The Lenten Journey

Day 23:  Confession Day

I am dealing today!   You know dealing as in the sense of always wanting to be charging forward.  I jump out of bed, grab my cup of coffee and am on the lookout for what the “God Assignment / Adventure” is going to be.  Anxiety sometimes plagues me as I deal with GAD (inherited –won’t go away-must be dealt with-prayers for it to leave are responded to with:  “And He said unto me, My  grace is sufficient for you:  for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  II Corinthians 12:9)  My verses for this year are Isaiah 30:15 – In quietness and trust is your strength and Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God.  Well I have quoted these verses over and over and have been so proud of myself for staying focused.  However, today – and if I am truthful, for quite a few days – God has been sending me signals that I’m not getting it and He wants me to give Him the gift of being Quiet and Still.  I wrote in my journal this morning:  Lord, I am struggling right now.  Busyness assuages the yearning in my heart to think I am close to you, but you know how I deal with wanting to be “important for You.”  You also know that in my poor little blond brain being quiet and still equals nothing  .  OK, Here is my hand.  You are going to have to hold me real tight for me to be still.  Oh my, I got still for a moment going “Duh, this is not natural and.   .   .  .  .  .

 Oh Oh Oh, I just got the picture of Spring Cleaning -  I have been doing that for two weeks and as I clean out the clutter and cobwebs, things are roomier and smell so good.  That’s what You are doing.  Sweeping Me clean of Busyness so I will be clutter free and have a sweet aroma. 

Hmm, I guess I have to be Still for Him to Create a Clean Heart in Me and give Him what He is requesting of me today. Thank goodness Jesus is in heaven interceding for me - so there might be Victory!

The Lenten Journey

Day 22:  Love Me

My Jesus, I Love Thee

Words: William R. Featherston, 1864

Music: “Gordon,” Adoniram J. Gordon, 1876

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; for thee all the follies of sin I resign. 

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. 

I love thee because thou hast first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. 

In mansions of glory and endless delight;  I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. 

Uh oh, I’m feeling like Peter this morning!  La la la Do you love ME la la la?  I want to do like Peter and say “of course, you know I love you”!  But I sense He is asking a deeper question.  Do you love me enough to Trust Me?  Do your actions show You Trust Me?

 What does Trusting Him really mean?   If I trusted Him would I get in a twit so quickly when something I don’t expect happens?  Do I trust that He is really watching over me and those I love?  Do I trust that He is really in control of my life?  The scripture “If You Love Me – You Will Keep My Commandments – rings in my heart.  Words like do not fear, do not let the sun go down without dealing with anger, feed my sheep,  be still and know that I am God, do not be anxious ect. etc. 

Oh my my, there is a big pot of emotions boiling around inside me.  Do I really BELIEVE that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.  For today, He is asking me to move the love relationship deeper; to trust Him more; to not play any games with myself and “in everything" Trust Him to be my God.  He whispers: "When you really Love someone, you Trust them.  I am asking you to Love me enought to Trust Me".

The Lenten Journey

Day 21:  Only Trust Him 

Come, every soul by sin oppressed; There’s mercy with the Lord, And He will surely give you rest By trusting in His Word.

Refrain - Only trust Him, only trust Him,
Only trust Him now; He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now.(John Stockton – 1889)

Day 21, I am halfway through the Lenten Journey and I’m just beginning to see the path He’s leading me on.  What good does it do if, like the Pharisees, I keep my nose stuck in the Bible but my life is not morphing into His likeness?   In John 5, The Message lends itself to this thought:  OK, Pattigail, you study your Bible but are you taking the Message seriously?  Is what You’re reading pointing you to Jesus and His agenda?  Or, are you trying to figure things out so you can read the Bible and then check off your spiritual job for the day?  Like the Pharisees, are you  jockeying for positions with others or ranking your rivals and ignoring God”?  I believe Abba is showing me that I need to deal with the tendencies of the Pharisees that reside in me which are to make it about  self and what I do instead of just showing up daily and asking:  What’s next Abba.  I received this email and was instructed to read it twice daily.

