My Trip to London

One of the common saying in the Tube station

Well my journey to London has ended and many of you have prayed for me through it all.  I wanted to take some time to thank each of you and to share a bit of that time with you. 

For those that were not aware, I left on Nov 4 and returned on the 14th.  It was many things to me.  I can honestly say I am not the same girl that I was when I left.  My eyes are a little wider to the realities around me.  The state of the world and the direction humanity is going is all pressing on my mind. 

Many asked me prior to going, "why London".  I simply say, because God impressed it on my heart.  I sensed this call, and just asked God to clearly lead me if that is what He wanted me to do.  I asked God to have a particular woman to ask me and she called within days to ask if I had considered going on the mission trip to London.  I just had to laugh.  So when asked, I simply say it was because that is where the Lord wanted me.   If I truly believe He is my Lord and that He purchased me by His sacrifice, then who am I that I should ever say NO to His desire for me.  Who am I that I should not obey His commands.  If I love Him, I will be able to obey Him.  My love for Him will drive me to obey!!

Now on the other side of the trip, you may ask me if I know why the Lord called me there and my answer would be multi-faceted. 

Perhaps the Lord wanted me to OBEY.  Perhaps He wanted to teach me to TRUST HIM! 

I believe primarily He wanted to change me.  He wanted me to see the world through His eyes.  He wanted me to love on people He brought into my life.  The relationships that were established were for His glory and for His fame.

But for the most part I don't know exactly why.  I know this side of heaven, I may never fully know or understand.  It may be seeds were planted, or seeds were watered.  It could be that believers needed encouragement.  It could be that there were those random people on the tube or bus needed a stranger's smile.  It could be that there was a young woman that needed to know she mattered to someone.  She needed to know that there are people that will listen and perhaps in doing so, she would meet Jesus in the process. 

God really began opening my eyes in ways I do not know I have ever seen before.   I went to see worship at temples of other gods.  One striking insight that I had was when we visited a Gurdwara temple and a Hindu temple as we watched the practices of those we would encounter, I was overwhelmed to watch as these people ritualistically bowed in such reverence to worthless gods. But us who proclaim to serve the ONE TRUE GOD, would treat Him so irreverently and with such casualty. Although He doesn't demand it, He does deserve our utmost devotion, respect, admiration, obedience and LOVE! (and so much more) What a stark revelation and insight that it brought along with much conviction and heart ache.  But then an other realization was that man wants to be able to be right and if you give him a list of things to DO he will feel better.  But the resistance is in relinquishing authority and allowing another to make you right is where religion and relationship become the great divide.  The true measurement of true Christianity is in the surrender and acknowledgement that Christ makes us right by what He did, not by what we do.  Our action is faith, acceptance and obedience.

I began to see just how offensive "religious" Christianity really is.  I have for some time been concerned over this matter, but the glaring reality of it came crashing in on me as I visited the British museum.  I was gazing over much of the church history that is so much a part of England's history.  I began to see how Christianity has been historically hi-jacked for the sake of its perceived power over the masses.

You see the entire basis of Christianity is a "relationship" with God our creator by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, through the faith/believing in Jesus as our savior/messiah.   (Jesus is not about controlling the masses but setting them free of the grip of sin in their lives.  He is about TRANSFORMING us into a beautiful image of Christ in each of us that surrender to the work of His hand through obedience to His WORD)   Historically, rulers looked at the uprising of this power in Christianity, as something to squash or if they couldn't squash it they sought to utilize this power to their political gain.  However, the true power is not gained through rules and methods, it is ONLY truly gained by a living daily relationship in Christ through faith.  It is not to be used, manipulated or grasped.  It is for our individual freedom.  No one can mandate it, regulate it, or Lord over it except God himself.  One Queen be-heads her own sister because of it.  Too often, Christianity is embraced not for the sake of a relationship but because of the POWER it would bring.  This is true for many modern churches of today.

This sign was part of the renovation to the city of London in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Quite interesting!

