Wednesday, February 27
The emptying out has taken me longer, but praise the Lord, I am finally getting to experience some refreshing. The Lord has had me settle on a word "Praise", seems to be my key right now to the filling! My lips, my words, my works all must focus on Praise to Him. Oh yes and He is surely worthy! I have asked him to turn my negatives into positives and make my complaints become accolades. I want nothing more than to be a blessing to the Father and those He places in my path. What a novel thought! Yea, I know, but I do think I finally get it!!! Thank you Jesus. All mercy, all power, all patience, You are so faithful and loving. Thank you for your love. amen
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Sabbatical - Day 6
Wish I had wonderful spiritual things to report, but other than having lunch with the Webb's, Dennis and Marsha, the pastor and wife of New Beginnings Fellowship of Hollister, I have basically had a numb day.
Sleep has been very elusive for me, Larry is doing well in that area, but me, not so much. Seems like just about the time I doze off, my body jerks me back, physically. Crazy. I have done this periodically during my life, but right now it seems to be pressing in. Tonight I am praying for sleep to come. And the munchies, well, they have taken over as well. Nothing I eat tastes like I want it to, yet I keep looking for that certain satisfaction. Again, crazy, but I pray tomorrow I can restrain myself from the kitchen.
I am afraid today was a wash for me, I suppose that is ok, tomorrow holds promise, as He's mercies are new everyday. I can't wait.
A light mist of freezing rain is falling, we are probably going to be sequestered to our condo tomorrow. Which is fine. We have all we need right here and so let it be.
May the Lord bless you all back home, keep you safe, bring you joy and contentment. vic
Sleep has been very elusive for me, Larry is doing well in that area, but me, not so much. Seems like just about the time I doze off, my body jerks me back, physically. Crazy. I have done this periodically during my life, but right now it seems to be pressing in. Tonight I am praying for sleep to come. And the munchies, well, they have taken over as well. Nothing I eat tastes like I want it to, yet I keep looking for that certain satisfaction. Again, crazy, but I pray tomorrow I can restrain myself from the kitchen.
I am afraid today was a wash for me, I suppose that is ok, tomorrow holds promise, as He's mercies are new everyday. I can't wait.
A light mist of freezing rain is falling, we are probably going to be sequestered to our condo tomorrow. Which is fine. We have all we need right here and so let it be.
May the Lord bless you all back home, keep you safe, bring you joy and contentment. vic
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Sabbatical - Day 5
Tuesday, February 19
Today was kind of quiet. We did talk a short trip into Branson to pick up a few things before the "weather" hits sometimes tomorrow. We are praying that we don't loose power as they are suggesting. Everything in the condo is electric, we won't go hungry but we might get cold. But honestly, it's ok. We are together, we have the Lord and it is only to last a couple of days. No problem.
We also went down to the lake today and walked along the bank. There were several fishing for trout, I loved watching them, this is one of the things on my bucket list is to fly fish. It was cool but refreshing.
Quiet reflection was the order of the day. We enjoy some time without much conversation. The Lord is ever present, gently allowing us to rest in Him.
What are the instructions for sabbatical, I am not sure I know them, I am not sure that we are doing it right, we have never done this before, it is not easy to lay things down, to let go of normal, but I will say we are trying.
I am reading "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Johnathan Edwards, and I have to say our worlds aren't much different. I have watched "The Diary of Anne Frank" and was so moved by this I wanted to throw up. I brought some of Larry's poems and sermons to organize and I told him that just by reading some of the titles I was under conviction. I want nothing more than to surrender myself completely, holding nothing back for our Lord Jesus. I am asking him to reveal to me anything, everything in my life that is displeasing, dishonoring to Him. This is my prayer.
Today was kind of quiet. We did talk a short trip into Branson to pick up a few things before the "weather" hits sometimes tomorrow. We are praying that we don't loose power as they are suggesting. Everything in the condo is electric, we won't go hungry but we might get cold. But honestly, it's ok. We are together, we have the Lord and it is only to last a couple of days. No problem.
We also went down to the lake today and walked along the bank. There were several fishing for trout, I loved watching them, this is one of the things on my bucket list is to fly fish. It was cool but refreshing.