AN INTIMATE MESSAGE FROM GOD TO YOU

My Child……. You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1.  I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being.  Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring.  Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12  You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.  Psalm 139:15-16-I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live  Acts 17:26  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Psalm 139:14  I knit you together in your mother’s womb.  Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.  John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love  1John 4:16  And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.  1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:38: Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.  Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.  Jeremiah.29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3: My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.  Psalms 139:1.7-18  And I rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17. I will never stop doing good to you.  Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession  Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.  Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things.  Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart Psalm37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires.  Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you that you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager .   2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you Psalm 34 18.  As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.  Revelation 21:3-4  And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.  Revelation 21:34 I am your Father, and l love you even as I love my son, Jesus  John 17:23  For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.   John 17:26  He is the exact representation of my being.  Hebrews 1:3  He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.  Romans 8:31  And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19  Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.   2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.   1John 4:10  I gave up everything  I loved that I might gain your love.  Romans 8:31-32  If you receive the gift of my son Jesus you receive me.  1 John 2:23  And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39  Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.  Luke 15:7. I have always been Father and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15  My question is...Will you be my child? John1:12-13I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32.

Love, Your Father - Almighty God

Back to the song for the day:  Only Trust Him.  I will receive answers, rest and morphing by Trusting In His Word - not just reading it.  Refocus – my gift for today - Believe the Good News Baby Doll!

The Lenten Journey

Day 20:   Watch for Instructions

Today started rather early and I was on the go from the moment my feet hit the floor.  However as I awoke I was on the lookout for Abba's request or instructions.  As I had many things that kept me going at mach speed today, I was constantly aware that I had not heard anything yet.  Later in the day when there was a rather big misunderstanding between my man and me - I heard His voice.  "Be Still, just listen, and give him understanding and your attention."  My thought was that I would much rather air my side of the situation.  Instead I listened, shared briefly and then did everything I could to create a happy memory day.  Now why would I rather be "right" (or not) or make sure my side was presented well when I could be a peace maker and not waste precious time proving my point of view.  

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed  are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. 

 Oh what a sweet hug that was.  I was remembering this scripture wrong and thought that peacemakers were the ones that inherited the earth but I   AM   A  CHILD   OF  GOD. 

By the way - did anybody notice I didn't eat chocolate today?  I don't think anybody even cared - including Abba

The Lenten Journey

Day 19: Love Yourself !!

Just writing those words sent my “little self” into a hyper mode.  Why can I not get passed “I must be doing something to merit God’s Love.”  Do my children look at me and say:  “Let me see, how may I sacrifice, how much penance must I do to get mom to notice, love and approve of me?”   I believe this is the mindset that causes me to  battle "living in the moment".   In preparing   for a couple’s seminar on “The Final Game Plan” – scoring  the final goal or touchdown as I “wing my way to heaven” -  I took a personality profile test and it nailed me.  It showed my really strong areas and my really weak areas.  I am always shocked when a computer can “nail me.”   Why would my first response be to look at the things I wish were different and lament that “I’m not perfect” versus looking at my strong points and celebrating that I am fearfully and wonderfully made?  After yesterday’s writing , why did I get up and my first thought for this Lenten Journey was “Abba, what shall I give up today?”  Would you like for me to give up -------------. Oh poopey poopey!   It was then that I sensed Him saying to me – just like I would say to my precious grand children:   Baby Doll, Look at Me – la la la Turn my eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace - la  la la.  As I turned my eyes upward My Abba said:  "Good Morning precious, I love you.  Stop trying to prove you deserve my love.  I chose to love you because you are my child.  I formed you, knit you together and put you where you would grow in the ways you don’t understand but that build character.  OK?  I want you to be on the lookout today for My smile and I want you to  see yourself as I see you.  If you don’t how to love you, how can you love others?  The second great commandment is:  Love others as you love yourself.  For today, give Me- Abba,  the gift of Believing what I say about you and do not listen to any “sneaky snake voices” in your head.  Spread the news to others that they are special and when they feel unworthy or depressed they may be  listening to the wrong voice.  You’re mine Baby doll, now live like you believe that today!"  Oh I am reminded of my favorite pictures of my first two grandchildren, holding them and looking down in delight of them just being mine.

