Caffeine isn't everything...is it?

At our church leadership retreat this weekend, my husband and I walked to a nearby coffee house (the hotel coffee has hideous!) and look what I found and my husband was so kind to get for me....
It is so me!! I can drink coffee 24/7 and I love it. I can probably say it is my addiction and I dread the day I have to let it go! Check out the inscription.....


Can you read it? If not, it says "If it weren't for caffeine, I'd have no personality whatsoever". I got the biggest kick out of it as I know how I am until I get that first cup of coffee each morning made with a shot of creme-de-mint & chocolate syrup, a little bit of sugar and topped with cool whip!! Now that I think about it....it's kind of a sad statement....that caffeine would have that much control in my life.

The speaker/facilitator at this leadership retreat gave us the following writing. It was found on the wall of a pastor's home in rural Africa, the author is quoted as "unknown". It has nothing to do with caffeine but it is too good not to share with all you beautiful women seeking to serve God more fully!

I am part of the "fellowship of the unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, y present makes sense and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chincy giving and dwarfed goals!

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by Presence, lean by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, and my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or burn up till I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop and preach till everyone knows. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me...my colors will be clear. That makes it clear, doesn't it?

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ~2 Timothy 4:1-2

Chew on that for a few days!!

Okay! What do you think?!?!?!? A big THANK YOU to Kelley at aromaofjoy.blogspot.com for making this new blog for me!! Slowly but surely I hope to learn this art too!!

It's Make-over Time...

Friends--a new look is coming!! I am so excited!! With all this time I have spent in education using computers as teaching aids I thought I was pretty computer savvy but this blog thing has been quite a challenge for me. As I travel to your different blogs, they have been so beautiful and comforting to rest at and read your heart. I have been encouraged, humored, and convicted in your postings! I have seen Jesus in your life and in your heart!

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

~John 15:14

Like you, I started this blog as a ministry, to reach out to others in what God has laid on my heart, yet, I have been ministered to so much more! A whole new world of friendships have open up and this has been such a blessing!! WELL, a dear blog friend has offered to make-over my blog until I can learn this system myself (a summer goal when I get done with teaching these summer courses at the college). I AM SO EXCITED!! I live each day towards a spiritual transformation, now this blog site will also receive it's first transformational move! Did I say I was excited?!?!?

My husband and I leave today for a leadership weekend retreat with our church. I am hoping when I return with my next blog entry I will have my new look!! So be sure to stop back by and check it out (and I'll let you know who this creative friend is once I have gotten her permission).

It's make-over time!!

In His Graces~Pamela

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

~Proverbs 27:17

To Be Crucified

No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.

~John 10:18 (Amplified Bible)

Today we honor the lives of those who have served our country and died for our freedom. Today we remember the lives of our family members and friends who have passed from this life to the next. But God laid on my heart a different type of memorial we might want to consider today...the crucifixion of our self. If you are anything like me, it is a daily battle-my flesh side against my spiritual side. I am reminded this morning of Joanna Weavers written drama portraying what it is to crucify our flesh from her book 'Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us From the Inside Out'. I quote from the 6th chapter intro:

"Having acknowledge the existence of Flesh Women, I'm finding that she is becoming more and more real to me. Perhaps too real. This afternoon, for instance, as I pondered how to open this chapter, an idea suddenly came to me in high-definition color. A big-budget blockbuster film complete with soundtrack, closeups, and highly entertaining trailers. (I told you she might be getting a little too real).

The lights go down, the title appears on the screen: Flesh Women Crucified.

The the subtitle: And You Thought Getting Your Weight Under Control Was Hard...

The film opens with Flesh Women slowly making her way through a crowd on the way to her cross. a 683-pound sumo-wrestler chick squeezed into a purple-sequined evening gown. Her flushed but carefully made-up face framed by a cloud of feather boa. Pausing now and then as the background music swells, she waves to all her fans lining the path. Black-mascara tears course down her cheeks as Frank Sinatra sings "I did it my way."

"Wish you didn't have to go!" Gluttony calls from the crowd. Laziness and Procrastination agree, weeping in each other's arms. "Yeah, it hasn't been the same since you left the throne. (Sob!). We're having a tough time getting a break."

