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May 18, 2012

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862 – "Your richest duty is devotion to me."

July 6, 2010 By 2 Comments

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Oh Lord, how quickly can I get confused, messed up, or even bored (if I am so very honest) in searching for Your plans for my life. It is not the search that gets boring to me, but at times it is the stage that I find is your will that I would find boring. What am I really trying to say – I am not sure! ha

“Your richest duty is devotion to Me” is a quote straight from my devotion this morning! And by golly does it hit home and actually makes things so clear!
What are the reasons we get confused in our walk with Him? What are the reasons we get messed up in our search for His will for us? What are the reasons I get bored when I find what it is He has for me and a bit of disappointment sets in??
Instead of looking for Him, I am looking at everything else!!
The project
The ways it is not going as I had expected or wanted
The other people
The other projects people are doing
The disappointment
I look at every single thing other than Him! UGH!!!!!!!! I could kick myself!
God asks me to seek His face – He does not ask me to seek a job, a ministry, a fix, a miracle, a will, other people!!!! He says – Seek ME!!!!
It is in the process, ever growing process, of seeking His face that I will find the answers to all things – I will see His will unfolded for me. I will see a ministry right in front of me. I will see miracles only seen after seeing Him. I will see other people with grace because I have seen Him first!
“This duty [seeking Him, devotion to Him] is such a joyous privilege that it feels like a luxury.”
Lord Jesus, that is what I want. I want to seek You with a joy and a heart full of the knowledge of privilege of knowing you! I want to be so in tuned with seeing You that all else falls behind. I want to be able to shut out the world and listen to You working in my life and hear Your whispers. God, help me! I want to be blinded by Your love, mercy, grace! I want to see You alone so that I can spread You so much more effectively! Awesome Lord, the God who see, help me to see You!!! May I see you all throughout the day even in the most mundane of assignments! I love you and am thankful for your faithfulness!
Because of Jesus and Your omnipresence You are available to be seen in everything!! I am reminded from the scripture – “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is on holy ground!” Exodus 3: 5
Nothing is mundane because You are there!!! Where You are in Holy ground!!! Even through me!
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Filed Under: exodus, holy, Your will
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724 – Back to Basics

May 18, 2009 By 6 Comments

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Dear Lord Jesus – it has been a long time since I have just sat down and written out a note to You in this form.  I feel a call of getting back to the basics.  Vlogging has made me quite lazy, I think.  If i can not find a good way to word the Word to put on the video blog from YOU – then I say nothing at all.  It has made me lazy and my quiet time lazy!  I have always been a journaler since back in 5th grade and I don’t ever want to stop.  But i see over the past 9 months or so I have gotten very lazy.  Father, forgive me and thank you for making this apparent to me.  

There are so many things going on that I can not afford for one second to be lazy or slack in anything especially my time with You.  I have had my quiet time consistently for the most part, but because of this lack of writing out my thoughts it does not solidify things for me.  AND i find that my prayers are not as specific and “vocal” as they used to be.  Kind of just say it and go on about the day.  Back to basics is the call and a “ridding” of anything that can enable pride!  
Lord, you have led me to do a few things on my blog as well.  I have discarded the “look where people are coming from” thing.  I have deleted my site meter thingy too.  It really has nothing to do with the viewers, but just something the Lord said – do away with!  Time waster, idol grower, and heart deflater.  How, I am not really exactly sure how, but God said it and so I did it!  For now, those are the 2 that had to go – what is next, my Lord?  
My heart is rolling with anticipation and excitement.  I want to follow you, Lord!!  Show me what it is!  Some of the things I don’t even know where to begin!  The radio deal is a real deal and something I know you want me to do, but how do I get started.  I feel alone in this endeavor.  I know I am not and I know I have the support of the station, but Lord, what is this going to look like and how to I even begin? I was voicing this on my run the other day and at the same time the song by Meredith Andrews came on – Your Not Alone – no coincidence I know!!!  Thank you Father for speaking to me at that time when I needed to know.  
Lord, other things I need to know Your will on…….
Do i coach boys tennis if it were an option next year?
Do I have a Bible study for my SS class this summer?
How do I start the radio show?
Resolution Conference preparations?
2nd Chance Prom?
Marriage Retreat?
Devotion Writing?
Online Message topic?
Book sales and buying of??
Sell of House?
So many things are just thoughts, good thoughts, but Lord, I want to know what you would have me to do!  I don’t want to leave something out, but I don’t want to do too much too! 
Been in Ps. 18 today.  Verse 20 is repeated more than once – “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.”   Oh Lord, let that sink in and help me to find understanding, wisdom, and peace in Your Word.  The walk of Faith is about what we do – it is about relationships, but what we do in them as well.  Lord, help me to walk in your righteousness and in your mercy too!  I love you Lord!!  
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Filed Under: blogging, psalms, Your will
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720 – IS everything all hunkey dorrey with no problems when we follow God?

