Thegardenexperience

I saw God.

2009-08-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

UPDATE I talked to a friend of the family in the SUV. Both husband and wife are suppose to be released from the hospital either today or tomorrow (Tuesday). Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!

Patience and I went to Plainview on Saturday and were almost involved in this.

SUV ran a stop sign and pulled on to the highway. I was able to swerve and miss him, but the little red car in the left lane was not.

I am so thankful that I did not hit him, because I would have swung him around and this would have been a head on.

Woman and her son in this car were taken by ambulance to Lubbock with non-life threatening injuries. This is one awesome woman. When I got to her car she was already on the phone with 911. Thank God for air bags...

Husband and his wife in the SUV were airlifted to Lubbock. The wife who was not driving was the most seriously injured. The young man kneeling next to the car is their son, he was not involved in the accident, but was one of the first on the scene. Please be praying for this family. If I hear how they are doing I will update you.

Now to the most awesome part of this story. This is six year old J, she and her Yorkie were sitting in the back seat of the SUV. She WALKED away with no injuries and was taken to a local hospital to be checked out before she and her brother went to Lubbock to be with their parents.

Look again at the picture where her brother is kneeling. Not a dent or a ding in that door.

All I have to do is look at this smiling face, to know just how AWESOME my Father is.

If this isn't a miracle, I don't know what is.

Ok, I have to brag

2009-06-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Patience and I went to Plainview today, so she could visit her husband. We stopped in Lubbock on the way home and visited two of my favorite stores Mardel and Lifeway. I picked up the Me Myself and Lies workbook by Jennifer Rothschild for the LPM Summer Bible Study at Lifeway. But, I hit the jackpot at Mardel. See what I got for the sum of 66 dollars and some change.

Please look closely at the second picture. I scored an ESV Leather Bound Study Bible for $22.99, thank you Jesus!!! The front of the box has a sticker on it that says misprint.

When I die and get to heaven, my dream job would be the position of caretaker for all the Bibles that have also died and gone to heaven. Jews believe that anything that has God or any of the forms of our Heavenly Father's name written in it or on it can not be thrown away, but have to be buried. So, I want the job of caring for these wonderful friends that have been entrusted to us, to encourage, grow, correct and point us to Jesus.

If you know anything about me at all, it's that I am a Bible person. I love them, and I love to give them away. I do not know who this Bible is meant for, but until it's rightful person comes along I will enjoy it, and praise God for the gift of it. I am also a big believer in Discipleship. I think that when someone makes a profession of faith, that you should place a Bible in one hand and an accountability partner in the other. When you introduce someone to Christ, their reality is changed, and until they get their feet under them, they need someone to help this new reality stick. We are losing way to many people because of a lack of one on one discipleship (sorry I will get off that soapbox). Anyway if you are looking for a wonderful discipleship tool, my I introduce you to the New Believers Bible it was also included in my jackpot find. This is a Bible that I truly believe in for new believer or people seeking God. I have personally seen this Bible bring people to Christ.

I also picked up Anne Jackson's new book Mad Church Disease and can not wait to start it. If you live in or around the Lubbock TX area, she is going to be speaking at Turning Point Community Church on July 5th and in Dallas TX at The Oaks Church on July 12th. I found Anne when she was in India with Compassion International. A woman of God she is.

Then on top of that God blessed me with some good girlfriend time with Patience. The only way this day could get any better is if Jesus came and said let's go. If only it were today, me and my Bibles long for home.

My Chair.

2009-06-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

This is my quiet time chair. The place where I come and spend time alone with God. That is if I can get the cats out of it. If they are not in it. Elvis is. I guess that they are keeping my place warm for me.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME

2009-06-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Angela, McMama, and Raechel have all written a wonderful post in regards to B and April Rose. Please go and read it.

The blog has been removed, but B should not be, in fact Beccah should be at the top of each and everyone of our prayer lists, and before you go and get your hurt and your pout on, I will quote the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who suffered far worse than we ever will to you, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." It is not our place to judge, it is our place to pray.

Pray also for Angela, McMama, and Raechel, that our most gracious heavenly Father will give them peace, rest, and wisdom. These ladies have shown us what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ, and to love without boundaries.

God is good all the time.

Please be praying

2009-06-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Couple of prayer request please.

My daughter Magan had some day surgery done today. She is sore and not feeling well. I am going to go over and help with the gbabies tomorrow, but after that she will be on her own. Taylor who is four is some help, but Brenden is just 16 months old, and Hayley is nearly 2 months old, so she has her hands full.

My friend Patience is having a CT Scan biopsy tomorrow on her Thyroid. There is a growth attached to the Thyroid. She has no insurance.

Please be praying for my friends Robert and Sue. Robert had a head on with a deer on his motorcycle back in April and progress has been slow. They have moved him from here to a long term facility in a larger area. So Sue is away from him during the week. This is the Caring Bridge Site. If you have the time please read through the messages left by visitors, the one from the Sheriff that was the first responders is very powerful.

Also be praying for me. I have been in a bit of a funk lately. The divorce is moving forward, and according to the kids, Rusty is wanting this over so he can marry the "love of his life" in August. I am trying so hard to be kind and not bitter, but when you are left with the bills and responsibility, while somebody gets "paid" to go play, it's hard.

Praising God

2009-06-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

Go read this and be blessed.

Whole Heart Faith Week 2 Day 1

2009-05-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

Well, like I said on FB today struggling...losing...struggling...maintaining...struggling.

And I do, I struggle with this walk every day. With finding time to spend in the Word and in prayer, then attempting to walk out what I am hearing. That is where I am failing...badly. I hear and I so want to do, but it's like I walk out of my refuge in to the world, and it just doesn't take to kindly to me wanting a whole heart faith that seeks after God. Either that, or I can be a woman of God at home, where it is safe, there are few distractions, no one to yell at, no one to jump on, no one to blame (except Elvis). Yet when I leave the house and join the world, there are way to many distractions. The biggest one being me. I want to fit, and I "hide" the fact that I am seeking God, so that others will not laugh and ridicule me. (I get that enough as it is). I had to go search out a poem that I wrote many moons ago that so seems to fit.

What Would Happen?

What Would Happen if I could see Jesus?
Would I sit and talk or show Him off?
Would He be a hit, or would He be ashamed?
Would He walk with pride by my side?
Or hide His face in embarrassment?
With my friends gathered round would He enter in
Or turn and walk the other way?
Do I really want to know, or am I afraid
What would happen if I could see Jesus?
8/26/87

I am finding it very hard to let go of my old "master". He is a devil of a taskmaster, and I do not like serving him. But he is the reality I know, and that is a cop out. I choose to cling to the old, while trying to grasp the hand of God. He is just out of reach. He needs me to choose to let go of the old master, before I grab hold of the One True Master. He is standing there arms open wide saying "jump baby, I've got you". And I try, oh I try. It's only the tips of my fingers touching the tips of the old master's, and I know it only a hop, skip, and a jump into my Father's arms. But, it's a million miles from my feet to His arms, and so I ease back feeling my fingers sliding across the old master's palms. I don't grasp it like I use to, and he does not grasp mine. Because he knows he doesn't have to, he holds me with fear. Fear of that chasm that is so deep and so wide that there is no way my Father can catch me before I fall. And I think, if He would just come get me, just snatch me up and carry me off, but He won't cause it my choice, and my will. So He stands there arms open wide, smile on His face, and a tear in His eye, just waiting, never tiring, never scolding, just waiting...

My new bed partner

2009-05-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

After the previous post, I thought I needed to lighten it up a little, and shock ya'll just a little. This is my new bed partner, we have been together since December 11th, 2008. I think he just might be a keeper. His name is Elvis, and he is a Hungarian Vizsla. This is also my unfinished living room.

This is what I see every day, as I walk up the driveway to the front door.

And there is no way that this can be comfortable. But he can do this for hours when he is chewing on something. In this case, it's a piece of wood from the wood pile.

Elvis is a gift from God. I found him on the 11th, turned 50 on the 13th, and kicked my previous bed partner of 25 plus years to the curb on the 18th. He came house broken and has had some training. Don't know what I did to deserve him, and don't know what I would do without him. He is the love of my life, bed hogging, cat chasing, shoe chewing, snoring, bad gas thing that he is. Now if I could just teach him to mow and take out the trash, I would have it made.

Whole Heart Faith Day 4 and my Mom

2009-05-10T19:59:00.001-07:00

This is my Mom and 4 of her 5 great-grandchildren. I think that I have posted this picture before. It is one of my favorites.

This is a hard post. You see my Mother is dying. She is in the early stages of kidney failure and has chosen not to take medical action to extend her life. I understand and respect her choices. But at the same time it is breaking my heart. I am not ready to let my mother go, whether it is next week or two years from now. I am not through needing her, enjoying her company or having her messing in my life. She is the center around which my siblings, my children, and myself rotate. And without her, we are very likely to fall off our axis.

My Mother is going to be 78 years old this year, I hope, she has survived the death of two husbands, both parents, and one brother. She raised 3 kids alone for a lot of years, and was willing to do without so that we could have. We traveled as a family, to Six Flags over Texas at least once a year, and to Florida by car twice. We went to see family often. She gave my siblings and me a love of music and reading. We went to free art shows, and developed tastes for all forms of art.

She is not without fault because she is human, and can be as stubborn and hard headed as the day is long. She can hold a grudge, especially if you hurt one of her "chicks". She is a five year breast cancer survivor, and has been through 2 hip replacement surgeries. She is saved, but she and God got cross ways years ago and she walked away from Him, and will not discuss things of God with anyone.

Warts and all she is my Mom and I love her dearly. Or as we like to say, "I love her to the moon and back again, and that's a long way baby!"

God is tying this all together with the Whole Heart Faith that I am doing with Leigh from Speaking Thru Me Ministries.

I have to trust that my Father is working in my Mother's life, and that is all I need to know.

Scriptures that caught my attention today are Luke 12:31-32 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don't be afraid little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. I love verse 32 Don't be afraid little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

First time the word delight is used in connection with God is Numbers 14:8 where Moses tells the Israelites, "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey." Deuteronomy 10:15 says "The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them: and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples as it is this day." Psalm 16:3 As for the saints who are on the earth, They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. Proverbs 8:30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight.

It is hard at times for me to conceive that God delights in me! And on top of that, He delights in giving me the kingdom. Me the one that has said many times, thanks, but I can handle this. Go sit over there God until I get done with this sin, and a host of assorted other things, God still delights in me!! Wrap your brain around that one. I am still trying to. And if God delights in me, bottom feeder extraordinaire, faulted, sinful, self centered child that I am, then He delights also in my Mother, and is able to draw back what has gone astray.

