The holidays are just around the corner

It's only October, and yet 2 weeks ago, at the beginning of the month, I walked into a CVS and saw CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS for sale! Ridiculous I thought, but in reality, people love to get a jump start on the holidays.

To that end, I want to encourage you to click on the title of my blog above. It will link you to a site where you can shop online, book travel for the holidays, and save money. Why should you shop on this site? Well, first, you receive discounts on everything you purchase. Second, it's a conglomeration of MANY stores so it is easy, one-stop shopping. Third, you would be helping me and Paul as this is a business for us. Fourth, you can save time and money and get a head start on all your holiday shopping needs while never leaving your home!

Have fun and thanks for at least checking it out, even if you don't decide to buy anything. Feel free to bookmark the site so you can come back to it later if you decide to do so!

• http://www.chazzuu.com

It's Autumn in KC

On the way to Shiloh.

Taking time out of our busy days to be with each other and enjoy God's sweet creation!

This picture doesn't do the colors justice! :-)

Paul, collecting cat tails!

I continue to find that America is a very busy nation. One can run and run and run days on end without stopping if one is not careful. I'm so thankful to be married to a man who enjoys the outdoors and takes time to rest, rejuvenate and relax. We so needed this afternoon at Shiloh, taking a walk and enjoying the change of seasons.

My friends ministering in Bulgaria

Please click on the title of this blog or on the link below to see stories from my friends, Cindy and Steve Seabury who are ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Turkey and Bulgaria! Let this encourage your hearts to pray and be SENDERS!

Free newsletter design generated with Smilebox

Some thoughts from morning prayer at Deeper Waters

I love my Deeper Waters family! Whenever I am able to attend morning prayer, I go and every time, God shows up and blesses me and everyone in the room! This morning was no different. I'm tossing out some thoughts that were spoken, for readers to ponder:

"The enemy tries to defile what God has declared to be good."

"When a thought enters in or a word is spoken, stop and ask: 'Is that really a thought-pattern from God?'"

"There was an energy from heaven that moved the Son of God, not an adrenalin rush."

"A doctor in a psychiatric hospital in Germany reported that half of his patients have been healed through adoration of the Lord."

Father, we want to declare Your goodness in the land of the living, to those who ARE living, and to those who are struggling to live. May we adore You first, last and in between with everything within us, to the glory of Jesus alone, amen!

The Gospel and the Kingdom

We were challenged this morning to communicate the Gospel to someone in just 30 seconds. Could you do that?

Second, what does it look like to live out the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here on earth?

Would love to hear some comments!

Love and honor

Nearly two and a half years ago now, groups of friends in Szeged, Hungary loved me well. I had a number of "circles" of friends as a result of teaching in a local high school, helping to lead an international Christian fellowship, serving at a local children's home, and serving local churches. If I remember correctly, three different very special going-away parties were thrown for me by various circles of friends. I was reminded of those parties this weekend as I helped to throw a going away party for friends here in Kansas City.

I supposed I was struck this weekend, in a positive way, by how amazingly I was loved by my Hungarian and international friends in Hungary. I knew that and know that still, but was made acutely aware of it again as we celebrated these wonderful Kansas City friends.

I remember walking through the gate of my friends' home in Hungary and being greeted by over 75 people from various churches across the city as they sang a worship song and surprised me with my first of the three parties. I stood and cried, feeling very loved by all of these precious friends. Similarly, I recall arriving at my friend Krisztina's home, walking through the gate to their backyard and hearing "Surprise!!" yelled by more than 20 colleagues from my school...Again, I stood there, humbled, completely surprised (which is hard to do) and feeling super loved.

These memories came flooding back because I was loved sooooooooooo well by all of these people....SO WELL. At the time, I don't think I realize just how well I was loved and honored. That reality of honor and love came screaming back to the surface this weekend as my precious friends here, who are moving away, were loved and honored by some of their friends.

Memories...

My husband, Paul, started his student teaching this fall. His first assignment is with 5th graders in the Missouri public school system. As I write this, he is sitting in the living room, grading papers and planning lessons....ahhhh, memories.

Twenty-four years ago I was in those student-teaching shoes; however, my grade level was 9th, and my subject area was English. It probably took me about 20 years to get over the trauma of those months completely. In just two months, I lost 20 pounds and experienced the greatest stress in my life up to that point. Probably the only reason I am alive today is because my house-mate at the time, Maria, fed me and encouraged me. At the end of student-teaching, I wasn't sure I even wanted to be a teacher...in fact, I said I didn't want to be a teacher.

