Poetry Place: "Holding One in Worship"

A few weeks ago, during corporate worship, I had a picture of God's massive hands reaching down from heaven. I could see a tiny figure dancing in His palms...the figure was me. I could feel His pleasure as I worshipped Him in the dance. I felt safe and protected in that place.

Let me encourage all who read this; God Loves it when we worship Him with abandon...laying aside what man may think and concerning ourselves with His pleasure.

Whether dancing or speaking or living, may I bring you pleasure, my King!!! AMEN!!!

Holding One in Worship

by Beautiful Grace

2/28/09

Two Hands stretched from heavenly abode,

Reach down for one, the one You know.

Their awesome, powerful expanse,

Set before the one, in whose heart cries, "Romance."

One's heart with passion's flames

Set ablaze by One touch, One Name.

Suddenly, upon the outstretched Hands,

One moves, one dances, one stands.

In this place of protected play,

One laughs and leaps and twirls away.

In this place of power and might,

No fear, no shame, no darkness, just Light.

Forever in worship, continuing on,

One's heart in Love will dance upon.

"His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from his hand,

where his power was hidden."

Habakkuk 3:4

Please Pray Update: God's Love Poured Out!

Thank you, thank you, my blogging friends for your prayers! My mother-in-law is improving.

Monday was difficult, physically for me, because I needed to make three trips throughout the day to help her...drugstore run, doctor's appointment and supper delivery. Please continue to pray!

The awesome thing about all the running I did was I could worship Jesus in my van during the trips via my Chris Tomlin CD. Although physically stressed, my spirit soared high with Jesus!!!!

Strongman and Consecrated are still sick, but continue to push themselves to fulfill their responsibilities. Fire had a relapse on Monday night, with a return of fever, sore throat, an increase in coughing and as of the middle of the night, severe ear pain. I'm positive he has an ear infection. We have a doctor's appointment today.

The blessing coming from the mid-night episode was an awesome conversation Fire and I had about a dream the Lord gave him. I Love how Jesus warns and encourages us!!

We went to our home school co-op yesterday, and on my classroom table was a bouquet of flowers with a note, "We love you, Mrs. ___________," and I received several hugs as well...Thank You, Jesus for Your Love poured out through Your Body!!!!

I humbly ask that you continue to pray regarding these illnesses. Spiritually, I am strong! Physically, I'm extremely tired!!! I need physical refreshing in order to tend to my family!!!

We ALL Have Sinned!!!

This is a copy of a comment I left on Livin Life's Blog the other day. Please prayerfully consider my heart. We ALL have sinned and have fallen short of our awesome and glorious God. Let us speak life to the sinner and hope to the bound. Let us call for repentance with Love in our words and our actions.


James 4:7-12

"So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?"

I believe if we truly react to our own sin with grief and penitence, we would be less likely to judge others, whether outside or inside the church.

NEVER wink at sin; God doesn't, no matter who it is, but how WE address that sin does matter. Obviously, someone who is not saved does not have full knowledge or what he/she is doing in regards to sin, and a Christian can even have blind spots in regards to his own sin. Why else would we need to be changed from glory to glory?

A heart of Love will Love by speaking the truth, BUT that truth would be tempered by our knowledge of the sins own hearts have been capable of committing. If we get a revelation of our own sin and its destructive nature, we will be less likely to act with a Pharisee spirit to any other person...Christian or non Christian, and more likely to prophetically call forth the treasure that lies buried beneath all the dirt of sin.

Please Pray

Dear Praying Bloggers...

As you know my mother has been hospitalized frequently over the last year, and many of you have been faithful to bring her before the Throne in prayer. She has been doing well; She currently is taking prophylactic antibiotics designed to stop infection from occurring. It has been effective!!! Mom's heart is beating normally!!! Praise Jesus!!!!

However, I now would ask for prayer for my mother-in-law. She was just discharged from the hospital yesterday for atrial flutter (top part of her heart quivering, not beating normally and bronchitis). I helped her sort through her medications last evening, but she seemed a little confused and her coloration was terrible. I have to pick up new medications for her this morning, so she can take her morning doses; later I need to take her for blood work. In the midst of this, I need to attempt schooling my son, Fire.

Please pray that this issue with my mother-in-law is resolved quickly, and in addition to all of this, my family has had this terrible respiratory illness. Fire has almost completely recovered with the exception of an occasional cough. Consecrated and Strongman are still sick. Also I would appreciate prayer for myself as I am feeling rather overwhelmed at this point.

Thank you for any prayer you offer on behalf of us!!!

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!!!

With Much Love...

Glory in a New Manifestation!

Oh, how I Love you, my Bridegroom, my Jesus!!! I receive the wind of Your Spirit; I look to Your cloud to guide me. I receive Your Love, Your power, Your healing- to go to those You place before me to Love with Your Love!!! I am forever grateful to You, my Friend!!!

Your Bride,

Beautiful Grace



The following prophetic word was given by Eileen Fisher on January 27, 2009, during her weekly Prophetic School of the Holy Spirit meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The following was reported by the Elijah List.