Father, Thank you that I can open the hand that is holding so tightly to my Mother and trust her to You. Thank you that I can rest in knowing that even if I can't see it and she won't discuss it, that You are working in her life. Father, I want to ask so badly for a healing in her life, for both her kidneys and her relationship with You. But I know that the healing in your relationship is much more important that the healing in her body, and if it takes this to bring that healing about, I will bow to Your will. Father, I am undone to think that You delight in me! How and why are the first things that come to mind. But You are the one that chose me, and there must be something redeemable in this life, that will somehow some way bring You glory, or You wouldn't be drawing me closer. Thank you that You never give up on me, and that I never get to the end of Your grace, mercy, and loving kindness towards me. Thank You seems so small in light of all that You gave in order to have a relationship with me. Your Son, Father? You love me so much that You gave Your Son, Your only begotten Son on top of that, so that I would no longer be separated from You. How Father can I say thank you to that other than to give my all to You and say here take it, it's Yours to use as You deem fit. I love you Father, and I desire to serve You and worship You with my whole heart. In Jesus name Amen.

Whole Heart Faith Day 3

2009-05-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

Luke 8: 18 has captured me and I am chewing on it. First part says: Therefore take heed how you hear. The word that I am stumbling over or having trouble with is how. This is an option word. You ask people how was your meal, how was your day, and how do you like your steak cooked. You make a choice. So how do you choose how you listen? With your head or with your heart? With ears wide open, or eyes wide shut. Then once you choose how you listen, you have to decide what you are going to do with it after that.

I have been avidly following the India Compassion Bloggers, almost to the point of stalking. Anne Jackson on her blog wrote an entry called "So whatcha gonna do?" In this entry Anne writes about the origins of Compassion International, and the tag line to the founder was "now that you've seen what you've seen, what are you going to do about it".

I think this applies very nicely to Luke 8:18 where Jesus says "Therefore take heed how you hear. Now that I've heard what I've heard, what am I going to do about it? Am I going to believe it all from Genesis to Revelation, and attempt to walk it out in my day to day, growing and changing, to allow God to renew not only my mind but my attitude. Or am I going to say I hear, I believe, and I have your number in case I need you. I have to be honest and admit I have done more of the latter, and am discovering that as a result of this choice my life is not running as smoothly as it could. So I have jumped on board with Leigh at Speaking Thru Me Ministries on this Whole Heart Faith. And believing that as I choose how I listen, that God will grow me into a child worthy to be called His.

Side note here. I am a West Texas girl, so I call meditating on the Word, chewing the cud. Interestingly enough, animals that chew the cud are called ruminants, and are said to ruminate, which also means to ponder or think upon. Now if I could just learn to be still and at rest while I chew, I would be doing good.

Leigh thank you so much for being obedient and taking us on this journey with you. I know that it is day by day, and will not end in a month or two.

Whole Heart Faith Day 2

2009-05-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

Boy when I ask God for something with my whole heart, He will do it!!! Stayed up way to late last night and did not get up early enough for my quiet time, or so I thought. God told me this morning that I arrange Him around my day instead of my day around Him. So I didn't make it in to work as early as I thought I would. But the quiet time was well worth it. God is also gently telling me that I have chosen not to surround myself with godly people in my day to day real life. I place them on the side lines and let them cheer me on while I walk with people that know God, but do not KNOW God.

I want to do this thing to serve only Him, to dethrone foreign gods and idols. I have, in reading through Judges tsked the Israelites for not following God continually. Over and over it talks about how with no leader, the Israelites turned to other gods. God informed me that I have done this exact same thing over and over. It should not take a man to lead me into a real relationship with God.

Scripture that God has brought to my attention a couple of times in the past few days is Joshua 18:3 Then Joshua said to them children of Israel, "How long will you neglect to go in and possess the land which the LORD God has given you?"

I can't hold what I do not possess, and I can't possess what I do not fight for. I have to fight for my relationship with God so that it has meaning and value.

I am off to do dishes, get ready for bed and spend some time in the Word.

Leigh, Dori, and Denise, I am praying for you as I know that you are praying for me.

Whole Heart Faith Day 1

2009-05-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

Whew Father it has been a day. A day in which I chose not to glorify or follow You. Father I lied, cheated, and stole today. I chose me over You yet again, and saw what a failure my day was. Well maybe not totally, I did speak to Stephanie about her situation, but felt like it fell on deaf ears.

Father I need to come bathe in the shower of Your forgiveness. It's just really hard to get there, because half the time I really don't feel like I mean it when I ask for forgiveness, I feel like I do it more out of habit then I do out of true repentance. Plus you know the minute I get up from prayer with You that I am going to go running straight back to that pig pen. Father cleanse me of my unrighteousness, then give me the strength and courage not to go back there again. Strengthen me for this battle, give me the tools and encouragement I need to throw the idol of self centeredness off it's throne and in the trash where it belongs.

Father I think one of the first things I need to do this thing is a church home. I want a place where I can serve. A place where I can be ministered to and that I can minister to others. I don't have to agree with all that they teach, I just need a home where I feel safe to be real, and people that will hold me accountable. I want a home Father. A place where I belong, and am welcomed warts and all.

Father give me a hunger for Your Word. You know I love it and that I believe it from beginning to end, but I don't crave it, I don't study it, and I darn sure don't live it. I want it to be real to me, to need it more than I need my next breathe. To be the plumb line by which I judge and correct myself. I don't want to be so spiritual that no one else can measure up, and I don't want to be so holy that the only way I can look at anyone is down my nose. I just want to be Yours. To be a usable vessel. Am I asking to much Father? Have I set an unobtainable goal? I hope not.

Father God, this is not beyond You, this is the desire of Your heart and I want it to be the desire of mine. To know You, to seek You, and to follow after You regardless of where You take me. To trust with all my heart that Your promise to never leave me or forsake me is true. To believe that You are faithful and just. Father give me Jesus, make Him very real in my life. Show me how to die to self and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me in all things.

I love you Father I really do, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that You love me and that Your plans are not to harm me but to give me a future and a hope. Be that future and that hope in my life Father. Here I am Father, bags of sin and disobedience hanging off of me, mold me, shape me. Take this life and make it into something that is usable by You. I am heavy laden Father, please give me rest. Thank you for never giving up on me. In Jesus name Amen.

As I can see from the above prayer, self centeredness is an ugly thing. It's all about self, rooted in puffed up pride that sometimes hides behind low self esteem. Center of the universe, smart a@#&* know it all. Not a friend of God. Self centered is what defeated satan and got him kicked out of heaven. That statement alone should be enough to shut it down, but it's not. I take pride in the fact that I have accepted Christ as my personal Savior. That because I have bowed the knee and walked the isle, there is no way that I can go to hell..so instead I decide to live a hell on earth by choosing to live separated from Him. God is reminding me that I can not serve two masters that I will love the one and hate the other, and when I choose the wrong master...I pay the price. By being the self centered person I am, I negate all that Christ did, the horrific beating and death that He willingly suffered so that I did not have to spend an eternity in hell. I say by my actions that I know what He did, and I believe what He did, but I do not honor it with my life. I do not write these things for you to come and stroke my ego and tell me oh no Sallye that is not who you are. I write these things to be honest with my self, to hold my self accountable to what I was, and to spur me on to be what God sees me as.

Whole Heart Faith Week 1

2009-05-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Leigh over at Speaking Thru Me has started what she calls Whole Heart Faith. This is based on I Samuel 7:2-4 and 6-12.

If you have never met Leigh or you are wondering what this is about you can go here to find out what started this, and then go here to see what her week one is. Dori is also pursuing Whole Heart Faith and you can go here to see what she is doing. Denise is also choosing to pursue God and you can go here to read her post.

Leigh and Denise are chunking their weight, and Dori is choosing to let go of idleness in favor of spending time with God and in pursuits He chooses.

Me, I could kick either one of these off the throne since I bow to both, but I think where God is calling me is my self-centeredness. Oh, I can throw on the spiritual suit and look goood. I will bankrupt myself to assist others, especially my kids. And when the mood strikes and the Holy Spirit knocks me to my knees, I can pray for others. But to come before my Father and say this ain't working, I can't or rather won't do. I had much rather wade around in the shallows, then climb out, step back, run fast, and jump as far as I can into the deep things of God. And you know what's so funny is that I have been there. I let God have so much control, that I would stand in my closest and ask Him what I was going to wear that day. But I let p-r-i-d-e get between us, I got to the point that I thought I was the only one righteous...got slapped down, and instead of getting up and going ok, I need to work on that, I turned and walked off. Now I want to come back with my whole heart, , rid myself of foreign gods and idols, to commit myself to the Lord, and to serve only Him.

So I need you to pray for me, as I pray for you. To be honest with me, and to believe that slowly step by step this is doable.

Father God I ask that you show me how to set aside myself and to choose You. Father, I come before You with my whole heart asking, no begging that You draw me to You. That You become the LORD in my life, that I will fall head over heels in love with Jesus, and that I learn to lean all my weight on You. More than anything else Father I need the courage to take that leap into the deep end, knowing that You will be there to catch me. Father watch over each of us as we work to toss idols and foreign gods out of our lives. Strengthen us for this battle, be our shield. Let all that we do bring glory to You, and point not to ourselves but to You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

This is what I did today....

2009-04-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

This was my world today. Taylor the oldest did not want her picture taken today, but we play too.

I would very much covet your prayers for Magan and Kevin, as the adjust to having 3 childern under the age of 3.

I have a new profile picture

2009-04-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is my new profile picture. Got a new camera, was at oldest daughter's house, and left new camera sitting on the dining table. 6 yr old grandson turned camera on and took this picture, of his younger sister and I love it.

I am listening to

2009-04-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

Miss Susan Boyle sing I dreamed a dream and Cry me a river. I keep them pulled up on YouTube and go back and forth between the two. I do not tire of listening to this woman sing, and knowing her back story, it just makes it that much more profound. I am hoping and praying that the "powers that be" do not change her look at all, because she is the perfect package just the way she is. I can not wait to see the next song she sings for Britian's got Talent.

1st ad 15th Memory Scripture

2009-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

Memory Scripture for 2nd half of April is

Deuteronomy 33:3 NKJV

Yes, He loves the people;
All His saints are in Your hand;
They sit down at Your feet;
Everyone receives Your words.

Are you holding the leash or the harness?

2009-04-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

I am a very visual learner. God over the years has used images and examples from my every day life to teach me things.

