Frustrations, Fun & God

Wow! Has it really been over 2 months since I last posted something? It's been on my "list of things to do" every day. . . . but as the summer months began and school let out for my 5 kids, it's been a whirlwind of activity here.

On top of planning for a missions trip, we've had Vacation Bible School, swim lessons, a retreat for my daughter, and a crazy adventure-of-a-vacation in the mountains - camping in torrential rain and wind (thank goodness for a laundry room and hairdryer!), living with deer and skunks on our campsite (the skunks would walk around under our feet - not caring we were there!), seeing a bear (from a distance and safely inside my car), touring underground caverns, and even a tubing trip on the river with a rope swing along the way! We definitely had some fun - but it didn't all go as planned. Isn't that just like life? :)

On the way home our precious 6 year old daughter wanted to pray for our trip. She was thanking God for all the fun and adventure we had (even when it didn't seem fun at the time) - and then she said "I had so much with you God on our camping trip!" :) Wow. I was humbled. Out of the mouth of babes. Many of us (adults & kids) on the trip were complaining about the weather, the heat, the complications . . . but were still trying to be thankful for the adventure it ended up being. However, my daughter reminded me of the most important truth . . . that through it all - the rain, the soaked tents and books (and a Bible!), the skunks, the bugs, the frustrations, the times of anger and sadness, and the times of laughter and joy - sharing memories, eating s'mores, and watching my 7 year old put away 3 hamburgers and 2 hotdogs in one meal . . . Through all of it - God was with us! And my daughter had "fun" with God during it all! I did too!

I do have to say that all throughout the trip I was frequently thanking God for taking care of us. We were almost rear-ended in a tunnel even before we left our city (the car missed us by less than a foot as it squealed and veered into the next lane!)! The rain stopped just as we arrived at the campground so we didn't have to set up in the rain. The next day (my mom's birthday!), the sun was out for awhile and the rain held off till near the end of our tubing trip (but we came back to a destroyed tent over our table and everything soaked in my parents' tent) - however, the rain stopped long enough for us to fix things and dry some things out. We ate s'mores under another tent we had - using our propane stove instead of a fire. And guess what? They were still just as yummy! And there was no rain when we had to tear everything down to leave! So . . yes . . .God is good - and I could see his hand of grace taking care of us all along the way!

But like my daughter said. . . God, I did have alot of fun WITH you throughout it all! The majestic mountains, beautiful wildlife, intricate and amazing sites in the caverns, beautiful waterfalls . . . it all constantly reminded me of our awesome Creator! What an imagination He had (and still has)! I am so thankful! He has created such beauty and glory and wonder all around us . . . if we just take the time to stop and look. We could have kept our eyes on the frustrations, but by looking at what God DID (and was doing) . . . for us . . . it made this "adventure" one I'll always remember . . . without too many feelings of frustration.

On the last morning, I met the woman who takes care of the camp showers and store. I wanted to keep to myself . . . my own thoughts . . . just take my shower and go back and pack up. But I couldn't get this nagging feeling that I was supposed to tell her something . . . just how wonderful she is - what a good heart she has - a "mother-hen" kind of heart - that she loves to take care of everyone and is really good at it. I started walking away, but then went back and interrupted her work. As I opened my mouth and just started saying what I felt God was showing me about her - it was beautiful to see her reaction . . . a sweet smile of gratitude - like a little girl being told she is beautiful. It opened up at least 30 minutes of conversation between us - listening to her stories of her family, her life, her eye that was mostly blind and how it happened, etc. Beneath what had seemed like a rough and well-worn exterior was the tender and compassionate heart of a woman who God loves. I was able to pray for her eye, but she quickly had to get back to work. I continue to pray for full healing for her eye (I wished it hadn't been our last day there). I may never know if God healed it that day -but I do know that I was able to share some of God's love on one of his most precious creations! I wouldn't trade that moment for all the sunny days in the world!

As our summer continues and winds to a close, I want to encourage you to do a few things.
#1. Thank God for all He is doing or has done for you! If you can't think of anything - start with His creations all around you (including people!).

#2. Pay attention to the fact that God is ALWAYS with you - in EVERY situation! He is there to laugh with you, to comfort you in your tears, to strengthen you when you are weak, to give rest for the weary. It doesn't mean our life plays out perfectly in all ways - but it does mean that we have a perfect Friend, Father, Comforter, Counselor, etc with us in all our imperfect situations and experiences. Enjoy being with Him. Practice being in His presence (paying attention to Him being there with you).

