Grateful Acres

At church today we were asked to evaluate our hearts, looking specifically for places where we limit God.  A child of mine looked up at me and said rather frankly, "Mom, I don't get this whole thing."  I started to explain, hoping to spark something new in him, and assuming he meant that he didn't understand what we were doing. His deep, deep eyes looked into me and he spoke frankly again:  "Mom, I believe God can do anything ALL THE TIME. I don't understand why adults forget that sometimes. It seems silly, like kids should be the ones that forget, but it's actually the adults that forget. Maybe that's why God calls us His children..." BOOM. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When Jesus said that, he meant it physically. There were crowds of people, and often the kids wanted to swarm him. His adult followers tried to kee...

I've been watching as the ranks begin to march in step. Officers arrange their troops, each soldier one by one stepping into their power and authority. The ranks are advancing, the Kingdom is advancing, and I feel the intensity beginning to build. Many things in life come full circle, and thousands of years later I believe the church is moving it's way back around to how it all began... raw, real, unpolished people banding together to relentlessly, wholeheartedly turn the world upside down to match Heaven. One of the anointed and willing stepped to the front and spoke passionate words calling out what he called "unconventional weapons of love". I have a few of those, and I'd love to share. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That being said: Shame is not as heavy as we think...

WORSHIP while you wait. If unity of vision is what you desire, you must be willing to lay some things down for awhile. Look for the Creator where you are, and you will find Him. WORSHIP while you pray. My sin, not in part, but the whole- is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more! If God can forgive past sins, He can redeem wasted time (He is outside of time!) and missed opportunities, and He can excel stunted growth. You do not have because you do not ask. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy- ask for the stolen to be redeemed, death to be overwhelmed with life, and all destruction to be mightily restored! Don't live a defeated life. WORSHIP while you watch Him at work. Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side... Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee- how great Thou art, how GREAT Thou art! What a mighty God we serve.

My oh my it's been awhile!  I've been away for several reasons: One, it's difficult to type while nursing. :) Two, there have been only brief, unexpected moments lately where my house and my heart are quiet enough to write. God has been walking so, so closely. So close that I feel Him calling daily, so close that I'm addicted to our time together. It's new for me, this craving Him more than anything else. He's teaching me how to pray like a warrior- with my sword drawn. He's lingering nearby to watch me battle in His name, whispering over and over that He has already won... that I am a warrior not for fear of defeat, but for the shaping of my own heart. And because He won for ME, He wants me to learn to claim His territory. The battle is in my mind: a mixture of daily, REAL things, and thoughts/feelings that don't belong. 7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) I've ...

My boy leaned his warm, wiggly body against mine. He really doesn't fit on my lap anymore, but I squeeze him on anyway. His legs dangle most of the way down mine, and his upper body just barely fits against my chest. The worship team started a new song, and his little hands reached to wrap my arms around his stomach. He wanted to be held tight, and he settled deeper against me. I was singing, and I knew from when I was a child that he could feel the vibrations of my song against his body. Something about holding your child during worship makes the whole scene more vibrant... it engages my heart differently than when I'm alone. Then I felt something beautiful against my palm- the vibrations of HIS little voice! I squeezed his chest a little tighter against mine, and in unison our voices (and hearts) sang to our Creator. It was so brief, and so, so beautiful! I was struck by the symbolism of what I had experienced: that must be a taste of what God feels when our hearts are li...

Remember a couple summers ago when I wrote a post about Ruby's birth story, and the week of  emergency room craziness that ensued immediately before? Insane Birth Story, Second Edition: LilyAnne's fluid levels had been low for a month or so, so we were attending bi-weekly appointments to do stress tests and ultrasounds to keep tabs on everything going on inside. Jonathan begged each appointment for me to request that the doctor "get her out" at that appointment, because he just "neeeeeeeeds, to see how cute she is!".  All the kids were with us at our last appointment when we got the diagnosis of "fluid levels too low, go induce", and Jonathan let out some excited yells, "YEEEEESSSS!!! YEEEES!!" Everyone's excitement level immediately went through the roof, and mine was accompanied by a mild amount of this-is-going-to-hurt-so-bad panic :) We took some fun family shots right before going in to document our excitement (can ...

Last month Josh and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary! Some dear friends of ours met up with us for dessert on our night out, and ended the evening by praying over us (it was awesome). They thanked God for the seven years He's given us, and asked Him to bless the next seven. That got me thinking about the number seven... on the "seventh day" God rested. So I began asking God to bless this  year with REST.  In our first year of marriage we moved, got pregnant, and I quit my job. Just barely into our second year we had Jonathan, and Josh dipped his toes into youth ministry. In our third year we had Henry, moved, and bought a business (that year was NUTS!). In our fourth year we began gutting and remodeling a house with Josh's parents. In our fifth year we briefly held Evelyn, moved again, and switched churches. In our sixth year we had Ruby, bought a new machine for our business, dove head first into youth ministry and worship ministry. In our seventh yea...