May 5, 2009 By 5 Comments

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Check out the new features on this blog!!!  A navigation bar on the bottom of the header.  Like it??  Check out the new button on the top right side!!  This is Shera’s business that helped to put the nav bar on and tidy things up a bit on the blog.  Let me know if you are interested in advertising on this blog!  

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Filed Under: Matthew, Your will
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688 – Purpose Driven………… Day

February 12, 2009 By 3 Comments

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One of my biggest faults is not seeing the forest for the trees.  I get so tunnel vision.  I am the type of person to not see the whole picture and therefore get very frustrated at what I see or decide is going on…… in my life, in the church, with my family, or even in road construction.  

God has placed me in a full-time job for at least 5 weeks.  I am the elementary teacher for  K-3rd grades.  So far, after one day, I love it.  Before I received this assignment I had already applied to go get my master’s with a teaching certificate.  I have everything, but my substitute teaching, but have to go this direction instead of starting all over.  It could work……if i get accepted.  I do horribly on standardized test and have to take 2 to get in.  It nearly is enough to just say forget it.  We shall see.  If it is normal book work and such I do honors, but being timed in a test for a long period – freaks me out and I don’t do well at all.  We shall see. 
I was reading in Luke 19 this morning about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus.  I was struck by a person in this account that might have lost his focus or at least wondered why is this happening.  Jesus told his guys to go into town and they would find a donkey there that had never been ridden.  Take it and tell the owners that it was for the Lord.  I wonder about the owners.  
Were they going about their day and all of a sudden had an inclination to tie up their donkey in this spot?  Was the owner just thinking the day before about all the things he wanted to do in life and they just have not come about?  Was he wondering why all the things he was about seemed so insignificant?  Walking through the town was he intrigued with all the other things people were doing that looked so important?  He was just tieing up his donkey right here.  
Then for a reason or was it for no reason he came over to this particular post and tied the donkey.  Was he a follower of Christ and knew this was his mission in life?   Did he have any clue that the tieing of that donkey would be used for the King of the Universe to fulfill His mission on earth?  It was a purpose driven day and yet I want to know if the man that had the donkey for the Lord of ALL to use that day had any idea HOW he was being used?  
We are so often used just like that man that tied the donkey.  God in His infinite wisdom is detailing our every breath with ways, missions, and purposes beyond our comprehension.  Do we always know when we are being used for a great purpose such as the King being able to fulfill His great mission through us?  No!  That is a mystery of God and something we don’t need to understand.  My job and my understanding is that I need to quit looking at the forest and even the trees.  I need to be focused on the Cross and my Savior.  If i would just look for my Savior in everything then I would not be concerned whether I get to do what I think are significant things.  If I would trust His plan and leading then I would not be bothered by those around me that seem to have “cooler” assignments.  
God i do trust you, but I get so sidetracked and focus-lost!  Forgive me Jesus.  Help me to watch for the Savior on the horse and not the person that provided the horse.  Oh Lord Jesus, I worship you, but not near enough and not in the way you deserve or even intend!!  Lord, keep my eyes on You and my focus on You!  May I go about my day with the thoughts of worshipping You in everything realizing I am living a purpose driven……day whether i know it or not!!  I love you Lord!  
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Filed Under: book of Luke, Jesus, submission, Your will
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677 – A Few Good Men

January 14, 2009 By 2 Comments

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Today my tone is very serious and quite somber. End times are coming – they are here – and God wants to know what team you are playing for? Both Satan and Holy God are looking for a few good men to do their work. For what team are you available?


