Strength of Scripture

Normally I wouldn't post back to back like this, but I was just re-reading the passages that were referenced in last Thursday's study I told you all about.

So I'm not going to "talk" here, I'm just going to quote Scripture...it's awesome.

Isaiah 58:6-12, English Standard Version

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in."

Thanks for reading and letting me share. :-)

It's Monday!!!

Years ago we had a youth group from Farmington, MO come out to Hometown and work on the church. They also did a musical/play. One of the songs was about Monday...

"It's Monday all over again and it feels like the week is never gonna end..." and I can't remember anymore. I have the tune in my head but all I hear is "it hits you....mmmmmm...and then Friday....mmmm...and it's Monday all over again..." ha ha That circles over and over in my head on Mondays though!

I have no idea why I even shared that, but there you go! ha

So I took a Spiritual Gifts survey over the weekend. I had gotten the hand out the very first ladies' bible study about a month ago and just hadn't sat down to really focus on it.

You can download it at:

http://www.lifeway.com/downloads

If you haven't ever taken one, I would encourage you to do it. There's on right or wrong...it's the best kind of "test"! :)

I'm curious for those of you who know me, what you think my Spiritual Gifts are. When I saw my results I thought, "Oooh! That makes sense!!" BUT if someone would have asked me what they were I would have probably given you a slightly different answer! However, after taking it I agree with what the test decided my gifts are.

Don't worry, in a couple days I'll tell you, but I am just curious what you may have thought. Here are the options listed in the survey:

Leadership
Administration
Teaching
Knowledge
Wisdom
Prophecy
Discernment
Exhortation
Shpeherding
Faith
Evangelism
Apostleship
Service/Helps
Mercy
Giving
Hospitality

So which three do you think I scored the highest in??

One crazy ride...

I don't know if this post will even make much sense....but this has been one crazy week and I'm still trying to process my morning.

This is all good though.

In the past I have been someone who likes to KNOW I have a specific block of time set aside to really dig deep in bible study. I've always had a hard time with cutesie little five minute devotional books....oh how God must be smiling and shaking his head at me now! I say that because I have been going through a crazy dry spell for a while because with a baby I don't get to pick when I do anything! I'm happy to shower before noon. So picking when I would sit down for an hour to dig deep wasn't happening, so neither was my personal relationship devotional time.

So what did I do? I joined a ladies' bible study with a Beth Moore type layout...five lessons during the week and then the teaching is done on that week's homework. I thought it would lend some sort of accountability to my personal time in the Word. Instead, it made it one more thing to put on my to-do list...which turned my precious time in the Word into a chore. That breaks my heart!! It's a rut I readily fall into and then wonder how in the world I fell back into that??

So...what did I do? I didn't get my lessons done, so I didn't go to study....and since I felt like when I had any opportunity to study I should be working on my homework lessons, I didn't do ANYTHING because I couldn't find the length of time I needed to do the homework lessons. Hmmm....then I felt like I was starving to death.

So what did I do? I emailed a couple mamas off of a diaper bag forum board...yep...you read that correctly! BUT I had seen Christ in these mamas through their posts so I know their hearts, and they have young children so I know they can relate. One of them said to grab nuggets when I can....and she mailed me two "cutesie" devotional books for moms. Another one reminded me that it shouldn't be a chore hanging over my head and to take the moments as I can and otherwise spend the day with God in all my activities. And the third one suggested we start an online sort of no-pressure study but more of a way to support each other, encourage each other and pray for each other.

And NOW I LOVE my "cutesie" devotional books. I have one that is set up with weekly nuggets and one is set up for daily nuggets. And I tell you what....every one of them has spoken volumes to me and made me realize I was a devotional book snob before. So I get a little nugget and I hold onto that nugget and I think about it and pray about it and apply it all throughout the day. It's wonderful. And I no longer feel like I HAVE to get my homework lessons done. I open my book as I am able, I get done what I can get done when I can and I went to study for the first time this morning and it was incredible.

Through all of this, God has been reminding me that when I feel the fullest is when I'm reaching out to others and I have had several opportunities as of late to encourage, support, minister...whatever and I feel SO alive! :-)

This morning the study was on mercy...and the speaker used a lot of illustrations from a mission trip she took to Guatemala and it brought back to me the feeling and excitement and faith of my trips to Nicaragua. She referenced several verses that were marked in my bible from times of study on those trips and I have a newly awakened sense of missionary-ism. :-) (It's my blog, I can make up words....ha ha) I'm not sure where that will go or what to do with it, but it feels good and I'm excited about it and plan to put it into action!

That doesn't mean I will be announcing in a week that I'm packing up and moving to Africa. To be honest I don't know what it means, but I just know it's a reconnection that I was desperately needing.

Ok...this is one loooong post and if you made it this far, I congratulate you! :-) And thanks. And in a little bit I'll be posting a more light-hearted fun blog. :-)

Some late night ramblings

I went to bed an hour ago...and I can't sleep....so I decided to get up!

Part of what I was thinking about was how incredible some of the blogs I've been reading are and how incredible the faith of the bloggers and the testimonies in their lives...and what in the world do I have to say that even compares??

I read in awe about Confessions of a CF Husband and the summary. My cousin had mentioned that page before but I hadn't spent much time reading...and I wish I had then! It's a blog about incredible faith in the midst of trials and God-only blessings and miracles through all of it!

I cried as I read about MckMama on My Charming Kids and her most recent doctor appointment. I am amazed at her faith and transparency through such a scary pregnancy. I don't know them, she has no idea who I am, but I bought one of the Stellan Will Live bracelets because I want a reminder to pray for that mama and that incredibly loved unborn baby Stellan every time I look at my wrist.

My wrist already has a prayer reminder on it...it's a green lymphoma awareness bracelet. Initially I got it because of a dear friend of mine...an adopted nephew of sorts....who is battling this ugly disease. Caleb just celebrated his 20th birthday in the midst of chemo treatments. And a couple months ago, this bracelet took on more meaning when my only living grandpa was diagnosed with Waldendonstroms Macroglobulinemia which is a very very rare form of lymphoma. And then within the last month I also learned that one of my aunts is battling another form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. A year ago I didn't even know what lymphoma was and now I know more about it than I ever wanted to...

Rambling on a happier note....The SB is 7 months old today. :) What an incredible little blessing he is in our life!! I sing "You are My Sunshine" to him at least once every day and he lights up in a huge grin...but I don't think he knows that I mean those words. In the midst of tough days, worn out days, stressful days, or sad days....it just takes a look at that gorgeous baby boy and I see hope and the future and innocense and trust and happiness and learning...I see sunshine! :)



BD, The SB and I had a great evening together. I am so blessed by my family. We're far from perfect and we have our struggles, but at the end of the day, we have each other and there's comfort in that.

Well, as I look at the clock I know that if The SB decides to wake up sometime tonight I'm going to be very unhappy that I didn't fall asleep when I went to bed over an hour ago....so I'm going to go try again!

Be blessed,

Teri Rae

First things first...

I already have a family blog, but that is more of a place to keep family and friends up to date on the goings on in our lives. I was thinking after reading another blog this morning that I would like someplace to just "think outloud" or to rave about my favorite items to make life easier or rant about the ones gone bad...and of course still a place to brag a little on my family. :)

I don't know what this blog will end up as or look like by the time it's well established, but for now it's my little personal corner of cyberspace. I will never come here to vent with the intent of offending, but I also will not mince words because this is, after all, my little soapbox. :) You can disagree, we can discuss and I'm fine with all of it! :)