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892 – Satan’s Convention

August 27, 2010 By 10 Comments

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Please tell me how this speaks to you – what are you convicted about in this? Leigh

Satan’s Convention

Unknown Author

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep the Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken”. “So let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain that relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!” “How shall we do this?” shouted his angels. “Keep them busy in the non essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,”he answered.”Tempt them to spend,spend,spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles”.

“Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”

“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment those families quickly!”

“Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature to reflect on God’s wonders.Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. It was quite a convention. The evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there.

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Filed Under: satan
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848 – Wrong Perspective

June 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

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“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,a]” style=”font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; “>[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

Good morning Jesus, This is almost our first real day of summer. The kids are out of school all day today, but do have to go back to get report cards tomorrow morning. So I am thinking Friday will be our first real day off for the summer break. I am excited for all we are going to do this summer. It will be fast and furious, but exciting too!

Lord, so often I wish my first inclination was Godly and one that considered Your ways or Your perspective. But all too often my first reaction and thoughts are about me and how it can benefit me! Ugh!!

When I first read the verse above I immediately went to thoughts of myself. The Word says, “what we will be has not yet been made known”. My brain thought back to that old sticker or even bumper sticker that reads, “be patient, God’s not finished with me yet.” Then my thoughts went right on to things of this life.

Here I am, 37, and God still has plans for my life, I just don’t know what they are.

Here I am, 37, raising a family and doing life, but there is more?

Here I am, 37, seen many come to know the Lord, but there is more.

Here I am, 37, a bit overweight, but a better “bod” is on its way.

Here I am, 37, in ministry, but it could change.

The thoughts of my current life and how the Lord might make that look different, of course we usually dream in the positive, has nothing to do with the way the Lord intended this verse. WHY, you ask………..because I don’t have an eternal perspective most of the time! Me, me, me, me, me!!!

This particular scripture is talking about how we will be made like Him when we see Him face to face. It is not so much the now and how the Lord will further enhance this particular life, but the then and when….when we meet Him in the air or face to face. “What we will be that has not been made known” is not what the rest of our life is about, but all the wonderful things of Christ that will be made perfect through Him when we meet Him and become as He intended!! Wow – now that is a perspective, heavenly one!

Jesus, help me to not dwell on the now so much. Help my eyes and mind to think of You first and have that perspective that is looking forward to meeting you face to face. Lord, I get so caught up in the now! I want to live with my eyes toward you! I love you – amen!

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Filed Under: 1 John, heaven
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846 – It is easier to just change clothes!

May 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

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“Rend your hearts not your your garments” Joel 2:13

Just a very quick thought for the weekend. This scripture above has really made me stop and think. The Lord has warned and implored the people through the prophet Joel to please change your hearts in repentance. It was customary in that day to just tear your clothes to signify one was mourning and in deep repentance and even fasting.
God can see through our fashion designs. He wants heart change!! Yes, there can be outward, visible changes made known to everyone, but God is most interested in a heart change.
How about you? Are you changing your outward appearance hoping your heart will follow – I can commend that, but that cannot be the extent of it. Or are you playing the game hoping no one will notice – even the Lord – your heart stinks even if you are all expressive on the outside!!
Lord, help us! Help us to be open to your work on our heart. Do the internal work so that there is an expression externally of Your greatness at work in our lives!! Lord, I cant wait to see this on me!!! I love you – Leigh
Wont be back until Monday or possibly Tuesday. Headed to a family reunion in Nashville, IN.
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Filed Under: divided heart, joel
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822 – Just the way I am – even if I look like a turtle…

April 1, 2010 By 1 Comment

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This video is not the best as far as for the viewing pleasure – ha! I look a bit like a turtle today. My neck and head seem to come way out! ha ha!! Ok – I just had to get that off my chest!

