Ocean Isle Beach here we come!
There are couple things I wanted to let you know about:
I am off with my kids, my bff and her kids for one last summer horray. We have not been to the beach in 4 years and are very excited about spending a few days in the sun and sand before school starts. I can smell the ocean air now. Oh, I can't wait!
There are couple things I wanted to let you know about:
First, if you are a She Speaks graduate (not just this year) and would like to participate in our Next Step Calls please call or email Melissa at the Proverbs office.
Second, my friend Shari Braendel, aka, modest to hottest fashion extraordinaire, is having an amazing contest with lots of fun giveaways on her blog. Check it out.
Third, remember that sweet baby boy we prayed for several months back, our miracle boy Gabriel? Well he turned 1 on July 24. Since LeLe (aka LeAnn) was neck-deep in She Speaks doings the party was postponed until today. So join me in a celebratory praise the Lord as we thank God for this miracle boy. LeLe spent Friday cooking and preparing for the party, all the fixins' including a Nemo cake. (Hope that is right?)
Everyone at the Proverbs office had gotten to squeeze this precious-answer-to-prayer except me. Each time Rhonda would bring him by the office I wasn't there. So... I got to love him at She Speaks.
Rhonda, Jackie, and Gabriel came over to meet and thank everyone for the prayers. Finally I got the squeeze I had been waiting for. Rhonda wanted me to pass along her deepest gratitude, love, and thanks for the prayers. She felt them. The family felt them. The prayers carried them. You guys are the GREATEST bloggy friends in all of Bloggydom. I totally just made up those words. Anywho-here is a picture of that sweet boy. LeLe has promised to send me some birthday pictures next week.
Rhonda, Jackie, and Gabriel came over to meet and thank everyone for the prayers. Finally I got the squeeze I had been waiting for. Rhonda wanted me to pass along her deepest gratitude, love, and thanks for the prayers. She felt them. The family felt them. The prayers carried them. You guys are the GREATEST bloggy friends in all of Bloggydom. I totally just made up those words. Anywho-here is a picture of that sweet boy. LeLe has promised to send me some birthday pictures next week.
P.S. I will be at the beach until Tuesday but have everything all ready for Monday and Tuesday. Pray nothing technically complicated happens. Smile
23 Comments:
Wendy,
Enjoy your beach vacation! Thank you for posting baby Gabriel's picture and belated birthday greetings to him. What a journey it's been for him. What a privilege to be a part of his miracle! And what a comfort to be reminded that the same miracle-working God is doing the same on behalf of Linda, Sarah, Dixie, Teeny and each of us. We just need to open our eyes to see His handiwork.
I haven't read the readings yet. Will be back in the morning.
Be blessed!
Oh, what fun you are going to have at the beach Wendy! Enjoy every minute of it. Refresh and renew yourself!
Baby Gabriel....what a miracle...and one we got to be a part of. Thank You God for him.
I've had a busy week..and this morning I will be canning pickles...I am ready for a restful Sabbath on Sunday.
I am getting a bit worn out from all of the fighting in Jeremiah. The reading today though, reminds us that God is just; to not panic or be afraid; and also to humble ourselves and be meek if God happens to use us to correct someone else. There is always a message there for us.
Prayers lifted for my sisters. Have a great weekend friends!
Morgen
Wendy, have a great time at the beach!
I'm going to do my reading today while I'm waiting at the church for Lysa to begin ... I want to go early to get a good seat! Signing in so I don't miss anything ... I'm nosy like that :-) ...
Great news about Gabriel, and Grace and Peace, I like the reminder about His awesomeness ... the numbers of our FIGs enduring trials right now doesn't matter because He is still in charge and does GREAT things every day. :-)
Have a great one!
Lord Jesus, please bless our sisters Linda, Sarah, Dixie, and Teeny as they go through their own valley. Shower them with grace, mercy, and peace that only You can give. Help them to feel You holding them in Your right hand. As a group of prayer warriors, we're lifting them up.
Have a great weekend ya'll. Prayin' for rain.
Linda from Ark.
Have a great time at the beach!! Wish I was there! How wonderful to see what the prayers that were sent up have done!! God is awesome - mighty in power - OUR GOD!!
Happy, happy, day ~ Dear Bloggy friends, in bloggydom (These are not my words! smile!) Wendy, the beach, ---enjoy!!! God’s beautiful creation awaits ya’ll! You’ve done the upcoming posts already? You are spoiling us, ya know – and we love you to pieces! Even, if you took some time off, you’d still be loved!