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Filed Under: 2 chron., Job, Your will
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674 – I am Crying!

January 9, 2009 By 3 Comments

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Filed Under: details, prayer, psalms, Your will
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551 – Obey or not?

March 4, 2008 By 4 Comments

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Lord Jesus – you have asked me to do something, but I just don’t want to. Honestly, that is the bottom line for me. I just don’t want to. I know, how could I say that to You, my Savior, but it is true, I just don’t want to. This is not a situation where I am wondering if God wants me to do this particular thing – i am very aware of what He is asking.

Yesterday as I was going about my day and constant talk with You Lord, I asked – am i being rebellious? Is this the kind of thing that will cause much discipline? Most importantly the Lord just relayed back to me – It just breaks my heart, Leigh. You are refusing to obey in this area and it breaks my heart. It is not so much about discipline although you know that I love you and so I must discipline, but You are breaking my heart over this minuscule thing and I have so much more for you!! We have to get through this!!

Oh Lord – it just seems so silly. I know it just between you and I, but still. I know I sound like a junior high kid, but Lord Jesus! This morning in my devotion you wrote the words and had them jump out at my on the page – “Chose today to not rebel any longer.” Holy cow – could you get any more specific and any more clear?? I mean did You have to use that same word I had just used in my own prayer? Lord, you are so clear and I thank you for that!! I want to know your will and do your will without question – hello – you are so clear!!!

My scripture for today is James 4:17 – another confirmation…. “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” Ouch!!

Lord, I will walk in obedience. I will choose to line myself up with the favor of the Lord by saying yes to your ways. Lord, I will do as you ask regardless of what I want to do or even feel like I should do. Lord, I want your ways in my life. I want to follow you even in the smallest of things. Lord, I want to go down in your book as faithful and a fighter for what you want in my life. Not fighting against you, but on your team!! I choose to obey and for me that is JOY!!! I love you, Lord. Thank you for loving me enough to ask certain things in my life!!

We are almost all moved in. Kids start the new school today – nerves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SJ lost her first tooth last night! She was so proud! Me too!

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Filed Under: James, obedience, sacrifice, Your will
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544 – So What Am I Suppose To Do?

February 25, 2008 By 13 Comments

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Good Morning – I am up and at them this morning. On my way out the door to St. Louis for a few days. I will be speaking this morning and next. One of my favorite topics again – Beauty and the Bedroom and Authentic Parenting! Those are always so fun! As far as how I am doing physically – I am better. My nose did not fall off even though i wanted to have it taken off! The meds are crazy. I am jittery, but a bit tired too! Just a few more days of those kinds though! I will be staying at one of the event planners houses tonight which will be such a treat. I have been praying for her son that has a feeding issue – I am not sure of the specifics – but it will be neat to actually see the real little boy I have lifted up from time to time! God is moving and blessing Speaking Thru Me Ministries (STMM) – I am not sure I can keep up. We have needs – many needs! I know He will provide. Right now I think one of our greatest needs is organizational ideas and financing ideas – I don’t really mean raising money. I need a truly trained accountant in Illinois that can tell me what I am REALLY suppose to be doing – I have so many odd questions! Need a sounding board. Our non-profit status is getting close! Maybe a few more months and it will be final!

