My Heart And My Flesh Cry Out For The Living God!

New Creation from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

Worship with your whole body! New Creation by Pace Hartfield...

"My soul longs and even faints for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."  (Psa 84:2)

I just came across this video clip on Rich Emery's blog and could feel my heart and my flesh crying out for the Living God.  This worship team (Pace Hatfield) is worshipping with their whole bodies and you just know that God is blessed by their heart of worship.  Their church was releasing a new album (Closer to the Start Album) and this was the launch party!  Pretty cool eh!  They got out the paints but left the canvas (or the box) behind.  This was really getting out of the box in worship!

I love the way they WORSHIP.  They worship with creativity!  They are using their heart and their flesh to worship the LIVING GOD!  They worship with authority!  You know that satan is cringing when people worship holding nothing back like this! And they worship with proximity.  They worship in the Here and Now.  In the place where people are NOW!  They worship wherever they themselves are in their walk with Jesus, but they will also wherever the lost are!  They are not afraid to be "a unique!"  They are not afraid to be in a different place, they are not afraid to be DIFFERENT!

Praise God and go for it!  Whatever He puts on your heart, break out of the box.  DREAM BIG DREAMS and don't be afraid to try something different!

Strandberg Christmas Newsletter 2008

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Hello and hallelujah!! It is only a week away from Christmas and we are just beginning to write our yearly 2008 Strandberg Christmas Newsletter!

2008 has been an extremely eventful and transitional year. We have walked through many challenges and changes together and have hopefully safely made it out the other end…. There is a saying on a plaque that is mounted on our china cabinet regarding “Change.”

It says “A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.” Our journey this year took us through some major “Osoyoos Type Switchbacks,” but we made it home safe and sound – Praise God!!

The year at a glance….

January started out fairly normal. Deana was in Grade 9 (now in grade 10) at G.P. Vanier, and Mikayla finished Grade 7 at Comox Valley Christian School and is now in Grade 8. I (Debbie) was still working as support staff at Arden Elementary School, and from March to June, I also took on a position at Classic Printers as their Graphic Artist. My roll as President for Comox Valley Aglow has significantly subsided and I have just finished my four year term as Secretary on Comox Valley Christian Education Society Board of Directors.

We attend Northgate Foursquare Church here in Courtenay and the girls have enjoyed spending time in Northgate’s THRIVE Youth Group.

The girls (now both teenagers…yikes!!) are growing up fast and exploring new territory. They are both budding into independent, thinking, young adults. This, of course, comes with a few bumps and tears along the way, but all-in-all they continue to show hearts of love and compassion for the people around them. They are finding their voices and their way through peer pressure, school transitions, teenage relationships, family changes, and life changes in general… I spend much time in prayer, of course!!

Special Memories from the girls...

A Message from Mikayla....

So this year was pretty awesome. Made some great friends, and ‘bonded’ with my family (trip to the cabin) hahaha. It had its downs, but none as memorable as its ups.

I think I’m going to remember 2008 as the year that taught me most, about friendships, family and just life in general. It was a very memorable year.

I’ve changed a lot over the past year. And for now, I’m going to enjoy the rest of my teenage years!

Have a good 2009 everybody! I love you all! ~! ^KaylaXoXoX^!

Now Deana... is attending Grade 10 at G.P. Vanier - The Next Generation.... It’s a flash from the past – Debbie and Mike, (mom and dad) both attended as well as Deana's uncles Lloyd, D’Arcy & Brad! Vanier just celebrated its 40^th Anniversary this year and we can all say we had a part in Vanier’s history!

Deana has been focusing on school and ended up getting 89.5 % in Science "A" Yeah! (Maybe now we will consider letting her try for her Driver’s License in 2009… Please Pray!!?!!). She is also in the process of putting out part-time job applications around town.

Both girls attended the Thrive / Outloud Youth All-nighter with ~150 other teens. Deana stayed long enough for the swimming at the pool, while Mikayla participated through the whole night with Swimming, Games, Food, and just “Hanging out”!!! Mayflower (Worship band out of Victoria) was there as well as Jason Ballard, a dynamic gifted young adult who speaks all over the world! Mikayla did avoid the Annual Polar Bear Swim though - I wonder why?? :D

And Debbie...

A couple of very special memories that I have this year brought a true revelation of God’s faithfulness and presence in the fire. Our car had lost its transmission and we ended up stranded in the Kootenays for 6 weeks (I know, if you have to be stranded this was the place to do it, at the cabin with our family!!)

However, it happened to be at the same time that the Fort Steel Forest Fire was ablaze… only 15 kms away. We had been told to be ready to leave if the Fire Marshall gave the call. I am sure that we could have all piled into Grandma and Grandpa’s truck, but without our car, it would definitely have been tight! Fortunately, at the last minute, the wind shifted, the fire turned, and we were all safe! Praise God!

There was also a time when I had started to feel sorry for myself (even in that beautiful setting surrounded by family). It was a rainy day with just a touch of the sun. It was the kind of a day that you would expect to see a rainbow, but I was thoroughly disgusted that there was not a rainbow to be found! I had at least hoped to find some promise in these trials we had been going through, but NO, the promise wasn’t visible in the sky that day.

Fortunately, God has sense of humour and He is always faithful. The next day He gave me a double rainbow!! It was beautiful, and I grabbed hold of it as a double promise of my own!

(For the full story check out my "Summer Journey"
Blog from September)

2008 Wrap Up

The last few weeks of 2008 have been busy. We were at the Northgate Christmas Tree Decorating evening to hang our “Rainbow Fire” ornament and watch Mikayla sing “Silent Night”... Then the next week she also got the chance to perform in the Grade 6-10 Choir at the CVCS Christmas Pageant (By the way, very well done everyone!)... The Youth all-nighter as mentioned earlier... The CVCS kids have also spent the last three Fridays at the skating rink which has made for some interesting antics!

I had a bit of extra work as support staff at Vanier for the last two weeks (God does provide!) and I was also able to help at the Northgate Soup and Sandwich Christmas Luncheon by praying with people in need on a cold winter’s day!

