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!

Denise's Dailys

What a tremendous weekend we had. Everything that was borrowed has now been returned, and what we purchased has now been put away for another event down the road.

But the memories made will last a lifetime. There was a moment on Saturday when we were all in the motor home getting ready to pray with our pastor, and Robbie turned and looked at all of the people enjoying their time with their family. He broke down, and my heart was right there with him. For us, there is nothing greater than seeing a family together having fun, making memories together, and serving together as many families did on Saturday. Our challenge to the families was to commit to spending time together and being a part of each other's lives. Our other challenge was asking each individual to see God bigger than they did before and to ask Him to show Himself BIG to them. This is a prayer request that is absolutely within His will, because His Word tells us that if we ask anything in His name, He will answer. And we know He wants to be first in our lives (making Himself bigger than anything else). So, we know He will answer this prayer. We also know He'll answer this prayer, because we asked Him at the beginning of the year and He has answered with a BIG YES!

So even if you weren't there on Saturday, the challenge is the same for you. Ask God to show Himself BIG in your life today, but be ready. He'll blow your mind!

Denise's Dailys

What a few weeks we've had at Higher Ground central (aka our home office and garage :). We've had several CDs going out and are already receiving encouraging words about how God is using these songs in people's lives. We're so thankful for the privilege to share these songs and know each CD is in God's hands, and He carries it to each recipient and allows them to hear what they need to hear. Wow.

We're also going crazy (good crazy though) getting ready for the Family Fun Fest where we invite our community to join us in celebrating this really amazing God we love and serve. This God who gave us our families and wants to be at the enter of our homes. He has answered every one of our prayers for this event and is blessing abundantly. We're still waiting on all of the volunteers to step forward, but we know He's not going to leave us now.

With all of that's going on, I've been seeking time to be still with God. To be candid, often it's in the bathroom where I can actually be alone...sometimes. But there are times when I need to be with my friends, you know? My favorite song to sing on the new project is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." This song does something for me as a woman that I don't think men necessarily get. I think we ladies need friendships. Sometimes I get to the point where I tell Robbie I am starving for time with friends. He doesn't really get it, but he supports that need in me. I need to have that time just hanging out and feeling supported by my friends. So when I think about this song, I'm thinking of filling that craving with Him. "May we ever Lord be bringing ALL to You in earnest prayer." That's what I need in my alone time to fill me up. To bring it all to Him and dump it earnestly on my best friend's lap. He will bear the whole load for me. All of it. No one else will agree to that. Even my very dearest friend on earth doesn't want me to dump all of it on him. He can't handle that load. But my best friend Jesus can.

My very favorite part of the song is the last verse. It says "Soon in glory bright unclouded, there will be no need for prayer. Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there." Never again will I need to be filled up or to dump my burdens on anyone else. I will remain eternally full with Him.

Easter with kids

I can't believe Easter is in just 3 days. We've been spending time this year preparing our hearts for Easter morning and focusing on the cross. Sometimes Easter is tough for parents with kids. You want to do the basket and the egg hunt and have fun, but it's easy for kids to get too caught up in those things because let's face it, they're selfish beings. It's our job as parents to work hard at keeping Jesus as the main thing at this holiday especially. This is the greatest day of all for Christians. Easter shows us not only the greatest sacrifice, but it is also the greatest demonstration of power over the evil one. The resurrection is mind-boggling to me, so I can only imagine what it does to my kids' brains as they try to wrap their minds around that great day.

So I showed my girls a 5 minute trailer from Passion of the Christ this morning as a part of our devotion time. Not sure if it was time yet, but they handled it well. They asked several questions, and it got our discussion going. I pray it sticks with them today as they go through their day and that they talk to other kids about what they saw and heard as we read the crucifixion story from Mark. I'm certainly not saying I've got it all right, but I know it takes time to develop a relationship with Christ. And I know it's my job to foster that in them. Allow them opportunities to see Him in a new light, give them the time they need for prayer and private devotion time, and live it out in my own life.

I want Easter to be the holiday my kids look forward to the most, because they know their Savior died and rose again for their sins and that He's coming back for them someday. Now that's something to celebrate!

Denise's Dailys

I realize this should say "Denise's every other weeks", but that doesn't sound very good and I'm committed to this not becoming another thing I 'have' to do. I love sharing my thoughts with you and don't want it to be a burden on me or on you to have to come back every day. We have too many of those already in today's world. How many jobs do you have besides the one that may (or may not) bring in a paycheck? I think I could probably list at least 5 or 6, and that doesn't count all the mommy jobs. Why do we continue to do this? Afraid of failure? Afraid of not living up to a standard set by our culture? Or set by ourselves? We hear Satan telling us that we are not a good mom if we don't have the house clean all the time and fresh-baked cookies on the table when they come home from school. We're not a good wife if we don't look perfect when our husband comes home. We're not a good employee if we don't do everything to perfection at work and receive the highest honors and praise.

Let's get rid of Satan's lies here and now. Here's the simple truth. We can not be everything to everyone at all times. We are not God. Ahhh, the truth does set us free. Then get back to what God desires from us-to bring Him glory and to worship Him in our daily lives. That's it. Don't complicate it by putting tasks with that. It's less about doing and more about being. Kind of like me at my favorite kind of Spring Break-sitting on the beach with a great book or just watching people pass. Just being. As we approach Spring Break, think less about what you need to do in your life and more about who you are in Him. Focus on just being with Him and getting to know Him more. That would be a truly successful day.

Denise's Dailys

Hi ya'll! It's been a while since I've been on. Sorry. Does time ever seem to just disappear for you? Listen to my great idea. I'm not into this Daylight Savings Time thing. I'm from Indiana, so we've only been doing it a couple of years. I think it would be a lot better if we just added an hour to the day instead of moving it. Wouldn't that be awesome? And we could keep that all year long. But I know there's only One who has control of the days and nights, and we all have the same 24 hours. So I am responsible for making the most of those hours. That's why Robbie and I pray every morning together that God would help us see what it is He wants us to get accomplished today. My list is meaningless if any of the things aren't on His list for me. Sometimes my "best" days or biggest "accomplishments" for glory are when I get nothing done that I had planned. It's all for His glory and praise and for His purpose. Have a great day in the Lord today!!

Denise's Dailys

I've come to find this sort of like my personal journal, except instead of being able to close the book and hide the thoughts from everyone I have you to hold me accountable for them.

I've been studying James and several themes are emerging. 1. Truly living what I believe in the Bible, because if I don't live it I don't really believe it and 2. Mercy not judgment. I always get a little scared when I start studying something new, because I know my generous God is going to give me many opportunities to practice. And boy, he sure has. I can't tell you the number of times I have been presented with the decision to show mercy or judge in the past week. The choice is mine. Do I really believe what I'm saying I believe in the Bible, or is it just talk? If I believe it, I will live it. I'm not going to lie and say I have made the right choice every time, but the Holy Spirit is definitely working on me right where I am, in every situation in my life. Some are very simple situations and some are as complex at it gets, but the decision is the same-mercy or judgment, believe and live it out or don't.