Quiet reflection was the order of the day. We enjoy some time without much conversation. The Lord is ever present, gently allowing us to rest in Him.
What are the instructions for sabbatical, I am not sure I know them, I am not sure that we are doing it right, we have never done this before, it is not easy to lay things down, to let go of normal, but I will say we are trying.
I am reading "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Johnathan Edwards, and I have to say our worlds aren't much different. I have watched "The Diary of Anne Frank" and was so moved by this I wanted to throw up. I brought some of Larry's poems and sermons to organize and I told him that just by reading some of the titles I was under conviction. I want nothing more than to surrender myself completely, holding nothing back for our Lord Jesus. I am asking him to reveal to me anything, everything in my life that is displeasing, dishonoring to Him. This is my prayer.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Come Running - a song
Come running
To me, my child
I will hold you tight
Rest in me for awhile, it's gonna be alright.
Come running
Drop your worry, guilt and pride.
Come and walk here close to my side.
Come running
Take my hand and do not fear
I am always with you, I'm always right here.
Come running
Let me take your heavy load
Rest in me, trust me, hear the ancient Word retold.
Come running
For in me you'll find all you need
Sit here and I'll hold you, now, now, just rest in me.
To me, my child
I will hold you tight
Rest in me for awhile, it's gonna be alright.
Come running
Drop your worry, guilt and pride.
Come and walk here close to my side.
Come running
Take my hand and do not fear
I am always with you, I'm always right here.
Come running
Let me take your heavy load
Rest in me, trust me, hear the ancient Word retold.
Come running
For in me you'll find all you need
Sit here and I'll hold you, now, now, just rest in me.
The Sabbatical - Day 4
The Sabbatical, a time of rest and renew
A time that is set aside between God and you.
It is not an easy task, to try to put all things down
To stop and listen and not run ahead of His sound.
We are here in the hills of the Ozarks unit seventeen
Outside a brook is babbling along the 18th green.
There are no instructions, what we are to choose
Right now I think the hardest is just to turn things loose.
Habits some good and some bad they each came along
Wanting nothing more than keep the right and throw out the wrong
Speak Lord, your servants long to hear
But wisdom knows it might be hard to bare.
For what ever the future holds, with you and together we go
Seeking only to please you, for we love you so.
A time that is set aside between God and you.
It is not an easy task, to try to put all things down
To stop and listen and not run ahead of His sound.
We are here in the hills of the Ozarks unit seventeen
Outside a brook is babbling along the 18th green.
There are no instructions, what we are to choose
Right now I think the hardest is just to turn things loose.
Habits some good and some bad they each came along
Wanting nothing more than keep the right and throw out the wrong
Speak Lord, your servants long to hear
But wisdom knows it might be hard to bare.
For what ever the future holds, with you and together we go
Seeking only to please you, for we love you so.
The Sabbatical - Day 3
Sunday, February 17
Not the quite the average morning, we had no studies to look over, no supplies to gather up,
nothing to prepare. Strange, yet, we headed off (late) to New Beginnings, but this one is in Hollister, Missouri.
Like our New Beginnings it is in a very obscure place in the small valley town of Hollister. It is off the beaten path, started in 2005 by a couple the Lord spoke to. They are in the pains of new birth, explosive growth, evolving in all the Lord wants them to be, happily exhausted. I drug Larry down to the children's department to scan for inspiration, of course, we are greeted like any stranger walking into that area and we introduced ourselves to the young, smiling Children's Director, slash, Pastor's Daughter, slash, Praise Team member, slash, Video advertising announcer, slash, prayer warrior (are you getting the feeling we need to pray for this young woman) I explain that I am the Children's Director at a New Beginnings in Shawnee, OK. Hearts locked! Briefly we give the low down on how God called, we responded to the call, and thus, two places of beginning again, hundreds of miles apart, has sprung up all from the heart of God. She couldn't wait to introduce us to mom and dad.
Dennis and Marsha, probably in their fifties. Yet in some respects much younger, but like a lot of servants they are going to catch up to their age if they continue at the pace they are on So many similarities, it was like having two parallel worlds side by side. Like us they had a hand full on the first Sunday, like us they have built a new building, like us their desire is to reach those that need to begin again. Like us they love the Lord with passion and zeal, like us he has suffered a TIA, like us they need a rest. But theirs is probably a few years down the road. We have committed to pray for them and they for us. We may meet for lunch while we are hear, we'll see.
