Behave Yourself!

I have been extremely busy with out-of-town company and end of school activities and I've had no time to blog. I miss hearing from all of you and can't wait until we can catch up!

Until then, I just want to tell you to BEHAVE YOURSELF! That's what my pastor told us this morning in his sermon based on the 5th chapter of I Thessalonians -- an awesome passage that I love in THE MESSAGE BIBLE:

"He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master."

~~I Thessalonians 5:10-20 THE MESSAGE

Blessings to you on this Memorial Day Weekend,
until next week when we can catch up,

Dori

Gonna Be A Tough Day

Pardon me for not putting forth any dynamic word from the Lord, but I'm gearing up for tomorrow -- a pretty tough day for this Mom.

Lindsey will graduate from Kindergarten in the morning! Her teacher has already warned us that many tears will be shed and that the musical program is precious. My little angel has grown so much this year and matured beyond what I could have imagined. Time sure has flown. She is one of my most treasured possessions and my delight. PRAY FOR ME -- IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH DAY!

Taylor will graduate from 5th Grade tomorrow. The awards ceremony was today and the 5th Grade picnic is tomorrow. I'll share with you in the days to come the honors that he was given and what that means to me on God's Kingdom calendar. I'm so proud of this child -- my first born, one of my other most treasured possessions. Days go by and I think I can't handle another pre-teen comment, look or pout. But every day ends with me lying in bed wondering how in the world I could have been so blessed with a young 'un like this!! PRAY FOR ME -- IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH DAY!

Oh -- I just want you to read a precious post on a blog I love -- CLICK HERE to go to Tina's post about how she and her husband blessed their first born as he graduates from high school! Absolutely precious!! Grab a tissue on your way there!

Blessings,
Dori

Spontaneous Worship

We went to Atlanta over the weekend and while we there we decided to just go and ride the subways. We thought it would be interesting for the kids to do that since they really haven't been to any of the larger cities in the country that have subway service.

On one leg of our journey, we sat across from two people -- an african american man and woman -- who looked as though they were travelling home from church. It didn't appear that they were married, but they were friends and they had something magnificent in common. They loved the Lord!

So there we all sat, in a very crowded subway car, and while we were gazing out of the windows to see what we could when we emerged from the tunnels, they were praising! They were in complete and utter spontaneous worship. He would sing of God's love and mercy for a few minutes and she would worship along. Then he would "pass" it to her and she would begin to sing. At the end of every song you could hear one of them say, "Thank you, Lord." They were oblivious to those around them and, to my surprise, no one seemed particularly annoyed or bothered.

I was touched by their sincere and abandoned worship of our Lord. To be honest, I wanted to join them and now I wonder why I didn't. The thought occurred to me that on "that" day every eye will see Him, every knee will bow and every tongue will proclaim -- He is Lord! Nothing should keep us from getting the party started a little early, don't you think?

Blessings,
Dori

Thus Far...

Yesterday was a special day. Yes, it was Mother's Day, but it was also significant to me in another way. Do you ever have those days that you just feel like something else is "up?" That's the feeling that I had when I got up yesterday morning and began getting ready to go to church with my family. The feeling hung with me all the way through Sunday School and then when I was in the choir it dawned on me...IT WAS MY SPIRITUAL BIRTHDAY!

I came to know the Lord on Sunday, May 13, 1973 -- also Mother's Day! I remember it just like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the congregation of our tiny little Baptist church. My mother was in the choir and I'm almost certain we were singing "Faith of our Mothers" -- because we always did. We probably had also been singing "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again" -- because we always did. This was back in the hymnal days and I went to a small country church and those songs were the token "Mother's Day" songs. I knew that I didn't want to not be with my mother for eternity, but more importantly I didn't want to be without Jesus for eternity. So I walked the aisle and knelt down on the front with my dad on one side, my mother on the other. I still remember the grain of the pew as I looked down and they prayed over me.

I have loved Jesus from the minute I was old enough to hear His Name. His image on those flannelgraph boards in Sunday School is emblazoned on my memory. Do you remember flannelgraph? He has been a part of my life from the minute He first gave me breath. I have sung His Name from the time I was old enough to be held up on the stage by my grandfather. I'm told that I sang a mighty powerful rendition of "Jesus is Coming Soon" when I was a mere 3 years old! :)

Have I always been faithful to Him? I wish I could say I have. There were some dark days where I strayed far away from His will for my life. Has He always been faithful to me? You bet! I remember the day that I came home after those days of wandering away and He forgave me and we picked up right where we had left off. A pit dweller I was trying to be and He wouldn't stand for it. He picked me up, cleaned me up and definitely gave me a firm place to stand.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:16-19)

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:2-3)

So here we are, my Lord and I -- 34 years later. A lot of living has been done. A lot of mistakes have been made. A lot of forgiveness has been extended. A lot of love has been lavished on me. A lot of living is left to do. A lot of mistakes will be made, I'm sure. And, still, even more forgiveness and more love...

...for it is high, it is deep, it is wide, it is long...this love that my Father has for me! Thus far the Lord has helped me! So here I am, lifting up my Ebenezer stone and putting one foot in front of the other to walk with my Lord through the next 34 years!

