REST not from sleep but from the Lord

All the meds I am taking now for my sinus infection is starting to wear me down a little, yet as I am typing this, my insides are a bit shaky and my fingers can't move fast enough! Why are there so my side affects from something that is supposed to make me better? The Prednisone makes me wired so I need a sleeping pill, Ambience, that gives me four hours of deep sleep...usually. But last night I think the popcorn messed me up because I didn't even get three hours of tossing and turning rest. REST...I need REST.

I love how God always talks to me in the wee hours of the morning, when I am fading in and out. And the last couple of weeks I have been awake to hear Him. So when He began to put His imaginations in my brain as I lay on my bed, I knew He would give me more than I could possibly write down. Spiritual Spa Ministries, I feel, is a gift that God has given, not only me but to the Spa TECH's who minister to our guests. And the TECH's are gifts to me in every way. I cherish their friendship and I am awed at their dedication to help other ladies REST!

For several years God has shown me that my job is to be a promoter of gatherings for women and to use Spiritual Spa as an additive (promoter in chemical terms) that will increase the efficiency of the Catalyst (Holy Spirit). Not that the Holy Spirit needs me but, in a sense, He does ask all of us to take His Spirit into the fallen world. Through Spiritual Spa, hearts are provoked (stirred of an emotion within) to actively participate with God in their journey here on earth. Prayer easily flows from a soul at REST and we find a peace that passes all understanding. When we find REST we become poems of the Living God. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. " Ephesians 2:10. Workmanship in Greek is poeima, which is where we get our word, poem! We are His poem, created in Christ Jesus for good works and when we walk in them, others will become acquainted with God. From there the Holy Spirit woes them to Himself!

So I have been asking God if I and Spiritual Spa are on the right track. Do I understand what He wants from me. Not always, but this morning He gave me Psalm 16.

A miktam (silent prayer or a prayer that someone might be covered with protection) of David.

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
3 I say of the godly who are in the land, "They are the noble people in whom is all my delight."
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out their libations
of blood or take up their names on my lips.
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful
inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one
see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with
eternal pleasures at your right hand.

REST....Retreat, Engage, Surrender, Transformed!

Dreams and Goals

I can't believe TD is a senior in high school! Our youngest son soon to be 18 in November. Yet when I looked at him today asking for a trip to Dairy Queen, I still saw the little boy with the great heart and big smile. His shoulders are broader and his voice deeper, but his humor shines through as he curls up his eyebrow and gives me the "please" look. I can't seem to resist it!

The time has come though for him to begin thinking of what he wants to have as a career and we want him to decide right now. How unrealistic is that! You would think after having three older sons we would realize it takes time and each son has had to find his own way at his own pace. Do they even know how much I dreamed about their futures and still do, except now I know it is in God's hand, not mine.

My mother always dreamed about the future of her six children too, and would even write out her goals and plans for them. Not sure if any of us ever met her standards but I know she is proud of us no matter what. And I am proud of my children too.

Is that how God looks at us. He has these plans and dreams for us and wants us to walk into our destiny, yet He has given us free will to make the choices needed to accomplish His will. But He knows what we will do and He is sovereign. It all makes my head spin. I am just glad He loves me so much that He allows me to stumble along on the journey without giving up on me.

Thank you Lord!!

Trust in the Lord and be like a TREE.

Jeremiah 17:

5 Thus says the LORD,
"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 "For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.
7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
8 "For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.

I understand these verses, oh' so well. For I have been in the wilderness when I put my trust in the strength of my flesh and not in the Lord. But now I trust in the Lord and trust the Lord. Even during my latest sinus infection and the weird feelings that go along with the medications, I trust the Lord will get me through this. My roots are extending into the stream of Living Water that Jesus provides and His Holy Spirit gives me guidance and reassurance that all is well.

Snake in the Pool!

Today my granddaughter and I were trying to cool off by swimming in the pool. I don't know what the temperature was today but yesterday the heat index was 105 degrees. I always sweep out the leaves and do a good check but today I forgot to check the skimmer. Should have! We were swimming around and doing some exercises when I noticed something moving in the distance. The sun was glaring off the water and I couldn't make out exactly what I was seeing, but I knew it wasn't good.