The worship was good, his message was on finances, and very biblical, the Spirit of the Lord was in that place, just as it is a NBC, Shawnee. It was a good day.
We stopped at Walmart coming home to pick up an item or two and then came "home" and had a wonderfully (use to be quiet ordinary) lupper (lunch and supper) of roast, potatoes, and sides. Oh, comfort food. Then a nap, very much a blessing.
We enjoyed a quiet evening with the door open to let in the fresh air, it was a beautiful evening. Conversations of what God is saying to each of us is wonderfully similar, praise you Father. Larry struggles to lay down thinking about people, from church, to friends, to family. Don't worry I am like a chihuahua, yap, yap, yap, reminding him of the goal here. He is trying (so he says!!). Finally I said "I am turning you over to the Lord, so there!"
Unfortunately for me it was after 2am and finally a couple of bendyral before I finally slept. It was after 10am however when I woke up, with a headache! I am anxious to hear from the Lord today.
Not the quite the average morning, we had no studies to look over, no supplies to gather up,
nothing to prepare. Strange, yet, we headed off (late) to New Beginnings, but this one is in Hollister, Missouri.
Like our New Beginnings it is in a very obscure place in the small valley town of Hollister. It is off the beaten path, started in 2005 by a couple the Lord spoke to. They are in the pains of new birth, explosive growth, evolving in all the Lord wants them to be, happily exhausted. I drug Larry down to the children's department to scan for inspiration, of course, we are greeted like any stranger walking into that area and we introduced ourselves to the young, smiling Children's Director, slash, Pastor's Daughter, slash, Praise Team member, slash, Video advertising announcer, slash, prayer warrior (are you getting the feeling we need to pray for this young woman) I explain that I am the Children's Director at a New Beginnings in Shawnee, OK. Hearts locked! Briefly we give the low down on how God called, we responded to the call, and thus, two places of beginning again, hundreds of miles apart, has sprung up all from the heart of God. She couldn't wait to introduce us to mom and dad.
Dennis and Marsha, probably in their fifties. Yet in some respects much younger, but like a lot of servants they are going to catch up to their age if they continue at the pace they are on So many similarities, it was like having two parallel worlds side by side. Like us they had a hand full on the first Sunday, like us they have built a new building, like us their desire is to reach those that need to begin again. Like us they love the Lord with passion and zeal, like us he has suffered a TIA, like us they need a rest. But theirs is probably a few years down the road. We have committed to pray for them and they for us. We may meet for lunch while we are hear, we'll see.
The worship was good, his message was on finances, and very biblical, the Spirit of the Lord was in that place, just as it is a NBC, Shawnee. It was a good day.
We stopped at Walmart coming home to pick up an item or two and then came "home" and had a wonderfully (use to be quiet ordinary) lupper (lunch and supper) of roast, potatoes, and sides. Oh, comfort food. Then a nap, very much a blessing.
We enjoyed a quiet evening with the door open to let in the fresh air, it was a beautiful evening. Conversations of what God is saying to each of us is wonderfully similar, praise you Father. Larry struggles to lay down thinking about people, from church, to friends, to family. Don't worry I am like a chihuahua, yap, yap, yap, reminding him of the goal here. He is trying (so he says!!). Finally I said "I am turning you over to the Lord, so there!"
Unfortunately for me it was after 2am and finally a couple of bendyral before I finally slept. It was after 10am however when I woke up, with a headache! I am anxious to hear from the Lord today.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Sabbatical - Day 2
Saturday, February 16. The night was fitful and without much sleep, no explanation, no real aches or pains, no disturbing sounds or thoughts, just would sleep for a few minutes and wake up. A good nap today was very welcomed.
I was surprised by the snow that fell over night, had not listened to a weather forecast. It was pleasant to look at and didn't last long. I didn't even step outside today, just stayed in and read, contemplated, listening for that still small voice.
The word today from the Lord was about my prayer life. He reminded me of a time when I was a much better prayer warrior. I could only agree. Why, when you know the power of prayer and the blessing that you, the Lord, and those you pray for receive, do you fall back in the a pattern of complacency. I am ashamed, I have asked forgiveness, I am forgiven, and praise the Lord a brand new commitment has been made on my part. Thank you Father for all the second chances that you have given me. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I love you so much.