Looking around, I can see scripture prophecy being fulfilled.  Is the end of the age at hand?  I don't know, but it is closer today than it was yesterday.  Every day takes us closer and closer to the end of time.  Will Christ return in my lifetime?  I don't know.  He may call me home tomorrow, and that will be MY personal end of time.  But is it possible that the end of time is close at hand?  Yes.  In London, it was as if EVERY people  group was THERE.  In 2012, the Olympics will be there and truly every people group will be represented.  There is a movement and a sense of bringing a REVIVAL (REBIRTH!)  to London therefore the world.  It was something I sensed while I was there.  There is an eager anticipation of what God is doing and what He is about to do and many sense that London is at the heart of it.

Revelation 3 talks of a church that believes itself to be rich and requiring nothing.  Then it goes on to say that the church doesn't realize it is naked, pitiful and wretched.  (  ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. )  It makes me think of much of Christianity that believes that by their programs, their rules and their "good behavior" they are in need of nothing.  But it is our pitiful state and our constant awareness of how messed up we are or would be without Christ that will save us and does continue to save us, transform us and keep us EVER reliant on HIM!  AND then we would truly be able  to boast in Christ alone.  All the work that is done in us would be for His credit and not our own by our good works, deeds and own self Righteousness.

This trip to London was intangible.  We didn't go and build a physical church, but we did go and encourage the brethren which is the true church.  We didn't go to an orphanage and love on babies, but we did encounter the broken hearted, abandoned and discouraged and loved on them.   We entered into the lives of those on the ground doing the plowing of the VERY hard soil of London.  We saw how desperately this city is in need of prayer.  We became painfully aware of the loneliness that surrounds those that are called to London to bring the good news of our Lord Jesus. 

The borders of this country/ this city is opened in law but not opened in heart to Christianity.  The heart of the country that sent forth Christianity to the world is now in dire need of the good news.  Please keep London in your prayers.  Many say that the USA is usually 10 years behind the trends of the UK.  If that is the case,  we need to be praying fervently for America as well.  The face of London and its history is being erased rapidly.

My Personal Devotion on How We Ought to Live

(The pictures in this blog are pictures of a phalanx formation.  This formation was one of the most successful military formations.  Perhaps the church could learn a thing or two about this) 

Becoming the Phalanx:



Here is something I long to share with you. It is from scripture and the references are there. In some cases it is my interpretation of the scripture so you can go and see it for yourself according to those references.



                                 
There is a call to action and a call to prayer. I think it is time for the Christians to rise up like never before. To begin to suit up for battle.






BUT Our battle is not against flesh and blood.   




Our weapons are not of this world. Our weapons have divine power. They are able to destroy strongholds, and blow up every argument and everything that pretends to be bigger than God. We are able to control our thoughts and make them line up with the word of God which is Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5) We need to put on our armor daily, which is the armor of God. We need to be certain of our salvation by guarding our mind with the helmet of our salvation. We need to be certain of our right to stand before God because we are right with God through Christ's sacrifice if we believe it and receive it. We need to KNOW the Word/ the TRUTH which is Jesus Christ "word became flesh" & the way, the "TRUTH" and the life.   We need to be saturated in it and immersed in all that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is. It is our belt of truth. What we believe (truly believe) is our faith. That becomes our shield which will put out the fiery arrows thrown at us by our enemy.

But then we come back at the enemy with the word of God which is the sword. (Eph 6:13-17) Our salvation guards our mind, our righteousness guards our heart and the truth guards our gut or the seat of emotion if we will not act on our feelings but rather measure our feelings according to the word of God.



In Gen 15:6 and Gal 3:6 the scripture says that Abram/Abraham believed the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness.
How do we know that he believed God, because the scripture writes of his actions being that which the Lord had commanded him to do. That is obedience - appropriate actions that follow a command)

So our righteousness (being able to stand before God rightly) comes through believing God. Do not say you believe God unless you obey Him. If our actions oppose His commands we do not truly believe Him. Eph 2:8 By grace you have been saved, through faith.