The Lord says, "Get ready for a new wind, and in this wind will come My glory in a new manifestation. Get ready to hear the wheels that will begin to turn in the spirit realm. For as these wheels turn in the spirit realm, they will carry My people higher into the Spirit than they dreamt was ever available. For I am going to start to speak Spirit-to-spirit because My people have made so many choices from the soul's realm and they have looked to the left or to the right for confirmation. But as My people have chosen to look up, My Spirit will descend upon them and join the agreement that He has already sealed within their spirits.


"I Am Calling My People to Rise Up and Follow a Cloud"


"There will be an envelope that will be opened, and coming are new orders over My Church. In this new order that is coming over My Church, at first it will cause things to rise up and cause a stench even to the saints of Holiness. But in that stench there will come that transformation, of the smoke, which will cause My presence to come forth. In that smoke, when it is all cleared and everything has settled, you will realize that there has been a cloud of deposit of holiness that will remain.


"I am calling My people to rise up and follow a cloud. This cloud will touch down and descend upon them. In the midst of this cloud there will come miracle, after miracle, after miracle. For there will be a manifestation of the visitation of the heaviness of My presence," says the Lord your God. "For I do go, to and fro from the earth, looking for hearts that at all cost will follow Me, to make Me a manger that I can lie in once again," says the Lord.


"There will Come Back Smiles and there will Come Back Laughter"


"You will understand that as a child lies in the manger there were smiles, so shall the joy come back to the Church. There will come back smiles and there will come back laughter. For I have been grieved by the tears of My Bride. My Bride has been judged, My Bride has been defiled, My Bride has been abused," He says, "but now the Groom has entered the sanctuary and has taken the Bride aside and has reclothed her with dignity, respect and honor.


"Do not be concerned when you get more and more reports that judgment has come to the House of the Lord. But remember this My people: you are My temple, and remember that grace and judgment come hand in hand. I do not judge to condemn. I judge to bring knowledge for salvation.


"And, so I am about to do a new move," says the Lord, "for you will have people come to you once again who are hungry to get saved. You will have people coming again asking where is His power resting?" He says, "It will be resting upon you. I will come in a new wave and in a new visitation of My presence. For I have seen your hearts that are searching and I have seen the wounds that have been left gaping and bleeding by the words and the curses of man."


He says, "I am going to bind up the wounds, and in the process I am going to deposit within that wound: healing virtue of hope. I will deposit within that wound - supernatural healing."


Love and Blessings,
Eileen Fisher
Eileen@eileenfisher.org
Eileen Fisher Ministries

Heart Thought

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

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Watch your words; they become actions.

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Watch your actions; they become habits.

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Watch your habits; they become character.

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Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

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Author Unknown

Consecrated's Animations

Check out "Crane Games" and "Magic Marker Duel." Great job, Consecrated!!!

Which Mighty Woman Are You?

I am most like MARY MAGDALENE

She was forgiven much & loved much, and you certainly love much! You are a passionate person, who loves God & life. You have a tendency to count your blessings and be very grateful, even in small things. You are an overcomer, and will not allow any life circumstances to hold you down.

Mighty Women of the Bible Quiz

Valentine Dinner

Valentine's Day began with a gift to Strongman, a replacement for our coffee pot that sprang a leak back in November. Later on Saturday I served my Valentine a feast fit for a king.

Homemade Buttery Rolls

Cream Cheese and Crab in Phyllo Dough Cup Appetizers

(My Recipe)


Spring Mix Sprinkled with Red Onions, Currants, Parmesan Cheese, Sugar-Glazed Walnuts With Honey Sweetened Balsamic Vinegar and Oil Dressing

(My Recipe)

Crab-Stuffed Orange Roughy, Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin Steak and Yucca Con Mojo

Sounds and looks like a perfect meal? Well, I had three exciting episodes in preparing it! I planned to serve one of Strongman's favorite desserts, chocolate pudding pie topped with coconut and chopped almonds. On my first attempt, I forgot about the pie shell in the oven and burned it. My second attempt ended as the light toasting of the almond and coconut topping was incinerated by over-broiling. The finale climaxed with four foot flames shooting up from my grill!! Amazingly enough, the steak survived the licking.

In spite of the three incidents, our meal was successful! We topped off the meal with chocolate pudding scraped out of the burned pie in to cups topped with non-toasted coconut and almonds.

Burned Coconut and Almond Topped Chocolate Pudding Pie

Through Many Storms...By Your Side

My Dear Strongman,

This Valentine's Day, I rededicate myself to you! We've walked through many storms since that September day in 1984 when we said, "I do," but together we braved the wind and rain. I will continue to be by your side until death parts and new life in heaven begins!!! Thank you for standing by me when it would have been easier to walk away. I trust you more than ANY OTHER human being! Thank you for being my Valentine!

I LOVE YOU!

Called to Be a Lover AND a Fighter!

We have all heard the phrase, "I'm a lover, not a fighter." This statement seems like a valid one, especially for Christians, but I believe the Lord has called us to be both...Lovers and Fighters!