The plans this week may have to change a bit because of the snow (It is still coming down!) but for now, it looks like the girls will be with me and the “G-Rents” (as Kayla calls them) for Christmas Eve and with their Dad on Christmas Day. Lloyd and his family are in Florida right now (and rubbing it in too!) and D’Arcy and his crew will be on the mainland. I think Brad is staying in the area, so we will still get to visit with them.

Well, we wish you all a Merry Christmas & the Best New Year Ever!
God bless!
Debbie, Deana, and Mikayla!

By the way... Our favourite Christmas Joke!

Three Wise Women

You do know what would have happened if it had been
three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?

They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Author Unknown

12 Days of Christmas - Straight No Chaser Style....

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas Acappella Style

These guys are great.  An all male Comedic
A-Cappella Group who go by the name of  "Straight No Chaser"

They have been around since 1996.  Check it out.  I am sure that you will totally enjoy them. 

Astronomy meets the Almighty! Sermon By Louie Giglio

You just have to check this one out!  Amazing details and facts!!  Sermon series called "How Great is Our God" by Louie Giglio.  (I found this on Mandy's Blog and was totally blown away so I did some more checking! Thanks Mandy)

Louie Giglio, has been at the forefront of collegiate ministry for over twenty years.  Prior to becoming the Director of Passion, Louie was Founder and Director of Choice Ministries, where he worked in the campus setting with students at Baylor University.  Louie travels the world challenging this generation to a passionate pursuit of God, inviting them to join Him in His unending Story.

Louie and His wife, Shelley (Chief Strategist, Passion Conferences and Director of Label Operations and Artist Management), live in Alpharetta, GA, and are active members of North Point Community Church.  Louie is the author of The Air I Breathe: Worship As A Way Of Life and I am not but I know I AM.  http://www.268generation.com/ 

 

Barrage - Too Early, Too Late, Too Much, Too Little, to Whom or .... TO HIM!

A Barrage Of Extremes....   I have been witnessing quite a bit of this lately. 

One friend is already complaining about hearing too many Christmas Songs.  She works at Wal-Mart and apparently they started playing Christmas music and stocking holiday shelves the day after Halloween.  However, another friend told me that her husband didn't believe in putting up any Christmas decorations until after December 1st,  while still another is heading south for the winter to avoid having to celebrate Christmas at all! 

One Wiccan friend of mine looks at Christmas Day (or the Winter Solstice to her) as a festival of food, hoping for "four turkeys in one day" while another Pastor encourages spending less money on gifts and spending more time together.  Instead he suggests sharing the money that they didn't spend with the poor, the hurting, the lonely, the hungry, the sick, the thirsty. 
(www.adventconspiracy.org)

Then there is a blog article that Pastor Craig posted with his wife "Shanda's version of Lights Up"  (see below) while Dad e-mailed me this picture of another man's Christmas Lighting.... 

It's can all be very humorous when you look at each item individually, but then you begin to feel your heart twinge when you see everything in the light of God's Word.  All these things are "sideshow distractions" according to the words in The Message paraphrase.

"Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust."   (Pro 4:25-27 MSG)

Are we keeping our eyes straight ahead?  

Are we focused on the "Christ" in "Christmas?  

Are we being barraged with distractions from all sides?  Music, decorations, lights, turkeys, stuffing, presents, want, greed, shopping, early, late, more, less.... 

The word barrage came to me as I was considering a title for this article.  I decided to look it up in the dictionary and "barrage" is described as a "rapid attacking outpouring of something" and "to subject somebody to a relentless onslaught."    All these rapid fire distractions are a tactic of the enemy to take our focus off of where it should be. 

Let's send a rapid fire barrage of our own by declaring that our focus is back on the Reason For The Season.... Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, Child of God, Child of man, King of kings, Lord of lords, Wonderful, Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Atonement, The Way, The Truth, and The Life, Healer, Saviour, Sanctifier, Servant, Sacrifice, Seated at the Right Hand of The Father and Sovereign, Soon Coming King!

Jesus IS ABLE to smooth out the road before us.  He can and will help us to stay on that narrow path, and He can enable us to withstand any barrage or distraction that the enemy may throw at us!  THANK YOU LORD!!

Christmas is coming....

Christmas is coming....

How does your family celebrate Christmas? 

While at an FSS group the other night we all shared ideas on how we make it through the holiday without going crazy or ending up terribly depressed.  What do we focus on and what occupies our time during the Christmas season?

Christmas is usually always a time for families to get together and enjoy each other's presence.  Others, like single parent families are left on their own during this time.  Some people focus on what they don't have rather than having an attitude of gratitude for all that they do have.  Ultimately, our focus should be on enjoying God's presence, but so often we turn to the presence of  PRESENTS instead.  I snagged this video clip from Jason Eliason's Thrive Blog.  It really gets me asking questions... and hopefully answering those questions too.

Lord, I pray that you help all of us look at Christmas with a different perspective!  With Your perspective.  I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.... The reason for the season!  AMEN!!  Merry Christmas!

Memorial to a Sister in Christ - Colleen Jack

Somewhere over the rainbow....

I am dedicating this video clip to a dear friend who recently went to
be with the LORD.

Colleen Pendleton (Ne: Jack) was a First Nations princess here on earth as the daughter of Chief Gerry Jack, but she was more importantly a Princess in the Kingdom of God.... a Daughter of the KING of kings. She was a prayer warrior and a woman of faith who wore her love on her shoulders & who stood for righteousness.

She had a powerful testimony of God's restorative power in her marriage and in her entire life. She honoured and exemplified faith and God's promises to her two boys; Gerald and Alexander, (now grown) and to her people, the Mowachaht / Muchalaht Nation.

There are so many stories that I would like to share about this wonderful woman.

When we lived in Gold River, Colleen would always invite her "Christian Sisters and Brothers" to help on the reserve during Potlatches or Kids Clubs. She could have kept us all in the back and remained hidden in her faith in a place of culture and tradition. However, Colleen would always call us forward and introduce us, her Christian family to her traditional family. She always made a place for God during these gatherings.

