I'm long overdue...

but we've gotta start somewhere. The garden pictured in the previous post looks much different today. Our corn, broccoli, sugar snap peas and lettuce did really well and are done growing so they all got uprooted this afternoon--who knew lettuce would be so easy and corn so hard to uproot??? I guess their size should have given me some clue, but I'm not always as smart as I look--haha! Our poor, poor watermelons had to be uprooted before we could harvest a single one. A wise word to any who would be looking to plant a garden/seedless watermelon next year--you must plant a seedless watermelon ALONG WITH a seeded variety. Something to do with pollination and how they have to alter the seeds to produce a seedless melon. I was so sad! Ezekiel requested watermelons and Isaiah requested strawberries and we got neither! Out of the 25 strawberry plants I planted, only 1 (no that was not a typo, that's ONE) plant grew. I tell you that was one expensive plant! Plus, strawberries don't tend to produce the first year they are planted, so we should have some next year, but no fruit for my boys right now. Bummer.

Life continues to move at lightning speed, although Craig is moving much faster than the boys and I this week. We had our first day of school on Wednesday (the same day the public schools began), then again today, so my Tuesday was spent lesson planning and reorganizing like a madwoman, but we got it done and now we get to rest tomorrow. The boys are already looking forward to the weekend.

Our ladies' small group study of Esther has been so much fun and so very insightful. God continues to teach me the importance of timing, waiting, and the value (and detriment) of our words. But that above all, He is working for our good, He loves us, He is totally prepared to fight for us, and He already proved His loyalty by dying for us. WOW! The LORD is an amazing God, so faithful and trustworthy. May I bring Him glory in my everyday actions and attitudes.

Have you learned anything worth remembering lately? Maybe we can learn from each other!

I've been dying to get some pics of our garden on here, and since we're short on time, I can just show a few, but here goes...
If you look closely you can see

broccoli growing

a baby cucumber (between the flower and the stem)

a baby watermelon

Isn't it amazing!

Stay with it!!!

Okay, ladies, I am so glad you had a great study tonight! I know a few of you couldn't be there, but hopefully you'll be able to make it next week :) Blogwise...I know not everyone is at the same part of the prayer study--don't worry about that, okay?! The main thing is that you're learning and growing and if we're sticking with this together that's gonna happen. Please don't ever NOT come to a meeting because of not doing your homework--not a good excuse. Let it be an encouragement to get the stuff done, but not to prevent attendance. Over this next week go ahead and take the time to finish the prayer study. Feel free to copy and paste the study into a word document and print it out if you're not on the internet/computer very often, then you'll have it with you whenever you have your quiet time. IF you are caught up on the prayer study, great! I would love for you to continue journaling (writing/typing) your prayers in the format we studied, but begin reading through the book of Ruth--it's only 4 chapters long and the only other book in the Bible with the title of a woman. Like Beth said, totally different story, but still about a woman. Take note of any tidbits of info you've never noticed before. Ask the who/what/when/where/why questions after and during your reading. I would encourage you to break it down into 5 days:
Day 1-Chapter 1:1-18
Day 2-Chapter 1:14-2:16
Day 3-Chapter 2:14-3:6
Day 4-Chapter 3:5-4:6
Day 5-Chapter 4:5-22

Again, please don't feel like you need to do the prayer study, read Ruth, and do Esther. That's way too much! There's no Esther study until Friday, July 3--so don't do that this week. I would like for you to complete the prayer study--if you don't get to Ruth, that's completely fine, but do continue to journal your prayers each day, even if you're not doing anything else--God wants to hear from us!

Okay, I'll let you be--I've thoroughly enjoyed this last week of study, I love you all and can't wait to meet will you again--have a great Friday and weekend!

Day 7: What about thanksgiving???

God forgives us, accepts us as His children, allows us to enter into His holy presence because of Jesus’ sacrifice and gives us a new life, mind and heart. We have everything to be thankful for—even difficulties. Tough as they may be, we can thank God for His constant presence and understanding. (paraphrased from Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, page 1023)

Here’s what Beth Moore has to say on giving thanks: “What about thanksgiving? Philippians 4:6 says, “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Incorporate thanksgiving into every aspect of your prayer time. As you PRAISE, thank Him for choosing to reveal Himself to you. As you REPENT, thank Him for His faithfulness to forgive your sins. As you ACKNOWLEDGE His lordship, thank Him for being so trustworthy with His authority. As you INTERCEDE, thank Him for being your Great High Priest and adding power to your petitions. In SUPPLICATION for yourself, thank Him for knowing you intimately and desiring that you know Him. As you ask for EQUIPPING, thank Him for never calling on you to do anything He will not readily equip you to accomplish. In EVERYTHING, THANK HIM!” Whispers of Hope page 7

Take note of the thankfulness in these passages:

Psalm 136:1-26

Colossians 3:17

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Was there anything about this study that was new to you? Any favorite lesson? Take time to journal your prayer today, including all 6 steps of P.R.A.I.S.E. as well as incorporating thanksgiving. May we treasure the truth that ours is a God who loves us immensely and desires relationship with us. May our hearts and minds continue to expand to embrace the richness of His love!