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." (1 Samuel 7:12)

Blessings,
Dori

Putting Off/Putting On

My pastor triggered this post today. Pastor Tom brought a message yesterday from I Thessalonians 3. During his message he made a comment that I won't forget. This isn't exactly word for word what he said, but here was the point:

If someone who is struggling with their faith and their daily walk is watching you, do your actions strengthen and encourage them or do your actions magnify any hopelessness or struggle that they are currently facing?

Boy, did that quicken something in my spirit. I think because I have been in a struggle lately with my walk. I do what I don't want to do and do not do what I want to do -- sound familiar? The Old Apostle Paul and I have a lot in common! Never in my life have I wanted to show the love of Christ in my life, particularly to those closest to me, and never in my life have I been so challenged in trying to do so. I've failed alot.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

In order to live in the victory that Jesus Christ came to bring, we must put something off and put something on. We must put off defeat, struggle and lack of love and put on the yoke of Jesus Christ. It's a great parody! In order to be free, we must yoke ourselves to Jesus Christ and learn from Him through reading and studying His Word.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

IF we are going to live lives that are not only personally victorious, but also lives that reach others for His Name and for His Kingdom, we must put off the old man. When you come to know Christ, that work is done -- it is done! But as we live out this thing on earth, we need to renew our minds every day and constantly be putting on our new self. As a Bible teacher I just listened to said, "We have to stop doing some things and stop thinking some things that make us do some things." Amen?

Beth Moore tells it something like this. If you are married, you don't have to have a ring to prove that you are married. When you stood before your friends and families and that pastor and spoke your vows, you became married to that man. Nothing changes that. You are married. But everyday you put on a ring that is an outward symbol of an inward change. It doesn't make you more married, but it tells anyone you meet that you are yoked to someone else for the rest of your days.

That's what we do when we become Christians. We make the decision to follow Christ and He comes inside us and gives us a new heart. Everyday, however, we must lay down anything that causes us to not walk in that newness. As we lay those things down, we put on the new man and the things that show the world around us that He lives and He lives within us.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8)

Every morning, we can have what we need for the day to walk victoriously and show Him as real to those who are watching. In order to live in victory, we have two things to remember -- put off and put on. Put off your old self and put on the new and live just as we are.

Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast - as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Because Christ came, we are a new man! If we are living outside the will of God for our lives as new creatures and exhibiting actions and attitudes that are not godly, we simply are wearing masks and costumes. Let's live as we really are!! He has been sacrificed so we can live victoriously as the new creations that He made us when we asked Him to come in and take over.

The beauty of putting off and putting on is that whenever we are asked by God to put off something, it is because He has something wonderful for us to put on and we must make room! He has glorious and wonderful things that He wants for us to show forth in our lives, but if we don't put off some things and make room, we will never experience the abundance of those things He has for us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Let's put off the masks and the costumes. Let's put on what He has already given us through His Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we put on the outward appearance of the new man, those around us will see the difference. They will not be discouraged in their own walk because of us. They will be strengthened and encouraged in their faith. Not only that, but we will walk in freedom, free of pretense, masks and costumes.

Blessings,
Dori

National Day of Prayer

2007 Prayer for Our Nation
Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll


Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.

In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;

In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;

In the unprecedented events we're facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.

Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant

. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound

. . . our love for You is deep.


We ask that You guard and guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.

We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation,
under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.

And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.

In our Lord's name we pray,

Amen.

Your Word is Life

Had a wonderful celebration with the little darling yesterday -- she is officially 6 years old now!

We have a new furry friend -- a butterscotch stuffed bear, dressed as a cowboy, named Drake. I'll have to post pictures whenever I find time to get them off my camera. The bear was $55, but the look she had on her face as she went to bed all cuddled up with her new friend was PRICELESS!!

Yesterday, I was checking the Living Proof Ministries Blog and watched the recap video from Albuquerque. As always, the video was set to music -- this time it was "Your Word is Life to Me" on Travis' new CD FOUND. (Many of you will remember this is the song featured on the Daniel Bible study.) I watched the video for about a 30 seconds then closed my browser. Lindsey came flying from the other room yelling "Turn that back on! Turn that back on!! I LOVE that song! I heard that song at my church!!" She had indeed heard it a couple of weeks ago as our choir did our Spring Concert and Travis performed this song as part of the night's celebration. He also did "Annie's Song" and his classic, "Moses."

Well, I had to play the song again -- twice, as a matter of fact. I then played "Annie's Song" for her while she danced around the living room. Then she looked at me and said, "Now Momma, play 'm-m-m-m-m-Moses!'"

How interesting that she would say that "Your Word is Life to Me" is one of her favorite songs! I had just prayed earlier in the day for her and said, "LORD, thank you for my sweet Lindsey. I pray that this is the year that she will fall head over heels in love with You and choose to follow close after you for the rest of her days. LORD, let her learn to love Your Word for it is life to her."

You are the Word, my one desire;
An all consuming holy fire;
The very breath that I am longing for.
My heart is desperate for Your ways.
Refine me in Your holy place
If that is what it takes to know You more.
You are the truth that sets me free.
Your Word is life to me.

YOUR WORD IS LIFE TO ME
Words & Music by Travis Cottrell/David Moffitt.

This completely confirmed the prayer that I need to pray over Lindsey AND Taylor, for that matter -- that they will love the Word of God and know that is life to them. It also challenges me to dive deeper and deeper into Truth!

Blessings,
Dori