A little background for where I am going. I was "raised" in a Church of Christ, saved in a Southern Baptist Church, and have since attended both denominational and non-denominational churches. In all of these, I was "taught" about dying to self daily and being lead by the Spirit. Strange thing is everyone talked it, but no one taught it. So here is this 20 something new Christian that feels like she has "missed the spiritual boat" so to speak, because she was waiting at the airport for her flight to nowhere.

Well, my Father being my Father, saw this quandary and stepped in to show me what it meant to be led by the Spirit. This is something that I have not always applied to my life, but have never forgotten.

Early in my walk God gifted Rusty and I with two friends, Dorothy and Tess. Dorothy had lost her vision, as a result of juvenile diabetes, and Tess was her Golden Retriever guide dog slash best friend. If you saw one you saw the other. Dorothy refused to go anywhere that Tess did not go. Even if I was the one being Dorothy's "eyes", Tess was still with us, only as a tag along and not the guide.

During this time, I was questioning God about what in the world it meant to be led by the Spirit. I just could not seem to wrap my brain around this concept. I remember God very clearly speaking to me that being led by the Spirit was the exact thing that Dorothy and Tess were showing me every day. You see, Dorothy had been gifted with a guide that had been specifically trained to be her eyes. Tess's job was to guide Dorothy safely from point A to point B, to be on the look out for things that could cause Dorothy to stumble, and to keep Dorothy moving forward. The minute Dorothy put the harness on Tess, Tess knew that she was on the job, and she would not be distracted. When Dorothy grabbed hold of the harness, she had to place all her trust in Tess, that Tess would not lead Dorothy into danger, or just walk off and leave her. Sound familiar? When Dorothy and I would go shop, she would still take Tess, but would lean more on me, and even though Tess was in her harness, Dorothy would lead her around by the leash.

God showed me that I have to be like Dorothy, and be blind to the world around me, dying to self daily. Reach down and grab hold of the harness of the Holy Spirit, to trust that He will lead me, guide me, and protect me, as He has been specifically trained to do. Get so dependent on Him, that if you see one, you will see us both, or less of me and more of Him, and that functioning without Him is not an option. Or, I can continue to allow others to lead me where they will, as I am attempting to lead the Holy Spirit around on a leash.

Dorothy and Tess taught me lots of things during the course of our friendship, but the best thing...What it means to be led by the Spirit.

I have attempted to lead more than I have been led, but I have never forgotten this lesson, and God in His infinite wisdom, grace, and patience keeps taking the leash and placing my hand around the harness.

So are you holding the leash or the harness?

Dorothy, Tess I love you and miss you much. Dorothy, I can not wait to get home to heaven so that you can lead me around for a change.

Please pray for B and Baby April

2009-04-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

Here is B's blog, I have added her to the Please pray for in my sidebar. This is a young woman that needs or prayers and understanding.

And this beautiful young lady is April.

Betty Crocker and Make a Wish Please GO VOTE

2009-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Please go here and read, then after reading GO VOTE!!! Betty Crocker is making a wonderful contribution to the Make A Wish Foundations that we choose. So, go see Stacie's blog and GO VOTE...we will be making the wishes of some very special children come true.

You will have to sign up on the Betty Crocker website, it only takes a minute, and you can vote once a day till the contest closes.

Go read and vote. You may never know who's wishes you will be making come true, but our Father will.

1st and 15th Memory Scripture

2009-04-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's the first of the month and time again to share the scripture that God has laid on my heart to commit to memory between now and the 14th of April.

This scripture really spoke to me about who I am to God. So many times I focus on who God is to me, that I need to be reminded who I am to Him. To remember that this is a two way relationship and that I did not choose God. He chose me before the beginning of time.

For someone that remembers what it feels like to be chosen last for playground and PE games, it is very freeing to know that God "picked" me.

Deuteronomy 14:2 NKJV

For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

I am so spoiled!!

2009-03-24T17:49:00.001-07:00

And here's why.

I had mentioned on my FB that I needed a new Bible. I do have several, and they are all well used. You see, I have this nasty habit of trying to live on an old word from God, instead of getting a fresh one. Which means in times of need, I go back to the notes in my Bible, instead of just to my Bible. So, my Father only allows me to use a bible for about a year, then He makes me put it up and start over.

And I do love me the Word, the smell and the look of a new Bible just waiting for me and God to put our finger prints all over it.

Well, I had planned to go to our local Family Christian Book Store to scope some out, but I had really rather go here. Mardel, heaven on earth to a Bible person. The parent company of Mardel is the one and only Hobby Lobby. They try to keep the store radius within 450 miles of OK City to allow for the best delivery of merchandise to the stores. I have begged and pleaded with Headquarters and God for a couple of years now for a store here in San Angelo all to no avail. Sadly, the closest one was in Midland, which is about 200 miles from here.

But alas, all is not lost. My friend and I made a trip to Abilene today to find the TDC facility where my friend’s husband is being housed. We found the facility, shopped for a while then had a late lunch at Abuelo's. I walked out to smoke looked across the road and what did my eyes spy...

I almost fell to the ground!!! I stood there in shock for a minute then started praising my Father, who knows this child so well, and gave her exactly what she needed when she needed it! I went back in the restaurant told my friend that I needed to make one more stop and off we went.

I think that the inside of a Mardel is a small glimmer of what Heaven will be like. Imagine with me if you will a wall the width or length of the store that is nothing but Bibles. Every kind imaginable, and you can sit and browse at will, open all you want, flip pages, hug, kiss, smell, and read, till you find the one that is the exact fit.

I bought one of these

And one of these

But, this is the new fav that will be getting lots of use over the next year or so.

I am not ashamed to admit that I am spoiled. I am after all the apple of my Father's eye, and He knows what I need when I need it. Oh, I also bought some clothes and shoes, they are in the bags waiting to put up, but not my Bibles. They are already in use. God is way to good to this undeserving child.

1st and 15th Memory Scripture

2009-03-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

Ms. Moore over at the LPM Blog is hosting 1st and 15th scripture memory . We are in the process of committing to memory 24 scriptures from January to December 2009. We are to memorize twice in each month the 1st and the 15th.

Mamma Beth did a video guide to help us with our memorization. Her guide lines went with the word RENEW

R read it
E examine it
N need it
E echo it
W wield it

This is based on Romans 12:2 NKJ "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I think that I skipped part of the month of February, but I am back and the scripture for this part of March is one that I definitely need.

Psalm 51:10 NKJV

Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I have been spending a lot of time wallowing in the pit these past few weeks. I have let people have control of whom I talk to and what I post on FB and the blog, out of fear. Fear that something I say will be used against me. I am done with that. My soul trust in You; and in the shadow of His wings I will make my refuge. Until these calamities have passed by. He has delivered me from the power of darkness and conveyed me into the kingdom of the Son of His love. And in the wilderness where I saw how the Lord my God carried me, as a man carries his son, in all the way that I went until I came to this place.

I have not been wielding my sword, in fact I laid it down and let someone else use it against me.

I was reading in 2 Samuel this morning and found a scripture that just made me go I want that.
2 Samuel 23:10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword.

I want my hand stuck to the sword, so that even when I weary, it can still be wielded by the Spirit of God.

I had a bad day.

2009-02-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

I had a bad day on Friday, and was watching Oprah's Valentines Day Special, when my doorbell rang and when I went to answer it there was this package sitting on the porch. Guess what was in it?

Sweet, sweet siesta Wendy sent me all of these goodies and included that kindest words that just ministered to me. I can not thank her or Miss Patty enough for the kindness she has shown to me.

Thank you Wendy, you are my Valentine in Christ.

Please add to your prayer list

2009-02-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

Just added another name to the Please Pray for list.

The McClenahans. Their names are Joel and Jess and earlier this week they buried their 11 month old daughter Cora. Cora lost her battle with cancer. Please visit their blog read their story and leave a comment to encourage them. Then click on some of the Blogs in their side bar and encourage their friends also.

We as the olders need to encourage the youngers, and even though we may not personally know what it means to survive the death of a child.

You never know when something so simple as "I praying for you" can change a whole day.

Gonna take a big bloggie break

2009-02-13T18:20:00.001-08:00

I have been informed that there is a spy and I use this word loosely whom is stalking both my FB and my blog looking for anything I am writing to use against me in a court of law.

So until the divorce is final you will probably will not find me here and very few will have access to my FB page.

Sad that it had to come to this, but there are those that have the attitude that anything you say and do can and will be used against you at a later date.

Please Please Please continue to lift Rusty up in prayer, he needs it very badly.

Love you all,

Ok, I have to get it out of my system

2009-02-04T12:25:00.000-08:00

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmqIsnIp5uc

LPM 1st and 15th memory scripture challenge.

2009-02-01T07:41:00.000-08:00

I am weeping as I am writing this post. Beth Moore over at LPM is hosting 1st and 15th memory scripture. Hop on over there if you are not signed up and join in the getting of God's Word down in to the marrow of you bones and your spirit.

I so wanted a "get him" scripture this time. Something that I could stand on and know that the garbage that Rusty is spreading to his mother and my children would bite him in the butt.

But no, I tried Lamentations 3:52-96 and it didn't fit. I searched all of the sic'em scriptures in the Psalms, wept and cried, and yelled this is how I feel, God.

Instead in my reading of 1 Corinthians God said here it is.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done with love.

I have to stand, I have to be kind to a man that is telling his mother and my children that I had several affairs in the 26 years of our marriage.

I am so mad and hurt. I go see a lawyer on Tuesday and possibly have to counter file because of the reason that he stated when he filed.

I wanted get him God and got be kind.

My Father loves me more than I can say, and He refuses to let me have this garbage in my spirit.

Please be praying.

2009-01-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

For baby girl Harper. She is in critical condition at the NICU in Tulsa. Her family's blog is to the right under please pray for.

I have a new look!!!!

2009-01-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

I have a new look and it is all thanks to Bethany over at Beyond this Moment. She took pity on this poor computer idiot and fixed me up just fine.

I told Bethany that I love the look, but not near as much as I love her. She is the daughter of my heart, and I am so blessed to have her in my life.

When you get a chance go check out her blog, she is pure beauty!!!

She even gave me a signature. Oh she is way to good to me!

Memory Scripture 1st and 15th

2009-01-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

Beth Moore at Living Proof Ministries has challenged the siesta's to memorize new scripture on the 1st and 15th of each month. You can read about it here.

My memory scripture for the 15th is

Colossians 1:13 NKJV

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

I love the word conveyed in this scripture and it drove me to add this scripture to my 15th memory scripture:

Deuteronomy 1:31 NKJV

and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.

In Beth's scripture tutorial she said that we need to need the scripture that we are memorizing like we need our next breath. And in this season of my life I do need these scriptures, I need to know that He is carrying me, that where I am is not where I will be forever.

