HEART'S CRY

HEART'S CRY: Treasured Flowers From My Son : "Sitting in my office on a routine day today when I received an amazing surprise. My son Josh had roses delivered to me. White ro..."

Sitting in my office on a routine day today when I received an amazing surprise.  My son Josh had roses delivered to me.  White roses.  My favorite! Had to take a long break to gulp back the emotions.   I am the most blessed mother in the world!!! Brought back a flood of sweet and treasured memories that I hide in the sacred hope chest of my heart.  Dandelions gallor on hot summer days brought by dirt covered chubby little boys' hands!  Boys coming home from walks or bike rides with mysterious and beautiful flowers.  Bits of flower, beautiful rocks, sticks and other treasures in cups by my kitchen sink filled me with joy and inspiration.    

HEART'S CRY: Wounded to Warrior! : " Amazed that after so long and so much work that a bad dream awoke me. One of 'those' kinds of dreams where reality collides w..."

HEART'S CRY: Marginalized Influence of One Woman : "I love studying those who have been here and done that! Those godly and powerful women and men who served the world with great courage..."

I love studying those who have been here and done that!  Those godly and powerful women and men who served the world with great courage.   In 1911, Lillian Trasher began her ministry in Egypt and her Assiout Orphanage.  I've heard of her work before but never in the context of an article by Beth Baron in an AG Heritage magazine.  She was called, "The Nile Mother".     Several things about her fascinate and inspire me in my work today. First, she did not intend to start an Orphanage with far reaching influence.  Rather she followed God and did His work.   Serving a young mother who was dying, she returned home with the dead woman's baby and rented a home out of faith and began an orphanage.  According to Beth Baron, "during it's first fifty years, roughly eight thousand orphans passed through its doors ."  Amazingly and without the church growth classes or email marketing or degrees- she changed a culture. Bar...

HEART'S CRY: Hidden Treasure Behind My Shed : "Hidden Treasure Behind my Shed While moving some dirt and pruning vines this week, we found a buried treasure!!!!!!! &..."

Hidden Treasure Behind my Shed While moving some dirt and pruning vines this week, we found a buried treasure!!!!!!!   A treasure buried quite a few years ago by some little boys playing rancher behind the shed.  The treasured Hereford bull that completed the set was dug up, washed off and not is on my window ledge!   I see the scene in my minds eye as if it was just this morning on a warm summer day.     The playhouse was wide open and homemade weapons including the wooden guns or bow and arrow were being created (and used) while the littlest brother ran circles with Buster- Our cowboy was managing his herd on the dirt hill. Now years later with digging, rain, wind and erosion-the treasure is found. God is unearthing buried treasure in my life and heart as well.   It has been a painful process digging through the compost and rot of caution, doubt and fear that can build up on one's soul.    The tr...

HEART'S CRY: Hidden Treasure Behind my Shed : "While moving some dirt and pruning vines this week, we found a buried treasure!!!!!!! A treasure buried quite a few years ago b..."

While moving some dirt and pruning vines this week, we found a buried treasure!!!!!!!   A treasure buried quite a few years ago by some little boys playing rancher behind the shed.  The treasured Hereford bull that completed the set was dug up, washed off and not is on my window ledge!   I see the scene in my minds eye as if it was just this morning on a warm summer day.  The playhouse was wide open and homemade weapons including the wooden guns or bow and arrow were being created (and used) while the littlest brother ran circles with Buster- Our cowboy was managing his herd on the dirt hill. Now years later with digging, rain, wind and erosion-the treasure is found. God is unearthing buried treasure in my life and heart as well.   It has been a painful process digging through the compost and rot of caution, doubt and fear that can build up on one's soul.  The treasure of the dream and cry of a young girls heart.  I'm washing it off and...

HEART'S CRY: "Dark" Side of Fear : "When I was a girl we milked a few cows and one was especially evil. Dark was her name...for real. She knew more then any cow should an..."

When I was a girl we milked a few cows and one was especially evil. Dark was her name...for real.  She knew more then any cow should and would give us the evil eye when we came near just to test us for any fear.  As we would pull the milking stool in, she would watch for just the right moment to slap her tail in our eyes or kick us and knock us over in to the manure.   Through experience we learned that when we tried to keep our distance  and play it safe that it made her more dangerous.  If we didn't want to get hurt, we needed to get right in close.  We would sidle down her side and put our head in her flank and pull the stool up close.  It was one of the many lessons I learned quickly and painfully from Dark that I will never forget!   And yet in my own life I tend to keep my distance and play it safe.  When in reality playing it safe only sets us up to being kicked in the teeth and knocked over in the crap!   Sidle up.  Pull...

HEART'S CRY: Month of the Young Child-And Family! : "Celebrating the month of the young child is celebrating the family! I believe that the family is God's great design to serve as..."

