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Showing posts from July, 2009

Friday Funnies

It's Friday and time to join Kim and the fun-loving gals at Homesteader's Heart for some humor. Have a great day everyone! Here's a picture of the other side of Mt. Rushmore.

Striking The Mark With My Prayers

I’ve been in deep intercession this week for several people. If I’m committed to pray for people, I want it to be with power. Dutch Sheets, in his book, Intercessory Prayer, gave me a good visual for intercession. He said, “Intercession is like a tree that has been hit by lightning.” Only another intercessor would get excited about this! Sheets declares, “The lightning is so hot it literally changes the molecular structure of the trees and twists the trunks until they look like stripes on a candy cane. The temperature in a lightning bolt can reach 30,000 degrees Celsius, hotter than the surface of the sun! That’s hot stuff!” It is a picture for me of His judgments. Habakkuk 3:4: And His brightness was like the sunlight; rays streamed from His hand; and there in the sun-like splendor was the hiding place of His power. Prayer lets the Son shine forth through us, directing His light to desired situations allowing it to “strike the mark.” Remember the Hebrew word, “Paga!” When I think of

Spiritual Sundays

Don’t you love it when you hear praise reports of healing? I’ve been a part of a team of intercessors praying for a woman named Sharon. Several months ago, we were told Sharon’s physician suspects last stage cancer; he told her to make final preparations. But we stood on God’s promises of healing. Yesterday, I received the latest email update regarding Sharon’s last surgery. This is what it said: Originally her diagnosis was bleak. The mass was the size of a grapefruit, elongated, affecting they feared, her stomach and at least one kidney. Days before the surgery she suffered a bad migraine and began vomiting which caused more suspicion regarding cancer, possibly pointing to more tumors. Once the surgeon was inside he determined the mass was non-malignant and in fact was basically fatty tissue. One kidney was consumed and required removal but in a nutshell, she is CANCER-FREE! Sharon is telling everyone she's the recipient of a miracle. Her surgeon was dumbfounded by the results of

Lunch at Gooseberries

The very word “sisters” has come to mean a bond of soul mates that naturally provide love and support. Barbara Mathias I’ve heard some of you say it and now I have experienced it, too, that when you meet your blogger sisters in person, you connect from the heart! Yesterday, Michele, from Beelieve You Can, organized a luncheon for AZ blogger sisters at Gooseberries Tea Room in Phoenix. I was excited to meet three of the bloggers I follow and to meet three new blogger sisters! Top Row; right to left: Michele, Beelieve You Can! Me Debbie, Heart Choices Charlotte, At Home in Scottsdale Marty, A Stroll Thru Life Bottom Row: Left: Donetta, A Life Uncommon Right: Sherry, Country Wings in Phoenix I love this picture because everyone looks so happy. It was a blessing to meet Michele in person; she is a woman who loves the Lord! To the right of Michele, it was great getting to know Sherry, who I can best describe as a sweetheart. To the right of Sherry is Donetta. Can you see that twinkle in

Friday Funnies

Today is Friday and it's time to laugh! Thank you, Kim, from Homesteader's Heart , for hosting Friday Funnies. Be sure to check out more humor there. Have a fun day everyone!

Bastazo

I found my study notes from a neighborhood Women’s Bible Study course I took several years ago on prayer using Dutch Sheets’ book, Intercessory Prayer. I especially liked reviewing the page of notes about carrying one another’s burdens since many families, including my own, are presently facing troubled times. Bastazo is the Greek word meaning “to bear, lift, carry”. Combine that understanding with Galatians 6:2: Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings. I was taught that the meaning of Bastazo, or bearing another’s burdens, is a concept of being staked to that individual and representing Christ, the Balm of Gilead, and applying His healing salve as I pray for that person. One afternoon, our teacher, Patricia, toted several flats of Pansies to our study time. She passed out Pansies to each of us along with 2 long Popsicle sticks. Patricia challenged our faith and knowledge by putting this concept of prayer into practice. We had all been p

