"  Jesus said to her, "I am who speak to you am he." I feel like I would have broke down in tears.  Now she could understand worship.  The one to worship was standing right there next to her.  And you know what?  She didn't feel condemned either by Jesus.  He knew the sin in her life but he just loved on her.  That is what he does for you and me.  Blows my mind!

Last week we were at a family reunion.  About 60 of us gathered together for fellowship, games and devotions.  If your that family reading this, I love you all.  I want to share the following clip with all of you.  This is my father in law.  One of the most humble and gentle men I have ever known in my life.  A man of God, a sinner, a retired pastor, a father and a great grandfather.  This was his time of closing for the reunion.  May you be blessed.

Keep those promises alive!

It has just been way too long since I blogged.  I've been missing my quiet time in the word lately in the mornings.  Something that had become such a part of my morning coffee for years now has started to slip.  Time to get back into the rhythm.  I love this about mistakes - we don't have to beat ourselves up about them, we just have to turn around and start over again.

Lately I have been feeling really discouraged.  Looking at the life situation around and allowing every doubt or fear from the enemy to slip in.  Sometimes we need someone from the outside looking in to speak a word that helps you put things back in to perspective.  As church had ended on Sunday, the pastor shared just a few words that I so needed to hear.  He had been in a similar situation as us before so he understood.  He reminded me/us to just - "enjoy the ride, it may feel like you are free falling, but God knows where you will land.  He is laying the foundation."  Seemed to be just what I needed.  When you are "inside" a challenge it makes it harder to see the whole picture. 

Then tonight someone had a facebook post that read, "Never ever let the words of men, steal the promises of God."  How often don't we do that?  We are walking along confident that God is leading us then - bam - somebody shuts it down, throws into question the path you are on, the job you have, the move you made and you begin to doubt that God lead you in the first place.  Makes me think of Adam and Eve in the garden.  "Did God really say?"  Satan putting the question out there.  The promises of God - LET'S KEEP THEM LIVING IN OUR LIFE.

Today I was blessed to bring a lunch meal to the volunteer workers who are working on the home for The Daughter Project.  An organization that I am volunteering with.  They are building and operating a recovery home for adolescent girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.  I was blessed to bring them a lunch - those guys working out in this unbearable heat, giving freely of their time to build a home, a place of healing for these girls.  The many volunteers who will still give of their time blows my mind.  It is a rather emotional work site to be at.  And those promises of God - may those girls be filled to overflowing with the promise that God loves them so much and that he does and will heal their wounds.  He will heal yours too.  Just ask him!

His love is marvelous.  The following song (a demo) was written by my son (in law).  He is working on a worship CD.  Copy and paste the following link into your internet browser.  Close your eyes, listen, and meditate on the one who loves you more than you can begin to imagine. 

http://www.facebook.com/lagodmusic?sk=app_178091127385

Siblings and Heaven

So this past weekend I drove for 24 hours in 4 days.  All by myself - my niece was getting married in Omaha and we were unable to attend until a few days before I got this feeling that I really needed to get there, somehow.  Knowing that my husband and daughter both needed both of our cars I called around for a rental and a few hours later I was on the road to my brothers house, then the next day to finish the drive to Omaha.  I was so happy that I went - all 6 of us siblings were together for the weekend.  It was such a blessing.  We are all so different and some of us don't know each other that well since we haven't had much time together in the last decade.  We had time to talk and share life and relationships are growing.  I will say this - we are so nice to each other and we treat each other with respect.  I hope my siblings don't mind that I put this picture on my blog but it's just too great not to share.  My sister sent it to me and when I looked at it I cried.  I love them all so much.  Isn't God just so great?!!  I can't wait for the next time when all the in-laws are there and we can have a picture with all of our spouses too.  They are my sisters and brothers too and I just love all of them.

You know, life is short and we never know when God will bring us home to be with him.  So I treasure my family - right now.  In a blink life here on earth can be done.  I heard the most beautiful analogy last week.  Think of what it feels like when you get home after a long vacation or trip.  You walk in the door and just breathe a sign of relief or you lay down in your own bed and just breathe that sign of relief.  I usually say "wow, it feels so good to be in my own bed and to be home."  Now think of this - when we get to heaven I think we will just breathe that sign of relief, that feeling of peace and rest will overtake us.  That thought makes death seem so much more peaceful.  We will at last be really home.

So for now, as long as I live on this earth, I want to live my life to bring glory to God.  I want to love my family and tell others about Jesus.  Relationships are what will matter in the end.  It won't matter the money we made but the relationships we had, the love we shared and most importantly - Jesus my Savior!!!

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."