His Word is a Light on our Path

Just a reminder: Keep a lookout for verses you are reading that speak to your heart, ones that resonate with you, and jot it down--perhaps in your Esther workbook, or on an index card to carry with you or use as your Bible study bookmark. I want to hear about any you may find when we meet next! I know our study of the Word delights our God--may we continue to bring Him more joy!

Day 6: Equipping

“Supplication for self helps us KNOW God; this step assists us as we grow in our capacity to SERVE God. Conclude your prayer time by asking Him to equip you in every way for a victorious day. You’re cleansed and prepared for His full habitation, so ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, to make Himself “conspicuous” in you and to make you victorious over the evil one. Ask Him to give you eyes that “see” Him and ears sensitized to “hear” Him. Ask Him to give you a heart to respond when He opens a door of opportunity. Ask Him to empower you to witness as He leads! Invite Him to equip you with the power of the heavenlies—a double portion of the Holy Spirit. “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” ASK HIM FOR IT ALL! May God fold His everlasting arms around us one day in Glory and say, “This child withheld nothing from me.” Beth More from Whispers of Hope page 7

Like yesterday, note the idea of each verse after you’ve read it:

1 Kings 3:9-10

Matthew 7:7

Matthew 21:21-22

John 14:12-14

James 1:5-8

I don’t know about you, but I need help in accomplishing all that is before me—my mind easily wanders, I’m not smart enough, my tongue gets me in trouble, I dawdle/piddle (however you call it—procrastinate by finding other things to do). I’m not looking for human sympathy, but I do need divine intervention or I will fail miserably. Psalm 37:23-24 tells us, “The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” My ‘to-do’ list may or may not get done, but I know, if I have acknowledged the LORD’s authority over me this day, He will direct me. I still may stumble, but He’s still got me by the hand. Time to turn to your journal—let’s go through all 6 steps today—Praise—Repentance—Acknowledgement—Intercession—Supplication for Self—Equipping. May you be blessed through your honesty with our Creator!

Marriages...

Yesterday, as I was thinking about intercession, I began thinking of how I break down the big things I pray for.  Each day has its own particular requests I ask God's help for (certain people who may be in the hospital or have another immediate need).  But, since there were so many big things, I thought it would be helpful to follow Beth's advice and break those down into manageable bits, so I thought of a word that began with the same letter as the day I'd pray for it on--it sounds confusing as I'm typing, so let me just show you:

Sunday--I pray for the SALVATION of those I know need Jesus, and those I don't even know of yet.

Monday--I pray for the MARRIAGES of friends, family and around the world.

Tuesday--I pray for TEACHERS--of public schools, private schools, home schools, colleges & universities, Sunday schools--it's vast and I don't always mention all of them specifically.

Wednesday--I pray for WORLD LEADERS.  Anyone from a police officer/firefighter to the president of our country and others.

Thursday--I pray for THIS SUNDAY'S services--the message and the many preachers who will be delivering it, the worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, volunteers.

Friday--I pray for FREEDOM for the many that are enslaved in sex-trafficking, child soldiering, and those held captive for reasons I am not aware of.

Saturday--I pray for SOCIAL INJUSTICES--poverty, hunger, slavery, AIDS (specifically in Africa)--that God would rise up people like me and you to make a difference in this world for Christ.  Also I pray for humanitarian organizations like World Vision and Compassion to have success in their work.

These are examples, and I don't necessarily pray for each of these things on every day that I set aside for them, but it gives me a great way to remember the big issues and to not get absorbed by my own little world.  Feel free to divide your BIG stuff into categories, too.

But back to the beginning, because yesterday was Monday, I was thinking about marriages and praying for yours--and those of you who are not married, I prayed for your growth in Christ and your future husband.  The enemy desperately wants to destroy our marriages--to lie to us and convince us it's his/her fault.  When times are tough, we have to own up to our own shortcomings, apologize and ask for forgiveness.  We have to offer forgiveness and let God do the rest.  God gave us marriage so we could see His great love for creation in our love relationship.  Praise You, God!  There will be tough times, but He will see us through.

My last thought, we have been following Jon & Kate Plus 8 a little lately and have been discouraged by one main thing.  They are both doing all they do for their children.  It sounds okay, but it falls so short.  We have to love our husbands more than our children.  We have to love our Jesus more than our husbands.  If you are not at this point, I pray you will soon come to this level of love.  If we live our lives for anything less than Christ, it's foolishness.  Craig, my husband, and I are so passionate about marriages.  Just know this--when you are following God and seeking to know Him more, the enemy will attack, and most often he attacks the family.  May you receive encouragement knowing you are not alone--timing may be different, but the enemy wants to take us all down.  And for those of you who are enjoying a wonderful time in your marriage/singleness right now, may you praise God and strengthen your relationship with your God and your husband and look out for the enemy's traps.  Oh, how I love each of you (especially my Bible study gals) and I can't wait to see you again soon!

Father, please strengthen our marriages--when communication breaks down, help us to have patience to figure the thing out.  When disappointment creeps in, allow us to find hope in You.  When deep hurt cuts our hearts, may You heal us teach us to love without conditions.  Teach us to love like You do--to make the choice to be faithful and respectful even if we don't feel it.  Because You ARE faithful, even when we're not (2 Tim. 2:13).  Praise You, Jesus, for not leaving us alone.  I love you!

love,

me