If I didn't work on Mondays- I would be there- so since I can't I will be praying during my lunch time.
Knoxville is a growing city- and it's also a city that has come to mean a lot to me as I have lived here for 16 of the last 18 years (wow- that's a long time). I have recently become involved with a ministry through KARM (Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries) and every time I go I am struck by the hunger the women have for the Word and for Christ. I am also a teacher in urban Knoxville- I come into contact with needs- physical and spiritual on a daily basis and try to live as a light through my job.
I would like to invite you (if you are local) to join us at:
Prayer for Awakening in Knoxville, Monday, Feb. 28th, noon to 1 pm at Northstar Church. If you are not local- Knoxville could still use your prayers so please pray for an awakening here in Knoxville and for people to step out and step up.
Chad Sparks (and HERE is his blog) is the pastor of Providence Church and has some excellent thoughts behind this Praying for Awakening. You can find more info at the Pray for Awakening site HERE
Would love to hear your thoughts- and how you are praying for awakening....
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Faith vs. Fear
Fear: to be afraid or apprehensive
Faith: firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust
If you are human then you have faced the first one - probably more than once. It can come in many forms- circumstances, our perceptions, or even just other people. My most recent "bout" with fear is one that comes to mind between November and February since November 2008. That's when my life turned upside down. In January of 2009 I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. It's not life-threatening, it's not anything harmful except that I make kidney stones all the time. It all started in November of 2008 and then in December of 2008 I underwent a CT scan where my doctor informed me that I could lose one or both of my kidneys, but she wasn't a specialist so she was going to send me to one. All of this happened a week before Christmas so I went through this all over the Christmas holiday. I was very fearful- and struggled with what to feel. Then I had- what can only be described as- an encounter with God. I really felt a sense of peace about what was going to happen- did that alleviate my anxiety- NOPE but it was a bit different. For the past two years since I am apprehensive going into my follow up visits. This week was that visit. On Monday I had to go in for an x-ray and Thursday was the actual visit. What it came down to was simple- God is still working. Basically my stones are way too small to be seen on an x-ray and the only way they would be seen is through a CT scan- my doctor sees no need for one of those at this point in time. This is GREAT news- they are not growing in size or quantity so what I am doing food wise is working- so I just have to keep plugging away. I still have the belief that if God wanted to completely heal me of this he would but if He chooses not to- I am okay with that because His plan is bigger than mine.
I am choosing faith over fear!
Faith: firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust
If you are human then you have faced the first one - probably more than once. It can come in many forms- circumstances, our perceptions, or even just other people. My most recent "bout" with fear is one that comes to mind between November and February since November 2008. That's when my life turned upside down. In January of 2009 I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. It's not life-threatening, it's not anything harmful except that I make kidney stones all the time. It all started in November of 2008 and then in December of 2008 I underwent a CT scan where my doctor informed me that I could lose one or both of my kidneys, but she wasn't a specialist so she was going to send me to one. All of this happened a week before Christmas so I went through this all over the Christmas holiday. I was very fearful- and struggled with what to feel. Then I had- what can only be described as- an encounter with God. I really felt a sense of peace about what was going to happen- did that alleviate my anxiety- NOPE but it was a bit different. For the past two years since I am apprehensive going into my follow up visits. This week was that visit. On Monday I had to go in for an x-ray and Thursday was the actual visit. What it came down to was simple- God is still working. Basically my stones are way too small to be seen on an x-ray and the only way they would be seen is through a CT scan- my doctor sees no need for one of those at this point in time. This is GREAT news- they are not growing in size or quantity so what I am doing food wise is working- so I just have to keep plugging away. I still have the belief that if God wanted to completely heal me of this he would but if He chooses not to- I am okay with that because His plan is bigger than mine.
I am choosing faith over fear!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Beautiful by Mercy Me
I don't have much to say about this- the lyrics say it all. The cross makes everyone beautiful!
LOVE the part- where it says- "you're the one He madly loves enough to die..."
LOVE the part- where it says- "you're the one He madly loves enough to die..."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Have Patience
I came home today from a weekend in Indiana celebrating my mom's birthday (unlike my dad I WON'T tell her age) :) . On my way home I listened to this song several times
My favorite part of the song is where she sings:
"So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what
You're doing It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use."
Then I was reading in Psalm 130:5: "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope..." (ESV)
My thought on this is simply this: Patience is not one of those virtues that I can wrap my arms around easily. There are things/times when I am patient but then I start to wonder what God is up to and want it to happen NOW. It's like the lyrics to the song I posted above: ...And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing It might not be what I would choose But this is the stuff You use."
He knows exactly what He is doing- and that's all I need to know.
(As a little side note- the title of this reminds me of The Music Machine and the song Have Patience
Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you
So, as I wait "patiently" I will use that time to grow and develop that trust in Him!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Is it wrong to dream?