Celebrating the month of the young child is celebrating the family!   I believe that the family is God's great design to serve as the place of belonging, growing, learning and being for children.  As we celebrate children this month-Celebrate the Family!   Research shows that when we build the capacity of a family~ we build the capacity of the child.  This great reciprocal relationship of learning from each other.  Children learn and grow within the context of the family.  Children learn boundaries from experiencing them.  They learn to value hard work, empathy and character traits from experiencing them.  What does this have to do with you?  Are you a parent?  A neighbor of a young family?  A professional?  A business man or woman? A grandparent or an aunt or uncle or cousin?   YOU have the opportunity to impact the family and the children in your world!!!  Take the time today to celebra...

HEART'S CRY: Seeking Heart : "Seek. Constant and Continuous Action. Seeking is not the end of something but rather the continuing process. I've been thi..."

Seek.  Constant and Continuous Action.  Seeking is not the end of something but rather the continuing process.  I've been thinking so much about "Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness."   Seeking His rule and peace in my heart and in my life.  Seeking Him as my All In All!!  Seeking His affection and attention.  Seeing His wisdom and direction.  Seeking His ownership in my life.  Seeking His validation.  Seeking to be right with Him.  Period.   I seek to see His Kingdom come and His will be done in my life and heart.  Then leave my needs up to Him!

HEART'S CRY: Get My Heart In My Faith! : "Woofta! Sounds like a good word for how I feel this Saturday morning. It feels to me like a falling in to my rocking chair..."

Woofta!  Sounds like a good word for how I feel this Saturday morning.   It feels to me like a falling in to my rocking chair with a giant sigh!!!!!! So much going on in my life as well as in the world that my heart gets tired and worried and overwhelmed and anxious and burdened...  Hmmm.  This is my heart giving me a message loud and clear... Get Me In Your Faith!  Faith is believing what we cannot see. KNOWING that God is truly who He says He is and does all that He says He will do!  It is knowing the truth about God and the world and what is going on that is far away from the feelings of today.   Our hearts involve our feeler, thinker and our doer!  The compass and the steering wheel of our lives.  Our hearts need to get in our faith!

HEART'S CRY: My Real Heart's Cry-Music to His Ears : "Nothing better to a Mom or Dad's heart when talking with their children then hearing their real heart speak. When they open and talk f..."

Nothing better to a Mom or Dad's heart when talking with their children then hearing their real heart speak.  When they open and talk from that place that is just them.   It dawned on me the other day that the real cry of my heart must be worship to God's ears.  As our Father, I know that He relishes the pouring out of our heart to Him.  When we cry out to Him and the camouflage and the walls and the trying to control everything falls down around our ankles and we speak to Him from our heart.   If we seek God out of the same sense of controlling our environment, our feelings, our families and our world that we tend to do in everything else then are we really seeking God??  Do we need Him if we still think we can control the outcome?  Will He listen if we come to Him with our little agendas, hidden motives and puffed up desires?   I hear Him whisper to my heart to "Just Be Still and Know that I am God." So I tried spending fi...

If I just listen to the news this is what I am tempted to do.  A type of fatalism creeps in to my brain.  The sort of helplessness that is NOT from God.  As my wise husband puts it so sweetly-"We need to be more ballsy as believers."  Sick of whiny, hide behind the walls and wait for the end of the world wussy believers- in other words.   Poor me and what's the point type of living is not for those who proclaim that the Jesus is the Son of God, rose from the dead, and will come back again and kick Satan's Butt!  What was I thinking?????? If my feelings and actions are a sign of what I really believe then what do I really believe?  Do I believe God is in control or do I believe that I need a Tower of Babel?  Do I believe the truth that God has created us and absolutely knows what is going on?  Do I know without a shadow of a doubt that the God who is all powerful and all knowing-is also ALL- LOVING?  And by the way, "Who am I to que...

HEART'S CRY: What The World Needs Now.... : "A heart of empathy is a heart of love. A heart of love is not self-seeking or proud nor focused on getting but rather on giving. ..."

A heart of empathy is a heart of love.  A heart of love is not self-seeking or proud nor focused on getting but rather on giving.  The only true way to have a heart of love is to have God's heart. The more isolated, disconnected, individualistic, materialistic, busy and self-absorbed that we become as a world-the less empathy we have as a people.  In fact according to a study done by the University of Michigan empathy in young people graduating from high school has a decrease of empathy by 40% since 2000.   It is so much easier just to stay away from people by escaping to our many media outlets then to do the work of having real, authentic, empathic and growing relationships with those around us.  What the world needs RIGHT NOW is Love.   To love our God with all of our heart, mind and soul.   To love our spouse, children and family with the sacrificial love.   To love our neighbor and co-workers and church. ...

Intentional Living.   Deliberate.  Purposeful.  Willful.  Planned.  Conscious.    So much of my life is just doing the urgent and what is at hand that it becomes easy to live outside of my calling and purpose.  The important.  My priorities.  The Cry of My Heart becomes put on mute.   Watching the Tsunami wash away buildings and cars with a power that is unimaginable has turned up the volume.  In one horrifying second everything that seems so important and critical is washed away.  God, I want to live intentionally.  To live with abandon and focus on what is important to me.  My relationship with God, my husband and my boys. Creating my home and collecting memories.  Help me God to stop.  To Be Still.  To Regroup.  To do what is at hand to do.

