Wanted to share...

I was reading/having a devotion yesterday morning and I came across something that Beth Moore said that I thought was so profound...

So I read Luke 4:14-21 (you can read it too if you want) It basically describes all the different calls to Jesus' ministry...to preach good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

So then the author breaks it down and discusses each of those "calls". She writes this about preaching to the poor.

1) "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18). Christ didn't mean the financially destitute. The Greek word for "poor" is ptochos, indicating "utter helplessness, complete destitution, afflicted, distressed." I think God is far too faithful to let anyone make it through life without confronting seasons of utter helplessness. Sooner or later, any healthy individual discovers that autonomy doesn't cut it. Like beggars we go from person to person with our empty cup, crying, "Can't you add anything to my life?" They might throw in a coin or two. But when we shake the cup, the tinny echo reminds us how empty we remain. (this next line is what really got me...) UNTIL WE ALLOW JESUS TO FILL OUR CUPS DAILY, WE SIMPLY SUBSIST. Sooner or later, God will make sure we confront the poverty of living on the alms of others so that we may learn to FEAST ON HIM!

As silly as this may be I have never considered myself poor. Everytime I have ever read about "the poor" in the bible I have thought of other people, the "poor" people, not myself. Isn't that weird? But when you look at the true definition of poor it isn't monetary. And in that case, yes, I am going through a season of my life where I am "poor". I don't know why because everything around me is SO good. My family, my girls, my house, my car, my job....it is all fantastic, but there is something in my life that is destitute. So I guess this is where I need to allow Jesus to fill my cup daily and feast on Him.

I am doing A TON better than I was 2 months ago! Praise God! But, I feel like it is something I am climbing out of, so I will continue to seek Him!

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Thank you

for your prayers! My mom is fine and will be a-ok! She is in a lot of pain, but there was no damage to the bone or any tendons. She just hit an artery, which clotted quickly and needed NO stitches if you can believe that! And she sliced the muscles, which I guess is the painful part...She spent the day at home doped up on vicadin (sp?)!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

There is a song from Rush of Fools...that I have really been inspired by, it's called Undone! It feels like this is me over and over again...when I have more time I will write out the words for y'all...until then, have a blessed evening!

Seeking...

Prayer!

Cory and I and the girls just got back from a "long" weekend, vacationing with my sister-in-laws parents! Tons of fun! Down in Eagle Crest Resort...my parents were there, indoor pool, hiking along the golf courses and the Deschuttes River, sleeping in (til 7am), and tons of good food...So, good weekend, but then we came home and...

on the way home I started to get a horrible headache and back ache and shoulder ache and ugh, my whole body hurts right now, but worse than that...

we went out to my parents house so I could sit in the hot tub and maybe "relax" some of these muscles, anyway, while there (my parents were gone, working at the meat shop) My brother calls and tells us that my mom has stabbed herself in the arm! She hit an artery and possibly some tendons (sp?)...My dad rushed her to Hermiston's Emergency Room, but they tell her that she will have to wait for 1 to 2 hours, so my dad drove her to Pendleton...

This all happened about 2 hours ago. I haven't heard from them since they headed for Pendleton and I am concerned! I am sure that she will be fine...God is in Control and is the Healer! It's just hard for me to relax and let Him do His thing, you know!

Anyway,...
If you would please pray for my moms arm and that she will heal quickly! And for my anxiety! (I, too, went to the doctor last week and that's what the doctor told me I have been experiencing...hot flashes, difficulty breathing, tingling in my face...yeah, not so fun!)

I have more I want to share but this is it for now, until then...

Church Choir

Hey y'all! I'm putting in a plug for New Hope's Christmas Church Choir!

WE NEED YOU!

We are looking forward to getting together and singing on Sunday afternoons from now until Christmas! Practices will start at 4:30pm, and go for 1 hour. We want every kind of singer, that is what makes a great choir! Lots of voices, lots of different voices. So come share with us (even if you don't think you are good, chances are...you are better than you think!)

Get this ladies: DAY CARE WILL BE PROVIDED! so you can even bring your husband!
(Those of you in the 6pm care group...come sing, bring your dinner, we'll all eat together and then go to care group!)

Sundays
New Hope Church
4:30pm

Have a blessed day!

Things to share

I am back from a short blogger hiatus!

I have started walking with a friend at 5:45 in the morning. We walk about 3.5 miles! It has been great for us; exercise, friendship, sharing, talking, laughing...

here is an illustration that she shared with me this morning that I thought you all might enjoy about being a Martha:

A woman stood at the bottom of the hill and was about to take off on her journey to the top. But before she could start, God stopped her and asked if she could carry three stones in her wagon, all the way to the top. The lady told God that wouldn't be a problem and she started on her way. She got about a quarter of the way up the mountain and a friend on the side of the path stopped her and asked if she could help him with a couple of his own rocks. She said yes, put them in her wagon and continued on her journey. About half way to the top someone from her church stopped her and asked if she could carry some of the church's stones. She again said yes, loaded her wagon and struggled the rest of the way to the top. When she reached the top, she saw God and she asked him, "Why did you give me so many stones to carry? There were so many stones, I didn't think I would make it. It nearly took my life just getting here." God looked at her and said, "I gave you three stones to carry. All of the other stones were put there by you."


This really hit me! What has he really asked us to do? Are we doing that? or have we tried to take on the WHOLE WORLD, something that God NEVER intended for us to do!
Have a blessed day!