"I know, darlings. I know. But as they say, all good things must end." Flesh Women throws her final kisses to her dearest friends. But she's overcome when she see's the crossbeam lying at my feet and the hammer I am holding in my hand.

"Really, my pet," she says, reaching to stroke my arm. "Is all this necessary?"

"I am afraid so," I reply, firm in my resolve and anxious to have it done and over. "Please lie down. It is time."

"But...but...but..." she sputters as I pull her towards her demise. "We need to talk."

She puts up quite a fight, but I am determined. I know I will never have any peace until I obey. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires," Paul said in Galatians 5:24. He made it sound so easy. I wonder if Paul had to brawl with a sparkling eggplant in his fight against sin.

With a knee on her chest and one oar pinned to the cross, I attempt to fasten her down. "Think of all you'll miss," she says, struggling to get up.

I try to ignore her, to concentrate on what I must do.

"All these things I do for you!" she adds with a pout.

But I grit my teeth and begin to hum "Have thine own way , Lord have thine own way..." and suddenly He is there.

Having problems? Christ asks.

"Quite a few," I admit. "But I am willing, Lord. I want You to rule and reign in my life."

"What are you talking about?" Flesh Women screams, frailing wildly at the sight on my Master. "I give you everything you want! I make sure you get your own way! Nobody loves you like I do! she wails.

"Here, Lord" I say, stepping back and handing Him the hammer. "I guess it's more than I can do on my own" Christ takes the heavy mallet and kneels down beside my thrashing, frantic flesh.

Be silent. He says (Zechariah 2"13, KJV). And Flesh Women obeys. For all flesh fall silent before the Lord. The music stops; all is still.

Flesh women glares at Jesus. Then, subdued but not yet conquered, she turns to look at me. "Don't you know?" she ask, her eyes narrow and cold. She draws out her words in an effort to draw me in.

"Don't you know? When you kill me, you die too."

The camera closes in on my face. I turn to look at Jesus, then I look back at the pitiful women I once adored.

"Yeah, I know," I smile. "In fact, that's the whole point."

And the screen goes black. Curtain. The end. Finito.

At least for today."

Dying to live....

And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

~Luke 9:23 (Amplified Bible)

It means we must choose to believe that the work of the cross is enough to give us freedom from our sins, our past mistakes, our future mistakes...

Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

~Romans 6:11 (Amplified Bible)

It's awakening daily to self examination, verses self condemnation, of who we are in Christ, not who we are in our self...

By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,
Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].

~1 John 3:19-20 (Amplified Bible)

It's the burial our self in order to live in faith and in obedience...to honor our Master.

May our "self" rest in peace...

In his Graces~Pamela

When?

I have the following questions...

When did life become so busy?

When did 'happily ever after' hit a snag?

When did kids become so difficult?

When did mothering become so tough?

When did being a wife become such work?

When did chaos enter what God created to be so pure and perfect?

I am not challenging where God has me in my life but satan is....all I can do to fight back is remind him that my heart wants to say YES to God, not to him. As I have looked at the negatives in my life over these recent days, I am feeling pain, disappointment, frustrations. To avoid my pillow tonight, I took the opportunity to blog-hop. My new friend Tori (http://joshandtori.blogspot.com/) has nailed it for me tonight.... "i remembered that i made a promise not to get to this point. i remembered that i vowed not to let the weights of what (i think) must get done interfere with the truth of what is most important".

When the minutes fade away....I want to have memories.....
What I thought my kids should become...I can't interfere with God's plan....
When my husband doesn't react like I want him too...I am to love Him even more...
When the happily ever after isn't so happy...there is still joy...
When I feel like resigning as a wife and mother....God calls me to be His servant in this...
In the chaos of life...in the storms...there is God...I say YES to Him and not to satan.

Friends, tonight my heart is heavy...there are some tough situations that will be "pudding" by next week but I cherish your prayers.

In His Graces~Pamela

Radically Blessed: The blessings of radical obedience are unending!

