Loving His Son

Thank you so much for praying for my daughter and loving her. It brings me great comfort to know each of you are praying for my daughter, encouraging her and showing your great love for her. Many prayers have been said for her since before she was born. Being premature and staying in the NICU for six weeks, many emotions were felt. When the doctors gave her a 50-50 chance of survival, my emotions were indescribable. I didn't know how to pray or what to ask for except, "Lord, give her LIFE." The doctors kept saying, "She is a fighter." And she fought for every heart beat and every breath.

The same feelings have overcome me again, 39 years later when the doctors at SWHP gave her a 50-50 chance of survival. (By going to MDACC, her survival rate increased to 80-20.) Again, she is fighting and my prayer is "Lord, give her LIFE." As a mother, it is heart-warming to know there are so many who will go to the One Who Answers Prayer on her behalf. So I thank you with all my heart. My gratitude is immeasurable. May blessings flow upon you.

I was thinking about how grateful I was that others loved and cared about my daughter and the thought occurred to me that maybe that is how God feels about His Son. He must feel truly honored and proud that others love His Son as much as He does. Think about it!!!

Afraid yet filled with Great Joy

During Easter, I was meditating on the resurrection passage, “the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with great joy.” It occurred to me that when the women heard the news that Jesus had risen they had mixed emotions.

Traveling through this unknown valley of cancer with my daughter, there have been many times we have been "afraid yet filled with great joy." It is only natural that our emotions react to disturbing news because of the endorphins that our brain releases. How we react to or respond to these emotions depends on the foundation we have based our life on. You can choose to react in anger and hopelessness or you can respond to the truth of what God's Word promises.

The women were afraid when the angel appeared to them but they were filled with great joy because Jesus was alive not dead. This seems to be exactly what we have experienced. Cancer is bad. The news is bad. It is like getting gut-punched. You can’t eat or sleep, your brain goes crazy with “what if”. Then you remember “Jesus is alive.” He created us. He loves us. He died for us. He was resurrected for us. When we trust Him, we remember He has a plan for us. Cancer is bad but God is good. That is our foundation. When you trust in what you know and believe to be the truth then you are filled with great joy. In your fear you can also be filled with great joy.

What are you afraid of today? Finances. Health. Being alone. Sad. Depressed. Your dreams shattered. Addictions. Angry. Whether your fear is for yourself or for someone else, there is reason to have great joy. The women went to tell everyone Jesus is risen. What He said is true.

So when you see or hear frightening news, remember the hope we have in Jesus. He is never going to leave us. He knows. He has a plan.

May your day be filled with the same kind of joy these women experienced after they were afraid.

God of All Comfort

One of my favorite verses I use in counseling, is II Corinthians 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."



I first heard of Proverbs 31 Ministries http://proverbs31.org/ from my daughter, Lisa, http://lisasmithblog.com/. She entered the She Speaks contest shespeaksconference.com last year. Her hopes and dreams are to speak and write. From a very young age, it was obvious she had a talent to write and speak. Words flow from her lips and pen. She says they whir around in her head all day and night. I believe that is truly remarkable and have watched how the Lord has promoted her to have a voice in the last couple of years. She has shared many of her favorite Proverbs 31 ladies' blogs with me and what they have meant to her and also chosen the ones she thought I will like. I love the words, the zest for life and the freedom these younger women have found in the Lord. Many times I am encouraged by these younger women even though my gift is encouraging.



Coming from a generation of pretending everything is fine, I have often wondered what different choices I would have made in my life if I had like-minded friends like these women. My message is "it is never too late to seek HIM even when you are old and gray."



It is said our greatest trial is our greatest ministry. Working as a counselor, I have many opportunities to share my greatest trials and to comfort others. My desire is to mentor younger women (even the "baby boomers") with the same comfort I have received. The pain among women is universal. We are all created from the same seed having the same thoughts. Choices and consequences manifest differently in different people.



Lysa TerKerust's scholarship sparked my hope and desire to minister with my daughter and these very wise younger women. Visit Lysa's blog http://lysaterkeurst.com/ to find out how you can enter for a scholarship.



*She Speaks conferences For Speakers teach you how "to develop a great message from start to finish" and "how to motivate your audience to make life changes."



*She Speaks conferences For Writers teaches "how to connect with your readers through blogging."