One powerful story came when God, literally, delivered her from the fire. It was early one morning when I heard a bounding knock on the door. I opened to find Colleen standing there in tears saying that her home was on fire. As we ran back down the road, we were crying out to God and praying "LORD, let nothing PRECIOUS be destroyed." By the time we got there the Fire Department had everything under control. They had arrived within 7 minutes from the time of the 911 call!

Once they had given the all clear and we were able to re-enter the place, we went over what had happened. Her son, Gerald, had had a friend over for the evening and they had fallen asleep with candles burning in the room.

Fortunately, God stepped in powerfully. Where Gerald usually slept like a log, the friend came to easily and woke everyone up. Colleen was able to get the boys and her second son, Alex, out of the house safely. Then, with the leading of the LORD, she had rolled a towel and placed it at the base of Gerald's door. This had blocked the flow of oxygen into the room and had suffocated the fire.

When we re-entered the bedroom itself, we could see where the flow of the fire and smoke on the ceiling had charred the tiles and there were items all over the room that were burned to molten blobs. CD's had exploded and were stuck to the ceiling.

Then we looked on the bedside table. The lamp was wilted and the clock radio was a blob of plastic. But God, right beside these charred items, had saved a "precious" photograph of Gerald's father.... It was untouched by the heat and was totally intact. God had answered our prayers that nothing "precious" be destroyed. They were all safe and this precious photograph was still intact. God had kept His promise to her to protect her and carrying her through the fire....

LORD, we lift up Colleen's family to you; Steve, Gerald and Kathy and their three kids; Alexander and Flora; Leander (Jerry Jr) and Bev, and their kids, etc. You know each one by name. Be their comforter and help them to understand the power of your love... even in this.

Praying to a Healing God!!

Please lift my girls' paternal Grandpa; Ken, up in prayer. Mike's dad ("Grandpa Santa" to the girls) is in the hospital.  They had to do a blood transfusion yesterday, and it looks like his white blood cell count is extremely low.  I am not sure of the exact situation, other than he has had heart and circulation problems in the past.  
 
LORD God, You are a mighty God!  You are the Great Physician and You are able to heal and use this for Your glory!  Praise You LORD, that all Your plans are perfect even in these circumstances.  Bring healing to Ken and use this for Your perfect purposes in his life and in the lives of all those around him.  AMEN!

 

·        But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed.  (Isa 53:5 MKJV)

 

Deana and Mike are heading down to Ladysmith this morning, and Mikayla will be staying here with me here at the Foursquare Consumed Youth Conference until they get back.  Please cover all of us as well… SOSO Healing, & travelling mercies for them and the protection of the LORD during a powerful move of God in the youth.

Be blessed as you pray!
 
Dancing in Daddy's Arms,
Debbie Strandberg <><

 

·         Psa 91:1-16 MKJV  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty.  (2)  I will say of Jehovah, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust.  (3)  Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying plague.  (4)  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.  (5)  You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;  (6)  nor for the plague that walks in darkness, of the destruction laying waste at noonday.  (7)  A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you.  (8)  Only with your eyes you shall look and see the reward of the wicked.  (9)  Because You, O Jehovah, are My refuge; if You have made the Most High Your dwelling-place,  (10)  no evil shall befall You, nor shall any plague come near Your dwelling.  (11)  For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways.  (12)  They shall bear You up in their hands, lest You dash your foot against a stone.  (13)  You shall tread on the lion and adder; the young lion and the jackal You shall trample underfoot.  (14)  Because He has set His love on Me, therefore I will deliver Him; I will set Him on high, because He has known My name.  (15)  He shall call on Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with Him in trouble; I will deliver Him, and honor Him.  (16)  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Memories from the First Aid Room.....

I just had to "snag" this video from pastor Scott Gaglardi's blog.  It brought back many memories of my time in the Gold River Pulp Mill First Aid Room. I had been working as a Back -Up First Aid Attendant out of the warehouse.  There were a few women on shift, not as many as men, of course, so it was very rare to see a woman come down to first-aid for cold or flu treatments.  COFFEE, yes, but on the most part the gals would have to be dying before they would admit to being unhealthy or in need of medical attention.  They had too much to prove to the men.

"Man Cold"

The guys on the crew however, would head down to the First Aid Room anytime they got a chance!  I'm sure they liked the conversation and that scary mill coffee too, but this video gives me a better perspective!  Maybe they had caught that wretched "Man Cold."  Now that I know the difference, the men in my life will be much better served.... maybe :)

Check it out... you'll get a chuckle.  God bless!

Fruit of the Spirit - Is it our faith... or His Faithfulness?

Oh, to be able to just reach up and pick a fruit off a tree and be able to partake of it immediately... but Galatians 5:22 says that faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  He is at work in our lives, but the fruit isn't immediate.

Some days, instead, I feel as if all I am getting is the flesh of the bruised fruit itself.  I have totally side-stepped the true covering of the fruit's outer skin that protects it from the elements outside.  It is God's faithfulness, not our own faith that we must count on. 

Some days, I have missed the solid flesh inside that produces the flavour and the juice that supplements the body with specific nutritional benefits that we so obviously need.  I need the dynamic taste of the Word  and the flowing juices of prayer on a daily basis to be able to "walk in the Spirit" in the fullness of His strength and conditioning.

Then some days, and I have missed the seeds, which, when planted and fully grown, will produce a whole tree that will re-produce and bring much more fruit.  Fruit that I can share with others in their daily walks as well.

Fortunately, God does offer the whole fruit.  It IS ours for the asking and when He gives it, it is in the Fullness of the Father's Love!   I know I try not to give bruised or battered fruit to my girls.  How much more does He desire to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask Him?

One of the young gals at the Christian School got baptized in Holy Spirit on Sunday.  He is at work in her life in a powerful way and I praise God for where He is taking her. 

LORD, may all of the children (and adults) attached to CVCS grab hold of Holy Spirit.  Please work in our lives that we may all be able to live in the Spirit, so that we are able to walk in the Spirit without stumbling.  AMEN!