Numbers 6:  God bless you and keep you,  God smile on you and gift you,  God look you full in the face and make you prosper.  (The Message)



The Lenten Journey

Day 18:  Stop having a Negative Attitude – about God

Aauuuggghhh – I get up each morning with my poor brain scurrying and hurrying for God focus.  God graciously gave me the gift of a song as I wake up many years ago.   It’s like “instant” radio as I come to consciousness.  This morning’s  song – This is the Day, This is the Day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it . . . la la la .   As my little brain is singing away – and at the same time, as I always multitask, I’m going what is Abba wanting as my  Lenten Gift to Him  today?  Oh, what is Abba going to ask me to give up today so I can “prove” I love Him!  I begin to get that “sick” spiritual feeling – like I had taken a bite out of a “rotten apple!”  Uh Oh, what’s up?  Quieting down and following the thought pattern emerging in my head, I began to allow the Spirit to lead me.  I sensed that my Abba was sad with my thoughts and started looking at pictures of Jesus.  The Picture that grabbed me:

 I sensed Him looking at me and asking:  “You think I did this  so you could give up something every day to prove you deserve My love?”Are we into the 18^th day of the Adventure and you haven’t recognized that I am showing you “The Gift!”  Back to Catechism One:  The chief end of (wo)man is to Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever!  My mind becomes a whirlwind of thoughts. 

Abba is asking me to give up the gigantic mess of negative thoughts concerning Him and His will for my life that are swirling around in my mind.  To put a beautiful bow on this gift today, He points me to God Calling – March 16:

I am with you to guide you and help you.  Unseen forces are controlling your destiny.  Your petty fears are groundless.  What of a man walking through a glorious glade who fretted because ahead there lay a river and he might not be able to cross it, when all the time, that river was spanned by a bridge?  And what if that man had a friend who knew the way – had planned it – and assured him that at no part of the journey would any unforeseen contingency arise, and that all was well?  So leave your foolish fears, and follow Me, you Guide, and determinedly refuse to consider the problems of tomorrow.  My message to you, trust, and wait.

Oh, look what I see!!

Thank You . . .  This is the Day, This is Day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made - - - I will rejoice and take the Gift(s) today and just say “Thank You, Abba!”

The Lenten Journey

Day 17:  Acknowledge Answered Prayer

Sitting, minding my own business at a fund raiser last night, someone walked up to the table and asked if my husband or I would bless the meal.  My man accepted this request.  After the food was blessed and as we were eating – oh my, I recognized My Abba was speaking to me.  I pulled into my “sacred space” to check it out and lo and behold His voice was softly, sweetly saying:  “Remember that young woman that pray pray prayed for a “God Man?”  I was stunned, right there in the middle of a room full of people.  I sensed my Abba with His arms crossed, smiling down at me and asking “What do you think of this answered prayer?”  Oh my heart exploded within me.  My reply:  “Oh man, all the ‘requirements’ I gave you were peanuts compared to what you have given me.”  My heart was broken and soared at the same time.  Ephesians 3:20-21 was needing to be dealt with:  Now to  Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or  imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

During this Lenten Adventure, I am more tuned in to the spiritual and how it is always there but I miss it daily because of the busyness of life and the monster of “Hurry”   My little brain went into overdrive searching through memories of all the times God has graciously answered my prayers and I have given Him a superficial “Thank You” and hurried on with my next request. 

As I woke up this morning and asked what His Lenten request is for today, the picture of last night flashed in my mind.   He wants me to give Him the Gratitude He deserves for all the prayers He has answered.  I will start my list with:

1.    A “God Man” to be my life partner, my friend, my confidant and surprise – a helper!  Hmm, I thought I was designated “helper” But God just blows me away! He has graciously given me someone to "help" me be the person He created me to be: A Gracious, Thankful Woman!  (A little voice said:  hmmm, wonder what your man prayed for?)   

The Lenten Journey

Day 16:   Abba, Can we Laugh Today?

Life has been hard for the last while.  I have had bouts of sickness from helping, doing, going, and leading.  After listening to my Abba yesterday, hearing Him say He wanted me to give Him the gift of TRUST, I asked Him if I could choose the gift I wanted to give Him today and – dumm dumm de dumm dum:  could it be  Laughter.  A picture of another blogger appeared on my screen and there was the face of Lucille Ball – my “wanna be”.  I have always aspired to be a “Smart Lucy” as the joy of my young life was watching I Love Lucy and laughing.  Plus, Proverbs 17:22 says that Laughter is Good Medicine.    When I saw Lucy's face I looked up and asked God –“Tomorrow may I give you Laughter?” 

Oh my antennae were up this morning when I got out of bed.  Every time I would try to talk with my man yesterday about the journey I was on, lo and behold tears would jump out of my eyes.  So, I’m ready to laugh – is that ok God, was my question.  I heard His voice.  TRUST!  I want you to TRUST me.  Excuse me Sir, didn’t we do that one yesterday?  TRUST! 

