Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: Today I finished up my three weeks of silence...well not true....TODAY I made the realization that I will always pursue SILENCE....so today in scripture there were some amazing "zaps"....first of all when Elijah was waiting for Adonai....the wind, earthquake and fire went before the LORD....then the VOICE....well I realized how many times I am trying to find the VOICE of the LORD in all the wind, earthquakes and fire...realizing that if I am silent in my heart and in communion I will not engage all the STUFF and just wait for the VOICE....sounds so simple...but man I have sure engaged some serious earthquakes trying to find God's voice in the midst of it.....
Second....the realization that once we become HIS Sheep, the plan is OUT OF THE PEN, FOLLOW HIM INTO THE PASTURE....well that was a 24x24....the deal is how often I am out of the pen following HIM...but do I want to enter the Sabbath REST of the PASTURE.....OUCH...to much to do.....KINGDOM WORK...but He was not so happy with those pharisees who were so blind because they thought they see......
THE RETINA of the KINGDOM....seems all upside down in the earths eyes...but hear HIS VOICE....forget the noise around you....follow HIM to REST....MAN HAVE I ALONG WAY TO COME TO YOU LORD>>>>GRACE AND MERCY....
Monday, August 4, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
SILENCE and PRESENCE
Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: Since May 8th I have been traveling through a devotional (my 4th time) on the Disciplines of the Inner Life...(now you know why it is time 4, some of us take a bit more persuasion :) anyhow....the past two weeks the discipline has been silence. Now I have spent 2 weeks in Houston with 40 people, crying, singing, praying, seeking....NONE IN SILENCE....so I figured I really missed the discipline....today as I reflected it became clear to me that silence is not about my mouth as much as my heart. Words can never fully express the deepest longings of my heart for His presence....it always alludes verbal description....however during these 2 weeks, He has listened so intently to the silent pleas of my spirit to know Him more.....so quiet I did not realize the power of the communion until I reflect on the experiece of His presence.
Often I have associated silence with lonliness....how wrong.....silence is BEING ....being IN and WITH my beloved...even when my mouth is yacking......hahahahah....how do I know??? I know because the peace that passes all understanding, the joy that is inexpressible and the abundant life is keeping me day by day.
Lord help me to be silent to hear you, loud to praise you and faithful to satisfy ALL your desires ....I love you di
Often I have associated silence with lonliness....how wrong.....silence is BEING ....being IN and WITH my beloved...even when my mouth is yacking......hahahahah....how do I know??? I know because the peace that passes all understanding, the joy that is inexpressible and the abundant life is keeping me day by day.
Lord help me to be silent to hear you, loud to praise you and faithful to satisfy ALL your desires ....I love you di
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
WORLD CHANGERS
Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: OK OK OK...so it has been a REALLY LONG time since I did this...thanks to Kenny, I will try to be more faithful, since the blog is on the PNEUMA website....and that is SO exciting....however NOT the topic for tonite......
IN 1997 I read the "Coming Revival" by Bill Bright....I was HOOKED....I began the journey that Bill Bright took and brought millions of other with him...fasting, praying, fasting, praying did I say FASTING and PRAYING...OK....cause that is IT.....millions have been crying out and seeking the Lord to come and visit us again.......WELL HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU....HE IS HERE......tonite I had a brief glimpse of Him making Himself known to some very HUNGRY and THIRSTY young people.......devoted followers who became dissatisfied and wanted MORE....and they did not let go until HE came and met with them. Through worship and prayer....YEP that is how it happens......
WHEW>>>we have begun an amazing journey....filled with lots of messy stuff....that is what revival is MESSY....but the clean up and SHINE after is worth it all......so if you by chance read this.....GET READY......GOD IS ANSWERING ALL THOSE PRAYERS AND FASTING AND WE AREN'T REALLY ON THE TRACK YET..BUT HANG ON IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT RIDE....
COME LORD JESUS COME
IN 1997 I read the "Coming Revival" by Bill Bright....I was HOOKED....I began the journey that Bill Bright took and brought millions of other with him...fasting, praying, fasting, praying did I say FASTING and PRAYING...OK....cause that is IT.....millions have been crying out and seeking the Lord to come and visit us again.......WELL HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU....HE IS HERE......tonite I had a brief glimpse of Him making Himself known to some very HUNGRY and THIRSTY young people.......devoted followers who became dissatisfied and wanted MORE....and they did not let go until HE came and met with them. Through worship and prayer....YEP that is how it happens......
WHEW>>>we have begun an amazing journey....filled with lots of messy stuff....that is what revival is MESSY....but the clean up and SHINE after is worth it all......so if you by chance read this.....GET READY......GOD IS ANSWERING ALL THOSE PRAYERS AND FASTING AND WE AREN'T REALLY ON THE TRACK YET..BUT HANG ON IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT RIDE....