*She Speaks conferences For Women's Ministry Leaders encourage and train you "to distinguish God's direction for your ministry with confidence."



Again this year, my daughter is entering the She Speaks Contest. I encourage her and then she encourages me, "Mom, enter the She Speaks contest too. It will be fun." Ephesians 5:16 mentions "making the most of every opportunity." It is a wonderful opportunity for me to enter the She Speaks contest and to share my daughter's vision along with the other younger women in the Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Grace

Grace = unmerited divine assistance given to woman for her regeneration or sanctification. Grace is a virtue, act of kindness, special favor, a privilege, a musical trill, a title. I never thought much about "grace" until I learned that my name in Hebrew means "grace." "Sense" I have been growing older my prayer has been that I would:

grace in grace and knowledge
that my lips would be anointed with grace,
speak the word of his grace
a garland of grace would be on my head,
an ornament of grace would be around my neck,
the spirit of grace would be upon me,
be full of grace,
have grace and truth and power and apostleship and peace would reign in my life,
understand the grace of giving

I, like Lisa http://lisasmithblog.com, was pleasantly surprised to learn the Calvary Ladies Retreat http://calvaryhouston.com is on "Grace". He arranged this Retreat just for me. May each lady attending the retreat understand the incomparable riches of his grace. May they each look up and smile at God as He anoints them with grace and know that this retreat is just for them.

Comfort

One of my favorite verses I use in counseling, is II Corinthians 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."


Our greatest trial (pain, tribulation) is our greatest ministry. We have found this to be so true. So many ladies have e-mailed, facebooked, blogged of their experiences with breast cancer or sarcoma. God has used them to comfort Lisa with the comfort they themselves received from the Lord and their friends. The ministry has been a source of comfort and encouragement to us.


We adopted a saying from the very beginning when Lisa was first diagnosed with sarcoma of the breast. "Look at what God is doing, not at what is actually happening." We are keeping our eyes focused on the One who created my daughter, the One who knows the plans He has for her, the One who loves her more than life, the One who died and rose again and lives today. Thanks be to God for the victory. (I Cor. 15:3, 57)


Thank you so much for comforting us. Because of you we have had opportunities to encourage and comfort others also. We give praise to the God of ALL comfort.

The Great Organizer

I Corinthians 14:40- But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

I went back to McKinney this weekend taking Alyssa with me. We had a great weekend together. While packing the car, I realized I had stuff at Lisa's house, stuff at Cindy's house (where I have been staying), stuff in the trunk of the car, stuff in McKinney. I packed my favorite pillow. I am feeling a little disorganized. My thoughts took me back to Africa (where I have been on 2 mission trips) and realized the African women carry their suitcases with their "stuff" on their head with their blanket wrapped around them plus they carry their mattress, if they are lucky to have one when they come to Children' s Bible Camp. The Lord has given me such a heart for these women who are so much like us in so many ways. They experience the same emotions and relational issues that we American women feel. Well, Africa is another story. Again, in the midst of the disorganization, I am feeling, I am blessed that I have a car to travel in instead of a flatbed truck.

God is beginning to put order back into my life, as I have witnessed the great organizational skills of our Lord. Help with the 4 children, carpooling the 3 school age children, meals, visitors, doctor appointments, tests, coming in and going out, trips to Houston, multiple family members, rest, cleaning the house, washing the clothes, lunches, school supplies, spring clothes, the need, whatever it is has been met, the timing has been perfect. Even though at times it seems like disorderliness and confusion are about to take over, we always turn to our God and remember that He is a God of Order.

We trust in what we know not what we are feeling or what it looks like. We praise Him for turning the feeling of disorganization into a feeling of organization. We know that God is Good and He is a God of Order.

Relationships

In reading II Corinthians 7:5 (NIV) the other morning, I realized the importance of relationships...with our friends, our family, our extended family, peers, even those we have not met yet. But more importantly it is our relationship with the Living Savior.

When Paul came to Macedonia, he was met with conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

When we have relationships with others, we truly feel their emotions. Whether it be fear, doubt, hurt, pain, or anger. We avoid relationships because of the pain it causes us. If we stay emotionally unavailable, it is less painful. We are removed from what is happening. When we build relationships with each other, we can stand with them in prayer believing that the "conflicts on the outside, fears within" are conquered by the love of God. Many friends have stood with Lisa and our family, comforted us and shed tears with us with your ardent concern. We had a wonderful lunch time, prayer time, share time with special ladies yesterday. Ladies we have relationships with. Your care, concern and comfort have brought our family much JOY. And there is strength in JOY.