This video is about being able to accept how God gifted you – Just the way He planned it!!! Take a look and then let me hear from you! Thanks

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Filed Under: 1 Cor., body of Christ, gifts, ministry, talents
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812 – Fighting in the Fight

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

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The Lord has convicted me about posting a few of my older blogposts. So I dug this one up. You will read at the end about a friend trying to adopt a foster child. This particular child did not “go thru”. But God did eventually give her another child…….I believe because she fought in the fight!!!

I Chron. 5:20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

This scripture hit me like a ton of bricks this morning and I had to just think on it all day!! We will have fights to fight!! We will not have an easy life. We will have to work for everything and nothing, really, will be given to us. We are required to put forth effort and we are required to sweat it out!! God delivered the “people” from their enemies, but why – because they cried out to Him – when – DURING the battle. How many times do I wait until the battle has conquered me to run to Him to get me out of it after the fact. I forget or don’t make the time, let’s be honest with myself, to get on my knees immediately when the battle approaches. God helped these people because they were fighting the good fight – effort – and they acknowledged Him during the midst of it all!! But wait – the last part is the best – why did He answered their prayers during the fight???? Because they trusted in Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe, we have got to believe.

I have a sweet friend that is “fighting” for a foster child that she wants to adopt! She has named the baby, she has done everything to display her faith that this will be her child. And get this, during the battle she is praying and begging others to pray!!!! WOW – she is not just waiting for the test to be over and then pray for a healing of her heart!! She is believing!! But here is the neatest part. This past Sunday, April had the baby dedicated at the church. That is only done for your own kids. I mean I have never seen any one do it for a foster child though. But that is believing again!! She is praying during the battle and trusting Him to come through!!! She is mature enough to know that things may not turn out the way she is wanting, but she is acting and displaying a faith that her GOD will come through because she knows HE is able!!!


Please tell me about what you are fighting in the fight? Thanks, leigh
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Filed Under: 1 Chron., believing God, fighting
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786 – Must Learn through the pain!

December 12, 2009 By 1 Comment

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Well – what a roller coaster. Tuesday dad was working out and went down to take his shower to end the morning. As he was getting ready he was aware that he could not do normal things like tie his shoes. So somehow he got dressed and came out to the lobby to find mom. He walked over to her and said, “Please take me to the ER, I am having a stroke. I am dizzy and cannot process simple things.” Mom screamed for 911 and of course they rushed over to help and get the medics!

After time of examination mom was told that dad did have a stroke from an aneurysm. Turns out that what dad had was a hemorrhagic stroke. This is called a brain bleed as opposed to a blood clot lack of oxygen kind of stroke. The brain bleed kind of stroke is not the one you want to have!! Much of damage is irreversible – but then again “they” may not know what my Lord can do!
We have seen little improvements in dad every day! Today was one of his best days so far. We about wore him out with food and sight tests, OT, speech therapy, and PT. But he is very anxious to begin it all. He actually fed himself today with the coaching of the speech therapist! The staff has been absolutely incredible!!!! We keep waiting to say – she is the best nurse – but they just keep getting better and better. All of them!!
The love has been overwhelming to us all. Dad wants to see everyone that comes to visit! He is very emotional and I just love that! My dad is such a sweet and soft man and it is really coming out right now even more so. The love friends have shown to me through texting, calls, and facebook has been so wonderfully encouraging! Mom’s home church too has been awesome!
Last night mom and I both had a real bad night. We slept well, but it was because we absolutely exhausted ourselves from all the crying and just out and out horrific sobbing! It was that we want to believe all will be alright, but in the midst of the pain it is so hard!! I feel like such a hypocrite in saying that, but dadgum, it is the honest truth! My faith has been tested and there are times when I feel like I am failing big time. Praise the Lord He does not judge based on a one time test, but gives plenty more till perfection!
I am learning so much through this! One realization today was the honor it is for the Lord to take you through something so that He can truly teach you to be more like Him. As mom and I go in and out of places doing different things I do not look at people without a smile on their faces as joyless people. I look at them and wonder if there faith has just been tested? I look at them and wonder if their parental rock has just been shattered a bit? I look at others and wonder what they may be going thru!! I look at them with mercy – mercy that i am not sure i have ever displayed because i really just didn’t know how.
I know life will continue on, life will pick back up, and life will not slow down, but i pray that all this will keep me different. I pray that I will keep this awareness of mercy and give to all those in need. I hope that my judgemental heart will fade and I can generously give more grace! I pray that through this – the honor of pain to be changed to look more like Him – will never be forgotten!!! I want none of this to be in vain!!
Lord, please please decrease the blood in my daddy’s head. Make the swelling go down and his headache to subside. Begin to mend his brain back together that he can regain the use of his left side. Lord, they say it is unlikely, but I know – with God all things are possible!!!!!!! I do believe and I will believe and I am believing!!! I know you Lord and I know you are good!! Not because of what you do – cause of who you are!! I do know it!
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Filed Under: believing, daddy's journey
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783 – No Strings Attached