It's sad to come to an end to this on-line blog Bible study hosted by Lelia on Lysa TerKeurst book "What Happens When Women Say YES To God". I will be sure to read this book on a yearly basis-it is that good. It will serve as a reminder of what I have strived to become in this transformation process of being radically obedient and a women who says YES to God daily, no matter the circumstances. Thank you Lysa for writing such a powerful book and thank you Lelia for bring all these women together to share and encourage each other in this journey!!

This last chapter is highlighted so much in my book. As I review these highlights I struggle to pick one thought, one statement, one insight that really stands out. This chapter was so full of wisdom, encouragement and inspiration. So here are the key points I am drawn to (quoting Lysa in pink, my prayer in blue, scripture in purple). I pray you will be blessed by these words...

"We can't seek to follow God wholeheartedly if part of our heart is pulled in a different direction". (pp. 141) There's no being luke-warm in this commitment to obedience. Either you are or you are not.

God, reveal my heart to me, show me any hindrance that keep me from being radically devoted, radically obedient to you.

As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man

~Proverbs 27:19

"God doesn't expect perfection from us-He expects a person humble enough to admit her weaknesses and committed enough to press through and press on. He will guide us past the doubts and fears and lift us up to fulfill out calling." (pp.142)

Lord, my life has humbled me of my own weaknesses and sins so that I can reverence You through the good and in the bad. I missed the mark of perfection a long time ago but now I live in your redemptive grace. It is my desire not to be perfect but to be perfectly content and joyful in You and of You.

The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD...

~Isaiah 29:19

"The mark of a truly godly women is one who reveals the power of God not so much in her doing as in her being. She has opened God's treasure chest of joy and so filled her heart with gratitude and love that just being around her inspire you." (pp.144)

Oh Lord, I desire to have You in my being, for you to be reflected and radiated in my coming and my going. It is your joy that resides in my heart when everything else around me is chaotic. I want to be so full of You that I encourage all those I come across on a daily basis. I am your servant. Use me.

Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy...

~Isaiah 60:5

"When we ask God to continually give us the desire to remain obedient, He does. He will help us to want to obey Him and will give us His power to do so. When we say yes to God, we know that our life and the lives of those we love rest in the certainty of His never-changing love for us." (pp.145)

I say YES Lord. But I can't be obedient without Your help. I call on you daily Lord, to guide me and lead me on this journey. I rest in you alone Lord. Help me live in Your love. Help me to love and minister to others in Your love. Help me to be like you Lord.

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD

~Isaiah 11:2-3

When you are committed to radical obedience, you see everyone through God's eyes of love." (pp.146)

Lord, remove my blindness and let me see this world as you see it.

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

~Isaiah 42:16

"It's about living to give our lives away and making a real impact in this world." (pp.146)

Lord, I want to give my life back to You in full service for you, for you made me and the breath of Your Spirit lives in my body, mind and soul. Take my faults, my weakness and use them to glorify You only. Grow my strength and my willing heart so that I can impact this world for your kingdom.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life

~Job 33:4

"She (Mary) was willing to love Him without reservation, without concern for what others might think or even concern for herself" (pp.147)

Lord, You know I struggle with this so I pray for a Mary spirit, to live outside my flesh and in You. I want to know You. I want to see You and hear You in every area of my life. I have to be a women who says YES to God despite myself, despite what others think, despite what satan throws my way. I want to love You without reservations!

For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him—then the LORD will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves.

~Deuteronomy 11:22-23

Lelia implied it well in her blog entry-you can't carry the garbage and be obedient at the same time. You can't be living in sin and living in unity with God. OUCH! Obedience means change. What happens when women say YES to God? Lysa commented "the world is change". Powerful. My world starts with my family. I choose to say YES to God to allow Him to radically change me which will effect a radical change within my family. As I look at that task it seems impossible at the moment, but I know God can turn the impossible to possible. I can only hope in Him for this!!

What an amazing journey. Thank you for sharing with me in this. I have so enjoyed entering your world, sharing in your heart, and growing in Christ!

In His Graces~Pamela

A thought to ponder...