• But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
  (Gal 5:22-25 MKJV)

Mary Kay Thrives after 45 years...

Mary Kay.... She takes a licking and keeps on ticking! The Mary Kay Corporation is still going strong after 45 years... even when the US economy is taking a downturn.

Here's to a woman who has glorified God in her business and who put God first, family second and job third! God has blessed her vision that a woman can still be feminine and survive in today's world. And she can work her schedule around her children and her husband. How is that for a Godly company.

If you are interested in checking out Mary Kay, our new Christmas line of beauty products, or the business opportunity come on out to a Christmas Spa on Saturday, November 29th at the Vanier Drive Sports Centre Meeting Room. We will be there from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. RSVP appreciated to debsden2004@hotmail.com

Fireproof... ADEBnego (sic) Style....

"Fireproof".... I wonder what God was thinking when He invented fire?

A while back I had a dream.... sort of being caught in a fire. In the dream, I was a young child and I was being chased by someone much bigger than myself. In my childlike state, I ran into a fireplace and climbed up the chimney to get away from my pursuer. Fortunately, he was too big to actually reach me. "I will just wait until you come out" he bellowed.

It was then that God started to turn up the temperature on my faith... He was testing me via a dream... How long would I stay protected from the enemy in that chimney? I could feel faith being challenged by fear.

First of all, timing was a factor. How long could I stay in a chimney and live? I recognized that there were various options to consider. I knew that, at that point, I couldn't go out the bottom of the chimney, because the danger was down there. I also recognized that looking upwards, was the only way out.... A good rule for all of life, don't you think?

Next, came the fear about how long I would last in a chimney without food and water. The enemy could just wait me out until I either came down or died of starvation and thirst. But then I was reminded that if God could provide water from the rock and quail from the sky for the Israelites, He could probably make a way for my hunger and thirst to be filled even in this tight spot. I also recalled times of fasting and prayer where God alone sustains you. I felt my faith starting to rise.

Finally, I sensed the enemy starting a FIRE in fireplace. As the heat and the smoke began to raise, I felt that fear try to take hold again. Then God brought to mind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were cast into the "burning fiery furnace." King Nebuchadnezzar actually commanded that his men should "heat the furnace SEVEN TIMES MORE than it was usually heated!" But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were men of prayer! God not only protected them in the fire, He walked with them in the fire... and then He delivered them from the fire. And He didn't just deliver them ... the fire "had NO power" over them. The smell of smoke didn't even cling to them!

Then I woke up.... Did I get out of the chimney? How did my dream end... ??

Well, I felt my hope rise and my faith stand strong in God's Faithfulness. This summer, only God knows how close we came to going through that forest fire in the Kootenay's, and only God knows what other fires may await us in the future. I know that I can get on MY KNEES and call out to God. I also believe that God CAN make me "FIREPROOF."

From here on in, just call me "A-Deb-Knee-Go!"

• Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and the form of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded mighty men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to throw them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were tied up in their slippers, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the burning fiery furnace. Then because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was amazed. And he rose up in haste and spoke and said to his advisers, Did we not throw three men bound into the middle of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Behold! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and there is no harm among them. And the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the burning fiery furnace. He answered and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come forth and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth from the middle of the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's advisers gathered and saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power (and the hair of their head was not scorched, nor were their slippers changed, nor had the smell of fire clung on them). Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and have changed the king's words and have given their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.
  (Dan 3:19-28 MKJV)

Pharaoh or Pharaoh? Which season are we in?

We were praying for the U.S. Elections last night and I recognized how different our perspective must be from God's.  He holds the "kings in His hands" and yet we try to tell Him who we think would be the best choice for a nation.  Yes, we are wise to examine the issues and individual campaigns, and God's Word in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 tells us to pray for those in authority so that things will go well in the land, but God is, ultimately, God.  He IS Sovereign....

Let's take a look at two Pharaohs shall we. 

PHARAOH #1 - Our sovereign God destined that a bunch of jealous brothers and an Egyptian leader; Pharaoh, would bring Joseph to rule over Egypt.  God chose to use ungodly circumstances and ungodly men...  to save the children of God.  What man had intended for evil, God chose for good.

• And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find any man like this, in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has shown you all this, no one is as discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall kiss the hand at your word. Only in the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand. And he dressed him with fine linen robes, and put a gold chain around his neck. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee! And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
  (Gen 41:38-43 MKJV)
• And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. And now you did not send me here, but God. ...
  (Gen 45:7-8 MKJV)

PHARAOH #2 - This Pharaoh's destiny was to bring evil upon the Israelites.  All the male children born were to be cast into the river.  Was Pharaoh's "calling" really to destroy the children of God?   Quite the concept isn't it?

• And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.
  (Exo 1:22 MKJV)

In our sovereign God's perspective it was right to "harden" Pharaoh's heart so that they/we would see the "wonders of God."

• And God said to Moses, When you go to return into Egypt, see that you do all those wonders which I have put in your hand before Pharaoh; but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
  (Exo 4:21 MKJV)

Both Pharaohs were in the hand of God, and both Pharaohs were "called" of God to fulfill a certain purpose.  Ultimately, both men followed God's will for their lives, whether they knew it or not. 

One Pharaoh was sent to destroy the children of God, the other to save the children of God.  One man was sent to kill babies, the other was sent to save their lives.

Now let's take a look at today's U.S. Election.  Some of the candidates are godly men, others are not.  In looking at just the two front runners, McCain and Obama, we see two very different lifestyles and two very different campaigns.  One candidate is pro-life, the other is pro-abortion.  One man is sent to kill babies, the other is sent to save their lives.

Are the Christian VOTERS in the U.S. the "Moses" who will deliver the babies from being cast into the river?  I wonder which Pharaoh will be in God's hand's tonight once the U.S. Election tally has been counted...

Get out the VOTE! And then Let Go and Let God....

Motivated by LOVE... How to vote in an Election...