God loves Lisa. God loves me. He knows the conflicts on the outside, fears within and they have been conquered by HIS love. He has comforted us and collected our tears, He is concerned. And there is JOY in the Lord because we know that we know that God is Love. The Lord reminded me that I have a relationship with the Lord and He knows the conflicts on the outside and the fears within and He is walking through this with me. He knows my heart, my pain without me having to tell Him. His comfort, care, concern and even the Lord's tears are with me and I receive His great love for me. Neh. 8:10 (NIV) - "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Thank you so much for walking through the valley of cancer with us.

Mother of Miracles

In reading Psalm 139 today and praying for my daughter, I was reminded that Lisa is womb of my womb. " For you created Lisa's inmost being; You knit her together in my womb. I praise You because Lisa is fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Her frame was not hidden from You when she was made in the secret place. When she was woven in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw her unformed body. All the days ordained for Lisa were written in your book before one of them came to be."

While Lisa was being pampered, so was I. The wonderful lady at the spa who pampered me was honored to be able to pamper Lisa's mom, the "mother of miracles." How she honored me. She had been following Lisa's blog and praying for her and finally met her in person. Thank you and blessings for the blessing, Cindy.

Fragrance of Love

February, the love month.

The fragrance of Love.

Romance.

Value.

Honor.

Esteem.

Hearts.

I love early morning sunrises.

I love chocolate.

I love your outfit.

I love your car.

I love my teacher.

I love my English class.

I love my job.

I love the people I work with.

Love makes the world go round.

Love, Love, Love, L-O-V-E-Love,

I can't give you anything but love,

Jesus loves me,

I love the Lord with all my heart,

His banner over me is love,

we love because He first loved us.

I love you with an everlasting love.

February is the love month.

This month My Heavenly Father has been teaching me about Love.

The kind of love that is eternal,

everlasting,

unconditional,

adoring,

secure,

comforting,

His arms of love have been wrapped around me.

He has shown me the embrace of His love.

Wonderful love.

This love month has been in honor of my mom and dad who just celebrated 67 years of marriage. Everytime I see my mother and father, they stilll tell me how beautiful I am, how much they love me, created in their image.

If you don't understand the Father's love, I encourage you to let Him kiss you with His Word, to Embrace you with His strong arms, and put His seal of love upon you. I challenge you. God is faithful. He will do it.

The Fragrance of Life

The fragrance of Thanksgiving.
The fragrance of Christmas.
The fragrance of the New Year.
The fragrance of family.
The fragrance of the Gift.
The Fragrance of Friends.
The Fragrance of Different.
The fragrance of Familiar.
The fragrance of Jesus.
The fragrance of the Bride.
The Fragrance of the Garden.
The fragrance of Living in the Moment.
The fragrance draws us to Him.
As the Old year closes and the New Year begins I pray that Jesus' fragrance overshadows us.
I pray that as we sit in the fragrance of Jesus we learn who we are and what our purpose is.
As we walk in the fragrance of Jesus we impart Jesus' fragrance to others.
As we rest in the garden of His fragrance we have peace, power, protection and His presence in our lives.
As we stand in the fragrance of Jesus we learn to fight for our marriages, our children, our hearts.
This is the Year of Living in the Moment. Jesus did.
Welcome to my blog. I'm back.

The Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38 - Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

The photo was taken in Pastor Chipaya's backyard in Zambia, Africa. We really did go from village to village teaching and preaching and healing.