I’m listening Abba.  I’m quiet Abba.  My heart is waiting to hear.  It was then I sensed that stiring in my spirit of needing to deal with: – Am I really listening?    He is showing me that I really do not TRUST  Him unless things go as I want them.  I really do not TRUST that He is as good as He says He is.  I do not TRUST that He will supply all my needs.  I do not TRUST that He can handle any situation without me “mucking” in it. 

Ah Ha - the secret:  if I want to throw my head back and laugh, I must TRUST  Him.   He has already given me the picture of Him laughing on Day 10.  Oh my, maybe I will get it today.  It is when I TRUST Him that the burdens will not be my focal point.  Then I can join Him, throw back my head and LAUGH.   Only Trust Him, Only Trust Him, Only Trust Him Now!  He will save me from missing the joy of Laughing.

The Lenten Journey

Day 15:  Trust Me

I woke up singing Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman

Blessed Be Your Name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord  Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord 

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's 'all as it should be' Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name

God has me thinking about when I choose to Praise Him and Trust Him.   I know in my heart it is generally on the days when everything is going like I want it.  Oh, I want to Trust Him when I have no understanding of what is going on.  I want to Trust Him to be all He says He is.  I want to Trust that He can and will do all He says He will do.  
The next step in my Lenten Journey is to know that I can’t trust myself – I’m like Peter in that I think I will stand strong but Jesus knows my weaknesses and my fears.  He is asking me to TRUST HIM in EVERYTHING!
This is my prayer:

The Lenten Journey

Day 14:  Accept Peace

OK, what is going on?  In this “Lenten Sacrifice” I thought I was going to be asked to give up something and concentrating on keeping my little hand open where God would take away “bad” stuff – food, drink – yes the “peanuts of life.”  However, what He is doing is asking me to grasp with my little hand all the good things He has provided!   Now, isn’t that just like God?  I want to live in the mentality of “Oh look at me, I am so spiritual that I gave up something for God” versus “Oh look at God, He is so wonderful He just keeps piling it on!”

Well, He did take another thing away yesterday -  Another “ministry” that I participate in.  I can hardly believe He has removed two “ministry” areas from my life in less than 4 days?  Oh my, I feel like He is striping me of what I perceive gives me identity.  Who am I if I don’t teach?  Who am I if I don’t lead?  Who am I if I don’t move with the spiritual movers and shakers?  Who am I?  My heart is about to burst because He is saying “YOU   ARE  MINE.  I have showered you with gifts and you have taken them but are not enjoying them."  (Side note:  that’s just like my mom and dad – I give them wonderful things and they put them in a drawer to save for special times – selah).   He is giving understanding of what His Lenten request is for me today:  "Baby doll, I want you to enjoy PEACE" – oh my here comes an acronym –

P  ractice

E  njoying

A  ssuredly

C  hrist’s

E  xtravagance

Oh my WORD – excitement is surging through my veins as I accept His gifts.   Oh I just have to sing:

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee, all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, My Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus 'tis now.[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/religious_music/my_jesus_i_love_thee.html ]

The Lenten Journey

Day 13:   Count It All Joy

What a weekend!  What a surprise!  What confusion!  I “conflicted” with another person.  My spin was that I was trying to make things better!  But after the weekend was over, what really happened is:

·         I learned that all is not as it appears.

·         Grace and Love are stronger than being right.

·         You must have friends to help you – Like a Heron and Owl.

·         My best friend is my man, K Larry – He’s so smart.

·         My scrawny butte was saved!  I was getting ready to go somewhere He didn’t want me to go!

·         I had every opportunity to be angry, hurt, vengeful and un-Christ like.

·         I passed the test and am Rejoicing!

To top it off when I woke this morning, I heard the sweet voice of my Abba - that I absolutely love - saying: 

Count it all Joy, Baby doll – I saved you! 

How many times He has tried to save me I’ll never know until I get to heaven, but for today I have been saved from going somewhere I didn’t need to go.  Today He is asking me to bask in Joy – not because of what I did but what I allowed Him to do - that is profound. 

James 1:2-4 – Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and show its true colors.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

And by the way, Abba – thank you for K Larry, the wise owl and the focused great heron, and yes the pelican too!  You are teaching me so much on this Lenten Journey – and definitely not what I thought I would learn – but BETTER!

I Love You God !!