I only have a few minutes...I want to share a statement from my Beth Moore book 'Breaking Free Day-by-Day' from my quiet time this morning:

"If you stick with God, you will become so unique in the body of Christ that whether or not you ever wanted to be a leader or example to others, you will be. That's just what happens when people become victors."

It hit me this morning like a refreshing cup of coffee when I first wake up...read it again.

"Whether or not we want to...that's just what happens"...it's a God thing. Have you ever experienced this? I hope so. It is so rich!!

In His Graces~Pamela

It was not by their sword that they took the land. Their own arm did not save them. But it was Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You favored them.

~Psalm 44:3 (NLV)

Nothing is Mine...

As we continue our blog bible study hosted by Lelia (http://leliachealey.blogspot.com/) from Lysa TerKeurst's book: What Happens When Women Say YES to God, we entered into chapter 8 'Giving up what was never ours: We are managers, not owners of God's resources'. Do I really need to say more? Can you read the chapter just in this title? You bet!!

Lysa stated our treasure in life should be to "have a heart that rest in His presence" (pp. 136). I have experienced this, I wish I could say I live this daily but I don't. To get to this point you have to get out of your comfort zone and I am not very good at this on most days. I like being in control of my life. There have been times I sat my eyes on something and I succeeded to get what I wanted whether it was God's plans or not.

I have resigned from being a mother twice in the last month or two, not because the kids have done something drastically wrong, but just because I no longer felt like dealing with those things that irritate me such as the bickering and intolerance they have shown towards each other. I wonder where they have learned that (ouch!).

I love my husband and I don't think I would ever be able to breath if he wasn't in my life but what does it say in Matthew 22:30 "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven"-am I interrupting this right? I know my heart will be different in heaven but I don't want to not be Joe's wife even there...but my family is not mine, it is His and He has placed them in my life to "manage", not control, but provide for and take care of.

This treasure becomes reality when we start viewing everything as God's. When we do this "we come to understand that we are giving up what was never ours to begin with, we're walking in radical obedience" (pp. 137). I am weak in this area of ownership but I want to be radically obedient..to the point of changing my attitude in this-now!

I leave you with Lysa's prayer from pp. 137:

Lord, help me to lower my head past my selfishness and pride, past desiring others to serve me and on to serving others, past wanting more and on to giving more, past me in search of You. Help me to always desire the lowered head, full of Your fruit and consumed with Your presence. Help me be forever mindful of my ministry at home as well as the ministry opportunities that wait beyond my own mailbox.

How appropriate following mothers day...don't you think?

In His Graces~Pamela

Doors Keep Opening...

I have been busy all week facilitating and teaching in a conference that trains nurses to be parish nurses/faith community nurses in their congregation. I have had no blog time or e-mail time. We wrapped it up this evening and I am exhausted. However, God has blessed me, opened another door, and I must steal a few moments to share. ..

A month ago I had mentioned that the acting chair for the department of nursing I teach in had nominated me for a $1000 scholarship for 'outstanding community service award' based on my part in the training of parish nurses in the community and students in our program. My plan was to use this for the 'She Speak' conference which is costing me around that much.

I have been working extra in a hospital to pay for the extra that my family needs and for the last 5 weeks I have been cancelled every time I signed up. Without the cushion of income coming in I was about ready to decide to cancel going to this conference as I have not been able to come up with hotel and flight money.

Just a few minutes ago I found out I got this scholarship $$$!! Yea!! I'm going to the P31 She Speaks conference in N. Carolina!! I do not know when I will receive this money but I am going to trust God it will come in time for me to book the flight I need and a room!! I do not know what is on the other side of this door and where this journey will take me in ministry but I am willing and I will go. In obedience I will seek His will. In faith I will walk through this door. He will lead the way and I will follow. I'm excited but at the same time nervous.

Pray this money comes to me soon. My type A personality is trying to be patient in making my final reservations. I know He will make it happen but a few of you hinting to Him for me never hurts!! Thank you and blessings!!

God is good!! I am so grateful for His blessing!!

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

~Rev. 3:8

In his Graces~Pamela

God's Vision

It's Tuesday!! I love Tuesdays because its our on-line blog Bible study Lelia is hosting using Lysa TerKeurst Book "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God". Chapter seven 'Keeping our vision clear: our life will follow where we focus our vision' came to life this weekend for me. Sometimes when we don't respond to God's vision, He has to get bold to get our attention. Sometimes He uses circumstances to open doors. He boldly did both of these this past Sunday.

As I have stated in previous post, my husband and I run the PowerPoint (me) and sound board (him) during both church services. During second service I noticed my husband rise suddenly. I looked to my left to see a little bit of commotion in a pew towards the back. I tap Joe and immediately went to this poor guy and Joe took over the PowerPoint. Of course our associated pastor had started his sermon. The elderly man was fading back in when I knelt beside him. His wife was nervously trying to pick up his nitroglycerin pills which had been dropped. After assessing him as quietly as I could (of course this man was trying to tell me he was fine) my critical care nurse instincts told me different. I whispered to one of the elders I wanted him out in the lobby and so two of them helped him to walk out.
The drama continued in the lobby. As I continued to assess him and take his pulse constantly, I could feel his heart slow down and he proceeded to pass out again, and again, and again. Long story short, I had 911 called and somehow avoided having to perform CPR on this poor man. He had a pacemaker put in yesterday and He is doing fine now. My church got to see what a parish nurse in action would look like and now that ministry ball is rolling!

In my previous church I had a very active parish nurse/health ministry. When I moved to this church after my divorce and re-marriage, I avoided the ministry even though I heard the pastor request it on several occasion. I always had a reason-I was new to the church and needed to get to know it better, I was too busy with my teaching schedule at the college, we have outgrown the building and there really isn't a space for me to function effectively in this role.....God finally had enough....or maybe He knew that the timing was now. Whichever it was, He opened the door-He used me to minister and I responded. Now the pastor wants me to teach a CPR class for the leadership team (which I can do) and they are ready to pay for an AED for the church. This health ministry road has been paved and God has done all the footwork to get us to this point so quickly.

Lysa said "Our call to obedience may challenge our pride". I have been there. In my previous parish nurse/health ministry the first year was all about what I could do in the ministry. It was a tough year. I have learned it is all about what God can do through me in this ministry. No pride. I am called to use what I have been best equipped with-ministering to the body, mind, and soul.

"God uses our experiences to equip us for our calling". Long ago when I entered nursing school the concept of spirituality being important within this profession didn't cross my mind. I was there to learn to be a nurse and to care for the body. As I have grown in my relationship with Christ, He has also grown my interest in the role of spirituality in health care and it is now the core of my nursing career and my life. I have seen Christ more in the patients I have care for whether in the hospital or in the congregation.

Lysa also stated "Our obedience may inspire other to respond". I acted because God called me to. When I went over to this gentleman sitting in the pew I had no idea what was going on, I just knew I was needed, He lead me to it and everything went so smoothly because He was there with us. Now the church is responding and accepting a health ministry team. I am back to my calling I received and trained for back in 2002-my mission field. Since that year I have continued to train nurses in this ministry. I transferred into the role of faculty coordinator for the training of parish nurses, now called faith community nurses, in this area. In fact, I am coordinating and teaching in this course this very week! God's timing is amazing!!

My prayer comes from this chapter. This prayer fits anyone looking to keep focused on God's vision and not their own:

"Oh Lord, give me the desire to be too busy looking at You to consider anything but Your plan! Strip away my short and narrow vision to see the wonderful adventure of truly being Your follower. Help me to be like Your disciples who followed immediately and fully rather than like the people who simply played games at the foot of your cross." (pp.114)

If you are not looking fully at His vision, He will get your attention. Count on it!!

In His Graces~Pamela

The question came up: what is a parish nurse? A parish nurse is a registered nurse who works/serves in her church. As a parish nurse/faith community nurse I did blood pressure checks every Sunday, offered periodic screenings such as for cholesterol and blood sugar through the American Red Cross, taught health and spiritually related classes (ie: Nutrients for the Body and soul, CPR/First Aid, Home Care, etc), home and hospital visits, and so much more. It is a wonderful ministry!! You can find out more on: http://www.parishnurses.org/

Joy-Glow!!