Voting that is "Motivated by LOVE."  That is what the Holy Spirit brought to mind as we were praying for the US elections last night.  This presidential race is strategic in the scheme of  things.  This president will be in a place to choose the next Two to  Five Supreme Court Justices in America.  This president has his finger on the pulse... or heartbeat of millions of babies with the choice to stand for Pro-life or abortion.  

Forgiveness comes through the cross for those who have had abortions in the past, but Life comes from the Resurrection and through Godly people who will stand for truth and the sanctity of life for all people... In the words of Dr. Seuss and "Horton" from the children's book HORTON HEARS A WHO..." A person's a person, no matter how small."

As Canadians, we can't vote in the American elections, but we can pray, we can discuss these issues,  and we can pray some more!  We can seek those within our own government who have the power to set policy in Canada, and we can make a personal choice to Choose Life.... and life everlasting.

The Choice IS yours.

Check out this interview with Sarah Palin, John McCain's Running Mate

Just for fun... Check out this Movie Trailer for "Horton Hears a Who."

His ways are NOT our ways...

I was just wondering about the processes that God allows us to go through to become "More like Him." He easily could prevent every hardship in our lives if He wanted to. The fact that He chooses not to is important in His perfect plans for us... His plans "to prosper us and not to harm us." We can grow closer to Him (and ultimately more like Him) by understanding His reasons for allowing our trials and tribulations.

One story that I want to share with you happened to me over the summer. Things were NOT going the way I had planned. A job that I had really enjoyed had ended suddenly, my children and I were going through custody and access struggles with my husband's ex-girlfriend, finances were being stretched, bills were piling up, and I still had to take a trip across B.C. to go pick up one of my daughters at our Grandparent's Cabin.

On the way, our vehicle started to act up. It is a long and winding story, but suffice it to say, that the cost of the repair was going to be more than the car was worth... So, basically we were now tired, broke and without transportation! Fortunately, God got us where we were heading, thanks to several "God-incidences" and a Greyhound bus, but we also found out shortly after that the place was 15 km away from a forest fire!! (see July's "Summer's Journey - Through the Fire "Blog for that story) .

Anyway, we had been out at the cabin for several days, when everything that was happening started to hit me hard. I was in "pity-party heaven." Oh, whoa is me... I was so hard done by and nothing was going right... blah... blah... blah... Cry... Cry... Cry.... etc. etc. etc. The sky had been sunny, but then the clouds were sure starting to roll in bringing on the rain. It was the type of sky that you could still see some sunny patches, but the rain was coming down. It was the type of sky that usually brought rainbows... BUT this time, there wasn't even a rainbow.

I actually started to complain to God that at LEAST in the midst of everything I was going through, He could have given me a rainbow, give me some promise of good in the midst of everything that was going wrong... BUT THE RAINBOW WASN'T THERE....

Can you just picture Him shaking His head and chuckling. I wonder what He thinks about when He sees his kids going through this type of whimpering. Here we have an Almighty, All Loving, All Powerful God, Sovereign God, but we still think we know better than He does.

I had cried well into the night, and was still in "a mood" the next day and the weather was about the same as well... still raining. Things in my life hadn't changed, but this time, when I went out onto the patio, He greeted me with not one, but TWO Rainbows! It was beautiful! And then I remembered my whining from the day before.... I could almost see His eyes twinkling as He looked upon me with just a touch of mischief in His eyes. "Surprise!"

When I listened closely in the midst of that incredible view, I recognized His voice... "Yes, child... My promises are always true." I may not know all that God purposes for my life when I go through these trials, but I have to believe in Him and remember, 1) God is Always Good, and 2) I can Always Trust Him... because I've come to know this is the Character of God.... He Loves me, and I know that anything I go through will ALWAYS be a part of His perfect plan....

Darling of Heaven Crucified... More like Jesus...

Darling of Heaven Crucified... This was a line from one of the songs (Worthy is the Lamb... see below) that we were worshipping to tonight. Can you imagine the pain that The Father must have felt as He watched Jesus go through everything that led Him to the Cross... then to have Him take the burden of ALL of our sins upon Himself. The final assault being to deliberately turn away from His Son while He hung on that Cross. CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE FATHER'S PAIN TO WATCH HIM GO THROUGH THAT ALONE? The DARLING of Heaven crucified. Jesus was the Father's Darling....

That line from the song hit me particularly hard as I started to think about my own two "darlings." There are days when I feel that THEY are being ripped from MY presence. There are days when I see the enemy trying to rob, kill and destroy. There are days when I see the enemy trying to draw the girls into the world and into the world's disfunctional idea of the family...

But then I remember... Each moment that Jesus was separated from the Father... God's heart must have ached too. He shares in my sorrows... and now, I see that I can have a small sense of His.

The LORD gave me a revealation of this tonight. God doesn't want His children being distracted by the things of the world... but He watches us, His children, make wrong turns all the time. It breaks His heart. I know how I feel when my girls go astray sometimes, and I only have two children. How must it be for our Heavenly Father to watch ALL of His children get drawn away?

Fortunately, Jesus had a relationship with the Father.... Even though Jesus couldn't feel His Father's presence when He was hanging on the cross... Jesus trusted in Who His Father was. He trusted that God is ALWAYS Good and He knew that He was in the Father's Will. I have to believe that my girls know my LOVE for them, and that nothing they ever do can ever change that. With God's help, and His LOVE in my heart for them, we can pull through this fire.

That is what He revealed. What the girls and I have been going through this past year is actually an answer to a prayer that I started the year with. My New Year's Resolution was to be "More Like Jesus."

Tonight He revealed that for ME to be "more like Him", I had to have His heart for His children. As I struggle with watching my children make bad choices, I can now understand some of how He feels when we make bad choices. As I watch my children get led astray by the world, I can understand how He feels when His children are led astray by the enemy. As I watch someone or something else draw my children away from me and from God, I can understand how He watches each one of us as we face similar distractions. He sees the temptations and sin that turns our focus from Him to something else.

Now, I know some of what He feels....