Spiritual Sundays ~ Prodigal Horses

Four rebels showed up on my front lawn the other day when I woke up at the crack of dawn. With my cup of coffee in hand, I noticed I had company as I entered my prayer garden. The gate was open to the pasture across the street and my neighbor’s four miniature horses now grazed on my front lawn. The neighborhood was still sleeping, including my household. I was clueless as to how to lead these beautiful horses back home. I ran to get my camera and captured the moment! No doubt I looked pretty silly at my attempts to accomplish my goal of shepherding. These waist-high horses would not follow me. Then the garbage truck turned down the corner to our street! They bolted with the sounds of the great roar! I dashed to wake the ranch hand and told him of my plight. About 30 minutes later, he found the horses and led them securely back home. Later, my neighbor, the owner of the ranch, got a kick out of my tale of woe. I made sure I told her I am Chicago born and raised so she wouldn’t judge

Friday Funnies

Our church’s most popular outreach event is the Women’s Spring Tea. It is a lovely and delicious event. I was asked to speak and share my testimony. I shared the stage with a few others who had testimonies of troubled times such as divorces, death of children and loss. I knew God would place me last on the program and I felt His guidance through prayer to write a humorous speech so that the Tea could end on a joyful note. I liked the tea party humor that the Lord helped me with to make everyone laugh a lot and to prepare my audience for my telling of His great work in my life. This was my beginning: Last Christmas, I invited some of my neighbors to a little tea party at my home so that we could get to know one another better. I asked each one to bring a symbol of their faith. Maria, my Catholic neighbor next door, was the first to arrive. She brought a crucifix that hangs in her hallway. Peggy, across the street, is an atheist so she did not bring anything. Rachel, who lives several

The Officer and a Gentle Woman

What makes traveling in airports so much fun is meeting people. I sat next to a woman on the plane who was an undercover cop. I enjoyed hearing her talk about her interesting work. She asked me, “Do I look like your average soccer mom?” “Why yes,” I answered! That, apparently, is the look the Police Department desires for her work. She told me about the time when she caught a perpetrator in an undercover assignment. She entered the room and within minutes she knew who the troublemaker was just by his actions. She shared some advice with me that I will never forget: Much of the time we cause our own problems because we draw attention to ourselves in negative ways . She handcuffed the young man quickly and he exclaimed: “I knew you were a cop. When you walked in, you kept looking around. I should have known and kept my mouth shut.” I’ve been studying the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs 18:6 it says: A fool’s lips enter into contention. And his mouth calls for blows.” My ongoing prayer is

Spiritual Sundays

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam. 3:22, 23 Many families are facing spiritual battles right now and we are, too. A member of our family woke up pondering the lyrics of “The Steadfast Love of the Lord” this morning and it’s become our signature song today. May it encourage you, also. Thank you for the wonderful prayers, my friends. We feel the closeness of the Lord and I wanted you to know how comforting that is! The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases His mercies never come to an end, They are new every morning New every morning Great is Your faithfulness, 0 Lord Great is Your faithfulness! Be sure to join our hosts Charlotte and Ginger for more uplifting Spiritual Sundays !

Blog Break

Blessings to you, dear friends! I’m flying out to San Diego tomorrow to visit my daughter. We will be driving back to Arizona with the baby in a few days. I appreciate your prayers for a safe road trip. I hope to return to my blog next weekend, God willing! I love you all.

Spiritual Sundays ~ Independence Day

The Flag of the United States of America I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, My head is a little higher, I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am saluted. I am loved I am revered. I am respected and I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Appomattoz. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me. I’m presently in the mountains of Afganistan and the hot and dusty deserts of Iraq a

Friday Funnies

It's Friday and time to link up with Kim at Homesteader's Heart to enjoy a few laughs!

Praying for our Nation

I can’t think of a better prayer for our nation this Independence Day than Billy Graham’s. We’ve all probably prayed it, but let’s pray it again for this great nation of America. 'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored