Good morning, good morning, good morning! This is the day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!!! What's going to happen today? I don't know, but I know that my God is right by my side!

I am looking forward to great and wonderful things! I know the God of CREATION! I know the God of MIRACLES! Nothing is impossible with my God! With my God, there is ALWAYS hope! My God empowers me! My God lifts me into the heavenlies so I can soar above the problems of this world!

Can you tell that I am excited about God? Every day is a miracle waiting to happen! Every day is a chance for love to bloom, lives to change, and prayers to be answered!

I focus my eyes on my Lord. I let His Word become alive within me. I listen for His still, small voice. I am here, Lord, use me!

It appears that someone is waxing rather poetic this morning, doesn't it? ;-)

I am all excited about things God is doing in my family. My husband stepped into a deeper relationship with the Lord last night at church and I am anxiously anticipating wonderful things to happen! Things just don't stay the same from day to day when we seek God's face. He brings wonderful things for us to see, hear, taste, touch, smell, and experience! He only wants us to return the love He gives us. When we love Him with all our hearts and minds, then we seek to do His will. We want to please Him. In return, He blesses us beyond our wildest imagination!

I am experiencing a great sense of a burden lifted. I'm no longer doing the scrip fund raiser for the band. Usually on Mondays I had to spend at least an hour driving around picking up scrip. Then on either Monday or Tuesday I had to spend at least two more hours putting together orders and delivering them. On Tuesday nights I had to stay home from 3:30 to 9:30 to be available for people to drop off orders, pick up orders, and whatever else they needed.

On Wednesday mornings I spent anywhere from 2 to 4 hours ordering, going to the bank, and doing other things to get ready for the next Tuesday. Then on Fridays I had to stay around the house until my Fed Ex delivery came. Then there were probably a few more hours spent during the week on the phone, on the computer, or whatever. NO MORE!!! Ahhhhh! It feels great!

Link to the 6/4/01 Bible study.

Busy busy busy. I've been killing weeds, washing and hanging clothes, cleaning off my desks, and finishing some projects that have been on hold. I'm trying to get some things caught up around here so the place doesn't look like World War III hit.

Is it as easy for you as it is for me to do things that you know the Lord doesn't like? Have you ever pondered how to walk in the Spirit or how to abide in Jesus? The Lord showed me a way that helps me. If I imagine Jesus watching me then I have to be more careful about what I say and do. Every morning I have to make a determination to keep my mind on Him. I can choose to ignore Him and that makes it easier to say and do what I want, or I can focus on His presence.

Once I determine to keep my mind on Him then I have to refresh that thought throughout the day. It isn't as easy for me to experience His presence as it would be if I could see Him standing nearby. My brain gets occupied with other things and I have to pull it back to thinking about Him. It isn't always easy, but it is getting easier the more I do it. I hope practice makes perfect!

Do you experience periods of time when you don't feel the closeness of the Lord as much as you do other times? It's almost like a time of walking in the desert, more dry than we like. I wonder if it is because I've been concentrating on things other than the Lord. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't God allowing me to see what it is like to feel distant from Him. Whatever the reason, I don't like it one tiny bit! ENOUGH!!!

Link to the 6/12/01 Bible study.

It's summer and it's hot! Well, it's hot where I live. I have to do my yard work in the early morning or in the late evening... or I die. Well, I don't exactly die. My face turns into a bright red tomato and sweat blinds my vision. It's better not to find out just how far I can push my poor body!

I need to get a few things planted in my garden. I didn't get anything planted in the spring because I was so busy, so I am going to get some later-season crops going before its too late. I'm slowly, but surely, getting my life back into a mode that isn't always on the verge of being late. God is helping me to prioritize my time and my efforts. There are some things that are important, and there are others that are nearly unnecessary.

I have a confession to make. I am a night person. If I could choose I would sleep late in the morning and stay up late at night. God has shown me that won't work. If I get up late the rest of the world around me is already hopping. That means I need to get into gear as soon as I get up.

Summer vacation from school started last Wednesday and I've not had to get up to make lunches and get everyone off to school. I wouldn't sleep real late, but late enough that there was no leisure time in the morning.

If I have shopping to do or errands to run, the morning is generally the best time. If I have phone calls to make, morning is generally the best time. Morning is the best time to work in the yard, also. Soooo.... I end up not spending my morning devotional time with the Lord. Boy oh boy does that make a difference in my life! If I don't start out the day with Him then I might as well stay in bed! I feel distanced from Him for the rest of the day.

Early morning is the best time to spend with Him. It is quiet around here. The phone doesn't ring and I don't get interrupted. There just is no better time. Tomorrow morning I turn my alarm back to 4:30 AM where I used to have it. I don't actually get up at 4:30... it is actually closer to 5:00 as it helps me wake up by hitting the snooze button a couple of times. Well, like I said, I am not a morning person. My gears shift slowly that time of day. I stay in first gear for quite some time. Ask my husband... he'll tell you.

God wants a personal relationship with you. He wants to be your closest friend and the love of your life. If you've never done it, it is a hard concept to imagine, but He wants to hold hands with you. He wants you to look into His eyes. It's not the same as looking into another person's eyes, but you can look into His eyes.

He actually wants more than a personal relationship. He wants an INTIMATE relationship with you. You are very very special to Him and He wants you to know how special. He wants you to feel His love, to experience His love, and to be awash in His love. In return, He wants you to love Him back.

Most people have a vague idea of who God really is. They don't seek a relationship with Him because He is God... the Untouchable. They know He can answer prayers, so they submit their requests to the Untouchable God and hope He answers. It's like writing a letter to the leader of your country to inform him (or her) of your opinions on something. You might get an automated, pre-signed response at best. It is EASIER to develop a relationship with God than with the head political figure of a country!

Spend time in your Bible learning about the things God has done and the thoughts He has had. Then, during your prayer time, let Him talk to you. Let Him show you how He feels about you. He is in the same room as you are. He has implanted His Holy Spirit within you so you could carry Him around with you all the time. Let Him be your closest friend. Let Him be your constant companion. Let Him be your lover.

Link to the 6/26/01 Bible study.