Elbows

I promise I have a really good excuse for not being on here in such a long time. Elbows! Robbie broke both of his about 3 weeks ago, and it is amazing how many things you need your elbows to help you do. And no one really thinks about elbows. We have received so much love and support through this little trial in our lives, and many cards expressing concern and prayers. One in particular has really touched me, and I wanted to share it here. I pray it's an encouragement to you as well.

"I can't think of a single Scripture passage about God using His mighty elbows, although He surely has some, or His mighty arm would have been directionally challenged. His Word, Jesus, has elbows, or He'd have difficulty with the delicacy needed to divide between flesh and spirit, bone and marrow as He performs surgery on our hearts. God provided elbows, surely to Adam and Eve in the garden, and returned them to the great host He put back together in the Valley of Dry Bones.

Robbie, I may not remember your face, but I doubt that I will ever forget your elbows, and I look forward to what God has to teach us all about how essential is that rather obscure part of the Body of Christ. Surely there are many of us who are hard at work every day behind the scenes, helping the arms to be effective, and the hands to do all the creative and amazing things they do with the full power of the arms behind them.

I am sorry for your suffering, rejoice in those victorious moments when you rise above them. Thank you for your honest and transparency as you-and your whole family-pass through this fiery trial. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all..."

So many times in life, I want to be the face of Christ or the arms of Christ doing the "big" jobs. But this was a great reminder to me that we need elbows. If you have been serving and feel unappreciated, unnoticed, or like your job is not important, know that you are needed and that God appreciates your effort and it does not go unnoticed by Him!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, right?

Are you going crazy already with all of the lists of who's getting what, what you still need to find, who you need to figure out what to get, what you still need to wrap, and when you are getting together with which family and friends? It gets so overwhelming trying to keep track of it all, and inevitably you forget that you planned the party with Aunt Fran on the same night as the one with Cousin Joe from the other side of the family. And the present you bought for your sister you accidentally give to your daughter's teacher, and you can't give the other one to your sister. Doesn't seem like the most wonderful time of the year, does it?

I decided a few years ago that I needed to be done with all of that by Dec. 1st, so that I can actually enjoy the month of December. I start in September making the list, figuring out what everyone needs/wants, and setting a budget and plan for the next 3 months. Three months later, it is Dec. 3rd, and all of the presents are wrapped and under the tree, the house is decorated, the Dec. schedule is set (with flexibility for changes of course), and the cards are sent. A little anal retentive, I know.

But to be honest, it is my way of committing the month of December to the Lord. Not that every month isn't His, but I really want December to be about Jesus' birthday. Family is important, fun times are great, but putting Him 1st is more important than any of it. I know myself well enough to know that I can not put Him 1st if I'm focused on people, buying for them, pleasing them, cooking for them...instead. There's nothing wrong with pleasing people, but if it comes at the expense of my Savior and Best Friend then it is wrong and not pleasing to God.

Let's commit to making this CHRISTmas be about CHRIST, shall we? Then it really will be the most wonderful time of the year.

pushing through

Welcome, November! It's a crisp (a positive word for cold-I'm working on that), sunny, beautiful day here in Indy. Change is definitely in the air. The leaves are gorgeous, but many are starting to fall. Winter will quickly be upon us. Change. I don't do very well with it, but it is necessary both in the seasons outside and in the seasons of life.

I've been plugging away for several months now with what I 'do' and studying my Bible and taking needs to God, but I am needing a change. Has your Bible reading ever gotten a little too routine or stale? Maybe you do it just to check it off the list, because you think you're supposed to or God won't bless you? The change I'm talking about is stepping out of your comfort zone (for me that's Psalms, Paul's books, and the gospels) and leaping into a style of the Bible that may not really be your cup of tea. The legal and the prophetic portions are not parts of the Bible I'm particularly attracted too, if I'm being honest. But a couple of times a year, I force myself to take on one of the books that is primarily one of these styles of writing and push through it. It's not always been easy, but I have never been disappointed. It's during these times that I remember more often to ask God to show me something about Him as I read and that I rely on Him more to help me understand the words and apply them to my life.

Now I started this all by saying I don't like change. I like to stay in my safe little area, but growth happens when we step out and ask God to do something for us instead of relying on ourselves in our own safe little world. So here we go. If you'd like to join me, I'm traveling back to visit Ezekiel for the next couple of months. I pray God shows YOU something new today from His Word, too.

Christmas is in the Air

I know, I know. It's only October. How can Christmas be in the air already? Well, have you walked into any stores lately? I haven't heard the music playing there yet, but the aisles are quickly filling with red and green. Our house is already filled with Christmas music that we're learning for our upcoming Christmas concerts, so my mind is thinking about Jesus' birthday and what that means to me personally and to those I love and to the entire world.

I've been thinking a lot about those who are away from their families for Christmas this year...soldiers, wayward family members, those who've lost a loved one. The loneliness they must feel not to have their loved ones near them. As sad as that makes me, the good news is Jesus is always near. Deut. 31 says He will never leave us or forsake us. But you have to be willing to open your heart to Him.

When we are with our family for Christmas, we feel warm and loved, even cherished. We know we can be ourselves, and we'll be accepted just as we are. When we open our heart to Jesus and allow Him to come and reside within us, we are loved, cared for, and accepted just as we are. But He goes a big step further than anyone on earth can go for us. He promises that no matter what is going on in our life, what we have done, or where we are He will be with us. And we can carry that love and acceptance with us wherever we go, because of His amazing grace.