December 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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This weekend Patricia and I are headed to Longhollow Baptist Church in the Nashville area. I am going to participate in a special program for Single Mothers called the Gift. I am so very excited to see how it all works!

In my little town and in my little church I have noticed there are not a lot of options for the single mom nor are there a lot of options for the woman that comes to church by herself. Coming from the huge mega church where you could safely invite anyone you wanted to church and offer them a Sunday School class according to their coffee flavor, I have found it difficult to do the same here!

So, I was at a conference one time down in Nashville again where I heard a speaker tell about their new event called The Gift for single mothers. Where for half a day or like 5 hours the church called on all single mothers to come to the church with their children to be loved on and pampered for the day. The kids would be whisked away and she would then be able to relax and think about nothing but be treated like a queen for a day. It was their gift to the moms.

When I heard about this event it was as if God ignited my heart at that moment and said – duplicate that! So that is what we plan to do pending church approval. My SS class is on board, the pastor is excited, the Evangelism Com. is pumped, and deacons have got my back. So all is left is writing up a budget to present to the church for their approval. I am excited!!!

The verse that God has placed on my heart for this event is Ps. 129:4 “But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” We are calling our event “No Strings Attached”. From this verse I see lots of directions I could go with the message I will be giving on that day.

1) we want to love on you with no strings attached

2) God will un-attach all the strings that are holding you down

3) God will love you with no conditions or strings attached – He is unconditional

4) We are called to love others with no strings attached

5) God can show you how to deal with those that seem to hold you back or down or have conditions for their love for you.

6) You will not be defined by what others have attached by you because His love will cut free the cords!

Yes, I am so very excited to do this. Our ultimate goal is to have a Sunday School class for the woman that comes to church without a spouse for whatever reason, for the woman that has found themselves in single motherhood, etc.

Lord Jesus – this is the plan, one that you are well aware of, and one that I pray you will continue to see come to fruition. I do need more volunteers and load carriers, but I think that will come easy once this passion is displayed to the church and the Lord ignites a few more hearts like He did mine! Father – I look forward to seeing Your mighty hand in this and for You to display your glory! I love you and I trust You!

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Filed Under: church, mothers, No Strings Attached, psalms
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767 – Amazing God, wretched Leigh

October 13, 2009 By 2 Comments

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Lord, as i sit here this morning I am so thankful to be your child! I am studying 4 major world religions thru a class my hubby is teaching at church by Ergun Caner – When Worldviews Collide! It is incredible! It has made me think and even question a lot of things – why I believe what I believe and to find a scriptural basis for my beliefs! That is only a good thing!