Remember that term?  That has been awhile back for most of us.  However, it is fitting for me today.   I want more.  I want so much more for my boys.  A yearning that is as physical as the yearning for water on those extremely hot days of haying when I forgot my water.  When I would have have given anything for a very cold glass of water. Boys-PLEASE hear the cry of your Mom's heart.  The cry that is yearning for you to seek God like you would seek water on a hot and dry day.  Seek God and seek to be right with Him.  Trust and Obey Him.  Do it the way He wants you to so you will have the desires of your heart.  Follow the path that He has for you so you will prosper in your personal, financial, emotional and relational lives.  Guard your heart so the wellsprings of your life will not run dry!  Look to Him only to meet all of your needs according to His riches so your cup will never run dry! If I could...

Nose Alert- the phrase my husband uses to remind me to keep my nose in my own business.   The weakness of being a person empassioned by injustice, hurting people and a desire to "fix it."  My Heart's Cry is to know the difference between when and how to jump in and when to leave alone.  Smiling and lifting up the cashier and remembering her story and her struggle and her journey is good.  Worrying about every political story and individual story for that matter is BAD.   Knowing what is my responsibility and what is not and using the freedom and power to choose.  Not because I have to or out of guilt or martyr complex or "no-one else is going to do it."   My Focus Needs To Be On Seeking God and being right with Him first.  Taking care of what I am RESPONSIBLE FOR which is my choices, attitudes, and behavior, talents, gifts and strengths and consequences.  Taking care of that to which I have a responsibility for includi...

I am sure that I said those words as I was born into this world because I have been so good at saying them every since.  When they told me not to go out in the cows or you won't get far when I ran away from home (at 4) I can just imagine those words coming out of my mouth.   When I was told that girls don't play football in grade school or that girls wouldn't drive over thrill hill.  It also came out when our Pastor (who I loved dearly) told me what the Bible said about drinking, sex and submitting to authority.   Or when my Mother kept telling me that she was praying for me.    I understood my horse who wanted to fight the bit, take it, and rid himself of his rider. I wanted to be free. If only I knew then what I know now or at least what I am learning...  True freedom is found within submission to the true authorities in my life.  Not the "fine-I'll do it" submission but my honest willingness to put myself in a position of submission...

Making the cut.  Everywhere.  Everything. From my yard to my heart and mind....it has to go! Cutting out from my vines, grasses and perennials to my accumulated piles of junk in my house, shed and office.   Cutting out the unnecessary time wasters and energy stealers in my life and the nonessential out of my budget.   Cutting out the noise.  The chaos. Cutting out negatives, the drama, and the unhealthy. Cutting out crappy thinking and worry and guilt and unproductive growth. March is the season that begins to wake us up from our winter slumber.  A time for spring cleaning and spring thaw.  Time for the birds to come back.  Spring is a natural pruning time in our lives.  A time to prune so new growth can happen.   Sharpen your tools.  Get to cutting.

Humus: The stuff left over in my garden such as decayed leaves and vegetable matter that feeds my plans.    Humus is a root word and is related to humility.  Interesting correlation between the rotting plants and compost in my garden to those humiliating events and times in my life. Those leftovers, rotten fruit, veggies and coffee grounds, worm "poop" and decaying leaves mixes in with the soil to create the nutrients that will strengthen my new plants this spring. The humiliating experiments of my planting and failing attempts at new strategies actually leads to the healthy build up of my soil and the beautiful flowers of spring.  Lord take those humiliating events of my life and mix them into my daily life to create the soil for growth and productivity.

I say I want to dream.  I say I want to reach my goals.  I say I want to be healthy.  But do I?  D o I want to change? Do I want to take off everything that isn't truth?   How about those hats that are on the coat rack of my mind that can be switched like a magician with a slight of hand trick throughout the day?   Wearing so many different hats leads to the obvious set up for failure.... wearing the wrong hat at the wrong time.  And those around me freak out!  But the hat has to match the mask. Which hat goes with which mask?  I have a collection of beautiful and intricate mask in my traveling trunk!   As I open the trunk with the intention of seeing what is at the bottom...an incredible stench drives me away.  The stench of old lies and old facades fill my nose.  So I just pick through the top layer at the current stash of cover ups.  Do I really have these?  I can't believe that I actually ...

Let it go.  Drive on.  Not quite the words he used but the same spirit.  These were the words my son used last night to describe his will to keep going and fight on.  These are the words of a man who has built some amazing character muscle and won't be stopped by every wind blowing him around.  Good motto for us all to adopt. Our lives are not about this moment in time but rather built on time before and are the seeds for time continued.  We stand on those who have sown and driving before and have the choice to leave a legacy of endurance and perseverance and mental toughness. Let It Go.  Drive On!