HE Is Able...

Examining our own hearts can be a very painful, yet wonderfully freeing experience! If we ask in sincerity, with a heart that is readily willing to recieve, the Lord will shine His Light and expose those things within us that we NEVER knew existed!!! HE is faithful to do this!! HE wants to do this!! We continue to "become more like Jesus" when we ask HIM to plow up the soiled parts of our hearts, and then recieve, and replace it, with the richness and fullness of Him! It's called "growing up", and it's crucial in our walk with the Lord, if we are serious about seeking His Kingdom! As with all things, it is a choice. We can choose to remain "babies", and recieve only "milk" and never learn to walk, or we can choose to grow up and be fed "meat" and run our course! I have made the choice to "grow up", and am constantly experiencing "growing pains"! :) But oh how my Father God loves me, that He would constantly, and unfailingly, and mercifully, and compassionatly, hold my hand as I learn to walk!!! And oh my, how many times have I failed and fallen, only to recieve His tenderness, His grace and His mercy, and to hear Him comfort and encourage and love on me!!! in a way that only He can! Reassurring me He is right here with me! Cheering me on, saying,"Come on, you can do it! I Am here! Take that next step, and come out on the water with me! I will catch you...I will carry you...I will walk with you..."! I am so much in love with Him, right here, right now, that my heart feels like it could burst with the overwhelming joy of knowing just how much He loves me, and how much He yearns to "plow up" those unknown places in my heart, so that I can continue to grow up into Him, and belong, more and more, to Him!!

Knock knock, HE'S there...

Is there any such thing as "small", when placed in the Hands of our Lord? I believe not. Does He hear even the smallest of prayers? I know He does! Yesterday at work I was told that one of our 4 year old students would not be coming back, as her mom had decided to move to Colorado, and they would be leaving that very night. I hadn't seen little Melody yet that morning, but I told myself that I would make a point of talking to her and telling her good-bye before the day ended.

Fridays are very busy for me, as I plan not only for that particular day, but also for the upcoming Monday, as well.This friday was no exception, and if nothing else, I was busier than usual. I never gave Melody another thought. My work day normally ends at 2:30, and this being friday, I was tired and very much looking forward to the week end. I remember looking at the clock and thinking, "Only an hour and a half and I can head on home". I was ready! Then my phone rang and it was one of the teachers asking if I could please find something for one of the kids to eat for lunch, as she had just arrived at school and said she hadn't had anything to eat yet. No problem...I made a plate of food and took it down to the classroom. The rest of the kids were all napping at this time, and the classroom was dark and (somewhat :) quiet. I tippy-toed in and handed the plate of food to the teacher, and headed back thru the room, my eyes squinting, trying to adjust to the darkness. Thankfully I didn't trip over any of the little bodies that were scattered on the floor, and no little hands reached out to grab my ankles or my legs! I made it to the exit door, and with my hand on the door knob, ready to leave, I looked down onto the floor to my right, and there, snuggled up against the wall with her blanket pulled up to her nose, was little Melody! I immediately dropped to my knees beside her and praised and thanked God that, even though I had become sooo busy in my daily work, HE was not to busy in HIS, to remember this small little precious bundle of a 4 year old girl!! I layed my hands on her, and prayed with Melody right then and there; a blessing over her life, protection over her life, and the continuing drawing and ministering of the Holy Spirit into her life, that she would in the years ahead, come to know Jesus intimately, and love and serve Him in a powerful way!! I kissed her on the forehead, told her she would be missed very much, and then left the room, still in awe of my Father, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and how that, at any given moment, He will knock on my door and say," I AM HERE... Look there...look at that child, and PRAY!! Speak MY Name into thier lives. Plant My Word as seed into thier little hearts. GIVE THEM HOPE IN ME" !!! (IT IS NO SMALL THING!!!) He truly is all-ways right there with us, knocking on our door, so to speak, and I am forever thankful to Him!!!

The Hand of my Father...

Wow, what a blessed and awesome Memorial week-end we had!!! I am still absorbing and pondering it all! I never cease to look back on all the yesterdays, so that I can further praise and glorify my heavenly Father for ALL that He has done in my life, and in the lives of my children! What a GREAT SCULPTURE He is!!! So patient, so steadfast, soooooo much into Perfection that we can only stand in awe as we look to Him and continue to allow Him to perfect Himself in us! His Hands are NEVER still! He is ALL-WAYS at work in each one of us! We are His handy work, and He can DO no less than perfection because that is WHO He is!! I am so very thankful to be able to watch Him work in the lives of my children. He has blessed me with that opportunity, and I love Him so much for that!!! My husband Paul, myself, and all of our kids and grandchildren, are, with each and every breath, one step closer to HIM!!!

As the morning dawns, we awaken from our slumber to begin the journey into a new day. We are one step closer...