Last night, Paul came home and declared he doesn't want to be a teacher. Poor guy...he and I are very much alike....we both have perfectionist tendencies, and it took me about 2 years to realize, finally, that you cannot be a perfectionist and be a teacher. Plus, there is not a kinder, gentler man on the planet, and that tendency simply doesn't "work" very well with 5th graders. One of his biggest challenges is to 'be mean'....and so, here we are, walking through his challenging student-teaching experience! Plus, he is at a tremendous disadvantage compared to me 24 years ago....the students today are MUCH more challenging on a number of levels, and teachers hands are tied in many ways they weren't "back then."

Praise God I've been there, done that, and could write a book. God knew, and so as I sit here catching up on my blogging, he is grading and planning....ah the joys of being a green teacher. We both need a lot of grace in this season...thankfully, the Lord never runs out of grace. I know Paul is going to be a GREAT teacher...he will survive student-teaching and the Lord will place him exactly where he needs to be! Do pray for him, though, through December...and for me to love him well!

Pride, Confession, Repentance

God gives grace to the humble. GOD gives grace to the humble. God GIVES grace to the humble. God gives GRACE to the humble. God gives grace to the HUMBLE.

God opposes the arrogant. GOD opposes the arrogant. God OPPOSES the arrogant. God opposes the ARROGANT.

GOD gives GRACE to the HUMBLE.
GOD OPPOSES the ARROGANT (PROUD).

As a follower of Jesus, one can only live in pride and arrogance for so long before it all comes crashing down, because God WILL oppose that person. He will not allow mixture, and if there is found to be mixture, it's by His GRACE that it is brought out into the open and into the light for His healing to take place. Because His heart is FOR us and not against us, it's His mercy that exposes, His mercy that brings us to repentance, and His mercy that heals.

Lest we think God doesn't take humility and non-mixture seriously, have a look at Moses. What a resume! Called to lead a people out of bondage and into freedom. In the process, Moses allowed a hint of mixture...his own human zeal in striking the rock rather than speaking to the rock as God had commanded...and with that mixture, he forsook his own entry into the promised land. There are indeed consequences to mixture. Did God's people remain God's people? Was Moses still loved by God? Did God raise up other leaders (none of whom was perfect mind you)? Yes to all of these questions...because God is a loving and gracious God who is in the business of purifying His Bride for His return.

Pride is subtle. It can creep in and even under the guise of humility reveal that which can become mixture.

God is so good in His grace and mercy to bring to light pride and arrogance and the fruit of it so that it can be plucked, dug up, uprooted, and a tree of humility, planted by God's grace, can be planted instead. Father, grant me the humility to see the areas in my life where arrogance and pride have crept in, creating mixture, causing bad fruit to grow; then give me the grace to allow You to uproot it and plant a new tree of Your grace. Amen and amen.

The Kansas City Star Magazine article about our church

Click on the title of this blog or cut and paste the link below to read a good article about my church family here in Kansas City. While I don't live in the neighborhood where all this is taking place, I am blessed to be a part of all of these peoples' lives and be learning from them.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/24/3158517/star-magazine-urban-homesteaders.html#storylink=misearch

Weekend Conference

I attended two conferences in the past 3 days. One was a women's conference with Stonecroft Ministries. My two friends and I enjoyed it...we loved hanging out with each other and meeting some other women from around the country.

The other conference was with Desert Streams and both Paul and I attended and were richly blessed. I want to share a few thoughts from the DS conference which really pricked my heart:

"The Father and the Son allowed the darkness of our sin to sever their relationship."

"Father and Son both surrendering to the abandonment from each other that ended every abandonment, at the cross, that we could ever experience."

"Come into agreement with what the King says about you!"

"What I need is mercy, not recognition."

The UN

The Lord reminded me today that no matter what happens with the UN vote tomorrow, He is still on His throne and He is the author and finisher of all of history.

I'm praying today...for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in people's hearts at the UN as it is in heaven.

I cannot help but hear the vitriolic comments (through the years, really) and wonder how and where so much hatred and animosity has come from. Sad, really.

One thing is clear: those who bless will be blessed...those who curse, will themselves incur the consequences. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob be exalted and lifted up, and may His people focus their eyes on Him, seeking His heart, His hopeful answers, and His solution.