Something Old: Loving the hymn of, Praise to the LORD (Jer. 51:15-19) - again this year! Our Father is full of power, wisdom, and understanding! When we need answers, guidance, or a shoulder to cry on, why do we keep going to humans who remain, “foolish and [have] no knowledge!” (51:17) ??? Lord, help us come to You first, when life has thrown us a curve ball, and we don’t know how we will make it through the day. You will be there waiting, ready to guide us along with your wisdom, understanding, and power!
Something New: Does 51: 15-19 sound familiar, ya’ll? Well, I just realized that we read this same thing August 8th! He must be trying to emphasize that us humans are foolish and have no knowledge! smile
Something To Do: Rejoicing, today & thanking the LORD – He made me! I am His creation – formed just like I am, by the Creator of the Universe, Himself! We truly are “his own special possession” (51:19). Just think about that girl’s…we belong to Him.
Living today, like there is no tomorrow! Hugs, Lori
Seeing Gabriel makes me wish I could hug him in person, not just across the miles! What an adorable little fellow!
Baby kailyn lona smith naturally was typed in PINK –our newest addition and youngest at that – on our Childrens’ List!!!! Congrat’s…Jason & Stephanie!
Thank you, Amber & Lyn – we were just about on the edge, in anticipation!
Sweetie Teeny, now that Sarah is resting, it’s time for you to REST, my loving friend! Drink up, too! Relax, I know that is not your style! Smile, but we don’t want you back in the ER.
PRAYING for you dear Linda.
Copying & pasting is the only way, Tina! I always imagine little Claire sitting and watching Wendy! It reminds me of my precious Radar, who does the same thing! Only, he is waiting patiently to take me on my walk! I love watching Wendy first – gives me more to ponder about while I’m walking…
Jen Ren enjoy time away at your dad’s…so, glad you are popping in, too! We miss you when you do not show up!
Okay, GP go for the gold, call your hubby, “beloved.” Live today, like there is no tomorrow, ha-ha…Not only do you bring us the meat to chew on here, but you manage to give us a smile as well! (If I called Dave my beloved…he’d have a look too, not to mention a funny remark!)
Gaylene, praying that today He wakes you up refreshed and ready to begin a new day with your studying. May His presence, get you through, may you lean on Him for strength in your weakness.
Susan, how did Jacob do? Gotta get him better as school is looming in the air!
Thinking of Amy at Lysa’s conference! Look at you, girl,- you brought your Bible, too to read along with us! Is it firemuff that returns on Monday? Smile
DIXIE, sweetie pie, how you holding up? We miss you so much! I’m praying that God is taking care of you. Every little detail in every way. More hugs, everyone! Lori
Michelle,
Thinking of you on the beach, too! Hoping today when the clan awakes, that they all wake up at the exact same time (ha) and that they all are requesting cereal and milk for breakfast (ha-ha) and that you are able to steal some time with us in bloggydom! We miss you!
You, too Karen! I’m hoping you return from your travels soon!!!!
Hugs, Lori
PTL for baby Gabriel turning one last month.
Grace and Peace thank you for giving me the information about Jehoiachin's age from the NLT. For some reason BibleGateWay.com did not have the reading for 2 Chronicles 36 for the NLT.
I'm off in a little while to go see my sister, bil, and two nieces. I may be spending the night but I'm not sure right now.
Weekend thought
REMEMBER: EACH OF us IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY; OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.
I thank you all for being vital threads in my tapestry
Amy, I bet you're being showered by the Holy Spirit right now listening to Lysa T. If you're in the front seat, could you hug her neck for me when you're done? I wish she would come to So Cal.
Lori, I might try calling him "beloved" today. I will report promptly.
My Something New today is Jeremiah 51:48 Then the heavens and earth will rejoice, for out of the north will come destroying armies against Babylon,” says the Lord.
Chuck Missler said that Israel's enemies always come from the north. The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart that our enemies too, come from the north. No, I don't mean Canada. Our enemy comes from our north, which is our minds! The battle always starts in our minds and thoughts. That is where the enemy enters and worms his way to our hearts. We must be vigilant in guarding our minds and like Lori says, to take these thoughts captive and hand them to Jesus Christ.
As the late Billy Mays would say: But wait, there's more! In our verse it says God will send the destroying army against Babylon the enemy from the north . Our deliverance comes through our minds as well. The same way that the enemy gets to us, we can turn around and open the same passageway to God. How? By doing what we're doing: meditating on His Word, obeying what it says and clinging to Him when we make our choices every moment, every second of our lives. That is how we become free from the bondage and strongholds of the enemy.