#3. Reach out to others around you! Love on them. Not out of selfish ambition, or pride - but out of true love. Love for God. When we love God - we can love His children (His creation) so much more! There is a reason that the Bible says that the greatest commandment is to love God 1st - then love others AS we love ourselves. When we love God and understand HIS love for us - we can truly love ourselves and then others. God sure does love you! AND he sure does love your neighbor, parents, siblings, co-worker, and yes - even your enemies! We are ALL made in God's image (EVERYONE!) - and He loves us all! So go share some of that love with others! Find the "gold" in someone around you and pull it out of them! Show them the "gold" that is inside of them. If you are having trouble with loving someone - ask God to show you how HE sees them (what the gold is). It will change you! Treat people according to their destiny (who God says they are)and not according to their history!

Have fun going deeper this summer!

L :)

What are you Soaking in Today?

I know I haven't posted in awhile - but as I mentioned in a previous post or two - I started taking classes in January. I'm part of a School of Supernatural Ministry here locally, but we are using the curriculum from Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry out in Redding, California. I also said this before too - but if you haven't checked out this church, what it's doing, what they teach and preach . . . you need to! Their church is not only changing their city - but their reach is spreading across the globe - to bring healing, deliverance, salvation, love and power to the world!

Bill Johnson - head pastor (as well as other pastors and leaders from that church - Kris Vallotton and Danny Silk especially) has written some incredible books that have been rocking my world! They have opened up my eyes to seeing scripture in new ways, to seeing myself in new ways, to finally understanding more about just WHO I am as well as WHOSE I am! It has been setting me free!

Bethel Church broadcasts many of their services - worship and teaching - on ibethel.tv. You can watch some things for free, and then they also have subscription services - 3 different ones - depending on what you would like/prefer.

Most every day I listen to one of their videos - whether it's just worship or teaching. I used to put on Joyce Meyer every day in the morning (tv, or sometimes online) as I got ready for the day - now it's i-bethel. Occasionally I will also put on a webcast from CBN's Spiritual Gifts Webcast archives at CBN.com. I have also listened to Beth Moore as well (You can hear here at Oneplace.com, or you can watch her on LIFE Today with James and Betty Robinsin here. LOVE that lady!).

By doing this - I am feeding my spirit, healing my soul, and training my mind. I also recently picked up the Bible on CD's (dramatized version) from the library and have occasionally put those in while getting ready in the morning, doing chores, or driving around. (I need to do that more.) I have found that I look at/hear the scriptures differently when I'm listening to it rather than reading it. It's opened my eyes to new things!

I do still watch one tv show a week (LOST) - but that's it (and occasionally a movie . . . but not as much as I used to). Why fill my mind with the ways of this world? Why fill up the empty spaces in my thoughts, heart and emotions with things that don't satisfy? It just leaves me feeling empty still and like I've just wasted part of my life. I don't want that. I want so much more out of life. I want that abundant life that Jesus said he died to give me! He DIED so I could have it! If He died for it - then it must be something good!! NO - GREAT! It was worth dying for! (I was worth dying for!)

We are what we think about. We think about whatever we have put in our minds - through our eyes, our ears, our experiences . . . so . . . .

What are you "soaking" your mind, spirit and soul in these days? I would challenge and encourage you to take note of what you are putting before your eyes, ears and in your life. Is it bringing life into your mind, heart, emotions and life? What kind of life do you want to have? That abundant life that God has for you? Go after it! But remember - it all starts in our minds - what we think about! (If you struggle with this - with your thought life - I would recommend Joyce Meyer's book - "Battlefield of the mind"!!)

I posted signs around my house - not only for my kids, but for my benefit. One of them says "What are you soaking in?" and has a picture of a sponge and a brain. Below it is the verse Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE - if anything is EXCELLENT or PRAISEWORTHY - think about such things."

The other quote I have posted is this:

Watch your thoughts - they become your words.
Watch your words - they become your actions.
Watch your actions - they become your habits.
Watch your habits - they become your character.
Watch your character - it becomes your destiny.

What are you soaking in today?

Soak in the deep water from the Lord today! Be refreshed - and renewed with LIFE!!

I've added links to many of my favorite "wells" that I currently "drink" from or have in the past. Check the "aqueducts" on the right sidebar!

Drink Deep!

L :)

Do you know WHO you are?

I love thinking about how intricately God designed us – designed me! Even down to my name – having my parents choose the name Lori (meaning – Victorious one!) for me. He didn’t leave any detail undone!

I was watching my cat yesterday, sitting in the window sill, enjoying the breeze coming in from the open, screened in window, but at the same time – longing to be outside – to be chasing the birds she would see in the yard, to be running around in the grass - nibbling on it, exploring, tasting, smelling, chasing, crouching, playing (with other cats), running – free! I could tell it was driving her crazy to be inside – especially with the windows open! It looked liked torture –to be able to not only see the outside world (now that the blinds were open), but to be able to smell, feel and experience just a little bit of what lay outside – but to be stuck inside! She longs to be outside so much, that she will hide out by the door, crouching and waiting for someone to open it so that she can make a mad dash to try and escape – to be free!