Happy 12-year celebration to IHOP - 24/7 prayer and worship

I am at home streaming the 12-year celebration of 24/7 prayer and worship here at the International House of Prayer. (Of course I would love to be there in person, but I've been ill the past week and am trying to kick this illness).

12 years of 24/7 and growing. As I watch the web-stream and see the faces of those leading worship today, I see humility.

Humility.

Humility.

That has been my experience during my 2+ years of being a part of this missions community. I think that's what prayer does to a heart...causes the humility of Jesus to come alive in it. When Jesus is lifted up and exalted and He becomes and remains the center of everything a 'mission' is about, then the fruit that emerges is good, and one of those fruits is humility.

I'm sure behind the scenes there are probably stories of those who jockey for position, but as I was sharing with a friend today, I'm blown away by the fact that there are tremendous leaders in the body of Christ who have chosen to come under the umbrella of IHOP when they themselves could be heads of their own missions movements. There is a humility amongst these "big-name" individuals that boggles the mind sometimes.

So, as IHOP celebrates 12 years of night and day prayer and worship, I say "Happy Birthday" and "well-done, good and faithful servants." May Jesus continue to be the center, the focus, the only one who receives honor and glory, and may those of us blessed enough to be a part of this community in whatever form lead the way in that which is the most significant posture in the Kingdom of God:

Humility

Beauty in the rain

As I am recovering from my illness, I am taking in the beauty that is right outside my front door. Enjoy these knock-out roses and other flowers with me!

Being sick is not fun

Well, they say that in marriage, you share everything.  Somehow, I thought I was immune to catching my hubby's cold which he brought home from school last week.  Nope.  Now I am going on day 6 of what started out as a bad head cold and has developed into aches and utter exhaustion.  Thankfully, no fever, but it sure has put a damper on the weeks' activities.  So far I've missed house church, an evening with friends watching a video, and dinner with friends tonight.  Grrrr.  

I am finding that even praying is challenging when I feel this poorly.  It would be wonderful if I could sleep soundly...then at least I might recover.  Lord, break in with your healing.

Scripture...

A couple of days ago, I blogged about a verse in 1 Corinthians 4 which struck my heart deeply.  (See below)  That same day, I read these words a bit further down in verse 20:

"For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power."

I grew up in a church tradition that emphasized the word and The Word.  In no way do I speak disparagingly of that tradition because The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  This traditions' emphasis on Jesus is phenomenal and on knowledge of the word of God is priceless.  My deep roots in the written word of Truth began in this tradition and I am forever thanking God for the training and love I received through the years from my precious brothers and sisters.  As a result of this background, I have been able to navigate the waters of living a Spirit-filled life based in the Truth of the written word.

The verse above, though, continues to push the envelope for many, especially those in denominational backgrounds where manifestations of the power of God were not openly accepted and at times not welcomed.  The kingdom of God is about the power of God changing people's lives from the inside out.  Jesus, when He walked the earth, walked in power.  Indeed, He spoke, He taught, He preached the word; but He WAS THE WORD and walked in the power of His Father and of the Kingdom.  So, He touched people and they were healed, He commanded and demons fled, He cried out and one of His best friends was raised from the dead...the list goes on and on.  

The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in us believers!  Jesus Himself, through the Holy Spirit, lives in each believer!  So, not only do we have the Word in us, but we have the power of the kingdom within us.  Really, it's a 'both/and' not an 'either/or' as some traditions have labeled themselves:  we are this way and that church is that way; or we believe this and they believe that.  I look forward to the day when the church is the church that God intended her to be, when the Bride of Christ is moving in word and power as she should, without hindrance and lives are transformed, mind, body, soul and spirit.  Let us not limit the power of God.   

Thoughts on Scripture

As I sat in morning prayer at the Hartley Institute this morning, the Lord quickened my heart to read 1 Corinthians 4. A couple of verses 'jumped' off the page and into my heart in a new way.

"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers." (v.15)

I couldn't read on for a bit after my eyes had been arrested by this verse above. Was the apostle Paul using hyperbole to make a point? Even if he was, the reality of this verse today is striking. In our hyper-connected world through cyber-space and media, we can receive instruction in Christ from nearly any corner of the globe at a click. I often hear people saying (and myself too), "Oh, I listened to this great sermon by 'so and so'...I'll send you the link so you can hear it too!"