Thank you, Father for that insight and revelation on an early Saturday morning. May we remember to guard our minds and surrender those thoughts the enemy seeks to plant there, to You. You are our trustworthy, ever-present, always loving, unfailing Defender.
Praise God for the healing of Gabriel!
Wendy...enjoy your days by the water...Water is a refresher,clenches our thirsts,cleans our bodies,washes our clothes,scrubs our floors,in our baptisms cleanses our sins. Be refreshed...run in his water.
Jennifer Renee & Grace and Peace...Your comments are just what I needed to read today. Thanks Much. I think I will go and read them again:)
God continue to Bless Gabriel!
God Bless to all,
Rhonda
Praise God for little Gabriel.
Have wonderful restful, fun few days at the beach. Would love to be at a beach myself. It's been a long time.
Wow, GP your revelation this morning gives all of us much to think about! As the enemy approaches us from the north (our mind!)…you dear Lord are wonderful – You are LORD of Heaven’s Armies! You have equipped us for the battle! In our warfare you have given us 3 weapons! (1) The Holy Spirit – he comforts us, yes, but he also counsels us, too! AND, he guides us in our daily battle! Through Him we are guided by your Truth. (2) Then, in your mercy you’ve given us a sword to fight with! Your Word!!! Aahh, the Word of God! And, finally, we have the (3) privilege of PRAYING always! Sweet sister’s you do inspire me, as I read about the things that God is revealing to you!!!!
Clinging to 2 Cor. 10:5, today! Lori
PS Jennifer Renee, loved your weekend thought, sweetie! Truly, our lives are woven together for a reason! Thank you, dear Father for this beautiful tapestry of Believer’s you have placed together, for a time, a time that daily we are blessed to partake in!
Praising God for little Gabriel and for the birth of little Kailyn. Precious little ones!
Lori, thank you for your sweet prayer.
Jennifer-Renee, love the thought.
Hope all have a wonderful weekend. My last weekend before a two week break of writing papers. There is light at the end of the journey, but I have a little over 2 years to go (and that is going year around). Love it even when it gets me down.
Loving all of you, loving our Father!
Gaylene
Sunday AM here in Basel and just caught up! Linda, Dixie, Sarah, Teeny, Gaylene, praying for healing, rest and peace. My prayer for you today comes from the 2-fold prayer of David; 2 Samuel 22: 17-20 and Psalm 18:16-19
17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me."
Welcome Kailyn Lona Smith! Congratulations Jason and Stephanie, and thank you for the update Lyn!
Wendy, thank you for sharing Gabriel's picture and news!
Okay, Saturday I read Jeremiah and I was completely spent. I had a horrible time finding a nugget! The only things I came up with are; God is not an idol, He is completely in charge. He will plead our case, He will give justice. We MUST remember Him!
Then we read that "These things happened because of the Lord's anger against the people of Jerusalem and Judah." (Jer. 52:3a) Again we have the reminder that God is completely in control. I MUST remember this!
Today we read about the commissioning of Ezekiel. Even though his ministry is also hard to read, his commissioning is awe-inspiring! The living creatures, God on His throne in Heaven, Wow! A verse that reached out and grabbed me was "They went in whatever direction the spirit chose."
I remember a devotion from Chuck Swindoll about following God's lead in our lives. He was not satisfied with the GPS analogy that had been put forth by others. He likened it to us being the glove and God being the hand. He moves us. We go where he leads. This has always stuck with me and now I see it acted out in Ezekiel.
New to me today: when Ezekiel ate the scroll he noticed that "both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow and pronouncement of doom" (Ez. 2:9). Yet even so, the Word of God was as sweet as honey in his mouth. I never noticed before that Ezekiel knew his prophecies would be full of sorrow before he even started. Something for me to think about today.
You all have a great Sabbath!
Karen, Basel
Thinking of Ezekiel today and going along with what Karen shared, a song that we sang in church this morning talks of his attitude:
"Trust and obey
For there is no other way
To be happy in Jesus
Than to trust and obey"
Ezekiel knew the way would not be all smooth sailing, but he decided, he chose to trust and obey.
Trusting and obeying
Gaylene
Blessings to each of you this Sunday morning.
Wendy, pray you are enjoying this time at the beach.
Thanks for your prayers. Keep them coming as I am still light-headed/weak, but drinking fluids.
Thanks Karen for the scriptures today.
Ezekiel's Call and Commission touched me. He listened to what was said to him and ate the scroll. Fill your stomach with it; it tasted sweet and to give the msg to the people. They won't listen. Don't be afraid of them or fear their angry looks. Let the words sink deep into your own heart first; listen to them carefully for yourself.