Before I go on any further I feel impressed to ask or mention this. My friend, Nicki Koziarz over at www.threegirlygirlz.blogspot.com is feeling the call to a Speaking conference. She desires to go, but just does not have the funds available. This is the very kind of thing that I want STMM to be more a part of. Supporting the small church, supporting those desiring to do His thing, those needing help from “the church” – you and me. Nicki is a woman after God’s heart, she is called by the Lord into ministry, and she is seeking with everything she has to do His will. She believes this is it, but just lacks the funds right now. Would you help? Go to her blog and see the details. I would beg you to give whatever you can… $5, $10, $50 – anything possible? I know you may not know her from Adam’s House Cat, but this is certainly a wonderful thing to invest in – please trust me. I would love to pay this for her, but we just don’t have all the funds to do that just yet here at STMM. Can you help? Thank you in advance!! (On a side note, Nicki lives in the town of the conference so she is not having to raise support for travel, just admission. and she is accepting paypal – or i will accept it and send it to her along with whatever we can raise around here.)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

So, have you ever asked yourself, really Lord what do you want me to do? I mean, I know I am to follow Your lead and do Your will, but what does that really look like. Can you give me some specifics? Have you ever been there? I so have and I ask that question almost daily. I know the general plan for my life – like being called into ministry, being a wife, and mom, church volunteer, etc. – but it is the day to day stuff that I can get a bit bogged down – what do I do with my day to day life?

I am going through Priscilla Shirer’s study – Discerning the Voice of the Lord – INCREDIBLE!!! And this is all I can think about. Living and doing as He asks in the day to day things is all about listening and then dieing. That sounds exciting doesn’t it? Well, actually so much peace comes with dieing! In a totality sense – we will be at complete peace when we die and see Him face to face.

But what about that day to day stuff. That is where I get stuck. The verse above says that I have been “crucified with Christ”. That really means that my old ways have been put to death and I now live for Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. But the tough thing is that I am a living sacrifice – so I have the option of rolling off the alter and going back into my old ways. This is why it is so important to be discerning His voice in the day to day. As I roll off the alter the Holy Spirit gently at times says “No, No, NO – get back up there. Die, we did not wake that old part. You have not just been changed, you have been exchanged with the Spirit of Christ. Your soul now rest in my hands and I have exchanged your old ways with My new ways. Let’s work this thing out together. Die and listen – all at the same time.” Wow!!! What a sweet word He just spoke over me and you, the reader!! I can hardly go on!

Christ living in me – that is powerful. I am afforded all the riches, gifts, privileges, etc. that God has freely given to our Savior Christ and yet I think so often they go stagnant in my life. I do not tap into the power near enough!! Oh Lord – help to live in Your power!! You are the power! Tap into it and walk it out!! And how I need your power at this time in my life. So many things on the horizon and spiritual warfare at its peak. I need your power Lord! I am to live by faith – why – because you loved me and gave yourself for me. Incredible Lord – wow – I am getting it Jesus. Such an incredible concept, but it is really sinking in today. Praise you Father!

So ladies and self – ever talk to your “self” – what are we going to do with this today? Are we going to die and walk listening intently or are we going to live and ignore the voice of God? I choose to die and walk in peace!! Oh yeah!! In the day to day stuff this includes parenting, wifeing, eating, sharing in words, cooking, exercising, loving – what are we going to do? Live it out in faith walking with Him dieing to our own selfishness or are we going to continue in our pit of despair and depression possibly because we are continuing to walk on our own pleasing the desires of the sinful nature – ME, the fleshly me!! We are not a puppet, we are not a rag doll either – We are a princess, child of the Living God, bought with a price, and free to live!! We have a choice – what will it be today?? Listen – He is speaking!! I love you, Lord!

UPDATE******We are going to start our kids in the new schools next week – Carmi. Please be in prayer for that. We have 2 lookers on the house today!! Oh Lord, just need one buyer – please please please!! Let’s make a deal and I ain’t kiddin’. Our new house is about 2 weeks from being done. We have started moving a few things in – praise Him!! It feels so good! We have our huge first STMM event this weekend where we have brought in Leslie Nease from Survivor:China. She will be speaking in Carmi on Saturday morning 9:30am to the women and 6:30pm that evening to the youth. Many, many darts are being thrown by the defeated one – Crush him, Lord!!