Am I thankful for answered prayer... I think I am. I do have a different perspective now, but I pray that this lesson is almost over! All I have to remember was two things... 1) Because I have a relationship with the Father, I know Who God is, and 2) I know that He is ALWAYS good. He wouldn't be allowing this to happen, if it wasn't GOOD.

Praise God for answered prayer and for any revelation that make's me "more like Jesus..." Caution: I am finding that this is a dangerous prayer!

Worthy is the Lamb - Hillsong

Thank you for the cross, Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came

And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord

Thank you for the nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know

Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb

Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus Son of God

The Darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

I really, really want a revelation of the "Revelation 1 Jesus!!"

Hello and Hallelujah!

Well, we are back online and I have been thoroughly enjoying catching up on what is happening in the world. I had the chance to come under some teaching (via God.TV) from Mike Bickle of IHOP on end time intercession, worship and the prophetic. I have only watched the first session but already I have found it a thought provoking conference. If you get a chance, check out the IHOP conference at http://www.god.tv/god?region=ihop ( http://www.god.tv/god for GOD On Demand)

Some tidbits that really had me thinking...

• A full revelation of the "Revelation 1 Jesus"... Fully God, Fully Man manifesting his power in the earthly arena to upend evil governments.... Not just the Jesus of the gospels, but fully God, fully Man!
  
• Have you been praying for the tribulation to come? Mike Bickle noted that it he believes is is our roll as the End Time Bride to prepare ourselves to be ready and then to JOIN with our Bridegroom in calling the Great Tribulation forth! The Church needs to grow up so that it can release the Great Tribulation through prayer, intercession, fasting, prophetic declarations, humility, servitude and radical obedience to God! ... an all this time, I have been asking to be delivered from my tribulations... oh my :(
  
• The Church prior to Christ's return will be in the same position before the anti-Christ as Moses was before Pharaoh. Moses had to be prepared for years in Midian before he was ready to go back to Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites. In Revelation, Jesus is the deliverer against the End Time Pharaoh and it is we who will join with God in calling forth the judgements of God. What would have happened if Moses had asked to be "Raptured" before God wanted him to set His people free? Do we want the rapture to happen before the people are delivered? Just something to think about...
  
• Anyway, I appreciated the depth with which Mike Bickle taught and the powerful anointing on his words. Check it out if you can, and let me know what your opinion is on the subject.
  
  Deliberations from Deb's Den <><

The Power of One Vote!

Well, Stephen Harper and the Conservative party was re-elected. It was not quite the majority that they were looking for, but a larger minority and an opposition that is open to looking at both sides of the floor... not just holding to the party line. Here in the Comox Valley we have John Duncan returning to Ottawa after a three year hiatus. He had previously represented Vancouver Island North for 8 years. For the actual polling counts go to http://www.elections.ca/home.asp

I also think it is significant that this was the 40th General Election in Canada. We now have a strong party with a Godly leadership and with their guidance (God-U-and-I-Dance) Canada is ready to take the Promised Land for God....

The Comox Valley was named for "the Land of Plenty"... (It is a "land of plenty" whose name comes from the First Nations word k'omoks, which means "a celebration of creative abundance.") The question that I would ask is: Are we the Joshua's and the Calebs who are surrendered to God's plan and say "Let us go up at once and possess the land. For we are well able to overcome it." or are we those who would deny God's ability to use us and call ourselves "grasshoppers in our own sight?" (Check out Numbers 13 for the full story http://www.blueletterbible.org/)

Well, the wind is starting to blow in the night. It is exciting I must admit... but I can also tell it is time to shut down this computer as my lights are flickering a bit... LORD, WE NEED A BRIGHT AND STRONG LIGHT IN CANADA!

Praise God for His choice in the Canadian Government.

1Ti 2:1-2 MKJV First of all, then, I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Deliberations from Deb's Den <><

A Summer's Journey or Through the Fire...

The summer's journey was an adventurous one.... and a growing time for us all.

Deana, my niece Samantha, and I had started out from the island and headed into the interior to pick up Mikayla (She had been visiting with Grandma and Grandpa at our family cabin at Lazy Lake). We hopped in my 1996 Mazda 626 Chronos anticipating a wonderful time. We had prepared for some sightseeing and then stopping one night to camp along the way in our huge 6 person tent. The weather was incredible and the forcast was for more of the same!

We caught the first ferry out (well... maybe the second one!) but we were well on our way early in the morning. I expected to put some miles on the road before it got too hot. Until we got to Chiliwack and the girls decided they wanted to go SHOPPING (what else?)

Oh well, I guess you have to be ready to change your plans at the drop of a hat sometimes, soooo.... In we went, our first sight seeing stop - The MALL. The girls started by picking up two matching Blues Brother's hats, matching red sun glasses, and two set of "grills" (for those of us from the stone age that is fake braces with lots of glitter!)... they said it was a "family bonding time"... and then they proceeded to start hitting the clothing stores. And finally, they couldn't forget the junk food for the trip.

Three hours later, we are back on the road. This time we made it as far as Hope - and we were getting ready for Ice Caps from Tim's. It was starting to get warm, but we were finally on our way up the Hope - Princeton. We might have stopped to check out Hope Slide, but we were now three hours later than previously planned... so over the top we went.

From Princton we stayed on the lower route through lower B.C. We toured through the Highway #3 to Keremeos through to Osoyoos. We passed by a Spotted Lake and then came onto the floating bridge in the city. The girls had to stop for "sightseeing to check out the waterfront, and of course, "the eye candy." Then we popped into visit "Tim" again for another Ice Cap and to top up with gas (YIKES!! Gas prices).

Off we go again, up the Osoyoos switchbacks (hairpin corners... several of them in a row). We were all actually have a fun by this time - the girls squishing each other and providing a roaring commentary as we careened around the corners. The view of Osoyoos Lake was incredible (God's creative pallet) and then we started to see other works of art along the roadside. elk, deer, moose, eagles, etc... and yes... even a SASQUATCH. (Huge animal carvings) I did try to stop to take a picture of the Sasquatch, but we missed him and we couldn't turn around! I guess you'll just have to trust me :)

We roared over the Crowsnest Highway - through Bridesville and Rock Creek, then to Midway, Greenwood and Grand Forks (affectionately known as Grand Spoons). It was getting pretty warm so we tried to stop for a quick dip in a stream (and a stretch/rest from driving) but we didn't actually make it to the water... oh well, back on the journey we go.... By this time, it was starting to get later in the evening, so we were considering whether to keep going all the way to the Kootenays or to stop and set up camp.

