Stop, Look and Listen #22 Phone

Before I left for vacation, I was talking on my phone and during my call--without warning--my phone died. What happened to the beep warning? When I looked down, this is what I saw.




I knew right then God was trying to get my attention.

I allowed the busyness and stress of life to drain me. My spiritual battery was bone dry. God knew I needed a recharge. Like a cordless phone, I needed to be put aside on His charging dock. I cannot be in constant use and thrive.

It's like God was saying, "Come to me, my child. You're running on empty. Your battery life is gone, can you feel it? Time to recharge. Nothing else will give you renewed energy like resting in me. Now for the question. Are you willing to tuck yourself away with me and sit awhile? My charging dock is always open. There's always a place for you. I know your needs. I see your weariness. When you are ready, I will be waiting."

************************

How 'bout you? Do you need recharging? If so, take this post as a loving reminder from our LORD to pull away from the fast paced world and find peace and rest in Him again.

Thank You, Jesus, for reminding me through my dead phone to come to You. You amaze me.

My 500th Post: Why I Still Blog

Back from a fun filled vacation. Loved seeing my parents and brother. Loved the muddy rodeo on the 4th. Loved seeing the beautiful, depths of the Grand Canyon again. Took hundreds of pictures, as usual. I was going to post some of them today but when I saw this post was my 500th entry I changed my mind. I will post them soon.

I'm not sure what to share today in honor of 500. But I'll say something that's still on my mind.

On the drive home yesterday, my husband and I were talking about the Internet and my relationships here. I felt defensive. He wasn't trying to upset me. He was just asking questions. I didn't respond well because I felt like he was discrediting my online ministry. But he really wasn't.

Here's what is true about me and blogging.

I believe strongly in being a voice online. I feel like God made me for this. I enjoy learning about technology, even though it also drives me crazy. I love listening to online sermons and watching short inspirational videos. I'm amazed by the whole thing actually. How can the web hold all of this information and it's all up to date? I don't get it.

I hope to always be writing online. Why?

* To leave something written about God for my kids and the generations after them. A dusty trail of faith for those coming up behind me.

* To share with anyone who visits my blog about what matters most to me. GOD.

* Because much of what's on the web is garbage. The porn industry for one is stealing lives left and right with the simple click of a mouse. I hate the thought. To combat the dark side of the web, I am determined to post some light. As long as I have freedom to do so, I will shine my faith candle for all to see. May GOD alone get the spotlight.

* I love what I've found from blogging four and a half years. Relationships. Blogging allows me to connect with a few new friends on the phone. We feast as we share our common connection: our love for Christ. And to think, I get to meet many of them in person in October at the Free To Be Me Bloggers Retreat. I can't wait! It's amazing to know God has strategically connected all of us over time. I find sweet support here. Not to replace my in-person friendships of course, but in addition to them. It's a beautiful thing to know there are sisters and brothers of faith all across the US and beyond. That's so much fun. The world seems smaller, more friendly.

* Your blogs spur me on. I love reading your perspectives. So many of you write with depth and insight. Some write with rare humor. Others raw with honesty. Others so poetic. Thank you for your words. Please keep writing as God leads. Don't stop His voice from going out to the web. The world needs more light. You never know who is reading and why. Thank you for your ministry to the online readers. Shine on!

Okay, that's enough. I could ramble on and on, but I won't.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the desire to blog. Thank you for 500 posts. My words belong to you. Continue to guide me online. Show me if I am out of balance with my time. I don't want to miss your call. Lead the way with my ministry. I want to be in the center of your will. Blogging or not, I will follow You. Amen.


Now to YOU: I'd love to know why you blog.

Happy 4th to You and Yours

Just a quick note to say I probably won't be blogging until later next week. Currently I'm on a family vacation in Az. visiting my parents. Today we are going to a rodeo in Prescott. A fun filled day of adventure is awaiting us. My brother is able to join us too. We're getting our straw hats and yaaaaa-whooos ready! We're not usually cowboys and cowgirls but we are going to play this day up for fun!

In case you want to read my tweets, I am using Twitter(via my cell phone) to share random happenings. I can't reply from my phone but I can if I log in to our laptop. Twitter feeds into my blog and into Facebook for me. I love it. Anyway, my blog sidebar has my most current Twitter entries showing.