I did not post my memory scripture for the 1st, so I will do that now, and hopefully you will see what God has been telling me since my world fell apart on December 19th 2008.

Psalm 57:1 NKJV

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You: And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge. Until these Calamities have passed by.

One of the coolest things that God has shown me in this scripture is that shadows are always moving and changing. So in order to make my refuge in the shadow of His wings, I have to keep moving with Him. This is a place of refuge but not a place of sitting still.

God has just been pouring into me for the past few weeks, and because of that; most times I am at peace about moving forward without Rusty as my spouse. I do have set backs and anger is always waiting just below the surface to jump out and grab me. I am making my refuge in the shadow of His wings, and He is carrying me as only He can. God is good to this weak weak woman. His mercies are new everyday and I am so grateful for that.

In Him,
Sallye

New Years Resolution

2009-01-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

I got a revelation today. I was reading Missy’s post where she was talking about her new years resolutions and how they are do able. On her list she included that this year would be the year of their marriage, and that she would read through the Bible in a year.

I started to leave her a comment about how if she and Walker will make their marriage the top priority, that everything else will fall in place. This is where I got the revelation, because in truth if Missy, me and you will make reading through the Bible in a year the top priority then everything else has to fall into place.

You see, God tells us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Psalm 119:105. So if we don’t have the flashlight out how are we going to see where to step, and if we don’t keep carrying the lamp how are we even going to see to find the path? A one year Bible is broken up into 365 readings, that just enough for each day. And I can promise you that if you are spending time in your Bible on a daily basis that where you are reading is where you are walking. The Jews for centuries have been reading through the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) on a yearly/daily basis, and they believe that you should see where you are reading being walked out in your life.

So regardless of what other resolutions you have made for this New Year, let’s make a resolution to make this a year of living in the Word. Of not losing the flashlight, or setting down the lamp. Of believing that where ever we are reading that we will see it being lived out in our lives. That as God has promised that if we will meditate on His law night and day that we will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bears fruit in season, whose leaves shall not wither, and whatever we do shall prosper.

What a blessing is waiting for us, if we will just carry the Lamp..

In Him,

Sallye

I have changed my bloggy ID

2009-01-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

After much thought and prayer I have changed my bloggy ID from Rusty's wife to Sallye.

I did not know that this would be one of the hardest changes that I would have to make. Changing Locks on the house, moving around furniture and buying a new bed were easy and fun. But changing the ID, that was hard.

This is a step in a new direction. I'm not real sure of the footing here. I have been Rusty's wife for over half of my life. I will be honest and tell you that I do not miss Rusty. I do not miss his presence in my house or my life. My arms do not ache and neither does my heart. God has poured out peace that you would not believe in this.

I am moving forward where ever that is, and I am doing it as Sallye.

Please do not read if you don't want your Christmas ruined.

2008-12-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

This is my 100th post, and what a horrible post it will be, but it is what it is.

Please be praying for my friends Brad and Dona. Brad got out of the hospital Friday, but only after they had learned that Dona's mother Madalyn died in her sleep, Thursday night. God has just been beyond good in this. Madalyn was 84 and while not in bad health she had been sick with a cold. Dona's sister Susie had been living with Madalyn and found her on Friday morning. This in it's self is a God thing, because normally Madalyn still lives alone, and it was possible that she would have not been found for a couple of days, and it would have been by one of the Grandkids. I can think of no better way to leave this earth, then in your own bed, in your own home, in your sleep. Please be praying also for Susie, having found Madalyn she is not dealing well, plus she is not a Christian. Madalyn was so I know where she is.

Please also be praying for me. As you know Brad had total knee replacement surgery on Monday, and I stayed with Dona so that she would not have to stay alone. This again is a God thing. Dona and I stayed up till nearly midnight Thursday night visiting and discussing a little bit of everything including Madalyn. Anyway. I got up Friday to get dressed and leave for work, and no work ID. Couldn't find it anywhere. So I had to run by the house and pick it up. I got home about 7:30 am and no husband. Called on the cell phone and he was at his girlfriends. I got ugly and told him I wanted him out. I have been around this track more than once in the past 6 months, and am asking God how many more times do I have to go around before I am done. I know God hates divorce, and I am not going to be the one to file.

So tell me what am I suppose to tell the kids Christmas night when I run by and drop off the gifts and do not stay because Rusty's parents will be there.

Sallye

Limited Access to Blog and FB

2008-12-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

****UPDATE**** Thank you for your prayers Brad has done really really well, and should be able to go home today, which means I get to go home and sleep in my own bed. Yeah!!!

Hey all starting tomorrow, I am going to have limited access to Blog and FB. Brad is having total knee replacement done in the morning. Dona has ask me to come stay at the house with her until Brad gets out of the hospital. So I am going to be relocating to the country for a few days. Please be praying for Brad, the surgery, and his recovery. Please also be praying for Dona during this time. And for me. I have added a 30 minute drive one way to work for most of next week. For a girl that can get up an hour before she has to be at work and still have quiet time. This is going to be a challenge.

Love ya all,
Sallye

My 50th Birthday. 50 things you may not know about me

2008-12-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

Today is the big 50 half a century of life under my belt. Hard to believe. So today I will share 50 things that you may not know about me.

1. I am left handed.

2. I am twice married, once divorced.

3. I have worked for the same company for nearly 30 years.

4. I am sooooo ready to be retired from above company and go do something else.

5. I am a romantic.

6. I am not a house keeper. My favorite saying is "I am not domesticated, I just live in a house"

7. I love my sleep.

8. I am still driving the second new car Rusty and I ever purchased.

9. I was born and raised in the same community that I have lived in for the majority of my past 50 years.

10. I am a middle child.

11. My Mother is still alive.

12. I have an older brother and a younger sister.

13. I am the only one out of the three that is currently in a relationship with Christ.

14. Rusty and I are the only ones with children on either side of our family.

15. I am a cat person.

16. I have more than my share but don't know who I would part with.

17. I have no tattoos anywhere on my person.

18. I do not like or watch reality TV.

19. My TV is on less than 2 hours a day.

20. I love to read.

21. I have only flown 4 times in my life.

22. The first time I flew was 5 years ago when I went to Israel.

23. I love the beach.

24. I do not like cold weather.

25. I do not like hot weather.

26. I love to watch lightening storms.

27. I can drive an 18 wheeler.

28. My mother nearly lost me in 1968 at the World's Fair in San Antonio TX. I went one way at the top of the Tower of Americas and they went the other. Of course it was her fault.

29. My Father was killed in Viet Nam in 1967.

30. I received his recovered dog tag in December of 2005.

31. I graduated from high school in 1977.

32. I have been married over half my life.

33. I was 21 years old, married with a child of my own, and I would pack my bag walk across the parking lot and spend the night with my grandmother.

34. I love to play card games.

35. I was raised by a bridge playing family.

36. I do not know how to play bridge or have a desire to learn.

37. With the exception of my appendix, I have all my original pieces parts.

38. I am a very strong willed person.

39. I can be a very unkind person.

40. I am not a saver.

41. I do not put up a Christmas Tree.

42. I love long soaks in the tub.

43. I love to swim.

44. My favorite book is the Bible.

45. I do not have a favorite scripture, because it changes with the situations in my life.

46. I have had two breast biopsy's both were negative.

48. I was a perfect size 7 when I married in 1977.

49. I am a Memee and I had a Memee.

50. I am blessed and highly favored regardless of what is going on in my life.

Hope you enjoyed this. I did,
Sallye

Oh to be home for Christmas

2008-12-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

Oh to be home for Christmas. To be able to stand on the Temple Mount on Christmas Day and celebrate the birth of our Savior. To be able to walk up to this wall and to touch it again and to know that my hand rest on a place that my Jesus' hand also rested. I am so home sick. Home sick for heaven and for Israel. To be in the Garden and to pray over the city of Jerusalem. To sit on the steps outside the southern wall. To stand on the Mount of Olives and to see the Eastern Gate that my Jesus will one day walk through. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem. To dip my toes in the Jordan, and to sail across the Galilee. To float on the Dead Sea, and see Mt Moab. To walk through the ruins at Capernaum and Caesarea by the Sea. Drive by the Tanner's house in Joppa. To stand again on Mt Carmel, to sit again on the grass where the Sermon on the Mount was taught. Or stand on Masada and watch Israeli Jets fly below you. I wanna go home. I want to live in Tiberias, or in Haifa. I would even settle for Tel Aviv if you would just give me an address to call my own. Oh to be home for Christmas.

Sallye

Added a link

2008-12-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

I have added a link in my side bar for the Fauley Family. Please be in prayer for this family. Parents and 3 grandchildren were in an automobile accident a week ago this past Saturday. The grandmother was killed and the funeral was here today. The grandad is still in ICU, 2 of the kids are still in the hospital. God has been pouring down the miracles on this family.

Sallye

I was in a mood today

2008-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have been in a funky mood for the past couple of days. Bad enough that I was listening to rebellion music. AC/DC, Ozzy, Nickelback, and so on while cleaning house this morning. God let me rebel for a while, then He got fed up, and sent me here for teaching, thank you Leigh, then here for worship, thank you Stacie. So now I am back to my praise music, and going to go spend some quality time on my knees before my Father.

Sallye

Name it and claim it

2008-11-25T09:45:00.001-08:00

I am currently using "A 30-Day Walk With God in the Psalms" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for my daily quiet time devotional.

This morning really opened my eyes to name it and claim it, and how we are suppose to do this. OK so now that I have lost you, let me explain.

The Psalm this morning was Psalm 23. This is a Psalm that many of us have grown up with we all know it by heart, and is used to comfort those that grieve at funerals.

God showed me that David, in the Psalm named it and claimed.

Verses 1 to 3, verse 1 starts with the Lord is.. it goes on from there to have phrases like He make, He leads, He restores and His name's sake. In these verses David named it, his Lord.

Verses 4 and 5 show a shift in the pronoun, this is where David claimed it, You are, Your rod and Your staff, You prepare, You anoint.

David named God and he claimed God, and as a result David knew that he would dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

On the norm, I do not agree with name it and claim it theology. To me this turns my Father in to a Santa Clause God, and that is not what I am after. But after what God has shown me, I think that I will began to name it and claim it. This is what Paul was attempting to teach us in Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba Father". We/I have to name what I want, which is a relationship with me Abba Father, then I have to claim it may it personal and make it mine.

It's all about believing the first 5 words of this Psalm "The LORD is my shepherd." Name Him and claim Him.

Sallye

My Mom and the Loves of her life

2008-11-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Need I say more?

Sallye

I have found the neatest thing.