Merriam-Webster defines dream as:
(n) a : a strongly desired goal or purpose dream of becoming president> b : something that fully satisfies a wish
(v)
It's something I know that we all do- to dream of what we want for the future, to dream of what we wish we had done different in the past, even to escape reality for a little while. But is this harmful? Does it set us up for unrealistic expectations? As a single I dream of being married someday- and while I don't want it to be to the wrong person am I wrong to dream that dream?
I'm not completely sure of that answer- I think maybe I need to change my dream and instead dream of HIM and what HE wants for me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (which has become very dear to me this past week) clearly states
(n) a : a strongly desired goal or purpose dream of becoming president> b : something that fully satisfies a wish
(v)
: to have a dream of
3
: to pass (time) in reverie or inactionIt's something I know that we all do- to dream of what we want for the future, to dream of what we wish we had done different in the past, even to escape reality for a little while. But is this harmful? Does it set us up for unrealistic expectations? As a single I dream of being married someday- and while I don't want it to be to the wrong person am I wrong to dream that dream?
I'm not completely sure of that answer- I think maybe I need to change my dream and instead dream of HIM and what HE wants for me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (which has become very dear to me this past week) clearly states
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV)
He knows my heart's desire, he knows my dreams, he knows my future... and his plans for me are not going to hurt me- they are there to give me hope. I think it all boils down to v. 13- when I seek HIM with ALL of my heart (not 1/4, not 1/2, not even most- ALL) I will find Him.
He knows my heart's desire, he knows my dreams, he knows my future... and his plans for me are not going to hurt me- they are there to give me hope. I think it all boils down to v. 13- when I seek HIM with ALL of my heart (not 1/4, not 1/2, not even most- ALL) I will find Him.
ETA: For Christmas my dad got me the book "What Happens When Women Walk in Faith" by Lysa Terkeurst and I started reading it tonight- the introduction is about dreams- the part that stuck out to me "When a woman begins to walk in faith toward God, He will give the dream." Resting in that tonight.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Focus
2010 was a strange year and right now I'm not sure where 2011 is going to take me- however, I know that with God's help I will get through it and will come out stronger on the other side. With that said- my one word for 2011 is:
FOCUS
Part of the personal stuff was that I lost my focus- I shifted my eyes off that which really mattered in my life and especially my relationship with Christ. I didn't lose it- just allowed the subtle shift that didn't make it #1. For me-I have to keep Him #1. So- that's the first part of my focus- the spiritual focus.
The second part of my focus is my physical focus. I was going to bed later and later as the days went by. For my physical well-being I am going to HAVE to go to bed at a decent time and even more importantly- make time for me- in exercising. I have to make it a priority. I have a goal for the end of January- I want to hit it- to do so means I will need a shift in my priorities. That also means I need to control my diet. As of today- January 1- I have no soda in my house- my goal is to not drink any sodas in the month of January. I love me some Diet Dew so this will be a hard one for me- but something has to give. Water, water, water....
The third part of my focus is my relational focus. This is part of the personal stuff that made 2010 a strange year. I am going to work on making my relationships Christ-centered and they need to be both a give and take. If I am giving, giving, giving then I know that relationship is going to burn me out. I am going to work on the balance in relationships and work on trusting...
My verse for the year that I feel really goes along with this word of focus is:
"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
The word UNDIVIDED is key here- ESV refers to it as unite the heart. I want my heart to be completely undivided.
FOCUS
Part of the personal stuff was that I lost my focus- I shifted my eyes off that which really mattered in my life and especially my relationship with Christ. I didn't lose it- just allowed the subtle shift that didn't make it #1. For me-I have to keep Him #1. So- that's the first part of my focus- the spiritual focus.
The second part of my focus is my physical focus. I was going to bed later and later as the days went by. For my physical well-being I am going to HAVE to go to bed at a decent time and even more importantly- make time for me- in exercising. I have to make it a priority. I have a goal for the end of January- I want to hit it- to do so means I will need a shift in my priorities. That also means I need to control my diet. As of today- January 1- I have no soda in my house- my goal is to not drink any sodas in the month of January. I love me some Diet Dew so this will be a hard one for me- but something has to give. Water, water, water....
The third part of my focus is my relational focus. This is part of the personal stuff that made 2010 a strange year. I am going to work on making my relationships Christ-centered and they need to be both a give and take. If I am giving, giving, giving then I know that relationship is going to burn me out. I am going to work on the balance in relationships and work on trusting...
My verse for the year that I feel really goes along with this word of focus is:
"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
The word UNDIVIDED is key here- ESV refers to it as unite the heart. I want my heart to be completely undivided.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Waiting...
Life threw me a little curveball this week- but I guess that's part of what happens in life isn't it? I was listening to my iTunes earlier today (Saturday) and this song came on- I have never seen this movie- and probably will someday but now is probably not the time- anyway, this song just really meant a lot to me while I was listening. I'm in a waiting place- I don't know what I am waiting for- but I am waiting and I know that through the waiting I can trust HIM!
ETA- interestingly enough I wrote this back on Dec. 10- this holds true even today- 20 days later.
ETA- interestingly enough I wrote this back on Dec. 10- this holds true even today- 20 days later.
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