Hiking

LP has been wanting me for a long time now to blog about his hiking adventure that he went on with his Dad! So now this is ALL from him:

A couple of weeks ago my Dad took me hiking at a ranch that the Indians used to live at. We saw lots of different things like: gophers, deers, and the ocean with a ton of seals playing in the waves. We found lots of different benches that people made on the trail so that you can rest. We brought lots of stuff with us like: Life water, extra pairs of socks( I played in the mud, but my socks did not get wet, because I had on my rain boots), different change of clothes and snacks (bananas, applesauce). After the hiking trail we were hungry from all the walking, climbing up the steep hills, running and skipping, my Dad knew of a place that had good burgers, but when we got there and ordered our burgers the cashier said that they only take cash, not debit, so we had to go to the deli there instead. We had to get hot-dogs, but they were really good...

Daily devotions 12Th

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne." Isa.6:1 NIV

God is still on the throne!

The Bible says that in the end times certain things will happen, like: (1) Wars, famines, and earthquakes (see Mt 24:6-7) For much of the world these things are now a daily reality. (2) Jesus said: "Many will come in MY name...and will deceive (Mt. 24:5 NKJV). In recent years we've seen the rise of false prophets claiming to speak for God. (3) Jesus also said: "You will be hated...for My names sake" (Mt 24:9NKJV). Christians are under attack worldwide in places like China, Sudan, Africa, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. (4) Jesus said: "This gospel...will be preached in all the world...the end will come" (Mt 24:14 NKJV) Technology is making this increasingly possible through print, TV, radio and the internet. (5) God said He would shake things up until only those things which cannot be shaken would remain (see Heb. 12:27). All around us corporate executives are caving in to greed while our financial security goes up in smoke. But take heart Child of God-when governments flounder and leaders fail, God STILL rules, His Word STILL stands, His plans are STILL being fulfilled. Isaiah wrote: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted." That's all Isaiah needed to know, and its all YOU need to know too! God's not pacing the streets of heaven worrying about what's happening. He's still on the throne, so fix your eyes on Him and keep them THERE! Charles Spurgeon said, "God has promised to keep His people, and He will keep His promise."

Daily devotions 11th

"You... tested us...refined us like silver...[and]...brought us to a place of abundance."
Ps.66:10-12 NIV


It's a test of faith

When Jesus explained the cost of following Him, some of his disciples walked away. Yet the impact of those who didn't is still felt in the world today. By the time they wrote their epistles, His apostles had learned to see every test in life as a chance to strengthen their faith and multiply their effectiveness.
Tests of faith are opportunities to surrender something of value to God, even when we have the right not to. IN a test of faith you'll feel assaulted and stretched by circumstances, yet not distant from God; tried by them, but not judged or guilty. The Psalmist writes: "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver... you brought us to a place of abundance." A test of faith doesn't really test anything unless it pushes you beyond your last test-past what you've already proven! If you try to run or pull back each time you reach what seems like your limit, you'll never know how much you can trust God, the end result is never in doubt. If you're wondering today, "How much more can I take?" Listen to the words of Bishop J.C. Ryle: "This only we may be assured of, that if tomorrow brings a cross, He who sends it can and will send the grace to bear it." In God's kingdom it works like this: "Faith tested, character refined, abundance given."

Daily devotions

I decided that I'm going to blog my daily devotions (hopefully) everyday... Every day when I read a devotion from my book, I feel like I should be writing them on here for "someone" to read, I don't know who, or if anyone?! BUT I will for as long as I feel like God wants me to.

Wednesday Feb.10th

"Jesus stooped down"

LIFT them!

Remember the woman "caught in the act" of adultery? The Pharisees stooped to pick up stones. Jesus stopped to pick her up. Which group are you in? You cant be choosy about who you help. Some of us think we should only help those who believe like we do. NO. "Uphold the weak, be patient with all" (1 Th 5:14 NKJV).
Theres a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldnt get out: A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said, "Well, its logical somebody would fall down there." A Pharisee said, " Only bad people fall into pits." A judgmental Christian said, "You deserve your pit." A realist said, "Now thats a pit." A geologists told him to apprecitate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, "You havent seen anything until you've seen my pit." An optimist said, "Things could be worse." A pessimist said, "Things will get worse." Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Have you noticed how Jesus ends his famous parable about the Good Samaritan? "Go and do likewise" (Lk.10:37 NKJV). You have power to affect the lives of those around you. Your encouragement can be the difference-maker in someones day, week, or even life, sending them in a whole new direction. But its difficult to encourage people if you don't know what they need. So become a student of people. Learn what makes them tick, know what lifts them.

REALLY real!

Lately LP has had a couple of nightmares, and it is horrible for him. They range from God taking P to heaven, to weird men in the house, we deal with it accordingly and he moves on and forgets them! SO anyways, this particular nightmare (a man in our bathroom) scared LP so much, he was NOT happy. We prayed again the next night that he would not think of this nightmare or even remember it. I told him (like I always do) that Jesus is with him and he does NOT have to be scared. He was not too happy and not wanting to sleep, so I told him to continue to pray while I was trying to put P down to sleep (right next to him in my bed, LP sleeps in his bed next to ours). I rubbed his head while he prayed, he told me it was not working:( I told him he just needed to continue and God would be here for him. Well he prayed and prayed. Then the next few nights he had not had any nightmares, we talked some more, he had some questions, questions that I know I have already told him the answers too, but I think as he gets older he is learning more and understanding more and wants to REALLY know God MORE. While in bed again, we prayed and talked about feeling Gods presence on/around him, he asked HOW do I feel him, and he cried (now remind you we have had several conversations/devotions about this), he said he wanted TO FEEL him and know he IS there and real. I told him GOD will answer this LP, you just ask him and while I sing (I sing worship songs to the boys EVERY single night until they are asleep) REALLY pray! He said he wanted to FEEL him FEEL him! Finally he was asleep.... A couple of days later (tonight), after praying, LP said "MOM, you are going to be SO HAPPY for me, remember how I said I wanted to feel GOD, well I DID!! The other night I was not completely sleeping yet when you left the room, and I was facing the wall with my bottom facing P's crib, and I felt God touch by my upper part of my leg. I know Mom this is funny, but I DID, I don't know why he picked that part but he DID, it was like this"... (he then described to me how it felt to him and exactly where God touched him!) He continued; " I was NOT scared, I just thought it was funny and was SO happy! "I think I can explain this, sometimes when we want something really bad, we have to pray, and I know it does not happen fast but it WILL, that is Gods way of testing us, like it wont happen right away all the time, but it will, just keep praying, God wants to see how much you really want it".
We laughed and I shared more with him, and he was REALLY excited, oh and SO WAS I!

I was thinking while he was explaining all of this, he has once before explained this to me a while back when he was sick, I cant remember exactly when, it was quite a while ago (and I WISH I would have written it down). Well anyways, he was NOT feeling well, and we prayed and prayed.. Every-time he woke up and was feeling really badly we prayed, and he would say WHY am I not better, we prayed? FINALLY he did get better and that is when he told me the same analogy: God is testing us to see how we will pray and how much we want it and then he WILL do it!!
Isn't he just the cutest thing EVER!! EVERY day my child reads his bible, he LOVES to talk about God, his word and lessons! I love you LP, you make my heart SING!