How do you worship in rest?

How do you worship in rest? 

Especially in an "open 24/7" culture.  

And with three kids and work and duty....

This week has been spent planning and buying and cooking for Charis' 4th birthday.

A sweet celebration of her life and some fun community merriment.

This is so Silas...

As I kneeled to get the cake out of the oven I am reminded of my recent "thorn in the flesh." 

My mortal body aching with over use. 

By Friday my fists were clinched so tight at God I couldn't concentrate on much at all. 

Wasn't it I who spoke the words, "Hold loosely to the things of this world" to those girls who were hungry for truth just a few weeks ago?

Wasn't it I who walked into freedom by the mighty power and favor of God last year?

Wasn't it I who loved to worshiped and thank the Lord with movement and exercise? 

So when did it become something I couldn't let go of? 

When did I start saying no to God telling me to rest?

When did I stop trusting his Heart toward my good? 

When did I think I knew better than The One who made this body? 

When have His commands ever made logically sense in the eyes of the world? 

Hasn't the walk with HIM proven I must listen closely, knee and ear bent?

So it came to this....

rest and be healed

Faithfully He spoke words that bring life and peace. 

Straight out of Joshua as I was reading through the Bible. 

And still I held on, refusing to trust.

Till the words came from my own mouth to a trusted friend, "I can't let it go."

"That's the thing about idols," he said, "they can be good things. It's when we trust them before God that they become dangerous."

I feared. I tried desperately to control the situation. 

Then the tears come at acknowledging truth, I had told God no. He said rest, I said no thank you. (I WAS polite, but I still said no)

Isn't it I who pray that my kids would never tell God no? 

So on bended knee with the tears falling, repentance comes. 

And the trials of this life become blessings in disguise. 

I want to trust, I really do. I want to always say yes to Him the first time.

But I am being sanctified, and I still live on the mortal side of eternity, I still mess up. 

exodus 20

 ¹ And God spoke all these words:

 ² “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt,

out of the land of slavery.

 ³ “You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.

 ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God

The tears still come easily and each day I try to sit in faith, trusting God and doctors in resting. 

worshiping sitting down (for now), 

Lori

Coffee

A friend sent me this in an email....savor

A carrot , an egg, and a cup of coffee... 
  
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. 
  
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying A word. 
  
 In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. 
  
 Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."  "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. 
  
 Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. 
  
 Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?" 
  
 Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. 
  
 "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 
  
 Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? 
  
 Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? 
  
 Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 
  
 May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. 
  
 The Happiest of People Don't Necessarily Have the Best of everything; They Just Make the Most of Everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. 
  
 When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. 
  
 Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. 
  

  
                      May we all be COFFEE!!!!!! !! 

A new camera totebag

You know my motto- 

"use what you have"

There used to be a show where the decorator people would come in and remodel only using what was already in the house. Genius!

Well when we invested in a slr camera spring 2010 I needed a camera bag. 

Couldn't find one I liked. 

Anywhere. 

And if I was gonna pay the $80 tag price I wanted something I really liked. 

So for the last 18 months I have been using what I had....

hideously ridiculus

old.school.

I have had time to think about what I wanted in a bag...

shoulder straps, not too big, room for other things like phone, keys, water bottle

And what do you know I found this at a yard sale the other day...

Perfect, I took dividers from the old bag and pinned them in to separate the extra lens from the camera. I rarely take more than two lenses anywhere. 

It had a nice front pocket for the charger and usb cord. I love it! 

And that is why I garage sale, because you just never know what you are gonna find for 

$2! 

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

I spent the last 2 hours with a group of young women.

They are a collection of beauty, brains, skills, strength, courage, love, loss, broken hearts, redeemed lives & fine cooking skills.

Last week the young mom of 2 served a feast and offered me lemonade.

I took the last glass.

It was real.

Definitely not koolaid, nor crystal light, not even countrytime. This was the real deal. Fresh squeezed lemonade.

I knew it immediately. Why? Because it was different. Because it was good. She nailed it. Perfection in a pitcher. The perfect blend of sweet and sour and water.

The next morning I sat with a new friend. The hours of conversation and stories told were a gift. I felt as if we were old friends catching up after going years apart.

"I wanted real." she told me about how she came to follow Jesus and worship with other believers, "Real people living their lives for Christ. I want to know how you recover after you've screwed up. I wanted to sit and watch and learn. I didn't care that older believers didn't have it together, I just wanted something real."

