GodStop Friday and Congrats to Lindsey!

The laps were long. The sun was hot. There were no water bottles in sight (except for this well prepared Momma!). But my girl did it. 13 14 very long laps and she ran the whole way with only 30 second walking breaks every 3 or 4 laps.

Her teacher, a runner herself, even commented on Lindsey's stamina!

Lord, I want to be found running the race You have marked out for me with stamina, with perseverance and, doggone it...with a smile on my face!

Blessings,

Dori

Seven Years Ago

 

Seven years ago my world was forever changed.
A beautiful baby girl was placed in my arms.
"Thank you, God" was all I could say -- and I did, over and over and over again.

A gift that I thought I would never have -- another child to hold and to love.
But blessed abundantly we found ourselves on that sweet last day of April in 2001.

A bundle of energy, inquisitive to the bone, emotional, dramatic, and demanding -- but sweet, kind, loving and forgiving. Fearfully and wonderfully made -- with beautiful blonde hair and steel blue eyes, to boot!

Sometimes she's the spitting image of her Daddy. Other times I think, "Could she be any more like me?"

I love her dearly, pray for her daily, imagine what she will be, thank God for choosing her and pray that she'll choose Him right back.

One of the greatest loves of my life, she is.

Lindsey Caroline...

Seven years ago my world was forever changed.
A beautiful baby girl was placed in my arms.
"Thank you, God" was all I could say -- and I still do, over and over and over again.

Mommy loves you, sweet one. Happy Birthday!!

A Lindsey Moment

Lindsey came to me and had just realized that there was something "good on our money" -- IN GOD WE TRUST! She was very excited and I tried to explain that there are actually people who want that taken off our money.

After a minute or two, she said, "I'm going to go and read more of my Bible because I want to teach people all about the love of God one day!"

Oh, LORD, may it be so!!

UPDATE: Oh, to be 6 years old and have a lot of life, Lord willing, way way way ahead of you! About 2 hours after declaring that she wanted to teach about God's love one day, Lindsey matter of factly just looked and me and said, "(Insert desperate sigh here) I wish I could be a rockstar one day. But I don't think it will ever happen!"

Whether a Bible teacher or a rockstar...just do it for Jesus, baby girl!

Just do it for Jesus!!

Blessings,
Dori

Prayer for a Friend

I'm so overwhelmed with God's goodness over my life and the life of my family. Surely I could be a better steward of what He has done for me. Sadly, I pass one opportunity after another and make one mistake after another. I pray that God will stop me in my tracks next time I'm tempted to waste His lovingkindness in my life and help me not forget His benefits.

Perhaps it is just remembering a new friend this morning that is causing me to think this way. I met her just yesterday at church. Her son and my daughter are in the same 1st grade class. They just moved here in January -- a delayed move because she was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma...a young mother with two very young children in the fight for her life.

But do you know what she is doing? She said yesterday that she has nothing else to do right now so she is going through not one, but two, indepth Bible studies -- Living Beyond Yourself and Daniel.

So if you think about it today, would you pray for my friend? Her name is Melissa. Pray for healing. Pray for God to be so real to her as she reads His Word. Pray for peace. Pray for comfort. Pray that I will seek out ways to minister to her.

Pray that the Body of Christ will extend His hands to her.

Blessings,
Dori

His Greatest Kindness

Our Pastor spoke today on dealing with disappointment and he said this:

"When God says 'No' to something you really desired, it is really His greatest kindness that gives way to an even greater 'Yes' in your life."

That has stuck with me all day.

Can you think of times when His greatest kindness was saying no to something and yes to something better?

Blessings,
Dori

One Who Stepped Up

 

I shared with you about our class finishing up Stepping Up a couple of weeks ago. It was a sweet, sweet time in the Word. I always go into these classes as facilitator expecting God to do something wonderful -- if even in just one heart!

I just got this sweet e-mail from one of those girls in my class -- a new friend who joined us at the invitation of another in our class. I wanted you to read what she said because if you are in a place where you absolutely feel like you are in a spiritual fog or cloud, make one small step in His direction. He will move heaven and earth to meet you more than halfway!!

Dori, thank you so much for the past few weeks. I cannot tell you how much this Bible Study and the group of girls has helped me. I had been in a spiritual slump and (surprise, surprise) once I made the effort to reach out to God, He was WAY willing to reach back and help me out of my spiritual cloud. Thank you so much for answering God's call to facilitate this study because it has meant the world (and heaven) to me!!

THAT'S why we do what we do -- THAT'S why we will not be silent. We will share the good things the Lord has done for us!!

Blessings,
Dori

GodStop Friday

I sure didn't want to do it. The video had just started and I was well into my lightening speed note taking as I always do when Beth teaches the Word of God. It was our last night and I wanted to just sit back and enjoy the last Word she would share on Stepping Up.

Then I heard Him.

"Bless them."

"I have, Lord, many times as we have met here. I've blessed them."

"Bless them tonight."

"Lord, you know I always pray for them before we leave our class. Tonight will be no different. I will bless them."

"Bless her."

"Bless who?"

"Her...and her...and her..."

"Huh?

"Bless each one of them...by name...individually...and personally."

"But God..."

"Don't 'but God' me. Bless them the way I'm telling you to do it."

"What if I can't remember anything about them to bless personally? What if my mind draws a blank and I can't even recall their name? You know, Lord, I have that tendency in my premenopausal state!"

"Are you using THAT old excuse again? You know, Moses tried that with me once -- well, not the premenopausal excuse -- but the one about not being smart enough or not having the right words to say or forgetting what to say. Do what I tell you to do and it will be alright! Trust Me!"

So as the DVD ended and we stood and got in our circle as we had done many times before, I stepped to the middle. As uncomfortable as anyone could be, I laid my hand on Aimee's shoulder, then Deanna, then Angie, then Jeri, then Robin, then Gigi, then Portia, then Candie, then Stacey, then Michelle, then Jan, then Betsy.

And I blessed them...

By name...

...individually...

...and personally...


And He brought to mind all of the wonderful things that I knew about each one of them and I began to ask Him to move in each and every situation. Some are having a baby soon. Some are homeschooling moms. Some are raising teenagers. Some are waiting for God's best in a mate. Some are sending loved ones to the mission field. All have a fiery passion for the Word and have blessed me in immeasurable ways over the past 7 weeks.

The prayer was not beautiful. But it sure felt good to obey Him for a change, instead of reasoning it away. I followed Him this time on this request and He was faithful!

Then the most wonderful thing happened!

I bent the knee and THEY BLESSED ME...

By name...

...individually...

...and personally...

...which I think was His intention all along.

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed...Proverbs 11:25 The Message

Blessings,
Dori

A God At Hand

 

Rather than bore you to tears with how sick I am...AGAIN...I will just share the verse of the day that appears on my desktop today.

I am so grateful for a God Who is "at hand" and not far off. Aren't you?

"Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD." Jeremiah 23:23-24

Headed to the doctor. I suspect the flu...again!

Blessings,
Dori

Riding in the Car with Boys

 

In the car on Saturday:

Dear Darling Son: Mom, imagine that you were zapped into a video game. There were monsters trying to shoot you with laser guns and you had to defend yourself. You were beamed up to level 3 and then...

Me (interrupting DDS): Honey, I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I don't get video games. I have no idea what to say. I don't even know where you are going with this. Can you give me another scenario -- something I can relate to?

Equally as Darling Husband: Son, what you need to do is say this, "Mom, imagine you were zapped into a Bible study video..."

Should I be concerned that they know me so well?

Blessings,
Dori