In a very stern voice I asked my granddaughter to get out of the water. At first she asked why and then she realized grandma Barb was very serious. She immediately obeyed and once out of the pool she asked me what was wrong. I then told tell her there was a snake in the pool and I was so proud of her for following my orders quickly. She stood off to the side as I scooped up the snake in the net. She followed my command to get uncle TD to kill the poisonous water moccasin. Yep! A poisonous snake could have hurt my little princess. Lately there have been reports of people getting bitten by snakes, and I am so thankful that we aren't going to be on that list.

Recently I was put on some medication for a sinus infection that can produce heart palpitations. Well I don't know if it was the meds or the presence of danger, but my heart was pounding. We sat on the edge of the pool for awhile and I kept a close watch on the clear cool water. What caused me to notice the small squiggly creature taking a dip in my pool? How the outcome could have had a bad ending! I wondered how this could be used as a life lesson.

So many times I am in the cool waters of life, nothing dangerous by any means, but not paying attention to my surroundings. Then all of a sudden it feels as if something or someone is after me. The devil is ready to pounce and attack. My husband has a keen awareness, a discernment that tells him when he is in danger. It is a spiritual awakening to take physical action. It has happened so many times that I, like my granddaughter heed his warning. I must admit I used to question, but now I follow his lead and when out of harms way, he tells me what the Holy Spirit has revealed to him.

My Interpretation:

1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober {spirit,} be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in {your} faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

David Tyree is a great role model!

I just watched a program that I really didn't want too, but my teenage son had the controller. Of course it was on ESPN and it was about athletes. Not sure of the name of the show but they highlighted different athletes from a young boy playing little league, getting shot in the head while at bat (he lived...amazing!) to David Tyree who plays professional football.

On national TV, David told about his drug addictions and how Satan possessed his soul. He went on to say he stopped into a church and cried out to God. He ended up in a mental institute for awhile but God healed him totally! Now he goes around and talks to teens about abstaining from drugs. http://www.montclairtimes.com/NC/0/1085.html

As much as I complain about the poor role models in college and professional athletes, it was awesome to watch this show with my son. Shame on me for clumping all athletes into one bad pile.

She has been asked to abort one twin.

I met a young woman who is pregnant for the first time. I don't know if she is married or if the father is there to help her. All I know is she was told that one baby is 4 oz. lighter than the other twin. One weighs 10 oz. the other 6 oz. I guess that is normal for a 3 month old fetus. The doctors have told her she needs to abort the smaller twin. I realize I do not have all the facts, but I know a mother's heart and hers is hurting.

God says He is like a mother hen spreading her wings over her chicks. What a loving God we have that He has put this wonderful characteristic of Himself inside us. We want to protect our young ones and to nourish them to good health. When we can't we feel like a failure but truly in this situation the mother has no option...other than prayer.

Please dear friends, keep this young mother in your prayers. May the babies in her womb grow strong and healthy and yet if this is not to be, may she find peace in the arms of the Lord.

I love to hear my grandchildren sing!

It was one of those Sunday afternoons when you just wanted to lay on the couch and do nothing; especially while fighting a sinus infection. The meds made me sleepy and well...a little grumpy. I heard the phone ring and thought for sure no one would answer it. But my hubby surprised me and I heard him call my name and as I looked up he motioned for me to get up and walk into the kitchen to take the call. I just wasn't in the mood to talk. But ...

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear grandma, happy birthday to you!" My grandchildren were singing with voices like angels and I could hear their mother's voice joining with theirs. I was so surprised and I hated to tell them that it was not my birthday!! How can you tell the sweetest people who cared about me, that they made a mistake.

My daughter-in-law and I started laughing and she realized she was a month early on wishing me well. It was her first senior moment at 35. Then the children were asking to talk to me so they could tell me how much they loved me and how they hoped I was having a great birthday. I guess when my birthday comes around next month they will think grandma is getting old fast by having another birthday.

This phone call really touched my heart because my son and his wife divorced last year. I have had to learn new boundaries as I strive to keep an open heart. So for her to think of me and make the call for my grandbabies to sing to me, really made my "not so great" day, very special.