The statement resonated within me.

I do too. I want real truth, real friendships, & a Really Big God. 


Life is too short to waste on fake lemonade.

I can tell fake lemonade the moment it comes to my mouth. Why? Because I know what it should taste like. I know there's such a thing as Real Freshly Squeezed Lemonade. And it's good. It's very good.

And isn't that why we converse? Why we gather over HIS WORD? Why we ask the questions? To invite Christ to be real to us.

To know his grace lived out among us mortal people, to know redemption is possible, to know mercy can be given and received by real people next door.

Life isn't easy in community. Hurt is very real. Living in a family of faith takes a lot of risk. But it is real.

Is there such a thing as too real?

Can there be too much lemon in the lemonade?

Yes there can be.

It's a balance.

Lemon- bitterness, Sugar- Sweetness, Water- the priceless element of survival.

We bring to the group our lemons- our hurt, our experience, our sin, our selfishness, our want to control, our dissatisfaction in all He's given.

And we bring in our sugar- sweet redemption, beautiful feminine hearts being changed into his likeness and for his glory.

And God, he comes with the water. Like the living water Jesus promised the woman at the well. It comes in and fills every empty place. It is main ingredient. He is our every reason. He is before all things and In him all things hold together. Col. 1:17 All things.

When others come and drink at my table I want them to experience something real. A sweet balance of where I've been, who I am becoming and the refreshing living water that fills every hallow place.

Avoiding fake lemonade,
Lori

Daddies

I woke to the black morning at 6 am.

My night strange without mr. incredible beside me. Pulling me close in after the first snooze button pushed.

No time to waste, I had 3 kids to get up and ready for an hour long drive to Woolaroc

Race Day. My 6th race this year and dubbed a "fun run". An 8k with a friend I don't get to see often.

A light carb for breakfast at my parents Tulsa home, still no sight of dawn. Awaken the siblings, who were up far past time the night before giggling on the couches at Granny's house. I resisted disciplining them- they weren't keeping me up and laughing with one's siblings is a gift from God. One day they will be separated and will reminisce simpler days of play.

My mother comes in, dressed and ready for a day of waiting.

"Dad is coming with us."

My parents have not been with me at a race. They cheer from the other side of a computer. But this... my father's presence was a gift.

My heart engaged, he want's to come?

Had I forgotten the fact that I have called my dad every time I have raced? And why do I report the numbers? Funny the things we do from a heart in need.

The drive was scenic and we welcomed the sun just south of Barnsdall, OK.

The terrain was hilly and I began to picture the racing course. I began to fear the journey and what it may require. But not for long, I was too much enjoying the company of those I hold dear. For the day was pleasant and air thin and we had been given moments of enjoyment.

I was tagged and chipped and barely had time to stretch between the conversations and pictures.

My parents and their camera, friends and foes :)

The race began and to no distress I was there for the view not the prize. 250 runners began and our times began as we crossed the starting line- eyes on my father who'd come to cheer me on.

He had a hard time seeing me in the crowd. But he was there, I saw him.

The course was beautiful but as with all beauty there came a price- the hills were long and constant.

The volunteers gave us times and the animals just stares.

The last 1k was the hardest. Uphill all the way to the finish, it was difficult to push through. And my eyes scanned the crowd,  if I could see their faces it would be enough. Enough to finish strong. And after a frantic search of 10 seconds I saw my family and they saw me. They were waiting on me. Glad their wait was over.

It always gets me how they miss me and want to talk immediately when I can barely breathe. Remember this?

But there are no words to describe the feeling when I see this picture....

And I don't think I need to communicate any to you.

We read to know we are not alone.

Will you ever outgrow wanting your father to cheer you on? To call you beautiful and delight in your presence? To offer an, "I love you".

He has not been perfect and neither have I. Mercy is a fine gift.

As the years come quicker we must make the most of the time we are given.

But I can not deny the need for my father's presence.

If we weren't so desperate for our fathers there would be no movies like Courageous. 

But there is and the wounds are deep. We are not left without hope. For our God is a God to the fatherless. Psalm 68:5

THE FATHER is speaking and many are hearing. Fathers love and follow the Lord, then you'll be able to love your children as they need. Not only is he Father he is Wonderful Counselor. He will lead those who are seeking and he is wisdom to those who ask for it.