( Michael sent home 4 updates while we were on our trip. Thank goodness for internet cafes. I added a few notes of what actually happened but I thought it would be fun for you to read it as it happened. It was a very challenging and rewarding trip. The best part for me was to be able to see the teachers teaching the children what we had taught and then in turn watching as the children taught the children what the teachers had taught them.) Hello All! Friday August 1 This is Michael from the Zambia Team. I’m just sending out a quick note to update you all on what is happening here in Nairobi, Kenya. As you may or may not know, our flight into Lusaka this morning was canceled, supposedly due to toilet failure. The airport has been very accomodating, and put us in a very nice, five star hotel. We each have our own rooms, and they are quite nice, complete with tile, and mahogany finish, granite counter tops, flat screen tv's and a spa and pool. Down the street from us is the location of the old US embassy. It was bombed in 1998. The embassy is now 3 Km outside of Nairobi. Our plane will be coming in tomorrow morning, the 3rd, at around 11:40 am, at the Lusaka airport in Zambia. We are very disappointed at missing Pastor Chipaya's church service in the morning, but I'm certain God will do amazing things when MaryElaine preaches. (We actually arrived at the church about 12:30 pm for the end of the service. As we entered the church and walked down the aisle we received a very warm welcome.) I, along with the rest of the team, look forward to seeing all our brothers and sisters in Christ once we arrive. God Bless! Hello Friends! Monday, August 4 This is Michael again! We have made it to Lusaka safely, although all our luggage is lost. We trust God will bring it to us safe and sound. Last night, on Sunday, MaryElaine preached to Pastor Chipaya's church for anointing and gifts of the Spirit. It was an amazing experience. We all helped to pray. Today, Monday, we went to see the camp that Gary Schneider is running for 200 orphans, we observed how they operated, to get ideas for our own camp. We learned many songs, and games to play with the kids. It was so much fun to play with them, and see the faces of the kids we have come to bless. (Every Orphan’s Hope). Pastor Chipaya took us out to his 10 acres, the site where he will be building his new church. He asks that we pray for provision of funds, as well as workers, in order to achieve a speedy completion of the project. So far, just the steel beams have been erected. We prayed over the property with him. (When we arrived back from Lukulu, a week later, Pastor Chipaya informed us that he had heard from an investor in Houston who was wiring him $25,000 for the total cost for the roof on his church. Praise God) Tomorrow we will check at the airport for our nine pieces of lost luggage, which contain our clothes and camp supplies for next week. Pray that they arrive safely, in their entirety. Thanks and God bless!
Hey All! Wednesday, August 6 This is Michael Miller from the Zambia Team again! Its time for another update! Much has happened since monday. All of our luggage has come in safe and sound. That was a big relief. Yesterday, Tuesday, us guys went to help build an orphanage in the bush for Every Orphans Hope. We spent the day moving the 11,000 handmade adobe bricks it takes to build one duplex, which holds sixteen orphans and two widows. It was a lot of fun. During lunch we got to walk down into the village to see how they live. While we were doing that, the ladies went to visit a poor area of town, and had the opportunity to teach and pray with the 90 vulnerable children, and leave some curriculum with the teachers. (This was Bylina compound sponsored by Pastor Chipaya’s church. Seinet was mentored by Pastor Chipaya. He is a powerful man of God and is the pastor for this compound and church. He also took us to the site of his new church and school will be. Construction has begun.) Afterwards we all went to the compound church were MaryElaine taught a powerful message, and we ministered and blessed the people individually. Today we spent the day painting and making repairs at Pastor Chipaya's house. The girls went to one of the Zambian compounds and encouraged and blessed the Zambian ladies. (We were invited into one of the homes and held a Bible study with these wonderful women of God who are so thirsty to hear more about Jesus.) Tonight we went to Pastor Chipaya's church, where once again, powerful messages were spoken, and we laid hands on, and prayed for everyone, that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. While we were there, the lights went out, and we finished the meeting with flashlights. Satan didn't like the message. Tomorrow,Thursday, we leave to see Victoria Falls, and minister to Pastor Nyirenda's congregation, and paint his house. We are very excited to see the falls. (Actually, we got on the wrong bus and what should have taken us 6 short hours took us 10 long hours stopping at every village along the way.) We arrived too late and missed the church service and didn’t have time to paint. Pastor Nyirenda and Lynette were very gracious and found very nice accommodations for us and transported us around. The Falls were beautiful with a double rainbow ending at the bottom of the falls. We were able to bless them. We had a wonderful time together even though we didn’t get accomplished what we had purposed. Due to our time constraints, we opted to fly back on an 18 seater aircraft to Lusaka instead of a bus ride.) Once we return on Saturday, we will leave for Lukulu, the bush area, to hold our own camp for the children there. We will return a week later. We aren't sure how much communication we will have in Lukulu. God Bless You!