2008-11-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well actually God showed it to me. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of it. I have been hunting for something to keep prayer request in. I mean hunting. I have handled every binder, journal, and daily planner in Wal-Mart, Family Christian, and Hastings. All to no avail. Well I did find me a new daily planner at Family Christian that I am very happy with. Anyway, while dragging poor Rusty around Wal-Mart one day. I found the little one dollar photo albums, and guess what they hold the 4x6 index cards perfectly. So I bought them. Well since I had a new planner, I no longer had a need for 2 photo albums and 100 index cards, or so I thought. God showed me today, that these are perfect and I do mean perfect for keeping none other than memory scriptures that I am working on in, or scriptures that I am pondering. They slide right into my purse and can be pulled out and flipped through where ever I am and what ever I am doing. Is God not one smart cookie or what?

I am one happy camper!!!

Sallye

I have not posted in 20 days.

2008-11-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

I can not believe that it has been 20 days since I posted anything. What's been the deal? I don't quite know for sure other than God has not given me anything to say, I guess. I have been reading in Deuteronomy and the Psalms on a daily basis along with working on "Whispers of Hope" for my devo. I am nearly finished with "Whispers of Hope" and have several devos in the wings including a couple more by Ms. Moore, but God has chosen "A 30-Day Walk With God in the Psalms" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for my next devo. I am excited about this new adventure.

There is a piece of a scripture that has captured my attention of late that I want to share with you all. Deuteronomy 21:13 "She shall put off the clothes of her captivity" I think this is what God is doing with me right now showing me how to put off the clothes of my captivity.

Lots has been said about our new president, but I want to share with you what God has shown me and reminded me over and over. 1. He is in control and still on His throne. 2. This is the man that God has chosen to lead our country for either the next 4 or 8 years. 3. This is all part of the Master's plan, and it is my job to get on board with it. 4. Rahm Emanuel is the new White House Chief of Staff. Regardless of what has been said or written about him, again this is the man that God has chosen for this position. God showed me that all I need to know every time I see or hear Rahm's name is "God with us". This is a promise from God that He is with us, and that He promises to never leave us or forsake us.

God is doing a work both in my life and in our country. I have the choice to either do this God's way, or God's way the hard way. God's will, will be done.

Sallye

Bring the Rain Blog

2008-10-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

The Bring the Rain Blog now has over 2050 comments left by women whom have miscarried, or have survived an infant death. Please continue to pray for these ladies. There are some on this blog that have either chosen an abortion or were forced into it. They all need our prayer for healing, peace and restoration. We are the hands and feet of Christ. The greatest gift we can give another is prayer.

Sallye

What a good wife I am not.

2008-10-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

Please do not forget to be lifting up the Ladies in prayer whom have left comments on Angie's blog, as of this posting there are nearly 2000 comments. Please visit Angie's blog and if God leads you leave encouraging comments for these lovely ladies on their blogs.

What a good wife I am not...Rusty and I have just returned from the arena dedication at our church. We had a chuck wagon dinner, grand entry, exhibition by the Arena Angel Stick Horse team, and some roping. We rode, we ate, we sang. We are Baptist after all. Don't know which hurts worse, by behind, or my feet. I am writing this sitting on the front porch. Poor Rusty has made about 10 trips from the Tahoe to the house unloading saddles, tack, bass, guitar stands, cords, and other things, I told him I would help, but I think he is almost done. As am I with this post. All the doors on the Tahoe are closed and I think I just heard it lock. Guess I better go check and see if he needs my help.

Sallye

1941 Comments

2008-10-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Please continue to life up the sweet sweet ladies that have left comments on Angie's blog. There are 1941 of them that need us to lift them up in prayer as they deal with their grief.

Rusty, some friends, and I went to Llano for the day. They had a Chuck Wagon cook off and Heritage Days on the Courthouse Lawn. Wonderful day. Good friends, Good music, and Good food. What more could one ask for?

Sallye

God is so Good

2008-10-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Please continue to pray for the 1891 women who have shared their lost of either a pregnancy or infant death. These ladies need us covering them in prayer.

Our church praise band played at a class barbecue this evening. This was a senior adult class. I went along, because Rusty plays with the band, but does not drive. It was my honor and privilege to be allowed to wait on these men and women of God. I call them the "E F Hutton" of our Churches. Do you remember the old E F Hutton adds where then tag line was "When E F Hutton speaks everybody listens"? These men and women spend hours on their knees lifting us up before the throne. They are not the ones that are the most out spoken, or involved in everything going on in a body of believers, but when they pray, God listens. They are what is holding our churches together. They have learned the power of prayer, and are not afraid to use it. Yet if you try and complement them on it, they duck their heads and say they are not doing anything special. I am where I am because I had a grandmother that prayed over me, a mother in law that prays over us, and men and women that I will never meet this side of heaven, that have prayed over me as well.

So the next time you are in the presence of the men and women, give them a hug and thank them for being the prayer warriors they are. Don't forget they need our prayers as much as we need theirs.

In Him,
Sallye

Yes To God Tuesday Posted on Thursday

2008-10-16T19:41:00.001-07:00

Well here it is Thursday, and I am just now getting around to posting. God has really been dealing with me about the book "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle. This study is being hosted by Lelia. Please be praying for these two wonderful women and their ministries.

I am going to be up front and honest with you and tell you that I have not completed Chapter Four on Ms. Happiness. I have been working on it, but God has taken me some place that I really want to share. I do hope that I can explain this the way God has revealed it to me.

Do any of you remember or have in your home the "circle of friends" candle holder? I think I use to have a Christmas one with Snow Men, but I can not find it, so I found this picture instead.

You place a small tea candle in the center and the light shines out around the "friends".

God has shown me that the "friends" in this circle are, The great pretender, Ms. Perfection, Ms. Confidence, Ms. Happiness, and all the others we will met along this journey. We are the candles in the center. You will notice that the "friends" are all facing in and not out. Why? To block and talk. Do you remember when Lelia said in a post about Ms. Perfection in the bathroom, Ms. Confidence at the door and Ms. Spiritually praying? You can read it here.

These ladies have to face in so they can attempt to keep us under control. They are constantly in our heads jabbering at us. I'm not saying we are doing the Sybil thing..Well that may be debatable for me. But they are trying to maintain their space. They also have the job of blocking the light of our testimony. They can not have us being real, vulnerable women who are willing to admit that we are not perfect, that we do not have it all together, and that while we may not have all the answers, we do know THE ONE WHO DOES.

If we hook on to what God is using this book to show us, guess what happens? God will work with us to deal with our "friends" and one by one we will see them surrender their place, and all that will be left is a scar and the base of the candle holder with a small tea candle that is shining for all the world to see.

Thank you so very much Lisa and Lelia. I get it, I finally get what God has been trying to show me and deal with in my life.

In Him,

Sallye

Calling all Prayer Warriors

2008-10-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ok Ladies, need some pray assistance please.

First please do not forget to be praying for all of the lovely ladies who left comments here, that have survived the death of a pregnancy, or of an infant. I heard a statement once about children and divorce that I think is very applicable here. Children do not ever accept a divorce, they learn to live with it. The same can be said for women whom have had survived either a miscarriage, or the death of an infant.

Second, as many of you know Rusty and I are attending our local Cowboy Church and that Rusty is playing in the praise band. In the past few days for some reason God has chosen to allow Rusty and I to be privy to information that we would rather not have. So now we have the responsibility to stand in the middle of all of this mess and believe God for a healing of our church leadership, and team members. That God will bring healing, wholeness, and that all will come together as one with the intention of serving God, one another, and our community.

Also Rusty was told tonight that the gentleman, he played with at the Cowboy Church gathering, and in church on Sunday morning was interested in having Rusty play with him. This is not first hand, straight from the horse's mouth but is third or fourth hand. This again came with additional information that we had rather not have and reflected badly on this gentleman.

Rusty and I both believe that God has planted us right where He wants us. And that we are there for a reason. Please join us in praying through these issues. All we want is for God to be glorified, and to step only where we see the Master Himself has stepped.

We love you and covet your prayers,
Rusty and Sallye

Today Is

2008-10-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that this post is so late.

Today is October 15, which is National Day of Remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss.

Angie at Bring the Rain wrote a beautiful post, and ask people to leave comments with the following information: Their name, the nature of their loss, and the child/children's names so that WE can pray for them.

Well, they did their part at the writing of this post there are 1487comments. Now WE need to do ours, and pray for these beautiful women.

Here is the direct link to that post. For the next 365 days, this link will be on all of my posts, reminding us to pray for these ladies, and if you felt lead to, please do not hesitate to clink on a comment and leave a word, even if all you say is "I am praying for you".

Sallye

I saw John Wayne.

2008-10-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Our church was part of an outdoor event today, that included chuck wagon cooking, Long Horn rides, and a mechanical bull. Oh, and John Wayne preached. Really it was a John Wayne impersonator, but he had the Duke down, the walk and the talk. Dutch oven cobbler, fire cooked beans, and fajitas were on the menu. We rode, ate, sang, and glorified God. The John Wayne impersonator brought a wonderful message on salvation, and several were saved. All in all it was a God filled day. We are tired, and smell like smoke and Long Horns, they are so cute you can't help but love on them. Hopefully I will have pictures to upload in the next couple of days.

In the mean time please be praying for my Rusty. One of the musical guests, was quite interested in Rusty and has ask him to play with him in church in the morning. Music is Rusty's first love, and to play full time with a gospel group, is a long time dream.

Sallye

Yes To God Tuesday

2008-10-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lelia for hosting "Yes to God Tuesday" where we are currently studying Lisa Whittle's book "Behind Those Eyes".

In chapter three Lisa introduces us to Ms. Confidence. I do not think she is quite the "bud" that the Great Pretender in chapter one, or Ms. Perfection from chapter two have proven themselves to be in my life...but Ms. C does tend to show herself from time to time. I find it interesting that one of the root words of confidence is CON.

So just whom are we trying to con, when we put on the confidence suit? Ourselves or someone else? Why is it so important that we appear so strong and together on the outside, when we are doing the "jello jiggle" on the inside? Kind of reminds me of when Dorothy and gang finally got to see the great wizard, and when Toto pulled the curtain, the great wizard did everything within his power to maintain the image. Somewhere, somehow, someway the world has taught us Christian to equate weakness with words like wuss, wimp, weakling, pushover, spineless along with a huge assortment of other words, and noway nohow do we want to be associated with that. But it is in that very willingness to be weak, that we are given the strength not only to bear or endure, but to mount up and overcome.