Being a Lover as Jesus commands in Matthew 5:43 & 44 requires us to love EVERYONE whether friend or foe. "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." It is rather easy to love those who love us, love those who are like us, love those who fit into our (not God's) preconceived ideas of righteousness. However, what of those who treat us unkindly, those who backbite and gossip and persecute us? Jesus makes no distinction between Loving neighbor or enemy, and even goes so far to say that Loving our enemies indicates our spiritual maturity level in Matthew 5:46-48.

In the post, True Love, More Than a Feeling, it was written that Love, true Love, is based on much more than the feelings that happen to be running through our soul at the moment. According to the standard God has set, Love is actions and attitudes and thought processes; "feelings" are not necessarily required to Love someone, although, I honestly believe feelings will line up with God's Spirit as we are obedient to walk out Love. Just how do we walk out Loving our enemies, when the feelings in our soul scream to hide, shun or retaliate?

Our Fighter calling is birthed by actually Loving our enemies, viewing them with the Father's eyes, and as Romans 12:14 instructs us,"Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them." God is clear, we are to bless our enemies, not curse them, which reveals another question, just how do we "bless" our enemies, "see" them with His eyes?

"For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere," Ephesians 6:12. There you have it; it is NOT about the person (enemy), it IS about the spirit behind the person! Blessing our enemies, seeing our enemies with God's eyes requires us to see deeper than the surface of the physical and to peer into the spiritual realm...not basic Christianity 101.

The proposition set before us is clear, we bless our enemies by speaking words of life, Proverbs 18:21, knowing that our words have the power to break down the spiritual strongholds controlling our enemies!!! Our tongues have the power to set our enemies free from the bondages, which cause them to treat us, unkindly, backbite and gossip and persecute us. In this way, our Christianity matures, day-by-day, being transformed into the image of Jesus!

Holy Spirit, empower us to reach spiritual maturity...not only Loving those who Love us, but Loving and fighting for our enemies. We are called to represent You, Jesus, and You preached the gospel, healed those afflicted by sickness- emotional and physical, and set the captives free! We receive Your power to be Lovers and Fighters!!! All for the glory of Jesus!!! AMEN!!!!

1968: Love Beads and the Beatles

My sister-in-law, Brown-Eyed Beauty, found this picture from 1968 (Thanks, Brown-Eyed Beauty, you're awesome!). I am the little girl between the young woman (my sister-in-law, Brown-Eyed Beauty) and the young man (my brother, Big Bro).

Some interesting 1968 statistics from The People History are shown below.



Cost of Living 1968

Cost of new house $14,950.00
Average Income per year $7,850.00
Average Monthly Rent $130.00
Gas per Gallon 34 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,822.00
Movie Ticket$1.50
The Federal Hourly Minimum Wage is $1.60 an hour


Technology

Boeing 747 made its maiden flight.
NASA launches Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission
Apollo 8 orbits the Moon, becoming the first manned space mission to achieve the feat.
Dr. Christian Barnard performs the first successful heart transplant.
US Explodes experimental hydrogen Bomb.
The Emergency 911 Telephone service is started in the USA which provides a single number for reporting emergencies and is manned 24 hrs per day 365 days per year
ATM First Philadelphia Bank installs the first automated teller machine in the U.S.

Popular Culture 1968
The first Big Mac goes on sale in McDonalds costing 49 cents
The Beatles create Apple Records and record "Hey Jude" as the first single on the label The CBS television newsmagazine program
"60 Minutes" shown for the first time

Popular Films

The Graduate
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Bonnie and Clyde
Valley of the Dolls
The Odd Couple
Planet of the Apes
Rosemary's Baby


Popular Musicians

The Rolling Stones
The Supremes
The Beatles with " Hey Jude "
Fleetwood Mac
Aretha Franklin
Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
The Grateful Dead
The Monkees
Simon and Garfunkel " Mrs Robinson "
The Beach Boys
The Bee Gees
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Cream
The Doors " Hello I Love You "
Pink Floyd
Moody Blues
Bobby Goldsboro " Honey "
Marvin Gaye " I heard it through the Grapevine "
David Bowie


I was four years old in 1968, and in the picture above was watching a local centennial parade. How old were you, and what were you doing in 1968?

Homemade Ice Cream...Yummy!

Ice Cream in Progress

Vanilla

Strawberry

Strongman, enjoying the company.

My dad in the midst of his four bowls of ice cream,

alternating vanilla and strawberry.

My dear, sweet mother!

The Ice Cream Crew

My mother-in-law is on the left.

One of my most favored childhood memories is my dad making homemade ice cream when snow was on the ground. Snow was an important ingredient in the process, because the snow plus the rock salt caused the creamed sugar to "harden." My siblings and I would watch and wait in eager expectation for the electric motor on the ice cream maker to stall, signalling the completion of the cold confection. My dad asked me to prepare two types of ice cream, vanilla and strawberry, and I did yesterday afternoon.