You are stunning

Yesterday I posted this from Lisa Bevere's book Lioness Arising:

"You are stunning.  You were born for this moment.  Don't be afraid of your strength, questions, or insights.  Awaken, rise up, and dare to realize all you were created to be."

Now I'd like to write it like this:

"Daughter - I think you are amazingly beautiful.  I have created you for this moment in time!  I have given you strength and insight.  Ask me anything you want!  Wake up!  RISE UP!  I dare you to realize what I have made you to be!"

I can't get this quote out of my head.  It has clung to me like dew on the grass in the morning.  It has saturated my spirit, fed life into these dry bones.  It is as if the heavenly Father reached down, picked me up, set me on my feet, whispered this in my ear - and then set me free to fly.  I can see him, hear him, feel his proud smile, hear his laughter, his joy, as I realize all he has made me to be.  I can't explain it but it has set me free.

I hope it does the same for you.  In a single moment, one paragraph spoke, no, shouted, to me.  I am excited!  I can't wait to see what God has in store.  All the striving, all the being rooted to the cares of this world - just thrown off.  I'm excited - and allowing myself - to dare to believe - that THIS year - something is going to break, something is going to set free, some dream He has planted in my spirit, in my soul,  will spring forth and I will finally get to see clearly what He has planned.  I can't explain it and I can't wait for it to happen - but I know, I know, it will.

You are stunning.  Let that sink into your spirit.  You - daughter of Christ - are exceedingly beautiful, amazing, better than you have ever dreamed - inside and out.  He made YOU for this moment - whatever that moment is for you!  All of time, He was waiting - waiting for this moment in time - for YOU.  Do you understand that?  Can you feel that?  For you!  He has given you strength for today!  He has equipped you for the task ahead.  He has given you wisdom, insight - knowledge to accomplish whatever he has for you.  If you are asleep - wake up!  Listen!  Your father calls your name! Do you hear Him?  Can you heart it??  He's calling you!  It's time!  Time to get up - time to rise from your slumber!  Believe it sister in Christ!  He has created you to be something great in His kingdom!  Dare to believe it.  Great may be defined differently - maybe you are raising the next Billy Graham- wiping his snotty little nose right now - but you have been called to be the mother of someone who will bring thousands - millions - to the feet of Jesus!  Maybe your marriage is created for this moment - for something great - to pull others out of the pit!  Maybe you are a teacher and you are touching lives - SAVING lives - for the kingdom!  Maybe you are a student, studying diligently to find a cure for cancer or move out on the missions field to tell people who have never heard about Jesus!  Whatever it is, wherever it is, God has called YOU for this moment in time!

Isn't it exciting??  Can you hear Him call your name?

I stand amazed.  He is oh so worthy.  Oh so mighty.  He is Savior, Friend, Rescuer, Redeemer.  Almighty God.  I am so in love with him.

Lioness Arising - Lisa Bevere - Book Review

I am lion, hear me roar.   That's what I wanted to title this, but I was afraid people looking for a book review wouldn't be able to locate this.

WOW!  A wonderful friend gave me this book and I don't believe they had any idea how much it would speak into my heart at this point in my life.  It's right on with what God has been speaking to me already.  I read - a lot - and most books, although I enjoy them - don't meet me where I am in life at that moment.  This one has.

You know this means quotes people - right??  I think I have half the 60 pages I've read already highlighted!  However, before I share some quotes that have touched my heart - let me say this one thing.  This book is giving me freedom.  Freedom to be who I am and stop thinking in my head I'm too - I don't know - too bold.  So much of my life, I've felt a Christian woman should be meek and mild, barefoot and pregnant, quiet and reserved.  Nothing like who I am (although I have been both barefoot and pregnant before) - and it has always made me feel as if I am somehow less of a Christian woman because of it.  I don't know where I got these ideas from - but my boldness has always left me feeling I am not what people think a Christian woman should be.  Maybe it has come from the many times people make me feel as if I should be silent and not share my mind, my opinions, my feelings - so publicly.  Anyway - that doesn't matter.  What matters is in reading this book, I am finding myself.

