How much do I grow in 36 hours?

In 36 hours, God has caused me to grow...even to be stretched!

Wednesday, our cell group discussion centered around doing the will of God and walking by the Spirit. We read Matthew 26:36-46, Philippians 2:1-11, and Galatians 5:16-26. There were fruitful discussions about the cup that Jesus prayed would pass from Him, where faith comes from, and whether we need more faith or if we just have to exercise what we have.

Faith became the focus of the evening as did this passage.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Luke 11:13 repeats this final Word as follows, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Faith is still the issue. I haven't been asking, seeking and knocking recently. I have been accepting. Accepting sometimes requires faith in the sovereignty of God. But, God wants me to exercise my faith. I know this.

Thursday morning, a friend posted this on fb. I was floored at the exactness of this message in addressing what we talked about. The final analogy of 70% diet and 30% exercise was a perfect period on the conversation, or so I thought.

An hour or so later, a new/old friend called. She went to high school with me. Now, she's joining our homeschool group and we're getting to know one another. She has her own mountains to move. Really. I told her that talking to a new homeschooler (just like a new believer) is refreshing and brings excitement to my own journey. Her response was profound. She said, "I'm a new believer. I learn something new and get to believe anew all the time." {She got saved at 8 years old!!} I'm still carrying the excitement of those words with me. Faith is new all the time, that is, unless I'm not using it AT ALL.

I am a new believer, too...
and there is no period on this conversation

No Vacancy!

Sunday, I had the honor of listening to Jason teach. He is gifted as a teacher!
The message was about true conviction, confession and repentance. So many misconceptions exist.
Conviction is realizing God's goodness compared to our sinfulness.
Confession is saying the "same thing"...acknowledging sin as such.
Repentance is changing your mind.

God cleanses us from sin and the effects of it as we draw near to Him, confess the sin and call it by name (acknowledge it), and change our minds about the practice of that sin.

Today, I have read in my devotional Daily with my Lord "that every victory must lead to an occupancy." An empty victory is no victory at all. Just as Jesus taught,

"Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first..." (Matt 12:43-45)

Vacancy isn't victory. Jesus doesn't want to us to merely be free of sin, but to be alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)

We must be more than white-washed tombs. My emptiness doesn't glorify God. Fullness marks the child of God!

I'm a Billy Goat

Well, I declare! I don't know what's up with this boy o' mine.
He dressed himself up in this bathing suit with heels on and said, "I'm a billy goat." Freaky!

Handprint Table

I'm getting sentimental in my "old" age!

Masterpieces!

Mother's Day Craft

I'm planning to make this for Mother's Day to give to Mawmaw and Grammy.

Soccer 2010

I liked this *artsy* shot of Hannah workin' the ball toward the goal and goalie!