Have you ever know someone that just always had a glow about them. They might not fit the beauty standards of today but there was a joy about their appearance-contentment, peace, happiness-they just glow! Joy-glow! That's my goal. It's not going to happen by losing weight, going to a spa, or by wearing a certain type of make-up. It only comes from within-its internal. Ask any of those people that you know who seem to just glow and they will tell you "it come from knowing Christ". They don't just know Him. They really know Him! They live constantly in His presence, seeking Him, praying to Him, loving Him.
I quote from today's devotional from the Blackaby's book in 'Experiencing Gods Day-By-Day":

"If there is anything that ought to characterize the life of a Christian, it is joy!...Don't deny yourself that which is your birthright as a child of God. Don't be satisfied with a joyless life. There ought to be in every Christian a deep, settled fullness of the joy of Christ that no circumstance of life can dispel. This comes when you allow the Holy Spirit to express Himself in your life...this joy is unlike any happiness that is produced by the world. It fills you and permeates everything you do.

Jesus did not pray that you would merely be happy of even that you would escape grief. He prayed that you would have the same joy that the Father had given Him; a divine joy, a joy that comes from a deep and unwavering relationship with the Father. It is a joy that is grounded so firmly in a relationship with God that no change in circumstances could shake it. This is the kind of joy that Christ is praying will be in you."

That the kind of glow I am talking about-that I am seeking. Then another reading from Beth Moore's 'Praying God's Word Day-By-Day' reminded me that if I look into the mirror and I don't see that joy, that spiritual glow, I need to examine my heart and see what might be infiltrating my joy!!

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

~Psalm 139: 23-34

When Stephen was under persecution, in Acts 6:15 Luke writes "they saw that his face was like the face of an angel". I don't think I will have the face of an angel, nor will I ever-I think that is reserved for the faces of those new born babies!! Luke here is referencing Stephens joy. His glow came from the joy of the Holy Spirit. A joy that glows off an individual in the good times and the bad times. That's is what I hope to be rewarded with as I seek Him more, seek to love Him more and strive to serve Him more.

May you find His joy in your weekend!!

In His Graces~Pamela

The Stress Level is High Today...

God is good...even in these difficult times. Lord knows I need His mercy today and some of your prayers if you should venture over here today.

Last night I dropped my work laptop and not only did the power cord break within the computer, I now have lines all over the screen. Several issues now arise. I am at the mercy of our IT department to come to my rescue....I haven't heard from them yet this morning. All my files I need, especially for the conference I am coordinating next week to train nurses in being parish nurses is on this machine. I had not downloaded anything to my thumb drive yet. I was originally denied a part-time contract here at the college-the new dean came back, not only with a part-time contract but more $$ than I had asked for (did I say God is good?) but now that I am going part time, they could feasibly say no to another lap top. I live on that thing!!

So I am placing this in God's hands and prayer. I will accept whatever comes my way but I am sitting at my desk frozen, unable to complete anything!! IT just call. Most likely the college will require me to pay the damages as it is not covered under their contract. They most likely will not replace this computer with a desk top either because of budget. I do not have the finances!! I NEED PRAYER LADIES!!!

My husband visited my blogs this morning. He commented that everything I seem to be studying God seems to really be working in my life and trying to fine tune it-such as loving my kids fully from Sundays post. It has been a challenge. So he asked me if I might try studying something like "How to live with too much money" and maybe God would swing that by our way. I thought that was too funny! Do you know any good studies on how to live with too much money?!?!?!? It's a thought. Anything is possible with God!!


Pray for my situation!! Finances...my laptop...oh my work files......I need my work files......

In His Graces~Pamela

Update--keep the prayers coming. I have an older laptop on loan from IT and my files have been transfered. God is good. I will probably find out next week if I have to pay for the damage and repairs. I can be like another professor who did the same thing to his computer and refuse but he has been without a computer from the college sense. You know, it has crossed my mind that this is a "God-thing"...maybe He is saying I rely on that stupid machine too much and I need to break away from it....maybe....please pray. Thank you.