I was surprised by the snow that fell over night, had not listened to a weather forecast. It was pleasant to look at and didn't last long. I didn't even step outside today, just stayed in and read, contemplated, listening for that still small voice.
The word today from the Lord was about my prayer life. He reminded me of a time when I was a much better prayer warrior. I could only agree. Why, when you know the power of prayer and the blessing that you, the Lord, and those you pray for receive, do you fall back in the a pattern of complacency. I am ashamed, I have asked forgiveness, I am forgiven, and praise the Lord a brand new commitment has been made on my part. Thank you Father for all the second chances that you have given me. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I love you so much.
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Sabbatical
Friday, February 15, 2013, our first day of Sabbatical. I have to tell you that this is both exciting and terrifying. Excited to see what the Lord will show us and terrified at what He will show us. This month we have consecrated to the Lord is a first for us. Of course I want to say that we are always consecrated to him, all of our time is His, but then He knows that is not true. But today was we were on our way up one crisis after another seemed to follow us via our phones, in my frustration I tried to explain how I felt how serious this time meant to us and it doing so I think I finally understood. It is a sacred time, a time when we pour ourselves out so that the Lord can fill us back up. How desperately I want to return different. I don't know what that means yet, but I am praying that it is extreme. All for the glory of the Lord.
We chose Branson as our first stop, we will spend two weeks here and from here is the Lord's call. I read that you should not choose a familiar spot but this is what we wound up doing. I searched for secluded place but decided on a condo just down from where we used to own one. The website sold me Sabbatical stop #1 on the amenities and recent remodel. I must say we are very pleased so far.
I packed like I was going to be gone for a long time but I left nothing to chance. We will eat in most of the time (our choice) and so we cleaned out the refrigerator and a lot of the freezer, the pantry is almost bare and I cleaned and looked through every drawer in the house just in case I might remotely need something in there! Crazy huh? Well, at least most of the house is clean!!! We load down the Lincoln, grabbed some medicine at the pharmacy, took out a loan to fill the tank and grabbed breakfast at Braums along with some butter, eggs, cheese and a few other "essentials" and then headed north through Chandler to hit the Turnpike (love those pike passes!). We wanted to stop and see Payton but her busy schedule wouldn't allow it so we moved on. We did stop at Mardels in both Tulsa and Springfield, I was looking for a match to a study I want to do, but so far no luck. Oh well, it will happen I am sure.
We have now unpacked everything and settled in. I am unbelievably at peace in this uncluttered environment. This is one area that I know the Lord has been dealing with me about. STUFF. I have too much and it is like a weight around my neck. So the journey of renewal has begun, I am ready to be poured out and offered up, fully surrendered to His good pleasure.
We chose Branson as our first stop, we will spend two weeks here and from here is the Lord's call. I read that you should not choose a familiar spot but this is what we wound up doing. I searched for secluded place but decided on a condo just down from where we used to own one. The website sold me Sabbatical stop #1 on the amenities and recent remodel. I must say we are very pleased so far.
I packed like I was going to be gone for a long time but I left nothing to chance. We will eat in most of the time (our choice) and so we cleaned out the refrigerator and a lot of the freezer, the pantry is almost bare and I cleaned and looked through every drawer in the house just in case I might remotely need something in there! Crazy huh? Well, at least most of the house is clean!!! We load down the Lincoln, grabbed some medicine at the pharmacy, took out a loan to fill the tank and grabbed breakfast at Braums along with some butter, eggs, cheese and a few other "essentials" and then headed north through Chandler to hit the Turnpike (love those pike passes!). We wanted to stop and see Payton but her busy schedule wouldn't allow it so we moved on. We did stop at Mardels in both Tulsa and Springfield, I was looking for a match to a study I want to do, but so far no luck. Oh well, it will happen I am sure.
We have now unpacked everything and settled in. I am unbelievably at peace in this uncluttered environment. This is one area that I know the Lord has been dealing with me about. STUFF. I have too much and it is like a weight around my neck. So the journey of renewal has begun, I am ready to be poured out and offered up, fully surrendered to His good pleasure.
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