COME LORD JESUS COME
Monday, January 14, 2008
AWE
Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: WOW it is hard to believe how long it has been since I sat and chatted ....today as I woke, finally somewhat refreshed I realized that I needed to write here....over the past couple of months I have been writing in my journal..but somehow here, where others join with me there is a much more cathartic release.
The past few months have resembled a roller coaster ride. Filled with excitement, terrifying plunges and moments that quite honestly just took my breath away, during the entire ride, I was securely strapped in my seat with my Daddy....at times He held my hand, for the really scary plunges He wrapped His arms around me and whispered "peace I give you". So today before we board another ride...I sit and ponder the wonder and reality of the past couple of months.
In November a new member joined my family. Her name is Yadah, she is a beautiful champagne toy poodle who was a gift from a friend. The name comes from the ancient Hebrew meaning "to extend oneself in praise". Her life is a daily reminder to me to embrace the purpose I was created....to extend...what a lovely word...seems so elegant...however I have felt like a telescopic mop handle...twisted in the middle, pulled out until I think I will fall apart in the middle, then twisted the opposite direction in order to be secure...dunked in a bucket thinking I am going to drown then pushed and pulled all over the circumstances and events of the day and finally washed and washed with running water to make sure I don't keep any of the dirt I was cleaning up...placed upright to dry in the sun....and REST.
Hahaha...it is so fun to just let stuff flow out of my soul....so anyhow, Yadah has been a delight..bringing unconditional love and joy to my life. Again a reminder of how I am to live my life...constantly being the source of God's love and joy to others.
Bringing me to one of the most wonderful miracles of Christmas....Mel and Andrew Mitchell received a HOUSE FULL of furniture on December 22nd. It was totally amazing, we had worked so hard trying to get done and ready...God incredibly answered prayer by keeping the rain away for over 40 days, so the work could be completed. Actually today, the heat should be done, the electric is on and they will be moving in this week....GO GOD. It has truly been a faith builder for me....one miracle after another...and the beauty of it being the entire community watched as God displayed His splendor..as a result neighbors have returned to church, the Mitchells have gone back to church with a commitment to attend more frequently...even cooler is that going to church is wonderful but the transformation of lives is so AMAZING...men who have found themselves more patient in situations where they previously would have exploded with anger, women able to relax and enjoy the time spent with families instead of anxious about personal circumstances...over all it has been such a delight to witness the display of God's glory.
Of course speaking about transformation brings me to the changes in my own life. Over the past couple of years I have attended St Rose de Lima catholic church. Each week I have encountered Christ deeper and deeper. When asked about leaving Bay St Louis, I have repeatedly said the challenge would be leaving the church, so difficult to explain in words, but this is the first church that I have strongly encountered the presence of God each and every week. It does not matter who preaches or sings, there is this supernatural encounter with God....I have traveled and moved so much, that changing churches sometimes is sad as you will miss the people you worship with, this time I would miss HE whom I worship.
On the first Sunday of Advent I had an amazing encounter with God, in the morning before church I had written in my journal that I would deny Him NOTHING. YEP sure learned that in my walk with the Lord I have "given and surrendered" everything...the tables turn when I desire to deny Him nothing...cause now He is in charge of what He wants...not me in charge of what I am giving....this was the loop de loop on the roller coaster!!!!
I strongly felt His presence and direction that I was to make a home in the church and Bay St Louis....A WHAT???? Well I was all over the place...Lord what in the world are you talking about....A HOME....my move to the Bay was 44 in 48 years.....never wanted a home...always said my only home was in heaven...(which is true) however I have accepted the fact that God has placed this purpose in my heart. As I reflect back to the 3 homes that Jerry and I owned, each of them we remolded with the intentions of what value we could add to them for when we sold them....here is so different..the homeowners decorate, paint and plan to live there forever...the house is what pleases THEM....what a different perspective...so I have asked the Lord to give me a HOME here in the Bay...not sure where or what it will be ...but one thing I know the kitchen will be ORANGE AND PINK....not worried about someone else buying it...hahahaha
So this was not just about a physical home....St Rose is to be my home church...now that was the terrifying plunge...being protestant my entire life....an ordained protestant minister...hearing so much about the catholic church from those who "found their way out"....well I prayed and talked over and over to the Lord...surely this was not what He was saying...yet I kept hearing..."you said you would deny Me nothing"...I realized that I needed to honor what I believed to be His direction....to trust Him completely. I have come to the conclusion that I would rather risk stepping out in obedience and be wrong than sit and give all kinds of excuses that in the end would bring Him heartache because I did not trust Him. So I have started the process of becoming a catholic. God has already opened so many doors...and as always, sometimes the best way to be an agent of change is from the inside...so I have asked Him that I would be an instrument in His hands.