We could spend countless hours every day listening to great teachings by great men and women of faith who inspire us, open up the Word of God and challenge us to go higher in the Lord. I'm not criticizing this in any way, but Paul's comment, which is truly prophetic in nature as well, caused me to pause again and ask: WHERE ARE THE FATHERS? I add too: WHERE ARE THE MOTHERS?

Paul himself saw in his day that FATHERS in Christ were lacking; those who would serve in the role of a father to sons and daughters in the body of Christ were few and far between. Today is no different. Teachers appear to be nearly a dime a dozen, but true FATHERS in Christ are a rare breed. Fathers beget sons and daughters (see verse 15b), and then they nurture those sons, they pour out their lives into them, they walk alongside them, love them, encourage them, train them, discipline them, and speak life into them so that they grow up and can be FATHERS to those younger than they are.

Being a father is time-consuming, costly, and an utterly self-less role. It's demanding, can be disappointing, and requires thoughtful, other-centered thinking altogether. Fatherhood also entails complete submission to God as Father and Holy Spirit as teacher coupled with a heart that cries out for grace every moment because the role cannot be lived out with physical stamina or intellectual prowess.

And so my cry today is, "Father God, bring forth Your Fathers in the body! We are in need of more Fathers, not more teachers."

Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog entry on another verse from this chapter.

Angels of Humility - by Jackie Macgirvin

Along the left column, you can see books I am reading. I just finished Jackie Macgirvin's book, Angels of Humility, a novel published by Destiny Image.

Jackie is a friend of mine, an accomplished author, ghost-writer, and wonderful woman of God. I highly recommend you buy this novel as I believe it will spur you on to consider how very real the unseen realm around us really is.

The story is believable and compelling with many Truths worth considering.

Funny

Ha ha ha, I had to laugh. As I was perusing my own blog, I spied the ad for KettleWorx at the bottom of my blog entry.

Paul and I have been doing KettleWorx workouts for 4 weeks now. We love it and are excited to see some results. How ironic that there is an ad on my blog regarding that. Makes me wonder if big brother really is watching!

What we've been up to lately

Paul and our god-daughter, Anna.

I LOVE that I have a fun husband! :-)

Paul, Anna's god-father, praying a blessing over Anna on her 13th birthday.

Selenia and her family!

Cooking hot dogs over the open fire!

All the children at Anna's party, making funny faces for the camera!

Here is Anna, opening her gifts at her 13th birthday party.

My dear friend, Marcie, and I at a friend's 13th birthday party. The theme was Hawaiian!


This was Marcie's _____ birthday celebration. Her husband, seated on the left, surprised her with a party at Cheesecake factory with some of her dearest friends!


Paul and I received a very cool wedding gift...this Coleman 4-person tent. We finally tried it out in our backyard last night as the temps were FABULOUSLY cool (finally) and LOVED IT! We both slept well, but Simon is still not sure what to make of this tent! :-) Thanks Pepus and Cola for this WAY COOL GIFT! :-)

The tent is a four-person tent, so the two of us had plenty of room!

Our morning faces after our first night in the tent! :-)



Paul and I have had a very busy last four months since our wedding in May. Blessings in abundance have abounded as we have worked, traveled, celebrated birthdays of friends, harvested veggies from our garden, started a new business, camped in our backyard, laughed, cried, loved and been loved. Our lives are rich, rich, rich as the Lord has been so very good to us!

Now we are in the throes of school...Paul has begun his first student-teaching assignment teaching 5th graders, and I am engaged in my writing-coaching job online. Two educators in the house makes for a busy year ahead. So as the breezes blow through our home and we enjoy 65 degrees outside this morning, we rejoice in all of God's goodness and blessings.

growth

Yes, the cucumber is the size of my forearm and larger than my foot!


Growth. It's either happening or there is stagnation. We have a bean plant that has not done super well this year. Two days ago, I spied a bean on it...then two, and after closer examination, I saw about 7 beans on our plant. Of course I picked them and promptly brought them inside to clean them and include them in the evening meal. Their growth would provide our nutrition for us to give out to others and cause them to grow.

Sometimes cucumbers 'hide' in our garden, and it's not until they are WAY too large that I find them. Above is a picture of one such cucumber...I wear a size 10 in ladies (40 in european sizes). One might think the bigger the better...however, that is not always true. In this case, the cucumber is too large, and it has become bitter. So, it ends up in the compost pile, to be tilled back into the ground for next years' crop. It's overgrowth will provide nutrition for next year's garden growth. While it was inedible, it will be useful in the long run.