Hope you are enjoying this day as we celebrate our liberties. I am so thankful for freedom. Especially for my freedom in Christ. I've been so bound. Thank you, God, for setting me free!

Happy 4th of July to you and yours. May God show up in your day of celebration in a sweet and personal way!

Desperation Conference Pics

Theme for weekend was "LIGHT UP THE WORLD"




Worship with Charlie Hall



Students gather close to the front.



Late night concert with Jared Anderson




My girl, Hannah, after jumping wild. Picture with Kari Jobe.




Leeland, an amazing song writer.





Our church youth group. Yep, I'm in there. Top row, pink shirt.

**********************************

What an amazing weekend. Amazing worship. Dancing. Singing. Powerful speakers. Little sleep. Laughs and tears galore. New friendships. Lots of driving to and from ministry center where we ate simple meals and slept Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. The students donated enough money in one spontaneous offering to build an orphanage. I was overwhelmed by their sacrifice.

I felt the presence of God as I prayed over this hungry generation of Christ followers. God spoke clearly to me to continue to pray for this young generation. My heart aches to go to the ends of the earth to care for the needy and be a light for those who see only darkness.

So thankful for the experience with about 2000 students from middle school, high school and college. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Hannah loved it. It was long, long days for middle schoolers but they held on tough. Saturday night after the conference was over our group of 35 shared what God did in our hearts. I was blown away by the stories of our kids reaching out and praying for other kids who were crying up front. Many heard from God clearly for the first time ever. An up close and personal encounter with the living God.

Thank you, Lord...

Thank you to all who prayed for this event. Please continue to pray for these kids. I don't want this to be another mountaintop experience that fades away into apathy. I want them to bring God's light to the world.

3 Winners Announced

Yeah, I have my new laptop! However, the sound isn't working now. I think there is a file I need to find and delete. This is really too funny. Plus I am not familar with Mac so I have no clue what I'm doing. Good thing this post is fairly simple.

Moving on to the book giveaway. Gotta love number generators! And it selected entries 2, 3 and 16.

Charity...(you don't have a link for me to contact you. I hope you visit again to claim your gift.)

Kat at Heart2Heart...

And Genny...


Congratulations! You each win a new copy of Real Moms, Real Jesus.


Please click on the "contact" button on the navigational bar below my header and e-mail me your address. I'll ship your books as soon as I can. Maybe even tomorrow if I get your addresses early enough. If not, it'll be Monday.

(sorry I couldn't hotlink the winners' blogs. That's another thing I can't do. I don't even know how to copy a link. It's not the same as my PC. )

Quick Update

At the library with a quick update.

I bought a new laptop late last week and I am having the data transferred currently. When I went to pick up both computers this afternoon, the tech told me he was having trouble transferring my documents folder because of corrupt files. Go figure. This could have been part of my never ending trouble with my computer. Let's not mention my sound and battery troubles.

Anyway, I will not be able to blog much this week. I will be announcing three winners for the book giveaway hopefully later in the day tomorrow. I promise to do that before Thursday afternoon.

Because Thursday evening through Sunday morning, I will be attending the Desperation Conference with my daughter and our youth group at church. I am so excited to see Kari Jobe, Leeland, and Chris Tomlin live. I can't wait to see thousands of youth worship God together. I will be right there with them singing loud! Please pray for all who come to feel the fire of God afresh. Also pray for all of us who are camping out to get some sleep. I will be minutes away from my bed but sleeping in a community center with 7th through 12th graders. For THREE nights. I'm sure it'll be an experience to remember. I'm believing to be so alive that sleep will be the least of my concerns.

Okay enough of me, I've had it trying to type on a keyboard now. Not typing with accuracy at all. I guess I got used to my flat keyboard on my laptop.

I hope to be back to some sort of regular postings soon. I'd had many roadblocks to blogging lately. My computer troubles. Blogger and Internet Explorer not communicating properly. Hopefully I am almost at the end of these small troubles.

Thank you for your faithful visits. I appreciate all of you!

I'll be back! Lord willing!