If you are facing being alone this holiday season, remember you don't have to be. He wants you to come home to Him this Christmas, and He'll welcome you with open arms. He wants to be your everything.

Denise's Dailys

I can't even believe it's September already. The leaves are starting to fall here, and it's really beautiful. But I gotta be honest with you. I hate the cold. I know God gives the cold and the warm weather, and I know there's a purpose for it all. But I still hate it. So if I'm griping on here come January or February, you'll know why.

It has truly been a remarkable summer, and I will miss the beauty of summertime. But it is nice to get into a routine again. When you're on the road for a long length of time, it's easy to get really worn out and feel displaced. That's what I was feeling a couple of months ago-displaced. We had a week or so break between traveling, and we were able to attend our home church, which we love more than words can express. I was feeling so displaced that I geared myself up for this grand homecoming where I would hug everyone and tell them all how I missed them and they would do the same, and I would get all filled up to go back on the road again.

Well, let me tell you how that worked out. It didn't. I came to worship with my church family with the thought, "What can I get out of this time today?" Instead of "How can I give back to God today in my worship?" Big difference. I left feeling still displaced, because my expectations didn't match up to the experience. It never could, because I was placing my focus on myself. Our worship is for one purpose and one purpose only-bringing glory to God. That's it. In everything we do.

So end of the story. We were able to go to our church this past Sunday, which was our first time back after that experience. This time I went in with the mindset of "How can I worship the Lord today? Who looks like they need encouragement? Who can I serve today? How can I bring glory to my God today?" Big difference. This time I was bouncing off the walls when we left, and my joy was complete. I had several opportunities to encourage folks, help out, listen, and oh, the worship was grand. If I keep my focus off myself and on Him, I will be filled up and He will be glorified.

How can YOU bring glory to God today?

Denise's Dailys

Holy time travels, Batman! This summer has completely flown by. I can't believe it's August 18th-my birthday by the way :) My last post was in June. The main reason for the delay was we've been on the road most of July and August. God has given us safety, good health overall, and many opportunities for ministry over the summer. I'd like to share just one story from the many stories from the summer so far and lessons learned from this story.

Just last week we were at a family camp and had taught the kiddos some during the week as well as leading the adult worship times and doing a concert. In our concert, we did a skit called "Pray About it" that goes through several family circumstances and how no matter what the situation, big or small, we should take our needs to the Lord together as a family. Later that night, Jadyn fell and hurt herself (while running around like a crazy girl I'm sure), and a little boy trying to comfort her looked around at the other kids and yelled, "We need to pray about it like they said in their skit!" Wow! It really got through. I wonder how many adults "got" the lesson and actually will apply it like that. We have to pray about everything, and we need to take it to God before we talk to others. My initial instinct in the past whenever something would happen was to call Robbie or my mom, but I became very convicted that God wanted to be FIRST! That means we go to Him FIRST whether it's good news, bad news, a little situation, or a huge boulder of a problem. Try it for a week. Go to Him first about everything. A pattern will slowly develop. It also helps me keep my mouth shut a little better and think before I speak.

Thanks for checking this every once in a while. BTW, please share on here. I'd love to hear from you as would others who read this. I've met several folks lately with great stories to share about how God is working through the trials He's placed in their lives whether it's an autoimmune disease or their house burning to the ground. Please share here how God is working in YOU. We can all learn from each other. If you think you're the only one who's going through or has gone through something, you're wrong. We can help each other.

Denise's Dailys

Yikes! Almost a month since my last post. I would say I've been working so hard since we last chatted that I haven't had a chance to get on here, but to be honest I have been enjoying my family for a couple of weeks and slacking a bit. I'm not apologizing for that. Just telling you all like it is. As a matter of fact, I started to be apologetic about it, then realized that's what we as women do. Apologize for taking any time to relax and hang out with family, friends, whoever. If we're not doing and going 24/7, we feel like we're failing. Well, I have a tendency to feel that way anyway. But I know my Heavenly Father is all about allowing me the opportunity to rest and refresh myself under His care. And I've enjoyed my time feeding myself on His Word and stocking up on some good family time.

I'm so glad for the past couple of weeks with my kiddos (and hubby some of the time) before we are on the road a bunch. We've had a few pool days, some bike rides, a couple of movies, a mommy and daddy night out, and a few 4H projects. There's been work here and there to prepare for the upcoming events, but God really blessed us with 10 days of nothing scheduled to just be together.

In light of some recent events in our community and in the country, time together seems more and more precious to me. There have been several deaths in our community in the past week, and it reminded me again how brief our time on earth is. Father, may I never take for granted the sacred gift of family you have given me. Help me to cherish each family member and shower them with grace and love, as You do every day with me.

With all that's going on in Iran and several recent celebrity deaths in the news today, I am also reminded that there are many lost souls who need to know their Savior. Oh God, may I be used to show others Your great love for them. Allow me to be a part of Your plan to reach lost souls for Your Kingdom, and help me not to miss any opportunity You lay across my path.

Well, this post has been all over, but that's the way things go sometimes. Know that wherever you are today, God is okay with that, and He wants to use YOU right there. You don't have to become "different" before He's ready for you. He wants you just as you are!