My thoughts: We are eating the Word each day and chewing on the nuggets/posts and Wendy's vlog. We are being nourished by seeking the Lord daily. This is preparing us for our great commission to share His Word with those who cross our path each day whether it be in our home, church, or marketplace. We are not to be afraid and fear for the Holy Spirit will give us words and wisdom to testify. May His Words burst forth from each of us as we travel this life journey.
Praying for Linda, Dixie, Michael, and all your requests. Praising God for little Gabriel and thanks for the picture, Wendy.
Each of you are special and I thank God for drawing me to this Bible study.
Have a 4:8 Sunday!
Love ya'll, Teeny
Hi Everybody,
Was blessed in church last night. These were the readings from last night the (virgil) . Today were more of her. With today being the day of “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.“ A way lot more info. about her….just not enough space. Doing this bible study has really grown me into recognizing and given understanding…hearing this first reading last night…viewing My husbands workbook for lectors (Proclaimers of the Word) (Year C)….these 2 reading making a lot more sense. Wish you could reveal today’s readings also. Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6, 10ab…Gospel Luke 1:39-56 and what his lector book says.
Last nights first reading came from The Book of Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2:
David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place that he had prepared for it. David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites.
The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it.
Then they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. When David had finished offering up the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
This here info comes from my husband Workbook for lectors:
Among the titles given Mary is “Ark of the New Covenant.” Like Israel’s ark, she was a sacred vessel who bore within her the word of God, only hers was not a word etched in stone, but the living and eternal Word. The joy we find in that truth gives us a sense of the joy experienced by Israel on this day when they enshrine their most sacred object. Despite major setbacks, which included capture by the Philistines, the ark of the covenant containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments finally reaches its resting place in the City of David.
For Israel, the ark represented God’s very presence among them, so its safe return is a source of great joy.
Although the ark doesn’t arrive until the last paragraph, the joyous anticipation is evident from the start.
continued....
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The unparalleled significance of this event for Israel is made clear by the extravagant preparations and the involvement of the whole people in the festivity. David swelled the celebration by assembling “all Israel” with her priests (“Sons of Aaron”) and the lower ranking liturgical ministers (“Levites”). So sacred was the ark, that it could not be touched (doing so meant death!), so it was carried “with poles” as stipulated in Mosaic law.
The actual enshrinement is a holy and solemn moment. Because Israel as yet had no temple, the ark is enthroned within a “tent.” But because the ark symbolizes God’s presence, it is God whom the people welcome, not a mere object of wood and gold. Joy peaks in the final line where the word “blessed” suggests tenderness and provides a link to today’s Gospel.
Gospel Luke 11:27-28
While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which your nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Info from the husbands workbook for Lectors:
Jesus’ reply carries no disrespect for Mary. Nor does he deny the value of the biological relationship. Rather, he announces an even greater privilege: Hearing the word of God and observing it. Mary was the model of such discipleship!
I was Blessed with hearing this in church last night….and reading Sunday’s reading for today. Us pretty soon getting into the New Covenant…..Mary …. “The Ark of the New Covenant” The meaning I have behind this now. ….truly am Blessed. (Son of man, he said to me, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well). Thank you LORD for your patience with me…and my stubbornness.
My bible reading today was Ezekiel 3:7-10...but the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, since they will not listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart. But I will make your face as hard as theirs, and your brow as stubborn as theirs, like diamond, harder than flint. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
Son of man, he said to me, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well.
Taking in his word…..hear it well!!,
Rhonda
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Hi friends
A quick fyi. A close friend of mine has started a new blog for Christian parents called Sanctuary for Imperfect Parents. If you are interested here is the link http://sipparent.wordpress.com/
Her first article deals with trying to get her second child on a sleep schedule. It was like reading my own story a few months back...
Hope you are having a great weekend!
Jodie from Ottawa
Hello!
I loved how last week one of our verses was “Look at how the Lord is doing amazing things!” I feel like that is me right now, with this new job and all. After church today, I was flooded with people who were very excited that I was taking the position at school! That makes the transition a little easier!
I also liked in today’s reading how it said, “Remember the Lord when you are in a far-off land.” Sometimes I feel like I am so busy I am in a far-off land and I need to stop and remember!
Jodie – did you say you were having pains similar to RA but were not diagnosed with RA, just waiting to see what else it could be? I am in the same boat now, and would love to discuss with you! If it is you, let me know and I will give you my email address.
Jennifer--Iowa
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