The Lenten Journey

Day 12:         Acceptance of What God Has Provided

This Lenten Adventure is amazing me.  I began by asking the question:  “What can I give up for Lent?”  I then moved to: “What Does God Want Me to give Him or do for Lent?”  This is definitely not going in the direction I “presumed.”  Oh my, I am starting to taste “new wine.”  When I thought of giving up chocolate or wine, I wasn’t prepared for such  positive requests.  Would/Could/Should God say to me:  “My sweet girl, your little mindset is so negative.  You think I’m going to take something away, make you sacrifice, make you. . . blah blah blah!” – yes that is what it sounds like in my brain.  However, what He is showing me is that I don’t even begin to understand what He wants me to receive, how He wants me to receive it and what He wants me to do with it – if I choose to receive it.  I can put the Gift up on the shelf and tell everyone – “Look what God has given me!”  I can make it “religious” and not touch it, smell it, handle it OR I can unwrap the things He is showing me, touch them, taste them, smell them, listen for His real thoughts – Oh man, just Enjoy the gracious, wonderful, magnificent, phenomenal God that loved me first, chose me and sent His Son so that I could be loved to wholeness.  I choose to take this gift and grapple with II Peter 1:3 – Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God.  The best invitation we ever received!  We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned you back on a world corrupted by lust.  He has shown me what Lust is:  Living   Under  Self  Trust.  (The Message Translation)
 I am going to do more than gaze at this Gift.  I am going to allow God to expand my little brain as to the enormity of what is included in this Gift.

The Lenten Journey

Day 11:  Acquitted of all Wrong Doing

I delved into John 3 this morning.  I wasn’t sensing where I would be led today because I am dealing with Island “Junk” that has my brain scattered and me questioning my motives and desires.  I wanted to ask God if He thought I could choose what I want to give Him today!   The answer was “no baby doll, I have a better idea than you.”  It was then that the light bulb went off in my head regarding all the mistakes and sins - intentional and unintentional - that I have  made,  which hang around in my head and rob me of the abundant life.  I have so many regrets wishing that I had been a better wife, a better mom and could/would be more understanding with my aging parents.  The old swirl of what ifs surfaced.  What if I had learned God’s assignment for my marriage earlier and handled the differences between Ken and me in a different way.  What if I had acknowledged that my kids weren’t mine to turn into little me’s – which I am comfortable with – instead of all the turmoil and trauma that I created by not understanding so many things about parenthood?  Well, I did the best I knew how but learning over the long haul that I cannot be perfect or “do it” perfect as there is only one Person who can claim that?  Well, for today I heard my Abba say:  “How would your life be different today if you truly believed that all your sins and the messes they have created are “Forgiven” or are only a prayer away from being Forgiven?   How would it be if He touched me with a magic wand and I turned into Snow White?  Oh my, I did take a bite out of the apple of “self will or ignorance or disobedience,” but God has and can take care of that completely and has or will pronounce:  Snow White – you are mine.  I am your Prince and I have come to rescue you and have brought you into a glorious life if You will accept this Gift.  Will you accept my kiss of Forgiveness?  Oh my, can it be as simple as choosing to live in the belief of I John 1:9 – If I confess my sin, He is faithful and just to forgive me All my iniquities and to cleanse me  of All unrighteousness!  Voila:  Snow White.  Yes I bit many apples but my Prince is ready and willing to give me the Kiss of New Life each day!  Now back to His desire for me today: “ Baby Doll will you live in Forgiveness – period!?”  OK, I’m no dummy!  I know a wonderful gift  when it is given and He is not asking me to do anything but accept a present from Him.  Oh Yes.  Signing off –

The Lenten Journey

Day 10:  A God Guide’s Day

Today is an Adventure.  Four of us ladies are exploring a whole day with God.  We are meeting for coffee and are then going to spend the whole day focused on allowing Jesus to lead us and be four little sheep in His flock.  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  We have planned this for months and God is blessing us with a glorious day to Listen to Him.  My personality feels the need to “herd” everyone and keep us on track.  But I have heard my Abba tell me this morning that I am to listen and “flow with His Spirit”.  My mind wants to start orchestrating the day – where we will go, what we will do, yes!! I am a control freak but not for today.  Today I will focus on the joy that I feel by being with the “flock” and seeing where the Shepherd leads us.  I have my Bible, prayer journal, art tablet and pens, but most importantly – dumm dumm da dumm dum – a Quiet Spirit, A Listening Ear and Three Friends to go have a God Adventure with.  I am focused on my Shepherd – Jesus Christ.  Oh, have I told you I AM SOOO EXCITED

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l144/matts40/jesus_smiling.jpg