Onto the quotes - and there will be many!

Right at the start:  "To all of my lioness sisters who feel something wild, fierce, and beautiful stirring within them.  You are stunning.  You were born for this moment.  Don't be afraid of your strength, questions, or insights.  Awaken, rise up, and dare to realize all you were created to be."

"I was a cancer survivor and a stay-at-home mom with a dysfunctional past...Was it possible that God thought I was destined for more?  Was something powerful and slightly fierce waiting to be awakened inside me?  Maybe I'd wear courage well."

"I was tired of being thought of as weak and whiny...Tired of wearying my mind with so many things that didn't matter.  Tired of pretending.  Rather than nice and safe, I was ready to be seen as slightly fierce and definitely focused."

"I was almost at the point of drowning in my day-to-day life.  I was so caught up in my ever-expanding and increasingly demanding to-do list, I'd forgotten who I was.  I was full of self-doubt.  My life was small, self-centered, isolated, petty, safe, and ineffective.  I remembered my name, whom I was married to, and who my kids were, but what I did and who I was responsible for overshadowed my sense of being God's daughter."

"To everyone else I had a name that was attached to a job description.  I was mother to my children, wife to my husband,  .... but to God Most High, I was simply daughter.  As I focused on just being his and what all that meant, life and strength flowed into my days, and rest entered my soul.  My heart enlarged. .... I began to step out of the shadow of my insecurities, fears, comfort zone, and failures and began to reach out to others."

"At other times, they gasp as though they've breathed in the revelation and realized it's okay to be beautiful and fierce."

"Will we supersede the conflicting noise and arguments that say our contribution is not necessary, not God breathed?"  (Oh how I needed to hear this)

"Because of fear, I had forfeited strength, life, and beauty.  I had lost a sense of my true self, and with that loss so much of what God wanted for me was yet unrealized"

"I've seen many women terrified by their own strength.  They recoil in fear if ideas, questions, or passions arise unbidden within them.  Strength is not to be feared; it is to be embraced"

"I see gross wickedness and global injustice exposed and conquered on many fronts by an encounter with God's inescapable light and his unassailable justice.  I see his daughters stretching forth like lionesses preparing to pounce.  I see all this in our future.  Like you, I do not see those things because I read the paper.  I see them because I have eyes to see in the Spirit."  (Can we shout AMEN??)

"It is easier not to have seen or heard.  Because this is true, most turn from those disturbing sounds and images and quickly fill our ears and eyes with distractions" (I wish I could say this is not true - but it is)

"How loud must the alarm of our time become before we are fully aroused and fully awake?"  (I want to shout this statement!!)

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.  Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice." - Prov. 31:8-9, NLT

"Yes, that is what they are - our sisters.  They are not prostitutes by choice; they are victims and courageous survivors."

"Well-behaved women rarely make history" - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"What would happen if, like the lions, we were dangerous and fully awake?  Then and only then would we pose any threat to the darkness that holds so many captive."

"We are the collective body of Christ, and as such we are destined for triumph, victory, signs and wonders."

That's only 60 pages people - I've still got 3/4 of the book to read!  I am on fire after reading this book so far!  It motivates me to action.  I'm excited to see where God will lead, what darkness he will use me to turn to light.  I'm ready.  It is time.  Who's with me?

Congrats!

No posting since Wednesday??  Wow! I'm a slacker!  So sorry faithful readers.

We spent the weekend in Grand Rapids at a fine arts competition for our kiddos.  They both did amazing!  So proud of them both.  We were able to record everything and if I can figure out how to save that to my computer and then get it to post here - I will share it with you.  They knocked it out of the park.  Elyse made it to nationals in every category she and her teammates entered.  Jon's team did a terrific job and even though they didn't make it to nationals on this, their very first year - they worked hard and glorified Jesus in their performance.  That's all we can ask :)

Proud Mom moments I tell 'ya.  This was Elyse's last year :(  Shed a few tears.  God has blessed me with 2 amazing kids and some days I just shake my head at the goodness of God in this area.  We've been given a gift we do not deserve in our kids and I am thankful for that.