Therefore if we choose to believe Him and His word, we must study the word so that the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly Col 3:16
But do not merely study the word or just listen to the word, so that you deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS James 1:22 In other words, don't just listen, DO IT!!!!

The way we will be able to do this is not by our own merit, ability or determination. We will be able to do this as we dwell on Him, and invite Him to be Lord of our lives. As we surrender to Him and allow Him into our lives we will grow in LOVE for Him and the Love will enable us to obey Him. It will motivate us. John 14:15 (If you love me, you will obey me)

We purify ourselves by obeying the truth and that enables us to love others deeply, and as we crave spiritual milk we will grow up into our salvation. 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:2

But as we reveal our love and devotion to one another in the body of Christ, ALL the world will know we are His disciples John 13:35

You see in Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:21-22

So once we are maturing in our salvation, being fully convinced by His word we then need to GO and make disciples of every nation, immersing THEM in all that GOD is as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We need to teach them to also obey His commands. Matthew 29:19-20

You see I believe we are to daily choose to dress in the armor, to love one another in the body.  Our shields are to lock together as we stand arm in arm.  We go to battle in the spiritual realm together.  Many will be able to seek refuge and heal in the safety of our temple that Christ is building up.  But people: we have to choose to get on our armor every day.  We have to choose to walk in unity with the WHOLE body.  A house divide will not stand.  The church is SO divided that it cannot stand against the real enemy for warring within its self.  We need to recognize the tactic the enemy has used on us all and stop allowing him to do it.  We need to wake up, wise up and become the sanctuary we are intended to be for the weary soldiers that are on the front line.  They are our missionaries, pastors, pastors wives and children.  They are our teachers, the person that sits beside you on the pew.  The person who cannot even bring themselves to the physical church.   They are the hard working single parents trying to keep their heads above water.  And yes it is you or me sometimes.  We need to allow Christ to join us together as He intended and stand once and for all against the REAL enemy.  The destroyer.   The one that comes to steal, kill and destroy.  The one that hates us deeply.

I can just see those weary sojourners seeking a place of rest and healing under the umbrella of those shields of faith.  As each of us warriors stand over the weak and fallen.  Providing them an opportunity to be strengthened.  And remember when they seek this sanctuary, not to be turning on them and piercing them with your own sword.  Let's become the healing place for the weary.

My mother-in-law sent these two pictures to me in two separate emails on different days and they just spoke volumes to me. Especially in light of this blog and its web name "Wings as eagles".  This is the image I get from the following scripture: 

Matthew 23:37 NIV

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

I am willing.  I love the idea of Christ gathering me under his wings by his spirit.  I love to rest there and be protected and warm. 

But I love the image of  Isaiah 40:31  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

What a picture of resting and hoping in the Lord.

However often I feel as if I look so different than everyone else and that I don't belong there with the body.   Yet I do and I can find rest and security regardless of how I feel.   

So sweet!

We have the mind of Christ

We have the mind of Christ if we have believed and received Him as our savior.  So, we are able to discern the things of this world and we are able to discern the will of God.  If we have the mind of Christ, we have the ability to discern good and evil.  We should then choose that which is good and pleasing to God.   I have posted a lot of scripture to read.  I have also attached at the end a website to challenge each of us to pray.  I believe we need to pray for the Christians to humble themselves and pray.  To ask for forgiveness for the sins of our nation.  We need to rise up by falling on our knees before our God!

1 Corinthians 2 NIV

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Romans 12 NIV

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spirituala act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Discernment - 1. The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
Discernment is a term used to describe the activity of determining the value of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgments about that thing. As a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

http://www.greatdanepro.com/Pray%20For%20America/index.htm

Pulling it all together

It all boils down to "Do you believe God or don't you?"  do we BELIEVE what He says?