Monday, August 18
Hello everybody! Its Michael Miller again, sending out one more Zambian Mission trip update! We returned from camp Lukulu, gave a tv interview, twas already broadcast by the time we went to dinner, and we were recognized by people at the restaurant. That was interesting. While in Lukulu, the District Comissioner was healed of hypertension, and kidney problems. We also saw a blind womans eyes improve to the point where she could walk without assistance. A total of 2850 children were in attendance at the camp, along with 250 teachers, and 550 salvations, on the first day of camp alone. Unfortunately, the pastor from Kaoma was killed in a car accident during camp, his wife and five children are still in the hospital. Church members had to leave, to take care of the situation. Pray for their church, and members, as this is sure to be a trying time for them. (On our 10 hour bus ride to Lukulu, we stopped overnight in Kaoma at a guest house. The people were very gracious. We had room on our bus to take a Sunday School teacher and some children to camp with us. This accident was a very sad experience for us.) The team has now scattered to their respective airports to get home. Four of us are here in Nairobi, Kenya, waiting for a flight to leave. We should all be home by tuesday, God willing.

Coffee Rose

"Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation (wasteful expenditure, intemperate living, excessive drinking, amusement, diversions) drunkenness or the anxieties of life (painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind over an impending illness or fearful concern or interest) and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon ALL those who live on the face of the earth." Luke 21:34-34

I do "coffee cup counseling" with Mercy Matters. I lead or participate in 5 groups of ladies who meet each week to encourage each other, support each other and to remind each other of how much God loves us and who we are in Christ.

ALL our hearts get weighed down at some time if we live on the face of the earth, with financial problems, amusement/recreation, fear, concerns, conflicts, and our apprehension to cope.

When we get into the Word we discover Jesus already knew these things and He gives us encouragement and endurance for hope. (Rom 15:4) He gives us the answer so that we are able to cope and to live a life pleasing to Him. He shared the love of His Father during the day and spent time with His Father each night.

Is your heart weighed down? Let me encourage you to find a friend to share a "cup of coffee" with, get into the Word and encourage each other with God's great love for us.

The Children's Rose

The blooms make a bold show of bright color in the garden and last well when cut for the house. The flowers grow tall with long stiff stems like so many lollipops. There is a light fragrance. The roses always amaze me with their beauty, and appropriateness of the names chosen. This rose is actually named the Gina Lollabrigida, however the proceeds of the sale of the rose benefit The Children's Hospital in Britain. Hence, the name The Children's Rose.



Recently, the opportunity has been presented to me to go to Africa on a mission trip with our church. We will be helping with the Children's Bible Camp. My specific role will be teaching the women how to teach the children. We will also have the opportunity to visit orphanages. We will be with the children and people of Zambia having the opportunity to bring hope and the love of Jesus for them.



These children will be roses in my garden. The seeds will be planted. I know the garden will be beautiful because the Lord promises. "For the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Soverign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." Is 61:11

Pray for this Mission Trip, the Zambian people and the seeds the Lord wants to plant.

Sweet Surrender Rose

After feeling sluggish, moody and even depressed over the last few months, I read an article that changed the way I eat. The article came from "Life inside the thin cage", page 120. The author is Constance Rhodes. In this article she talks about the powerful effect that sugar can have on us by the way it affects our serotonin level. Serotonin is the chemical in our brain that regulates our mood and helps our minds focus. When our serotonin level is high, we feel calm and happy and can handle stress. But when our serotonin level drops we become edgy, distracted and depressed. Sugar elevates our serotonin level but when it drops we have no energy so we eat more sugar. When my energy level dropped, I would drink more caffeine and eat more sugar. I realized that every year beginning at Halloween, I purchased candy and ate it. Then on into the holidays and through the winter, I baked cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cakes, cinnamon rolls. I ate a lot of sweets and it is always during this time of the year I struggle with my weight and depression. A cycle that started many years ago. The doctors treated my migraines with medication increasing my serotonin levels and antidepressants. Wow. What a revelation to me. I surrendered sweets about three weeks ago. I have lost 2 pounds, am clear minded, and don't need my naps anymore. I am not craving sweets or caffeine. I encourage you to ask yourself if you are addicted to sweets. Sweet surrender is worth it. I feel so good.