Which brings me to the final BIG change....I have resigned from CityTeam as of Jan. 5th....I will forever be grateful to God that He connected me to them. The opportunity to serve the residents and volunteers through CityTeam has brought so much transformation of lives, But to everything there is a season....so this is the COOL part....when Jerry and I separated, wise counsel had advised me to just let Door of Hope rest and see what God wanted to do...well over the summer just like a kernel of wheat coming forth from the ground...God brought new life and now PNEUMA Winds of Hope has been birthed. God has provided a new board and Kathy Wise, (my sweet friend and intercessor for years) has also came along...it truly is wonderful. During the years of Door of Hope I constantly struggled with knowing that my primary responsibility is to be His vessel of LOVE and feeling like that was never enough. The intangible nature of love always collided with the need to validate my time and energies with the tangible. My ministry over the past 2 years has shown me that the tangible of Love is the change in lives.....so PNEUMA...meaning breath and life takes off this year...taking the LOVE of JESUS, prayers for revival, random acts of kindness and compassion to the nation and the world...BIG DREAMS for a BIG GOD who DREAMS them....I will keep a base here in the Bay and be connected to the ongoing recovery of community primarily working with St Rose.
Thank you Jesus for this AM...it was so wonderful to just talk out all the stuff....Lord you have been so faithful and I ask you to continue to give me the courage to deny You nothing...to seek You...to keep my ear on Your heart and to be obedient. Please give me courage and more belief and faith.....love you much, di
The past few months have resembled a roller coaster ride. Filled with excitement, terrifying plunges and moments that quite honestly just took my breath away, during the entire ride, I was securely strapped in my seat with my Daddy....at times He held my hand, for the really scary plunges He wrapped His arms around me and whispered "peace I give you". So today before we board another ride...I sit and ponder the wonder and reality of the past couple of months.
In November a new member joined my family. Her name is Yadah, she is a beautiful champagne toy poodle who was a gift from a friend. The name comes from the ancient Hebrew meaning "to extend oneself in praise". Her life is a daily reminder to me to embrace the purpose I was created....to extend...what a lovely word...seems so elegant...however I have felt like a telescopic mop handle...twisted in the middle, pulled out until I think I will fall apart in the middle, then twisted the opposite direction in order to be secure...dunked in a bucket thinking I am going to drown then pushed and pulled all over the circumstances and events of the day and finally washed and washed with running water to make sure I don't keep any of the dirt I was cleaning up...placed upright to dry in the sun....and REST.
Hahaha...it is so fun to just let stuff flow out of my soul....so anyhow, Yadah has been a delight..bringing unconditional love and joy to my life. Again a reminder of how I am to live my life...constantly being the source of God's love and joy to others.
Bringing me to one of the most wonderful miracles of Christmas....Mel and Andrew Mitchell received a HOUSE FULL of furniture on December 22nd. It was totally amazing, we had worked so hard trying to get done and ready...God incredibly answered prayer by keeping the rain away for over 40 days, so the work could be completed. Actually today, the heat should be done, the electric is on and they will be moving in this week....GO GOD. It has truly been a faith builder for me....one miracle after another...and the beauty of it being the entire community watched as God displayed His splendor..as a result neighbors have returned to church, the Mitchells have gone back to church with a commitment to attend more frequently...even cooler is that going to church is wonderful but the transformation of lives is so AMAZING...men who have found themselves more patient in situations where they previously would have exploded with anger, women able to relax and enjoy the time spent with families instead of anxious about personal circumstances...over all it has been such a delight to witness the display of God's glory.
Of course speaking about transformation brings me to the changes in my own life. Over the past couple of years I have attended St Rose de Lima catholic church. Each week I have encountered Christ deeper and deeper. When asked about leaving Bay St Louis, I have repeatedly said the challenge would be leaving the church, so difficult to explain in words, but this is the first church that I have strongly encountered the presence of God each and every week. It does not matter who preaches or sings, there is this supernatural encounter with God....I have traveled and moved so much, that changing churches sometimes is sad as you will miss the people you worship with, this time I would miss HE whom I worship.
On the first Sunday of Advent I had an amazing encounter with God, in the morning before church I had written in my journal that I would deny Him NOTHING. YEP sure learned that in my walk with the Lord I have "given and surrendered" everything...the tables turn when I desire to deny Him nothing...cause now He is in charge of what He wants...not me in charge of what I am giving....this was the loop de loop on the roller coaster!!!!