What is the foundation of our faith/belief/trust - John 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   Look at Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." and vs 18 Jesus says "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

So if I believe in Jesus I am righteous Gen 15:6 and Gal 3:6 says that Abram/Abraham believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.       ( Look at what the serpent said to Eve:  Gen 3:1   Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"  He tempted her to NOT believe what God said)  So how do we know that Abraham believed God because he obeyed God.

So if we believe we are right with God and therefore saved.  No longer will we pay for our sin because Jesus paid for it.  Eph 2:8 ... by grace you have been saved, through faith...

So if we believe what God says, we will do what he says which is obedience.  Obedience is ACTION.    According to 1 John 5:10b ...Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. (No wonder God is so offended by our lack of belief)  But James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  (don't just listen, DO IT!) 

So what is it we are to do?  We are to be the living word.  Living LOVE letters from God to the world.  We are to be transformed into the image of Christ.  Christ is the Word, he is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the bread of life, the cup of living water.  John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ^{& 14}   &; 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  (therefore, Christ is the Wordof God.)

So if this is what we are to do, then we need the Word in us.  Ps 119:105 Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  
Col 3:16a Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...    Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my Word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

According to the word we need to wear the full armor of God  Eph 6:11-17  11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 Pet 1:22-23 ; 2:1-2   22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere LOVE for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.    2: 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,      (The world knows we believe and follow Christ by our LOVE for each other John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another.")

So how do we OBEY?    Luke 10:27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'LOVE your neighbor as yourself.'"  John 14:15 If you LOVE me, you WILL obey me.

John 14:3 Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you.  and Ephesians 2:21-22 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

So then we are to GO to the world.  Matthew 28:19-20  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing(immerse them) them in the name (of who they are) of the Father and of the Son (the WORD, truth, life, bread of life, cup of living water) and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ...

And then it starts over again with the next and the next as they mature and grow up into the likeness of Christ. 

We are building the kingdom of God and becoming the bride of Christ.  We are getting ready for the groom.  We need more bricks for the building.   Each one of us gathering more stones as Christ, the chief cornerstone joins us together so we become ONE in unity.

He is preparing a PLACE.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him for the temple of god is holy, which temple you are," 1 Cor 3:16-17. "…For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2 Cor 6:16

Psalm 139

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXGq3IeImw&feature=related

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.   ...  23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The enemy came in like a flood

Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

On Mother's Day this year, after an evening of ministering to a sister in Christ who had fallen to sin years ago and is living there, I awoke the following morning to a flood in my home.  I wrote about the flood in other posts.  However, a dear sister in Christ told me about the above scripture.  I just had to share it with you. 

You see years before when my fallen sister was walking with Christ, she had fallen to sin and my family spent time praying with her to be free.  That evening over a decade ago, I returned home to a flooded kitchen.  HMMM  wonder what that is all about?  Not really!  I know that where the Spirit of the Lord is busy, you will also see the enemy trying to come against it.  Although I didn't want to go thru a renovation and all the mess that comes with it.  If it means that a sister will be free on the other side, I find great encouragement in the flood.  Just like the flood brought destruction to my home, the renovation brought order and great beauty.   I look to the day when my sister in Christ is able to look back at the sin that brought destruction in her life and only be able to see the RENOVATION and beauty the Lord made from it.

I look up again at the scripture and where the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 

Ready for the good guys to win this one!!!!!  Ready to see my sweet sister in Christ to be back up on her feet and walking hand in hand with her savior, her Christ!

One of my Favorite verses!!

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.(KJV)

So the joy of the Lord is my strength, and if I wait on the Lord my strength will be renewed.  So I can DO for God all day and be exhausted.  OR I can wait and allow the Lord to DO thru me and I can run and not grow weary and walk and not faint.  HMMM  I choose to WAIT on the Lord!!!!!!!!!

• to wait -  look for, hope, expect, to wait or look eagerly for
• Lord - Jehovah = "the existing One" - the proper name of the one true God
• renew - to change, substitute, alter, change for better, renew, to show newness (of tree)
• strength - strength, power, might, human strength
• To mount up - ascend, rise to be lifted up, withdraw, be exalted, to take up, set up,  to be offered up, be carried away, to soar

So we eagerly look for the Lord and in doing that we will change for the better, and show newness in our strength.  We will be lifted up and carried away on wings like eagles in order to run and walk when needed without growing tired.  We will be able to do all that He needs us to do in His strength.  We can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us!!!!!