Eden Rose

Is. 51:3 - He will make her deserts like Eden, Her waste land like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

My daughter went to a ladies retreat recently. She won a door prize. The door prize came from Eden Women's Ministry. http://edenchina.org

My friend in China is involved with this ministry. What a small world that our Lord would connect all these ladies together. I am continually amazed with my Lord.

If you want to know more about the ministry, order products to support the ministry, or pray for the ministry, go to the website.

These ladies are truly roses in the garden of the Lord.

The Love Rose

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Hallejuah! He is Risen. Happy Easter.

High Hopes

Recently, while reading a friend's blog http://tynertellings.blogspot.com/ she wrote on "Presentation". I began to ponder this topic and came up with some interesting things to consider. This rose is vigorous, upright and arching. It is sweet smelling, sometimes strong. It makes a good presentation.

Have you ever felt like no one really understands you? No one really knows your heart. The real you. So the question becomes how do you "present" the gift. The real you, your heart, the part that no one knows. The person who wants friends, romance, adventure, beauty, hospitality. How do you present the mystery of what is on the inside. I want presentation of my home, myself, my servanthood to be a reflection of the hidden treasure that God has created in me. How do I present my home that others will feel welcome? How do I present myself that others will want to be my friend? How do I present "me" that others will want to know more about my Lord, Maker and Creator.

Charles Trumball wrote in his book Victory in Christ - "I need never to ask Him to help me as though He were one and I another, but simply to do His work, His will in me and with me and through me. My body is His, my mind is His, my will is His, my Spirit is His and not merely His but literally part of Him."

We do this by building a relationship with Jesus. He is the Creator and just as He presents the marvelous beauty of nature, His Presence shines through us to others in our home, in our servanthood, friends and life. Our Hope is Christ in us. Christ in you the HOPE of glory..We proclaim Him...so that we may present every man complete in Christ. Col 1:27 - Our HOPE is Christ in us. What a presentation!

Queen of Beauty and Fragrance

The Queen of Beauty and Fragrance has a sweet, spicy and heady fragrance. It's habits are to be bushy, dense and spreading. The names of the roses always amaze me. Of course, we always associate Queen Esther as the Queen of Beauty and Fragrance. There is a wonderful story about her in Scripture that not only talks about her beauty but also about her tenacity and grace to protect her people.

The story is about how Esther had a time of prayer and fasting before she put on her royal robes to go before the king. She requested the king to save her life and her people's lives. Because the king had sealed the edict with his signet ring he could not overrule the dispatch to destroy her people. However, an edict was granted for her people to assemble and fight to protect themselves. They entered the battle, fought, and won with plenty of plunder.

"And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 is a call to all women to rise up and enter the battle for such a time as this. This was true in Esther's day and it is true in our day as well. There will be conflicts and fears in our life. We need not take a "this is life" attitude. We need not feel hopeless. The Lord has given us the tools to enter the battle, but we must enter the battle and fight for the victory to be ours. The beauty of this plan is that the Lord fights for us. Do not be complacent. Put on your royal robes and go before the King of Kings. Trust Him to protect you and give you a plan to restore hope and peace to your life.

Mystery Rose

In the first line of her poem titled the "Christian" Maya Angelou penned "A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her." I think this is phenomenal wisdom.

Col 1:27 says "To them God has chosen to make known...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." What a challenge to us as women to have the heart of God and be mysterious enough to draw others to us. (Maybe that is one of the things that drew King Xerxes to Queen Esther.) We as women all desire beauty, adventure and romance according to Stasi Eldredge in her book "Captivating." Could it be the mystery of accomplishing our desire is the mystery of Christ in me, Christ in you?

It is my desire to teach Col 2:2 "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Doesn't this picture make you want to enter into a relationiship with our Lord who bestows His love and beauty upon us and gives us the desires of our heart as He leads us to the plans He has for us. He has so much for us. Such a mystery and so exciting to discover the hidden things of Christ in me.

"Dawn Chorus"

One of our favorite sayings is to "Take time to smell the roses."

A thought occured to me as I was reading the Psalms this morning.

"where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy."

"the hills are clothed with gladness."

"the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing."

When we really take time to enjoy the wonders of nature, to watch the beauty of the sunrise and sunset, the peacefulness of the hills and valleys, we are entering into the presence of the Lord who bestows songs of joy and gladness into our lives.

Take time to smell the Roses today.