Got to reconnect with some old friends as well - more on that later.  I totally forgot to take a single picture this weekend - which really upsets me.  With video taping the performances, it never dawned on me to grab my camera.  I'm living in regret over this one, trust me.  I'm hoping once I put the video on the computer, maybe I can figure out how to capture some still photos from that for Elyse's open house slide show coming up in a few months (that I have yet to set a date for!).

Gotta run for now.  I'll share more with you on the weekend later.  For now, it's time to go worship Jesus with friends!

Have a blessed Sunday everyone ~

On the prowl

I Peter 5:8 says this:   Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Let me share with you what happened to me this morning. 

I've had a rough couple of days.  Yesterday, lost focus, got upset about a situation, yelled at my poor husband, said stupid things.  Blew months of not reacting to situations without seeking God first.  Nope, just blew.  Marty took the brunt of it - poor guy.  I don't know why he puts up with me sometimes!!

Anywho - so - last night I determined to sit before God today, confess, apologize, and get my focus back in the right place.  I wasn't going to do anything else until I did this. 

The house is a pig sty.  I'm on strike.  Tired of my teenagers (God love them!) trashing the place and no one taking care of their crap.  I declared a strike 2 days ago.  No laundry, no cooking, no doing nothing for nobody until they can respect their mother.  They are on their own. You want food?  Make it for yourself.  You want clean underwear?  Clean it yourself.  We are at a standstill right now - but it's only a matter of time before one of us caves - and let me tell you - it will not be me.

Anyway - not the point here!!  The point is - the house is a mess.  The teens left peanut shells all over the living room floor and now it's covered in ants.  Not.  Happy.  So, I swept that up this morning - I can't have ants.  Shhh, don't tell them I did that 'cause I saved 'em to throw back on the floor when they get home :)  Kidding.

OKAY - SO.  I was already distracted by the messy house this morning, but I made myself a clean breakfast, got a glass of water.  Grabbed my prayer journal, my music, my bible, lit a candle and settled myself into my favorite chair (thanks sis) to get serious with God.  All the animals were sound asleep (inevitably one of them will want out as soon as I sit in my favorite chair).  I read the word and began praying when, out of no where, I smell this putrid smell.  If there is one smell I can NOT stand - it is the smell of cat pee.  I HATE IT.  The first time every cat has peed in our house has also been the very day they've been kicked out.  If I smell it, it sends me into an obsessive/compulsive seek and destroy mission.  No corner gets left untouched.  I'm on my knees, gloves on, bleach in hand.  Must.  Kill.  That.  Smell.  I kid you not - I probably need psychological help in this area.

So, I'm trying to pray.  I'm telling myself "TAMI - You can get that LATER.  You do NOT need to deal with that now!"  but the smell keeps getting worse and worse.  It's saturating my nose hairs.  The cat hasn't moved.  He has never once peed outside of his box.  His sitting right there, sound asleep, and he's been asleep since I took the kids to school - and there was no smell when I returned from dropping off the kids.  He has not peed anywhere.  Same with the dogs.  I'm becoming more and more distracted, getting no where in my prayer time.

When, all of the sudden, light bulb moment.

There is no cat pee smell.  That's the devil.  On the prowl.  Trying to devour my time with Jesus.

So you think I'm nuts?  I'm not.  Smells and me - well, I just hate smells. Satan knows that - there is a history on that one, but that's for another post.  Read on, read on.

So I simply pray this.  "Remove that putrid smell in my house right now Jesus that distracts me from you!  I command satan to leave this house right now.  I claim your blood and I claim your name Jesus.  I love you Lord."

and poof

gone. 

Nope, ain't kidding.  Snap your fingers - smell was gone.

Think what you must.  Satan and I have tussled on numerous occasions.  If you believe in Jesus - then you better believe satan is out to devour YOU as the word says.  He knows he can't get to Jesus - and what better way to destroy the Father than to ruin His kids?  Remember - the word refers to satan as a prowling lion.  Cat pee/lion pee - I'll be it smells similar.