I then thought about the last cat we had. She had been a stray – abandoned and left on her own as a kitten. We found her at about 5 months old – barely skin and bones, dirty, covered in ticks. We took her in, cleaned her up, loved on her, fed her (till she was fat!), and more. However, she still remained traumatized. She was full of anxiety and fear – of noises, of us - if we moved to fast, if we tried to pet her when she wasn’t expecting it, or even if we tried to pick her up. But one thing that frightened her the most, was going and being stuck outside. She would be curious – looking out a closed or screened-in window. She would occasionally try to venture outside, very slowly, smelling, testing, watching to see if it was safe . . . but all the while, still very nervous and unsure of herself and of the outside world. Once, she had ventured outside as I was bringing in the groceries. I didn’t see that she had gone out. When I was done, I closed our sliding glass door and started heading towards the kitchen. As I turned, I saw our cat anxiously run to the door and start clawing at the window, pacing and meowing a fearful cry. I opened the door and she bolted in. She had been so afraid that she was going to be stuck outside.

Cats were designed and created to be outside – to be hunters. We see this in most big cats (Lions and Tigers, etc) – out in the wild, free, hunting their prey, enjoying the sun and wind, the shade and stillness of the day, playing with each other, running . . . free. Housecats were designed the same – only on a smaller scale. We have tamed them, raised some by hand, loved on them, taught them to use a litter box, and made them pets, but deep inside – they still know they are hunters, that they have been designed to be outside – to be free – to be chasing birds, squirrels and rabbits. If we allow them to go outside – they will do just that. If we keep them indoors, they may long for the outside, but they will eventually become accustomed to indoor living – to being taken care of, and to being fed (instead of having to hunt for their food). Animals in captivity can become so accustomed to living this way and being taken care of, that if you tried to let them loose in the wild, they would starve to death – not knowing how to hunt for their food and to really live in the wild. Some animals might actually prefer to remain indoors (or in captivity) because of traumatic events/memories of being out in the wild (as seemed the case with our last cat).

What has God designed me to be? What has he designed me to do? Who am I really? What am I capable of? Have I been in “captivity” so long, that I don’t know? Do I still feel like a slave/servant in my relationship with God? Or do I know my true identity – my position as a daughter of the Lord of glory, the King of kings, the creator of this universe? Do I know that I was not only designed to run free – to chase, to explore, to do great things, to enjoy the sun and shade, the wind and calm, to enjoy relationships and “playing” with others – but that I actually have the freedom to do just that?! I do! How about you?

God has been graciously revealing more of Himself, more of who I am, more of what I was designed to do and be, more of my identity – as royalty – a royal priest (and princess), and not a sinner any longer. I am no longer dirty, starving and covered in ticks! I have been brought into his house and lovingly restored – but not so that I will remain in His house as a servant or as a slave – but so that I could be adopted – as His daughter! I have full access to EVERYTHING my Father has – to ALL of His kingdom! It is mine to enjoy – to run free, to experience, to explore, to have fun in! I love that! I love it that God didn’t save me and bring me into His home to just clean me off to make me His servant. He rescued, saved, cleaned, and restored me – and ADOPTED ME! Little ole me . . . is a Princess now! ☺ Woo-hoo!

I also love it how He didn’t just bring me into His kingdom to keep me here either – to keep me “indoors”. He brought me in, to love me, clean me off, feed me and restore me – so that I could then be free to go back outside at any time – to go enjoy all of this life He gave me – to reach out to others still stuck outside and help them come home, to be adopted, cleaned up, fed and restored. Yes – we were created as eternal beings – to live forever with God in heaven one day, but we were also designed and created to live on this earth – not to live here, afraid, full of anxiety (What if we get dirty? What if we get “ticks” or get sick? What if we mess up, or can’t find food, or meet an enemy bigger than us?) – but to live in freedom – running, exploring, laughing, enjoying the company of others, hunting (finding food), fighting off our enemies with victory, and so much more!

We were intricately and lovingly designed this way. But too many of us don’t know it. We are comfortable just being fed, being taken care of, being “indoors”. Life “outside” is just too scary and unpredictable. Yes it is – unpredictable . . . . but it is so full of adventure! ☺

Then there are some who have lived outside for so long – enjoying the freedom, but not realizing the benefits of having a home to go to – when it rains, when you are tired, when you need some support, love, encouragement and more. These people have never been adopted into God’s family – and to them – it looks restrictive and boring. To them it looks like they would have to give up the fun and freedom, and become something else – become a servant/slave, stuck “indoors”. What they don’t know, is that if they truly came in and met their creator – and realized that they were being adopted, cleaned up, fed, restored – they would ultimately be set free . . . more free than they had ever been before! Then they could go outside and not worry if they couldn’t find food – their Father would have some waiting at home for them! They wouldn’t have to worry about shelter or other basic needs to be met. They wouldn’t even have to worry about enemies – because one cry from their lips would bring their Daddy running!