Running with a lighter step,
Lori

Dog Daze

If you've been following "My World" for awhile

you'll remember when we said goodbye to Jake

speaking of following, did you know you can become a follower? just look to your right there

why not join? you can also repost on twitter and facebook the posts you like. You can also follow by email, all of these keep me writing....thanks for reading!

We added a new puppy to our home in Dec. last year and have watched him grow ginormous this past year. Ginormous is a word isn't it?

But...

Deacon, the servant dog

has us in a daze

He can be sweet....

He likes to visit me as I cook...at the sink

But funny aside....

The dog is taking out the entire back yard. 

that seat, completely gone now, He started on the finders and tires too before we removed it from his bite

used to be a flower garden

used to produce tomatoes and peppers and green beans

our backyard always has debris from his latest victim

see the blue?

it's from here.....

from the poles, 

he's trying to take down the entire trampoline

and he's succeeding

the new entrance thanks to Deacon...

argh!

He will not have the trampoline. 

This is were he must be stopped!

Cody's concerned about this...

he's ripping apart his dog house. 

Oh. My. Word! 

So ignorant you don't destroy your home. 

Where will you sleep when the ice storms come Deacon? 

He's doing this because he's a puppy and he doesn't know better

 but me, I have no excuse.

Proverbs 14

 ¹ The wise woman builds her house,

   but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

What I do every day either builds up my home or tears it down. 

My schedule- do we have balance? do we enjoy the world around us? the people around us? 

My words- do they build up or tear down? my reactions?

Are my hands holding theirs? Are they feeding them well? Reaching out to help?

Or am I chasing other worthless things? 

Carrying too many totebags to too many places?

Holding too tightly to the things of this world while ignorantly tearing things apart?

Deacon will calm in years, I can calm in minutes.

Minutes focused, stilling myself before the Creator, Redeemer & Lover of my Soul. 

But I am keeping an eye on the backyard trampoline, 

Lori

Another cool bag from the Walk a Mile

I wanted to showcase this bag for you. One it's a great sew project to make and give ( I am thinking Operation Christmas Child !!) 

or for kids and grandkids being raised on the pew

or neighbor kids or kids in the apartment complex nearby who need you to pick them up and introduce them to Jesus

kids don't drive you know

and I guess some adults like to color too!

I think my friend Traci and her family made them. 

I just love her more and more the more I get to know her!

Great job!

I am a sucker for the orange one ya know.

Anyway they made boxes of these and donated them to Abba's Hands for foster kids. 

I do believe people have bought them in our local Sunrise Foods Grocery Store as well. 

A totegirl's dream job

"Can you take pictures at our event Saturday?" the servant asked.

"Absolutely, I can!" The totegirl replied.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes.

The event was to raise awareness and donate bags for the children in our state who are in foster care situations.

It was sponsored right here in Stephen's County

by this Organization- Abba's Hands

find them on facebook too

there were other groups there

along with our local DHS

and some good food

This was any totegirl's dream job.

I'll start with the bags.

My personal favorite  brought by a Velma girl!!

Recognize this cutie?

Speaking of recognizing....

these two have been on this blog before and look

they are still holding their coffee, lol

love it!

Oh the teenagers...

This picture reminds me of falling in love

The adults....

I do believe that's Cory Holland our district representative right there in the dark blue!
and some Immanuel Baptist ministers Jackie Allen & Brian Holland

The families were precious...

Some who know the beauty of adoption :)

the siblings were cute

They made their own shirts- that's amazingly creative

gotta get my cuties in there....

But the little ones, oh they did me in....

and like these comet kids....

and this darling..

and this toteboy

There were groupies

and couples

and twinkies

All just following the signs

Following those who have lead out in this....

This adventure

This calling...

This great need...

Children don't prepare for leaving their environments.

And they certainly don't plan and pack like you would to go on a vacation.

Children, when taken from there homes and placed in foster care,
 usually put all that they hold dear in a trash bag.

What we put on the curb they carry close.

And then they wait.

For someone to invite them into their home.

To say, "I care. I hurt because you hurt. I see you. I see what brought you here and God sees the what brought you here. You are wanted. You are loved. You are worth my time and sacrifice.
And I know about God who redeems."

Sacrifice has always been at the heart of worship.

We have plenty of bags now...


what we need are homes.