If you look at my last post, you will notice the continual flow.  We are filled up by the Lord in order to pour out in our walk/run.  But if we seek Him, He continues to fill us up over and over again.  This is right where the relationship is built with God by our faith in Jesus Christ in the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Look at the eagle as it flies.  It does not continually flap it wings.  I opens it wings wide, flaps several times and catches the wind under its wings and SOARS!  The wind does the work. 

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

As the eagle gets the wind under his wings he goes higher and higher.  The work for him is holding out his wings and trusting in the wind.

Warning: Construction Zone- Christian under Construction!?!

Looking back over past blogs, I noticed that I had written about having a sick computer and bible study which prevented me from writing here.  Well this has been one of those rides that go longer than you hope. 


I remember when I was a little girl and my family went to Six Flags over GA. for the 4th of July in 1976.  The 200th birthday celebration of the US.  We went to the final ride of the night at closing time.   We all rode the "mo mo monster" which spun around as a whole ride and then each individual bucket also spun.  Little did we know that the fellow controlling the ride was going to be flirting with some teen girls on the same ride.  This ride went on and on and on.   We all felt sick and some expressed that in manners not so decent to share here.  We ended the evening with a LONG ride home from the park to north AL.

The current events have given me flash backs to that event.  I have written regarding the "little flood" we had in our home.  Since then, construction has been ongoing in our house.  The house is a mound of dust and disorganization.  Items are difficult to find and we have had numerous workers in the house daily.   During the renovation and restoration, our family travelled to NC for a soccer tournament.  While there, I attempted to escape the cares that we left back at home.  However, on our 8 hour trip home less than an hour from home, a deer ran into the driver side of our car.  While we were all safe, and we were able to limp home at 9:30 at night, the damage to the car was pretty extensive.  I journeyed once again to the insurance agency to file yet another claim.  I found that many body shops are VERY backed up and it would be about a month before anyone would be able to get to my car.  While small, I was also dealing with issues with a DVD player in the car that has not worked properly for some time.  I discovered that the warranty was just BARELY out on it.  As if this were not enough for the time being, then my Internet connection stopped functioning properly.  In an effort to troubleshoot it, I went from Internet provider, to router company and back.  Each blaming the other and both blaming me.  So here I am up and running again.  I finally contacted a knowledgeable customer service person who immediately identified the issue, sent a competent technician and it was fixed in minutes.  It works better than ever now.  (the problem was a cable connection and a bad modem)


So here I sit today with a new tile floor in my dining room that replaced the damaged hardwoods.  The basement is coming along and looks 10 times better than it did.  The carpet will be installed by Friday and many things that we would not have done to this house for years is now going to be done because of the "little flood".  Am I happy about the flood?  NO!   Can I see how some good came from it?  YES!  


So all this to say, although we never desire trials and difficulties in our lives, much good can come from them when in the hands of the ONE trained and ready to renovate and restore our lives.


As I had mentioned in a previous blog, I spoke in Feb at a ladies gathering.  The topic was about maturing in Christ.  Although since then I have been overwhelmed with "STUFF", I plan to begin hashing out the topics that I discussed.  To begin with, I want to really look at the core scripture.  

•1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, … through the living and enduring word of God.

•2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander ... 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation

Break down --

You have purified yourselves (HOW)

By obeying the truth (the proof this is happening will be because)

You have sincere love for your brothers, (YOU) love one another deeply, from the heart.

By it you may grow up in your salvation

So we are to grow up in our salvation.  Some of the things to look at will be unity, being built up, getting dressed, being purified by obeying the truth in order to growing up.


Other scriptures to start off with will be from Eph. 4 and 1 Cor. 1:10 .