We had discussed stopping at Christina Lake for the night, but the girls were still stoked and ready to go on. (Unfortunately, we would have arrived at 1:00 am and I don't think the grandparent's would have been impressed!) I kept on driving and realized at that it was getting late and we still had to set up camp. We pulled into the Nancy Green Summit Provincial Campsite at 9:00 pm and the girls decided to be "independant teenagers."

Fortunately, God provided a wonderful Grandma from Alberta in the site next to us, who offered to help me set up the tent (after the girls hastily took off for the lake). By this time the sky was dark and we had to use a lantern to finish staking up the tent... then I had to go find the girls. I knew they had taken off for the beach, but I was not aware that they had to pass by the "Hell's Angel's 25th Anniversay Campout" on the way!! Lots of Harley's and Gold Wings, lined the campsite sparkling in the moonlight with a "quiet" bunch of guys sitting around a campfire singing campfire songs... NOT!! And Deana and Samantha had gone down there somewhere!
Me with my flashlight, looking for two teenage girls in the dark... but for the grace of God and hearing Him give me directions, I walked right up to Deana and Mikayla... and I got to pray for (under my breath) for the bikers too. THANK YOU LORD!

Anyway, we finally got back the tent without event and the girls decided that they didn't want to sleep in the tent that I had painstaking built (maybe it was wise with the Bikers at the end of the park) so they slept in the car and I had the tent all to myself... Not our offical plan for the day, but eventful day anyway!!

.... more to come another day.

God bless,
Deb <><


A Summer’s Journey… Day 2 - Vehicle Problems...

Well, the sun came up early and the chickadees were a twittering. I was the first one up and went a visiting our neighbourly grandma in the next tent. She graciously offered a cup of coffee and some camp stove raisin toast... Recognizing that Deana and Samantha were still curled up in their sleeping bags in the car, I decided to take my time and enjoy the cool morning air in the company of a wonderful woman sent by God.

The bikers staying at the end of the campground were all very quiet… I’m not sure what time they shut down the night before… but they were obviously not yet ready to face the day… much to my joy at the peacefulness of the morning.

When the girls finally did awaken, they wanted to get on the road right away. So, we took down the tent and packed up the car to proceed with our journey to the Kootenays (not to mention that the girls didn’t want a camp stove breakfast at the campsite, they instead wanted miniature sugar packed cereal boxes to start the day! Yeah, Kellogg’s!) When were finally did make it on to the highway, we thought we were in for some smooth sailing. It was still brisk outside, but we could tell that the warmth of the sun was definitely on the schedule.

We travelled a short distance and saw a Mama bear and her cub crossing the road ahead. We tried to get a picture… but unfortunately, weren’t quick enough. Then… the car started to act up!! The engine light came on and the gears started to disengage. Here we were at the top of the Nancy Green Summit, a mom and two teen-age girls, and the car goes on the blink! After pulling over to the side of the road and a bit of prayer, we restarted the car and were able to go a short distance before it started doing it again.

Fortunately, a couple drove up in a truck and asked us what was happening. When I described the scenario to them, the gentleman suggested that it sounded like the transmission. He said that when we stopped the transmission fluid would drain back into the reservoir and be enough for us to get on our way, but once it had circulated the tranny would disengage and throw us into neutral. He suggested that we keep doing what we were doing to get up the slight incline and then let it stay in neutral and coast down the mountain… as I mentioned… we were still at the top of the Nancy Green summit. He said that Rossland was only about 10 kms away and that we would probably be able to make it there to find a service station. Sooo… we took his advice and did just that. It was beginning to get a little wearing having to stop and restart, put it into neutral and coast as far as we could down hill, then stop again and restart if we had another incline to make… but we finally saw the entrance to the town.

I was able to pull into a service station and we thought that we were home free. I went in, talked to the attendant on duty and picked up some transmission fluid. I was under the hood of the car, and ready to “play mechanic,” when I realized… I couldn’t find the Transmission fluid filler drain…. And the attendant couldn’t find it either! Well, to give her the benefit of the doubt, it was Sunday and she was just there to fill up the gas and man the store… she was not the mechanic, but really! In fact, they didn’t have a mechanic coming on duty until Monday and she couldn’t think of anyone else to call in.

Fortunately, I had my handy-dandy cell phone with me (actually we had three cell phones between the three of us!) I gave my Dad a call. Between, text messages and phoning we were able to discern that the filler drain was actually the Tranny Dip Stick hole… go figure! (Remember that all you guys, it might come in handy one day!) I gently poured some of the transmission fluid into the dip stick hole (being careful not to overfill it), and we decided to try to get on the road again. Trail was further down the mountain, so if it didn’t work, we could continue to coast down there, but if it worked we would be well on our way… For future reference, the road from Rossland to Trail is a lot steeper and a lot curvier!

Well, of course, the car started to act up again. We managed to make it to Trail… holding on a bit tighter because it was a bit steeper, and it was pretty well ALL downhill, but we were able to coast into a service station that looked like it had two open mechanic bays! Yahoo! We were safe and sound… BUT they hadn’t employed a mechanic for three years. Thankfully, the attendant was wise and suggested that we check to see if we had a towing package on our insurance ….which we did.

This is where things started to get interesting! I finally started to admit that God must have a sense of humour! We called the Insurance people and when the tow-truck driver called us back, he asked “Did we want to be towed to a place in Trail or in Castlegar?” (Which was 15 minutes away). It was then that I remembered a good family friend of ours (actually he gave the Toast to the Bride at my wedding!) lived in Castlegar. I asked the Tow Truck Driver if he had access to a Castlegar phonebook to see if Chris was still around, and low and behold… The driver knew Chris personally! God-incident or what??