I strongly felt His presence and direction that I was to make a home in the church and Bay St Louis....A WHAT???? Well I was all over the place...Lord what in the world are you talking about....A HOME....my move to the Bay was 44 in 48 years.....never wanted a home...always said my only home was in heaven...(which is true) however I have accepted the fact that God has placed this purpose in my heart. As I reflect back to the 3 homes that Jerry and I owned, each of them we remolded with the intentions of what value we could add to them for when we sold them....here is so different..the homeowners decorate, paint and plan to live there forever...the house is what pleases THEM....what a different perspective...so I have asked the Lord to give me a HOME here in the Bay...not sure where or what it will be ...but one thing I know the kitchen will be ORANGE AND PINK....not worried about someone else buying it...hahahaha
So this was not just about a physical home....St Rose is to be my home church...now that was the terrifying plunge...being protestant my entire life....an ordained protestant minister...hearing so much about the catholic church from those who "found their way out"....well I prayed and talked over and over to the Lord...surely this was not what He was saying...yet I kept hearing..."you said you would deny Me nothing"...I realized that I needed to honor what I believed to be His direction....to trust Him completely. I have come to the conclusion that I would rather risk stepping out in obedience and be wrong than sit and give all kinds of excuses that in the end would bring Him heartache because I did not trust Him. So I have started the process of becoming a catholic. God has already opened so many doors...and as always, sometimes the best way to be an agent of change is from the inside...so I have asked Him that I would be an instrument in His hands.
Which brings me to the final BIG change....I have resigned from CityTeam as of Jan. 5th....I will forever be grateful to God that He connected me to them. The opportunity to serve the residents and volunteers through CityTeam has brought so much transformation of lives, But to everything there is a season....so this is the COOL part....when Jerry and I separated, wise counsel had advised me to just let Door of Hope rest and see what God wanted to do...well over the summer just like a kernel of wheat coming forth from the ground...God brought new life and now PNEUMA Winds of Hope has been birthed. God has provided a new board and Kathy Wise, (my sweet friend and intercessor for years) has also came along...it truly is wonderful. During the years of Door of Hope I constantly struggled with knowing that my primary responsibility is to be His vessel of LOVE and feeling like that was never enough. The intangible nature of love always collided with the need to validate my time and energies with the tangible. My ministry over the past 2 years has shown me that the tangible of Love is the change in lives.....so PNEUMA...meaning breath and life takes off this year...taking the LOVE of JESUS, prayers for revival, random acts of kindness and compassion to the nation and the world...BIG DREAMS for a BIG GOD who DREAMS them....I will keep a base here in the Bay and be connected to the ongoing recovery of community primarily working with St Rose.
Thank you Jesus for this AM...it was so wonderful to just talk out all the stuff....Lord you have been so faithful and I ask you to continue to give me the courage to deny You nothing...to seek You...to keep my ear on Your heart and to be obedient. Please give me courage and more belief and faith.....love you much, di
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Taste and See the Lord is good.
Thoughts, Prayers and Words of Encouragement: So as I reflect on the past month,,,I can hardly believe that I have not written for a month.....but looking back it has all been about "taste and see the Lord is good."
Over the past month we have been working diligently on Mel and Andrew Mitchells house...it is amazing....how God provides people a taste of Him....for instance....all the contractors and mechanical guys worked together on the house to finish the work needed in a week....usually a month process. Then we needed NO RAIN and the Lord held back and the showers for 26 days, and is holding it again since we have roofers to complete the roof....
I have often pondered over the taste and see...but today I get it....all the delightful appetizers He uses like rain and unity, then the entrees...of volunteers and donations of goods, then the desserts of more Love than your heart can hold and all at once WE SEE IT>>>>HE is GOOD.
So often when I am challenged with a situation with family, ministry or life...I have the tendency to forget the wonderful taste of the Lord...without that taste it is hard for me to see....lately as I still struggle after my eye surgery to read....I realize that the See part and the Taste part are working together...
Lord let my senses be always tuned to you...to be sharp, watchful and desiring to taste MORE AND MORE....love you di
Over the past month we have been working diligently on Mel and Andrew Mitchells house...it is amazing....how God provides people a taste of Him....for instance....all the contractors and mechanical guys worked together on the house to finish the work needed in a week....usually a month process. Then we needed NO RAIN and the Lord held back and the showers for 26 days, and is holding it again since we have roofers to complete the roof....
I have often pondered over the taste and see...but today I get it....all the delightful appetizers He uses like rain and unity, then the entrees...of volunteers and donations of goods, then the desserts of more Love than your heart can hold and all at once WE SEE IT>>>>HE is GOOD.
So often when I am challenged with a situation with family, ministry or life...I have the tendency to forget the wonderful taste of the Lord...without that taste it is hard for me to see....lately as I still struggle after my eye surgery to read....I realize that the See part and the Taste part are working together...
Lord let my senses be always tuned to you...to be sharp, watchful and desiring to taste MORE AND MORE....love you di
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