Other day on Facebook I posted a question about whether door to door evangelism was still effective and boy, did i get some responses!! It even got a bit heated. Go to my FB page and scroll down just a bit to find the thread – there was some 36 or so responses! It was fun! Respond if you want to as well.
But this weekend was awesome! We had a terribly rainy mess on Thursday and all day Friday, but still fun. Saturday the Lord cleared up all for our fall festival called Corn Day. I posted some pics of that on my FB too. (If you are not on FB, you need to be. ha) God, could not have pulled together a more beautiful day for a parade, carnival rides, car shows, good eatin’, etc! We had a blast!
Sunday i met Patricia and Todd at their house at 5am to go to Evansville to run the half marathon. We finished, we didn’t walk, and we had fun until mile 9 or so! Then I wanted to die. There was all kinds of encouragers along the side of the road cheering us on and yelling for their loved ones. Patricia and I didn’t have any loved ones on the side of the road, but we did accept any encouragement even if it wasn’t meant for us. BUT, by the time I got to mile 9 i was not wanting anyone saying anything to me. Yes, it hurts!! And to hear people yelling, “You got the hard part over, keep going!!” That was hogwash. At that moment i was wanting to scream back – get your lazy butt out here and tell me I got the hard part over. I think it was all hard past the sound of the gun! But please know that I am all better with my attitude!! Once I sat down at Olive Garden – things got all better and I could find kindness once again!
Yesterday, Monday, we had a wonderful day with my tennis team in Mt Carmel, Il. We lost our first match, but WON our second! We have another match today if it doesn’t rain! Then on to Sectionals Friday and Saturday. I have every reason to believe that Katelyn will be taking us to State again this year! She has only been beat by one person in our Sectional – so if all goes well, we will be Chicago bound next Wednesday!! I am really excited about that! She deserves it!
My son’s baseball – Middle school – team won 3rd in State. Clay and I both won 3rd in State as well in our sports so that is kind of cool – he has just started a ton earlier than us! ha! They had a parade last night for them coming into to town – police cars, fire engines, caravans, etc. Then we all piled into the gym and had a pep session!! Yes, i cried – love that kind of stuff! Then we all went out to eat at Tequillas with the whole girls and boys team and parents – love love love that stuff too!! Girls team won State!!!!!!!!! It was awesome!
Lord, you know how I am still so struggling with whether to go back to school and all. I just do not know how to get all things done! I can’t keep a clean house, laundry is erupting, kids claim to never see me……………. Elleigh even said the other day that I never talk to her!! Broke my heart because if does seem quite true right now. I know tennis will soon be over and my perspective and hopefully hers will be different too!!
I am struggling with my quiet time as well. I am doing that Bible study, but when you have had such an intimate time with the Father in the past, just a study doesn’t do it! I long to lay before Him and hear His soft words to me!! I long to know His love the way I have before. Now I know the Lord has not changed, i just have been so busy the last 6 to 8 weeks, I have not made the time to settle down for Him to really speak the sweetness He usually does. Well, let me even go a step further – I would say He probably has been speaking, but I have not been listening or slowed down to hear!!! It is all me – and I know it! And I hate it!
Lord, you laid before me some scripture that really hit home – it actually hurt! Ezra 9:6. It really is how I feel right now. I am living in a land of guilt right now and I know it is not of You. I feel guilty about not being with kids, I feel guilty for not spending more time with you, i feel guilty for being caught up in materialism. I feel guilty for trying to fit in way too often. I feel guilty for my heart not being more turned to you. i feel guilty for not worshipping you more. I feel guilty for not seeing hubby more! AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWEEEEEEE – do you see what Satan does!! Even though I do think my heart has gotten a bit comfortable and relaxed and LAZY, satan always comes in and has a heyday making the bad……worse!!!
God, you have called me to so much higher! U have called me to righteousness! You have called me to grace and mercy and for some reason I have not taken hold of any of that which you offer! Oh Lord, forgive my wretched soul. I need you so desperately! I need your guidance, I need your direction, i need your wisdom, i need your joy, i need more of YOU!!!!!!!
I don’t want pretty songs, powerful sermons, i don’t want new gifts, or new friends or anything – I want YOU!!!!! Oh God – please allow me to hear from you today in a different way. I know you are working – i could never deny that. I know the heat has been turned up recently and I feel like i have failed! Father- you are merciful and you are GRACE!! I praise you for that!
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Filed Under: carmi, ergun caner, grace, mercy, Tucker
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764 – Are you advancing?