I have to admit that I did own the Ms. Confidence suit, it's bright red, perfection was royal blue, so you could see me coming, and when I had it on, you better get behind or get run over. In some cases Ms. Confidence even had her own car, and would arrive before me, just to make sure everyone knew I was coming. The only thing bigger than Ms C, was her boyfriend Ego. But the Christmas of 1993 this all changed. I had my first breast biopsy, my father in law, whom my children adored, was in the hospital, for a routine procedure that went very wrong, resulting in him being clinically dead for 8.5 minutes, and Santa had no ideal where to come to or even when to come. Ms Confidence proved to be a very fickle friend, she fled the scene and took Ego with her. But when she left, God showed up, and that Christmas is one that to this day, my children still speak of with great fondness. The gifts weren't huge, and nothing was perfect, but we had each other, and we had peace. The biopsy was negative, and we were given 5 more years with my Father in Law before his passing. We had it all.

Don't get me wrong, Ego is still a very dear friend, and because of that Ms C is still close at hand, but when they get to out of control, God is faithful to bring something around, that will send them packing, and I am thankful when He does.

Lelia ask us to answer the following challenge question: "Is is hard for you to admit your vulnerabilities to others? To God?"

Lelia, if you had ask me this question before 1993, I would have said I do not have any vulnerabilities. I am woman hear me roar! I did not cry unless some one died or made me really really mad. Now, I have met God's grace, and when Ms C and her friends try to take over, I have grace to handle it.

In Him,

Sallye

Surrendering the Secret

2008-10-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Melinda is very graciously hosting a give away on her blog. I believe that this give away is so vital, that I have copied word for word what Melinda has posted on hers.

Do you know that one in every three women has had an abortion? In fact, 43% of women of child-bearing age have this secret. And I don't use the term "secret" lightly. While there is certainly a multitude of unbelieving women out there that tote this secret sadness in their hearts, there are as many BELIEVING women - FORGIVEN, SAVED WOMEN in YOUR CHURCH - who are walking around unhealed. Why? Because they are paralyzed by shame and fear at the thought of surrendering their secret.
You may remember my mentioning Pat Layton, my friend, and the founder of A Woman's Place Ministries in Tampa, Florida. With first-hand experience, she intimately understands the fear and heartache that surrounds women, post-abortion. After she was saved, she looked for material to help her and others heal, but there was none. So, she and God wrote a study that was used for 20 years at her crisis pregnancy center. This year, Surrendering the Secret was released in DVD form by Lifeway, in response to the thousands of hurting women that flooded the altar for prayer in this area, after each of their large events.
While I, personally, have never experienced this heartbreak, I know a LOT of women who have. I bet you do, too. The effects are so far-reaching. As you can imagine, with this situation often being shrouded in secret, even if a woman knows about this study and longs for healing, she's not likely to buy it herself. This is why our churches - EVERY ONE OF THEM - need to have a copy. This is where our giveaway comes in - a chance to win one for YOUR CHURCH!
God has recently impressed upon me that we, the blog community, can partner with Lifeway and Pat, to make a BIG DIFFERENCE in this area of secret pain. Just as He multiplied the five loaves to feed thousands (Mark 6:41-44), I'm believing that He will do the same with this giveaway of the Surrendering the Secret study. So, here it is:
Five (5) Winners
One (1) DVD Leader Kit (including DVD study, leader guide and one member book) PER WINNER
Twelve (12) Member Books PER WINNER
Click HERE to watch the promo video of the study.
Giveaway will run through Sunday, October 12th - WINNERS ANNOUNCED MONDAY, OCTOBER 13TH (per random.org)
Because it is my heart that the word get out to as many churches and people as possible, I'm going to give you two chances to win:
Leave a comment
Link the giveaway in a post on your own blog, then leave a SECOND comment, including the link to your post. This is NOT about blog promotion, but about spreading the word of healing!Other ways to get involved:
Tell your church about the study and work toward getting a copy purchased for their use, if you don't win.
Encourage your pastor to discuss abortion from the pulpit and include it in the sins mentioned from the pulpit that are forgiven through Christ. There are MANY women who walk away from a sermon feeling like their sin is unforgivable, simply because it's never mentioned.
Invite Pat to come and speak to your women's group and/or leadership about ministering to women in crisis, or to train your leaders to present this study.
Consider donating financially.
Join me in thanking God in advance for what He will do! Praise Him that He will multiply this small mustard seed of faith into a great movement of healing across our nation.
THERE IS HOPE AND FREEDOM IN SURRENDERING THE SECRET.
You can make a difference for someone else who is hurting - maybe even for yourself.
In His marvelous love,

Melinda.

Please register and link to your blog. Then go and spread the word. This is a secret that must come to the light to be healed. We must not judge or condemn these women, we must become part of the healing process which includes acceptance and forgiveness. If they don't see Christlikness in us, where in the world will they see it?

Sallye

I have been rearranging

2008-10-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

I have been rearranging some things on my blog. I glanced at my profile when I moved it, and realized that I forgot to share mine and Rusty's anniversary. I didn't forget to tell him. But I forgot to post on Wednesday, that we have been married 26 years. I have been sitting and thinking about these years, and my first thought is where did they go, we just got married a couple of years ago.

I remember an August evening, we were at a bar dancing, and I looked at him and ask "What would you do if I told you that I am falling in love with you?" He replied "fall right back."

We married in October and never looked back.

This is the man that introduced me to Jesus, took my child from my first marriage and claim her as his own.

We have been through rough and easy. And ya know now, when I sit and look back. The rough times have been some of the best. God has carried us as a man carries his son. God has in some of the rough times gotten it down to where it was just me, Rusty, and God. Those were the best, when you don't have anyone but your spouse and God...Let me just say it's a time of growth and clinging.

He's not perfect, and I thank God, because perfect would not suit me. But I can promise you that Rusty is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received from God, and like I tell Rusty, I couldn't have done better, if I had gone to the factory and designed him myself.

Thanks Honey, you are my best friend, and the love of my life.

Rusty's wife.

I got this award months ago Thank You Angie

2008-10-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

I got this sweet award from Angie months and months ago before I figured out how to right click and save and how to do hyber links. Yes I am a little slow. So I went back and picked it up and brought it home where it belongs. To show Angie that I do love her, and that she could send me scrap pieces of paper and it would mean the world to me.

Angie- you are the bestest as my gbaby says. I am honored and humbled to receive this from you. I am truely blessed to count you among my sisters.

Sallye

Tag, You're it

2008-10-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Michelle tagged me with this lovely blog award. Thank you Michelle, so now I have to pass it on along with the game rules.

Answer these questions with one word answers

Where is your cellphone? Desk

Where is your signficant other? Home

Your hair color? Brown

Your Mother? Lost

Your Father? Deceased

Your Favorite Thing? Salvation

Your dream/goal? Israel

The room you're in? Office

Your hobby? None

Your Fear? None

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Retired

Where were you last night? Friends

What you're not? Holy

One of your wish items? Israel

The last thing you did? Work

What are you wearing? Clothes

Your TV? Off

Your Pet? cat

Your Computer? on

Your Mood? Good

Missing Someone? No

Your Car? Tahoe

Something you're not wearing but love to wear? Tshirt

Favorite Store? Mardel

Your Summer? Short

Love Someone? Husband

Your Favorite Color? Green

When was the last time you laughed? Today

When was the last time you cried? Just now reading Stacie's blog

Now to tag 7 other people. So I will pick Donna, because she gets to go see Ms. Beth again, Rachel, because I love her honesty, Missy, because she makes me smile, Nancy, because she makes me want to dig into the Word, Leigh, because she gets me on my knees, Lelia, because I want to grow up and be like her. And Stacie, because she needs our prayer support so very much right now.

Yes To God Tuesday

2008-09-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lelia for hosting "BEHIND THOSE EYES" by Lisa Whittle. We are discussing and dissecting chapter 2 this week. Titled MS. PERFECTION.

I so wanted to be able to say this chapter does not apply to me, I really did, because in most areas of my life I am not a perfectionist. I do not have to have the perfect house, and I do not have to be totally together before I head out the door to work, if it's clean and no holes, I'm good. But, that's not the "real" part of my life. The real part of my life is Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Thursday evening Bible study. Now that is a whole different ball of wax. There I have to be perfect I have to fit in and have it all together ya know. Can't let any of the garbage from the rest of the week be hanging out, or smelling up the place. So I have done the "Great Sunday Morning Fakeout" as Lisa calls it. Madder than an old wet hen at my husband, but let us walk in the door and God has been good to me. We are attending a new church, so you have to have the "perfect suit" on and all the buttons buttoned so nothing can escape. The most freeing thing that has happened to us in the past couple of weeks, is that we have discovered, our Lay Pastors are not perfect, and if they are not perfect, that means that maybe I don't have to be, and maybe some of the junk from the week can be let out and prayed over, and they will not escort us to the door, and say thanks, but no thanks.

I think the saddest thing about trying to be perfect is that it gets heavy. You always have to be "on" you can never let your guard down, and it tends to put a wall up between you and other people, because let's face it, we all would like to be perfect, and we admire those that we think are and would like to be around them. But we tend to keep our distance because we just might not measure up.

Jesus is the only perfect one, and we are to strive to be like him, which means to reach some type of perfection here, but it's not the slap lipstick on the pig perfect. It is more of a perfectly imperfect type of perfection, that comes from being willing to be changed, to admit the faults and failing, and to run into His arms and allow Him to cover the imperfections with His perfection.

Lelia ask us to answer the question from the study guide "Search your heart. Is it more important for you to be seen as perfect in a certain area...or seen as real?" It is way more important to be seen as real in all areas of my life then perfect. I don't own a pedestal, I don't want one, and I don't want to be on one.

God is teaching me that it is better to play on the playground by myself, then to have fake friends that will teach me to be fake.

Chapter two has been very good. God is holding up a mirror and saying Sallye do you like what you see?

I am so blessed

2008-09-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

I am working on an online study hosted by Lelia called Yes to God Tuesday. The ladies that are participating in this study run the spectrum from single to married, and no babies to grandbabies. I am very humbled to be included or allowed if you will in the presence of such Spiritual Giants.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

These ladies are that great cloud of witnesses. You read their blogs and you will find dishes in the sink, laundry that needs to be done, kids that aren't perfect, and while you might find some dust on the furniture, what you won't find in any of these ladies lives are dust on their Bibles. These are ladies that their Bibles are marked with ink, highlighter, and tears. If you look at their floors there is probably either a bare spot in the carpet or a smooth spot on the floor where they have been on their faces before God.

Funny thing is that they don't see themselves this way, and that is part of what makes them such Spiritual Giants, their humility, their willingness to be real, and their authenticity. These are ladies that have grown from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word.

Oh, I so want to be like them when I grow up.