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Filed Under: aerobics, devotion, discipline, galatians, Your will
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535 – Goose Necks Watching

February 7, 2008 By 5 Comments

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Can you believe it is already Thursday? In some ways it has really been a long week and then in others ways – where did the time go? Yesterday was quite a busy day. For some reason for the past 3 days or more my windshield wipers would not turn off. You should have heard me racking my brain to think of some spiritual connection as to why they would not turn off – Did God have something to say about those things going back and forth back and forth!!!! Needless to say I spent some time with the dealer to get that under control. Thankfully it has not stopped raining around here for about 44 days – I am exagerating – so I needed them. But you know the feelings when surprises come up and your day is kind of halted. AND they had been delivered a huge platter of soft chocolate chip cookies just waiting for me to devour. hee hee – you see now where God was going with the wipers – it was a test…………I thought of all of you spurring me on and I can report that not one single morsel was tasted or licked!!! Just deep inhales!! ha!!

“I make it my goal to please You, whether I am at home in the body or away from it.” Phil. 1:20 paraphrase

What God has given us today is a bottom line verse – that is what I like to call it. Bottom line Leigh, you are meant to please Me whether you are alive or dead. What is it going to be? Don’t you just love bottom line kind of requests or commands we might say here. Here is the “deal” – you are either going to do it here on the earth or you will do it when we are face to face. Wow!

The original verse says that we “eagerly expect and hope” to please the Lord. What that means is that one is stretching out their neck looking and waiting for ways to please the Father. One is expecting the return of the Lord and is living in such a way that when “caught” it will please the Father. We don’t know when the return of the Lord will be, but if we have already met Him in Heaven then the plesure is all ours to be giving – perfect, not flawed in any way. But if He returns and we have not met Him face to face in death, what will be the scenario He finds us in. Ever thought about that? Interesting!

First of all, do you know that you will meet Him when He returns? Do you know the Lord as your Savior? Have you ever said – Lord Jesus come into my life and take charge. Forgive me of all my sins and make me whole. Lord, I want your salvation, I need your salvation. I want to be with you in Heaven some day. I confess I am a sinner and am asking you to come into my life. I confess You as the Son of God and I believe. Thank you Lord for making me a new person right this second!!! Lord, I am yours. Did you pray that prayer? Have you ever prayed that prayer? Oh please let me know if you received Christ as your Savior today!!!

Because we know Christ as our Savior, when He comes back to get us all it will be a glorious reunion. No matter what we are doing at that moment He will see us through the eyes of forgiveness and grace – of course judgement as well – but as a beleiver we will be His pleasure. Without knowing Him as Savior there is no way to please the Lord. Even as Christian there is nothing we can do to please the Lord other than accept His forgiveness and be His child! We could never do anything good enough to be accepted.

But in the mean time we have to live this thing out – life!! As you are going about your day, do you think about the very moments you are caught in and would it please the Lord if you saw Him face to face as if you were looking at a friend! Man that really convicts me. I think of those inner dark moments when I sit in digust, jealousy, frustration, and sin. Those times that I do nothing but cater to my flesh and selfish desires. What about those times I cave to indulgence – “Oh (surprisingly screaming) hey Lord – I didn’t see you there. Yes, Sir, you are right, this is my 3rd donut…” Wouldn’t that just be terrible. He comes back and I am stuffing my face again, caught in gosssip, stewing in jealousy, mad for only selfish gain, etc. Oh Lord, let us do everything to live a life worth of the calling. Let me live a life that is caught doing well to please You. Let us all live this thing out like it is real and we know You to be real!! Alive – I want to live and live every moment for you!!! I am stretching out my goose neack looking for ways to pelase the Father!! I love you Jesus!