Must be I needed my time with Jesus this morning!

The beauty of it all?  10 years ago?  I was walking around in complete and total fear of satan.  He commanded my sleep, he held me in chains.   If you had told me 10 years ago I would be free of those horrid nightmares, I would have never believed you.  If you had told me I could sit in my house alone, not hear things, not see things (nope, not crazy) - I would have called you a liar.  I never thought I would see the day I would be free of the fear.  Never thought I would come to a day where realizing I was sitting in a room where satan was being an idiot, and I could just say a simple prayer - totally without fear - and that would be the end of it - never - ever - would have believed you. 

Let me point out one thing.  It's not me.  It's all Jesus.  In my own power, I have no hope.  However, in the power of Jesus - satan can't touch me.  He can't touch you either.  Realize the power you have in the name of Jesus!  Proclaim Him and satan will run away like a scared little cat.  Just like he did today.

Go God!

Happiness Project - March - Week 2

Review:

March is boost energy month/focus on health.  Week 1 brought the end of my pop drinking, Mt. Dew guzzling days.  Happy to report, I am still pop free, now 14 days.  I have to admit - this weekend - rough.  I wanted a dew so bad.  Little man came out of the trade fair (local event), got in the car with a can of Mt. Dew in his hands, set it on the seat, spilled it, and handed it to me so he could clean it up.  UN - FAIR!  That was all it took to start the craving and I battled it the rest of the weekend!  However, I did not cave - lol!!  Week 2 was to add exercise.  I was hoping this step would help alleviate some of the exhaustion that not drinking pop was causing.  Well. It might have worked - but I would not know - because - I did not do it.  I did exercise one day, but failed to exercise 3 days as planned.  I think (I hope) it will become easier and easier as the forecast this week shows that I will be able to take it outside - increasing the possibility that I will actually DO it.  In fact, we're predicted to hit 50 - which means - the bike is coming out.  So - success week one, fail week two.

Future:

This week we add eating a clean breakfast.  I'm not a breakfast eater at all.  My blender broke and I really need a new one - but it's not in the budget.  That means this week is going to be tougher than I thought because I'll have to actually cook - which stinks.  I do love a good smoothie and smoothies are a great way to alleviate the sugar craving once you go sugar free - but no smoothies for me.  Anyway, I will stop whining now about my busted blender and non-smoothie week and tell you that I did eat a clean breakfast this morning.  I took a potato, sliced it up real thin, added some onion, cooked that in some EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) and then added a couple of eggs.  Actually - it was extremely yummy and guilt free.  That's always a plus!  We'll see how the remainder of the week goes.  I'll also plan on adding that exercise in that I didn't accomplish last week.  Sooner or later, that must become a permanent part of my life as well - so there's no time like the presence.


How about you?  Have you taken any steps this week/month to boost your energy?  If so, I'd love to hear about it!

Book Review - Words

It's been a long time since I've read a book which has so grabbed my attention that falling asleep before getting to the end is not possible.  This book - was the book.  Words is a fiction story written by Ginny L. Yttrup about a little girl who is being horribly abused.  Her Mom abandons her and she hangs onto hope that her Mom "has amnesia" and will return soon to rescue her.  She doesn't leave, afraid of what he will do to her - and even more afraid the day she chooses to leave, will be the day her Mom comes back for her.

I was not surprised at the end of the book to read the author's comments and find she shared a similar life story to the little girl in the book.  There are some things you can not write about that accurately without having walked the road.  Was it a difficult read for me?  Yes - I could feel the little girls pain, hear her heart's cry.  I understood her words, and I understood her silence (read the book).

Yet, at the same time, the story of Sierra - the young woman who comes across the little girl in the woods, is also the story of who I choose to be now.  Someone who does not turn a blind eye to abuse, someone unafraid to walk into the middle of it and be the Jesus little girls need to see.  Someone who cares enough to hurt, to cry, to do whatever it takes to bring freedom to little girls enslaved by men (and women) who use them for their own sexual and monetary gain.  I do not say these things to lift myself up - but merely to share with you the passion in my heart for little girls like Kaylee - in desperate need of someone to make them feel safe.  In desperate need of a chain-breaking, freedom- granting, shame-lifting God who loves them far more than they know.