Being adopted into God’s house is not about living under the law (rules, policies, should’s and should-not’s) – but it’s all about living under grace and love! It’s about being free to live in a loving environment, in a loving relationship, where all our needs are met, but where we have the freedom to also be who we were designed to be – every part of us! When you know WHOSE you are . . . then you know WHO you are! And I, for one, am a child of GOD – forgiven, cleansed, restored and set free! . . . .

Me-ow! ☺

L:)

If you would like to know more about just who you are - and see if your perception of your identity is more of a pauper or more of a prince - go to Kris Vallotton's website for an online test. You might be surprised! I know if I had taken this test even just a couple years ago - my score/answers would have been drastically different!

God . . . "in Love"?!

I just have to share this with you today! You are truly loved!!! Did you know that?!! Man - does God ever love you!! :) Believe it!

Here's part of our conversation today:

L - So . . . what’s on your mind? How are you doing today?

G – I’m doing well – actually. I’m in love!

L - :) oh yeah . . . with who?! :) hee,hee.

G – with my Bride! Oh man – have you seen her lately? She is beautiful! So beautiful! I am excited for the day that we get to be together – fully – forever! I can’t wait! I wish it was today – or tomorrow. But it’s not. I know there is more preparation that needs to be done – but I am pleased with what she is doing to get ready for our big day! I am pleased. I love her so much! Yes – there are things that need to be worked on – but today, I am pleased. I love her so much!

L - :) I love hearing you talk about your bride like that! It makes me happy! So many times we hear about all the negative – how she is not ready – how she needs to clean up this, do that, etc. I know that there are times when you have to share those things – because parts of your bride are not doing what is needed. But it’s so nice to hear your joy and see you smile about the rest of the bride that is getting ready.

G – I’m not just in love with the rest that is getting ready – but with ALL of my bride! I love ALL of her so very much! No matter what she does, or where she goes, or if she trips and falls . . . I still love her immensely!! She is everything to me and I don’t want any other bride! Just her! I chose her, I want her, and I love her!! Man – my love just bubbles over and overflows sometimes – I can’t contain it! I won’t contain it for much longer! Pretty soon I just won’t be able to help myself – and I will have to just let it all out – let it gush all out over my bride!! I just have to tell her!! I know she wants to know – and I know that she knows to a degree . . . but boy, oh boy do I ever want to fully show her!!! I can’t wait! I have to restrain myself right now –because I would love to just let it all pour out today if I could! But I can’t. It’s not the right time. Soon, though – soon!!!! Ohhhhh Lori – Just wait!!! Just wait!! Wait and see! Wait and watch and see! You will love it!!

L – I can’t wait! I want to see it now! I want to feel it now too! I want you to be able to display your love and affection – and bring your presence into this preparation room today!! When God? When will you come and visit your preparing bride? When?

G - :) Soon! . . . Literally – I am having to hold myself back. It takes all my willpower to not just rush to her side right now. She is so beautiful. She is so precious and lovely. She is everything to me! I can’t contain my love for her much longer!! I want to smother her with my love – with my kisses – with my hugs of protection and love. I want to smother her! I want her to have NO DOUBTS whatsoever of my love for her! For now – I am sending her roses . . . a sign. . . a sign of my affections for her. I will send her chocolates, flowers, songs . . . lots of signs of my love. But one day soon – I will come! I will show her my love - not just send her signs!! I can’t wait! :)

L - :) God – you are so cute! I love seeing you in love! :) It makes me happy! It makes me feel loved (which I know I am)! Thank you for sharing your heart with me today! I feel loved! Thank you! Can I share any of this with your bride?

G – Why not?! :) I want her to know!! All she hears are the bad things – the rumors that I am mad at her – that I want to punish her. I don’t . I want to love her! I want to really show her that I love her! I want to be close to her! I want HER! So yes – tell her! Tell her how much I love her!! I want her to know!!

Know that God is in LOVE with YOU today!! He's not mad at you . . . but IN LOVE with you!! Accept that love - and go deeper in your relationship with Him today! Don't run away . . . but run TO Him! His arms are open wide. They are not crossed in front of Him in anger. They are opened wide! Run to Him - run into His arms! He's waiting for you!

There is a day coming, where we will feel and see more of His love - more of His presence. It will not just be in Toronto, or Florida, or some other part of the world - but it will be throughout the world! There is a day coming! Are you ready for it? Are you looking forward to it? Are you making "room" in your life (your schedule, your relationship, your heart and mind, etc) for more of God's love to be poured out?! . . . .I know I am!

Love and be loved deeply today!

L :)