Anyway, the driver gave me Chris’ number, and after chatting on the phone, we decided, of course, to tow the vehicle to Castlegar. Nothing was opened on Sunday, of course, but the driver suggested taking it to OK Tire, as he knew the people who ran it and recommended them. Chris picked us up at the shop and we crashed their place for a few hours. (We even got to take part in his sister’s birthday BBQ, and got to meet ALL the family, which was really nice!) There was nothing else we could do about the car at that moment… so we decided to continue on our way to the Lake. At 7:00 pm he drove us to the bus station and we hopped the bus to Cranbrook where we had arranged to have Dad pick us up at around 1:00 am the next morning.

We would deal with the car the next day by phone…. Our story continues.

Summer’s Journey… Day 3 - Finally at the Lake!

Well. We finally made it to our family cabin at Lazy Lake. A journey that should have only taken about 13 hours took us three days when it was all done and over. We were stranded without our vehicle… but at least we were stranded somewhere absolutely beautiful!!

The first thing that we did when we got there was find my missing daughter, Mikayla. She happened to be sleeping out under the stars with her second cousin Montana (Monty for short!) It was a happy reunion (as I am sure she was getting rather worried about where we were in our trip as well.) We packed our suitcases into the cabin (we had left everything else in the car back in Castlegar) and hit the hay.

The first thing that we did when we got up in the morning was head for the lake. After 3 days in a vehicle… well, let’s just say that the water was just what the doctor ordered! We wandered across the “lagoon” and dove in on the other side of the island to start swimming across the lake. It was cool and refreshing… and, oh, we were sooooo thankful!

It was the beginning of a beautiful 3 week vacation that had been extended from our originally planned 5 day trip.

We still had to deal with my car via several telephone calls (that is a story in itself!) The Tow Truck driver and Chris had connected us with some wonderful people at OK Tire and they took a look at my car. Unfortunately, it was too far gone for them to repair, so they recommended transporting it back to Borderline Transmission in Trail. Fortunately, they said that all of the towing was free of charge…. Chivalry is not dead! Once at Borderline, they took a look at it, ordered a part in the hopes of being able to rebuild the tranny, and then finally came to the conclusion that the rebuild cost more than the car was worth. In all the process took over two weeks, and in the end, the vehicle was considered a write off. C’est la vie.

Fortunately, God had put us where we needed to be, in the midst of family and in the midst of His wonderful creation. I can’t say I was too disappointed about having to stay in the Kootenay’s longer that expected. We just had to look beyond the circumstances and enjoy all that the LORD given to us. We were able to take advantage of a swim in the lake almost every day we were there. Other water activities included boating, canoeing, trips on the SS Rumrunner, jumping from “Castle Rock” and from the rope swing on the other side of the lake. Rising early in the mornings gave me an extra special blessing as I was able to view the beauty of God’s creation encircled in a peaceful mist. Other activities included driving around on the ATV, trips up the Estella Mine, and Mikayla tells a tale of climbing straight up the mountain to our water barrel. We had a chance to visit with family at Lazy Lake, in Wasa, in Kimberley and in Cranbrook.


“Through the Fire” Part #1…
Another unexpected thing that happened during our stay was our deliverance from a forest fire and a second possible forest fire. One day there was the smell of smoke in the air. We turned on the news and heard that a forest fire was burning along the train tracks outside of Fort Steel. Now Fort Steel is only 15 km away from the lake, so we sent out “the men” to look into this further. My uncle, Lloyd Dean Sr, was retired from the Kimberley Fire Department, and just happened to have access to almost immediate information. We were told that we should get ourselves ready to move out. If the call came, we would only have ten minutes to be out of our cabin if the fire continued towards us. After much prayer, we heard that the wind had shifted, and thankfully, we were out of the path of the fire.

“Through the Fire” Part #2
A few days later, however, we were sitting on our cabin patio when I looked across the lake at the Rope Swing. I thought I saw a flash of fire, so I picked up the binoculars to check it out. What I saw caused my heart to leap and a yell (and a prayer!) to come from my lips. A group of teenagers had started a campfire in behind the trees, and it had gotten out of control. One young lad was running up from the lake with what we later learned was a beer can full of water (while his buddies were trying to put out the fire by … well yes… peeing on it.)

By this time, others had seen the fire too, so Dad, Mark; a forest ranger buddy of his, and Deana quickly hopped in the boat and headed over there with a big bucket, work boots and shovels. The teens took off through the woods towards the provincial campsite.

Fortunately, Lloyd Sr had hopped on his ATV and cornered the teens as they came out of the clearing and I hopped into my parent’s Santa Fe while grabbing a camera. Dad’s team was able contain the fire, we were able to get pictures of the culprits, and the Fire Marshall attended it all in the next day.

Delivered from fire again… Thank You LORD!!

Wondering How to "Let Go"

Pastor Craig has been teaching on Spiritual Sonship from Spiritual Slavery. The first chapter of Jack Frost's book talks about "letting go."

As was indicated by the story of the crewman holding on to the ship's safety line in the midst of a major storm... many of us just don't want to "let go." Not even when not "letting go" hinders us from reaching a far safer place.

Is it an issue of trust? Do we really trust our heavenly Father to take us from what WE believe is a safe, comfortable place, to what HE knows is the perfect place for us? Or do we see Him as someone or something who wants to do evil and harm to us? He promises in His word to prosper us... Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Or is it fear that holds us back? Even if we really believe that God does have ALL the answers, are we still afraid to walk in that belief? Is it fear of man... or fear of ourselves... fear of change... or fear of failure? But God's Word also says that "Perfect Love casts out all fear" 1 John 4:18.

What actually happens when we do let ourselves "let go?" God grabs ahold of us in a wonderous dance and leads us in that dance to the place we need to be... safe and sound in the arms of The Father... (Guidance... God U & I dance....) He safely guides us to that place in the midst of that stormy vessel that is sheltered and protected.

So, why do we hesitate to let Him take the lead and guide us to safety? I wonder....

Deliberations from Deb's Den <><