I encourage you to read this book.  It may be fiction - but it is truth.  The feelings Kaylee experiences, the abuse she suffers - ring true for all sexually abused and used girls.  If you have a heart for girls like Kaylee, you know a Kaylee (and all of us do whether we realize it or not), or you are a Kaylee - read the book.

Kudos to the author for speaking the truth,  sharing her heart & story and being unafraid of addressing this issue.  I pray it shines a light in a very dark place for someone out there and leads them to Jesus.

Have you moved in?

Lately I've been reading The Message for my daily devotionals.  Hilarious.  I've read the bible in different versions before - NLT, ESV, NAS - different stuff.  I like to mix it up.  Recently, we had a friend come and stay and she was reading the bible through with The Message.  I've always taken a little bit of an issue with The Message - worrying it's "not really" God's word - but a paraphrase.  However - upon further thought - I have realized - that's a stupid way of thinking (sorry - don't mean to offend anyone!  stupid for me - maybe not you!!).  The reality is, unless you can read the original in Greek or Hebrew - well - it's all some sort of a translation.  I will admit, however, that I did spend the first week reading it both in The Message and NLT - 'cause - well - I just wanted to check it over a bit.  ANYWAY.  The final conclusion is, it's very close and merely speaks in a language we speak today.  Yes, it is a paraphrase as the author states - but it's close, at least to the NLT. 

Moving along!  Like I said - it's hilarious.  I don't know why it cracks me up the way it does - but some days - I'm just busting a gut reading my bible.  Who would've thunk it??  Might I point out - it's FUN to laugh and smile while being in the presence of God!!  Yet another marvelous thought - smack me upside the head!

Whew.  I'm way off task today. 

Okay - that all literally has nothing to do with the title.  Today I read this from John 1:

"The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood"

WOW!  That's such a cool way of looking at things!!  And suddenly - I was reminded of one of my 40 in 40 goals - have a neighborhood barbecue (which, I hope when it happens, someone actually shows up - lol!!).  And I thought - THAT'S what it means!!  Not have a neighborhood barbecue - but when you moved into your neighborhood - did you become the flesh and blood - not of yourself - but of Jesus??

I have to admit - I haven't.  I like my privacy.  Maybe a little too much.  I like not knowing our neighbors.  I know them a little - and I will say - I have great neighbors.  On one side of me, an elderly lady who never complains about the balls constantly flying over her fence, and a 14 year old boy jumping her fence to get them.  On the other, a young man and his brother and a host of other people that come and go.  Nice enough, we say hello on occasion, help each other out on occasion - but I've never been in his house, and he's never been in mine.  Across the street - well - that's a challenge but Praise Jesus - that has improved as the kids have grown.  Kitty Corner - that's the neighbors we see most cause our kids hang out.  Kitty corner the other way - we don't know them but their son is a scrap metal guy and took an old dishwasher for us once.  Another neighbor is Mexican - and you KNOW we love that.  (We're taking over the neighborhood - watch out! Lol - Just kidding).  Another neighbor is a children's or youth pastor and although we have the occasional wave, again, never been in each other's house.  One neighbor down the road wants our old beat up van.  Another neighbor, somewhere on this street, actually OWNS the road - or it was named after her or something.

WOW.  I am LONG WINDED today!  The whole point is this.  I know OF them - but I do not know them.  I don't know what they struggle with, I don't know their burdens, I don't know what makes them happy.  I don't know the names of their kids, whether they've ever served our country in the military.  I don't know what they like to eat or drink or what they like to do for fun.  And the saddest part?  They do not know the Jesus in me because I haven't been Jesus.  I've moved in - but I have not become flesh and blood - not really - not enough.

What about you?  Have you moved in?  Have you become flesh and blood?  It's never too late.  Never.  I think I might have to start walking the street and praying for my neighbors, have my neighborhood barbecue - and put some feet and flesh to the Jesus in me.  Who will join me?