Sallye

2008-09-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

And this is his happy face. I have to tell you how proud I am of my middle child. He paid very close attention to both his older and younger sister, and their choices so that at 23 years of age he is still a virgin. Girlfriend, well according to Tanner, she is just as big a prude as he is. And he is as happy as can be. I don't know if this is the one that God has chosen for Tanner, I am praying that she is, but trusting if not, that God has a plan. Tanner is not a dater. This is probably one of a hand full of girls he has dated, and is only the second serious one. He is a romantic, and she is so in love with her Jesus it just shines out of her. Tanner is my builder missionary. If he can go and build it, he will go just about anywhere. He's not real good in the backyard bible study department, but give him hammer and nails and he is good to go. Together, I think that they would be quite a team, but it's not up to me, it's up to my Father, and placing Tanner's future there can at times be very hard. For now school, work, and being with Girlfriend are large parts of his life, along with his four legged daughter "Whiskey" and yes she too is in love with Girlfriend. So I am trying not to push things, I won't tell them I have been looking at tuxs and such...I am just so glad he has found someone to put that look in his eye.

Sallye

Behind Those Eyes Chapter One

2008-09-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

I have attempted to start this blog entry several times and have walked off from it because I am still the little girl on the play ground waiting for someone to come pick me to play with and afraid that I will be the last one picked again.

Lelia at Write From the Heart is hosting a new Tuesday Yes to God study. We are using Lisa Whittle's book BEHIND THOSE EYES.

Lisa started standing on my toes and messing in my life from the first words in Chapter One "The Truth Hurts" and continued right on through to the study guide.

Challenge Verse: "What you're after is the truth from the inside out" Psalms 51:6 MSG This verse scares me. Why? Because I am not sure that I am ready for the "truth". I have so lived the lie of being totally put together on the outside. Mouthing the right words, doing what is necessary to be accepted, that at times I do not know who the "real" me is anymore. From childhood to now, I have so wanted to fit and to be accepted that I have done whatever was necessary to fit, and that has included lying, cheating, and stealing, to name a few. These are not things that I am proud of, but is who I am and who I was, but not whom I want to be.

To pick a question from either the Truth Talk or Behind Your Eyes, is almost impossible, so I will sum up both of these sections and say this.

Authenticity is to be real, to be willing to put yourself out there, and to quit being so worried about whether or not you will be accepted by people, when the only one you have to please is God.

As I was writing this God gave me a quote that I like "Faith without scars, is textbook faith, and it will not hold water in a flood."

God keeps reminding me that I am to be holy, because He is holy. This is not self important, I am better than you self righteousness masquerading as holiness. This a holiness that comes out of love and humility, and a desire to please the One who died for me.

To be real enough to look someone in the face and say "you know what, you matter, You Heavenly Father loves you, and even if I don't have all the answers, I know who does" "I want to see the real you, because you do matter."

I have felt most of my life like I have lived on the edge of the crowd, more tolerated that accepted. At times the results of my own making, and at times not. But still on the edge. So the skin becomes thicker, and the mask goes on. And I turn into myself and not to God. I am hoping and praying that this study will change that, and that I will learn what true authenticity is, and how to apply it to my life.

Sallye

Gavin

2008-09-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

This is Gavin, you can go here to read his story. Basically Gavin is a 3 year old fighting brain cancer. They found out on Good Friday that Gavin had cancer. Please be praying for this wonderful family, and leave a note on their blog.

Wouldn't you love to just leave lipstick kisses all over that little head?

Sallye

Sorry I couldn't resist

2008-09-15T16:45:00.002-07:00

I found this story on KHOU.com and had me thinking of the old Ray Steven's song about the squirrel in the Baptist Church. I so do not think I would to a story like this to tell.

Sallye

Please be praying

2008-09-14T20:12:00.001-07:00

Please be praying for Sally and Duane. The are a wonderful couple that is head over heels in love with each other and with Jesus. They both serve in our church and are currently under big time attack.

Sallye

I have been drafted.

2008-09-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

I opened my mouth today. We went to lunch with some fellow members of our church today, and we were discussing the plans to turn the "barn" into the new sanctuary. We are running out of room in our current building, and this body is less than a year old. Glory to God. So, I ask a couple of questions, made a couple of suggestions and the next thing I know I am on the Building Maintenance and Construction Committee. So I show up for the meeting, and I am the only FEMALE among men that ranch and construct. I don't know a crowbar from a pipe wrench, but hey I do know about Faux Finishes and that was good enough for the pastor. Evidently I did ask some good questions and make some good suggestions, because no one escorted me from the meeting, and there was no hair on the floor when it was over.

One of the men did ask about maintaining the grounds around the building. Lord please don't make me mow. And another stated that was taken care of. Thank you Jesus.

So, if you ever join us for services and something isn't quite square, please just ignore it, more than likely it was just me trying to construct. Do you think I'll get a hard hat?

Sallye

How does this apply to me?

2008-09-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

I found this quote on Facebook and I love it. I am wondering now what this quote looks like in a woman of God's life.

What kind of woman of God is one that the enemy is afraid of every morning when she wakes up? And yes the enemy can and should be afraid of us. If he's not, well then, I had better be on my face before God wonder what is wrong with me, that the enemy is not before God trying to get permission to attack me.

I am in the process of doing Beth Moore's study Stepping Up. And through this study and Battlefield of the mind I am hoping and praying that this quote will become a reality in my life.

Sallye

The Great Hunter

2008-09-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

I could not resist. This is my middle child and his first elk hunt. Look at the smile on his face!!! The freezer will be full for awhile. Elk burgers anyone?

This is one of two Elk cows that he shot over the week of hunting in CO.

Sallye

Brag time

2008-09-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

OK, I have to brag on my man. He is so teaching me what it means to take the high road. As many of you may know, he has been playing in our church praise band. He is a drummer by trade, but at this church has had a chance to play bass, which he does by ear.

The band practiced this past Thursday, and the J, who normally plays the drums was unable to attend practice, so Rusty played some. Everyone was awed by his ability to play the drums, (he's only been doing this for about 35 years). Several of the band members wanted Rusty to either take over the job of playing drums, or tell the drummer how to play. Rusty said no to both. He said and I quote " This is not my position, this is J's position, and to tell him how to do this will just upset him, and make him feel unwanted and unworthy and I am not going to be part of that. I am here to play bass, and if and when God chooses then I will play the drums, until then leave it alone."

I am so proud of and humbled by my man. He took the high road!!!

Sallye

Quick prayer request please

2008-09-04T19:59:00.000-07:00

Quick prayer request.

Oldest daughter is having surgery in the morning. They are going to remove a polyp from her cervix, and burn the lining out of her uterus. She is all of 28, but has a very high risk of cancer, from both her bio father and myself, especially breast cancer. The Dr is wanting her off of birth control and with the problems she is having with her periods, this is the first step toward a hysterectomy. This surgery works in about 50% of the time.

Middle son is leaving at 4am to drive 13 hours to Colorado for a hunting trip. They will be there Saturday to Monday driving home 13 hours after camping and hunting.

Thank you so much for your prayers. They are the cushion we walk on through the problem.

In Him,
Sallye

I am over the Moon!!!!

2008-09-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am over the moon. My youngest child is going to make us grandparents again!!!!

This will be their 3rd blessing. Gbaby T told me it was a girl baby when I ask her what it's name is. I am pushing for Elizabeth Lane...we can call her EL

Please join me in praying for my baby girl and this new blessing. Baby girl is RH negative, and she miscarried between baby one and three. Also she got pregnant while she was on the high powered antibiotics from the Staph infection. God is so good and He gives you just what you need when you need it.

Sallye

What I learned from Beth Moore Weekend

2008-08-31T00:38:00.000-07:00

OK, so I think that maybe I am ready to post about what I learned this past weekend from the Beth Moore conference.

Beth spoke on being an Heiress of God. She gave 8 points with scripture back up that are listed below, but what I learned was not at the conference, but on the drive home when I opened the "New Every Morning " devo that I picked up. Amanda Jones wrote the forward for this book, and what really spoke to me was how daily quiet time with the Lord is of the utmost importance to Beth. You see I have not had daily morning quite time with my Father. I have ask over and over for Him to rearrange my day so that I could have time with Him. My problem as He so kindly pointed out was that I was not willing to help by using the flexibility allowed at my job to come in later than 7 am. I wanted my way, and expected Him to figure out how to work with that. God really spoke to me that I needed to go into work later, and spend time with Him. So I have adjusted my schedule, and I now spend time with Him of a morning. I can not believe the difference that this has made in the way my day goes, and how I feel. One of the things that I had to give up was car pooling. I now have my quiet time, finish dressing and spend the ten minute drive in on praise and worship. I can just imagine how people must be looking at me singing at the top of lungs with hands lifted at every stop light, and one hand constantly in the air the whole drive.

It has amazed me that we were all in the same building listening to the same gifted Woman of God, and we all got such different views. God spoke to each of us right where we are. Isn't He good like that. He gave each of us just what we needed to hear, whether it was at the conference, from people that we were there with, or on the ride home. He met every need that we thought we had, and some that we were not even aware of.

Psalm 16:5-6 were the focal scripture for the weekend. Here it is in the ESV

5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

1. I am an Heir of God-my life is not left to chance. Romans 8:28

2. I am an Heir of God-I am inheriting a kingdom. Matthew 25:34

3. I am an Heir of God-He is my portion Psalm 16 Deuteronomy 10:8-9 and I am His Deuteronomy 4:20, 32:9 Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 1:11-14

4. I am an Heir of God-the down payment has been made. Romans 8:18

5. I am an Heir of G0d-my boundaries lines forms a pleasing place. Psalm 16:5-6

6. I am an Heir of God-the will has been activated. Hebrews 9:15-17

7. I am an Heir of God-I can be secure. Galatians 3:29, 4:7

8. I am an Heir of God-I have a beautiful inheritance. Isaiah 61:1-3

So there you have it, what I learned from the Beth Moore Weekend. And I am still chewing on what I am getting by bending.

Sallye

Calling all Prayer Warriors

2008-08-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

My baby girl Bethany needs some heavy duty prayer and encouragement. Her blog is listed under that I am so you don't have to be online study buddies. I will not go into detail, Bethany does an excellent job of that herself. Know that she is under big time heavy duty attack from the enemy, and she needs us to lift her to our Father, and to lend her our strength. You will be amazed at the courage of this my oldest child. I am believing that you will join me in telling satan to get his hands off mine and God's baby, and praying His protection, healing and Holy Spirit into her.

Grab your armor, it's time to go to war. Our sister is hurting and she needs us!