September 29, 2009 By 7 Comments

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Dear Lord, this past 5 days have been filled with such highs and lows. The highest high was getting to meet all my team with Speaking Thru Me Ministries. We had so much work to do in getting organized and setting goals and casting a vision for the future, but more than anything I wanted God to bring a forth a bond in all of us only to be described as the Hand of God – and HE did!!!! Oh Jesus, thank you so much!

Another high was getting a text from a high school friend last night asking me to encourage her to walk into Bible study! First timer in the study and really unsure of whether she could do it, if she wanted to, and if she had the guts to take this plunge! She did it!!
One more high! Seeing my old youth minister, Ergun Caner, and hearing him preach. There is a reason he has groupies – ha ha! I tease him. He is so bold, no sugarcoat, and so honest! What an honor to have been trained under him for such a time!
The lowest lows have been no fun and I won’t even bore you with the details as it is such stupid silly things! Nevertheless, very low, hard, and joy sapping at times!
So this morning as I opened the Word to hear from You, Lord, I was draw again to Philippians! This is what I call the JOY book of the New Testament! Chapter 1 verse 12 says, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”
This Paul speaking or writing from PRISON!!!!! uh yeah – chained up and happy about it – well sort of! Maybe not happy, but he is rejoicing! Holy cow, I cannot say that would be me! He is explaining to the other Christians on the outside that even though this imprisonment may be a terrible thing – it is being used to advance the gospel!
There is one HUGE component to this whole advancing the Gospel while i sit here in chains – his attitude! He further explains that the whole palace guards knows he is in chains for Christ! It is his goal to make sure in all circumstances to glorify Christ – and let everyone around know about it – even through attitude!
How often does that happen in my life??? How often do I allow each and every circumstance and situation to be used in a way that advances the gospel?? Uh yeah – not too often I would suggest! Whether it is a high or low I need to be looking for a way to advance the gospel – even when those around see no purpose in my efforts, my beliefs, or don’t even want them!!! However and whenever the gospel is exposed whether words are used or not – it is a good thing and a God thing!
I say a God thing because when I am in a low situation – bummer times – frustrating event – it is only because of God that my attitude can be right – or if not right only through Him can it be adjusted! I saw it happen just recently with my tennis. Been quite a hard year! I got very down about it all when I received a timely email from one of my parents – encouraging me to press on, I am making a difference, the girls need me, my family needs me too and that is where much of the difficulty lies, and that this too shall pass. An email that prompted me to remember that my attitude can not affected and so easily swayed by young girls that just aren’t old enough to know better at times! An email that reminded me that it is in these times even more so that the Gospel can still be advanced if I choose the right attitude and courage to walk in it!
I don’t know what you are going thru! I don’t know if you are in a high or low, but whatever the case – it is coming – high and low! In it – high and low – what attitude will you chose? One to advance the Gospel or one to turn people away from the Gospel and our Lord Jesus! I have not done so good in the past – many, many times!! But I am so thankful for the ones, people, God places in my life to spur me on (Hebrews 10:24) to chose the high road – whether they knew God was using them at that instance or not!! He is so good like that!
Father I love you!! Thank you for loving me past all the crud I drag you in! U R Amazing!
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Filed Under: attitude, gospel, joy, philippians, tennis
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759 – Just for ME!!!!! and YOU too!!

September 11, 2009 By 3 Comments

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Wake up girl!!!!!! ha ha!! How does youtube decide on what frame to freeze this thing?

Have a great day and hope to hear from you!
How does HE make your salvation real to YOU???

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Filed Under: ephesians, salvation
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