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Filed Under: aerobics, eating, people pleasing, philippians, Your will
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533 – I just Gotta Know

February 6, 2008 By 10 Comments

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This morning everything is so calm – not so much last night. Everything seems to be fine around here, but in Jackson, Tn. at Union University things have been turned upside down. Oh Lord as I was looking at their destruction I could not help but tear up. It is awful what the storm has done to the campus, but praise You all are ok at this time!! Our friends, the Neibels, have a daughter there and I have 2 cousins there as well. All are ok at this time. But oh how I wish I could have been there last night during the storm and after. This is a school that loves Jesus – the faculty, the administration, the students – for the most part. This is one of those times Union shines. I would have loved to seen all the kids gathered around for prayer – and I am sure some singing as well. I would have loved to seen all those professors that seem to be so stuffy out in the destruction and helping out. It is just how they are. Wonderful people! I would love to have seen the students helping one another – those that have never talked before for whatever reason. I would have loved to seen those of great faith still praising the Lord for all the world or town to see. I know my Union will rise again. I know things will be even better. I know they will rise up and say they are blessed. Just how they do things and how they raise their people and students!! Love it! I am praying Ps. 91 for them all.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jer. 33:3

Hope your yesterday went well. I had some huge voctories that I will not bore you with, but know that He is working in me. I do not have it all together – you know that if you have been reading this blog for any amount of time – nor do I pretend to have it together. So I am learning and claiming scripture as we go!! 2 days down – ……lots to go! ha! So how does the scripture above pertain to anything with being healthy and reaching goals? I will try to explain what I hear the Lord saying to me now.

Yesterday we really focused on calling out to one another – spurring on – for encouragment and help. I reminded you at the very end to never neglect Him in your cry for help, but that was not the focus. The neat thing was that I did not know today’s verse would be about calling out to Him. God is making sure we never forget Him in our everyday living. He has a Word for us today – I can’t wait to see how it ends up as I type… It is almost a mystery for me as I never know what direction He takes me when I am writing!!

I believe I have confessed to you that I am an emotional eater. I was scared last night in the storm and I wanted to chomp. When I am bored I want to chomp down. If i get mad – I want to take it out on some good chips. When I am celebrating nothing is better than hot chocolate chip cookies. Yep – that is me. I can find any reason to eat! But the bottom line is when I have some form of anxiety, stress, unknown – whatever you want to call it – I replace that faith in the Lord with food. Does anyone else do this? Please tell me I am not the only one.

Priscilla Shirer called me yesterday and told me that if “Christ would die for me then why in the world would He not speak to me”. (Yes, she is my close friend.) This is it – very plain and simple today – When anxiety hits – when stress mounts – when emotions flare – when the unknown makes itself known with no deatils – when we want to know why we act a certain way or react a certain way – WE ASK HIM!! He is longing for us to search His heart – he seraches ours constantly! He wants to speak to us and tell us the whys and hows and the what to dos about things going on in our lives. He wants to reveal to us the way we should go because His plans are for our good, not to harm us. Jer. 29:11. He wants to be our destressor, our completor, our waymaker, our calmer downer, our peace!!!!!!!!! But we have to ask.

The word “call” in the verse above means to cry out looking for a specific answer. It is not or is rarely just a random cry out or call out with no purpose. It is the same word used when Adam called out the names of the animals. (There had to have been purpose with Hippo. hee hee) And the word “tell” means to give a specific answer when a question has been asked – to reveal – and it can mean to tell things one may not have any way of knowing. Lastly in that verse one of my favorite words – yada – means to really know, perceive, to understand – He will tell us things we do not know!!! Do you get it??? If we cry out, ask, call out to our Lord He will respond in such a way that gives peace with answers. He may not be extremely specific, but He might reveal “you are going to be fine” and that is worth knowing during major stress. He very well might tell you something very specifc for your life – He can and does and will – but we have to pause, take time out, and ask and THEN listen. Listen can be the hard part.

Our Lord wants us to turn to Him for guidance, to Him for solutions, to Him for consolation, to Him for restoration, to Him for refuge, to Him for answers………………. not food that I do so often! Can anyone bear witness? Can anyone see this thing through with me? Can anyone hear me now? I need to yada – know!!

PS – is everyone’s spell check not working on their blogger?

PSS – For those that don’t know, I had a first cousin, his wife, and their 2 young boys killed in a tornado just a few yers ago – hense my fear of storms, etc.

PSSS – and no, Priscilla is not my real close friend – silly girl!

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Filed Under: aerobics, jeremiah, Your will
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