Sallye

Wow Beth Moore was someting

2008-08-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am home, and right now all I can say is WOW. Beth Moore brought a word, that I am still chewing on. Once it settles, I will share my thoughts.

I did bring home a couple of ladies with me that need our assistance in prayer.

Barbie and Ken, yes that is their real names. They are fighting porn and alcohol. They are still living in the same house, but are not living as husband and wife.

Naomi and husband, sorry no name for him. He left Naomi for a younger woman, and has filed for a divorce, telling Naomi that she will get nothing.

Both Barbie and Naomi are believing God for their marriages. Please join me in praying for these ladies. God is listening, Rusty and I are proof of that.

I love you all,
Sallye

God is teaching me

2008-08-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Before I get to what God is teaching me, I have a huge huge praise report. As many of you know, Rusty has been involved in an Internet affair on and off for the past several months. We did split up over this for a very short period of time. Well things finally came to a head, and he has broken off the affair, and we have recommitted ourselves to each other and to our marriage.

This past weekend we were at church and our pastor and praise team were at a Cowboy retreat, so there was no praise team. A woman that we attended church with at another church walked up to us after the service, and ask why Rusty was not playing the drums. Rusty said because he was not ask. Well she marched straight to the one praise team person that was there and ask why they were not using Rusty. The gentleman ended up taking Rusty phone number, and called and ask him to practice. So Rusty got to practice with the praise team today, and will be playing either bass or drums in church. This is huge to me because, after all we have been through in the past few months, and all the prayer that I and others have offered up for us, this is the blessing that we get. It reconnects Rusty with God and male companionship, and allows him to be used in a way he really loves. God is just so good.

So now to what He has been teaching me. I am working on Battlefield of the Mind with several ladies, Lynn is hosting this, see my side bar for her blog. And one of the things that God is showing me is how connected what we have in our mind and heart is to what we have in our mouth. Scripture tells us it is out of the abundance of our heart that we speak. Anyway. God reminded me that years ago when the sh word was my favorite word, my Mother would tell me you have in your mouth what I would not hold in my hand. So explain to me why the Apple of God's eye, His treasure, the one He gave His Son to die for would choose to have something in her mouth that she would not hold in her hand. I have a picture of this in my mind of either the treasures that God gives or the manure we give ourselves. So which would you rather have in your mouth and in your hand?

Me I am getting the big shovel out and cleaning the stalls so to speak, and I am going to take this clean and swept house and fill it with the Word, the joy of the Lord, and praise and worship that lifts the spirit of myself and others. I will refuse to be a light that is hidden under the manure that the enemy keeps trying to shovel my way. I am at the top of the hill and not the bottom, and we all know what the saying about manure and hills is.

I am so blessed I just almost can not contain it.

In Him,
Sallye

Magan is home

2008-08-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your prayers. Magan got to go home today. I can not believe the mess that is her and Kevin's life. Please continue to pray for them. That God will give them wisdom, peace, and patience.

Sallye

More prayers needed.

2008-08-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

****PRAISE GOD****

Miss Magan may get to go home tomorrow. The large place on her back has drained and is looking very good. The one on the shoulder is now the concern, but is draining and looking better. Thank you thank you thank you for your prayers and support. Our God is an awesome God and all glory belongs to him.

Daughter Magan is in the hospital, she has contracted MSR8, the staph strain that is antibiotic resistant. She is in pain, and very scared that her husband and their two babies 3 years and 5 months will get this also. Magan is having a very hard time being away from her babies. Please be praying for healing and protection.

Sallye

Please be praying for my sister

2008-08-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

****UPDATE**** I talked to my Mother this afternoon, and Hollye has been admitted to the state hospital in Big Spring, she will be there for at least a week for an evaluation, and then go from there. My brother-in-law is staying in Big Spring also. No job, no money, living on credit cards. My mother has their two cats for the time being. Mother spoke to Hollye earlier today, and Holly insisted that mother come to my house because Rusty had fallen and I needed her help. I have not talked to Hollye in about a week or so. Mother is very stressed and is not good for her 78 year old body.

Ok, before I start on the prayer request for my sister, I need to give you a little background. Thursday afternoon, I started having some pain in my left shoulder. I went to the Dr. on Friday, and ended up in the ER. There was a small glich in my EKG. Ended up not only in the ER, but admitted to the hospital and having the thing done where they go in through the groin and look at your heart. Heart is wonderful fine, the the glich in my EKG is normal for me. So I am trying to get ahold of my Mother so that she will not have a cow. This is where my sister comes in. Hollye and her husband live in Kerrville about 2 hours from here. Currently they are both unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. My mom went down for a visit, and while she was there, Hollye had a complete meltdown. Would not come out of the bathroom, afraid meltdown. I just spoke to my Mother, and she said that Hollye is in the ER, in and out since Saturday, and that the meds they have tried make it worse instead of betther. They have found one med that is working with no side effects so far. Please be praying for my Mom, Hollye, and her husband John. They know God but have given up on him. Hollye also has a drinking problem, and if she is drinking and taking any kinds of meds..well you know what can happen.

Oh I am home and fine and getting back on track. Note to self for future reference. Do not let husband pack for hospital for you, or let children assist. Ended up with four pairs of panties, Bible, but no bible study, and no shampoo. Got to love'm for trying.

Sallye

The Sheep

2008-08-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

These sheep are part of an exhibit at the Frankfurt Museum of Communication in Frankfurt Germany. I keep asking my boss if we can do a field trip.

You can click on the pictures to make them larger, enjoy, and come back and read.

I love these sheep. I guess you have had to work in the telephony industry for a long period to understand the beauty of them, or just be kind of strange..

God has showed me that we are these sheep. Did you see a wire running from each of the sheep to an unknown source. Just like these sheep, we are suppose to be plugged in to a source, The Word, The Holy Spirit, and God. All of the sheep are either grazing on the Word, resting in the Lord, or watching for their Shepherd, who's voice the know, and commands they follow.

Oh to be these sheep.

Are you restin, grazin, or watchin?

Sallye

I have a house!!

2008-08-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have a house, and it's builder and designer is none other that Jesus.

God gives me a weekly scripture to ponder. This weeks scripture is

John 14:1-3 NKJV

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Jesus is building me a house. He alone is building it stone by stone and nail by nail. Whether it is a room or a house does not matter. His hands have laid each board.

Oh to walk in and touch the walls that He has nailed and painted. The furniture has all been hewned by hand, by the One's who hands were nailed to a cross. Each piece was chosen just for me, to bring joy to my heart. Can you imagine turning to Him with tears of joy streaming down your face and saying "Thank you, I am so unworthy of this gift", and bowing once again at His feet to worship the One who is the lover of your soul.

Just thinking about this is just almost more that I can take in.

Deut 6:10-11 NKJV

So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,
houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant-

To the new testament believer this is heaven that is being described.

1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV

But as it was written:
Eye has not see, nor ear heard
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

I have a house built by the Chief Builder. I am a house being built by the Corner Stone.

Sallye

I saw love today

2008-08-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

I saw love today. I am still smoking and since it is not allowed in the house, we smoke on the front porch. This morning, as I was smoking, and thinking, I saw a small bird laying about 10 feet from me. You could tell that sadly the bird was dying. This was just a baby, and I thought how sad, I will wait till it breathes it's last, then pick it up and place it in the trash. Then I saw the most amazing thing. Both the Momma and Daddy bird came to check on their baby. The momma, she is a mourning dove, got right up next to the baby and comforted/guarded it. The daddy in the mean time is going in circles around them cooing. This is love. The momma stayed till the end and the daddy was about 2 feet away and waited. These are wild animals, and as I came in and out of the house neither of them moved. They just waited cooed and covered. Once the baby died, I got a small cuptowel wrapped her up and placed her in a box. The Momma and Daddy are out in the tree in front singing their praises to the Lord even in this sad event they are able to lift their voices to the Lord. What a testimony.

Sallye

Please keep praying

2008-08-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Rusty went to the Dr. today. She is not going to change any of his Meds at this time. She said that his Thyroid was fine, along with his blood sugar. She does want to see him again in 2 weeks, and he has an MRi scheduled for the 5th on his head an sinus cavity. He is unable to smell.

We still have not heard anything back from the manager at the furniture store.

God is in control of all of this.

Please be praying for my Rusty

2008-07-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

Rusty interviewed for the job at the furniture store today. He had one of three interviews today. I am believing that the manger is very intrested in Rusty, but his limited vision is a problem. The regional manager is suppose to be here this week and she wants to talk to him before Rusty does either of the next two interview. I believe that this job would be perfect for Rusty, but am trying to keep the mantra going in my head that God is in control.

Also Rusty is not well, I do not know what is wrong with him, but he is not himself. He goes to the Dr on Friday. He is not eating like he usually does, he is not as talkative and teasing toward me as normal. And his sleep pattern is all messed. I know that part of it is depression. And I think part of it might be that he is still worried/scared that I am going to get mad and give him the boot. Which is not going to happen. Please be lifting him to our Father.

Sallye

I am doing the happy dance!!!

2008-07-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

Oh I wish you were all here with me. I am doing the happy dance. I left a praise/blessing on the other blog. God has given me back my study room. You can not believe how sad and bad it had gotten around here. I had no place to either leave out my bible, resource books, or the laptop. Now my desk, books, and laptop are all back in one spot. I am so happy, I could just sing and dance (which I already did). I have my alone space. You would think with only 2 people living in a house that would not be a problem, but it is, when space is a premium around here. Less than 1000 sq ft of living space. And my room, currently has son's bed and friends stuff in it, but hey I can deal as long as I can come in here, shut the door and talk out loud to God and not have to worry about waking Rusty or disturbing him.

Oh Father, to think that something so small was just as important to You as it was to me.

Need some prayer please

2008-07-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

Update--Son called and said that his winter boss/hunting guide, said that he would front son money to fix pickup, and that Son can work on the weekends till hunting season to pay back. Thank you Father for answered prayer- You are in control

Son found out today, that to get truck fixed is going to cost between $400 to $600. Was not the transmission, but the computer that runs engine and transmission. Funds needed to pay for this, favor with the garage to possible be cheaper.

Healing between Son and Rusty. They are still not speaking. Rusty has reached out a couple of times since the move out/move in weekend, but Son is not over his mad/hurt.

Job for Rusty. A job at a furniture shop has come open again. Rusty would be perfect for the job. Christian boss, assembling furniture, lifting required. Weekends also. Desire for Rusty to apply for the job.

Patience and Michael. Michael is back on the drugs and off the marriage. They are living appart. There is no peace in this marriage. It is either really good or really bad.

Continued healing in mine and Rusty's marriage, guidance regarding counseling, and family coaching.

Growth for me.

Sallye

Deuteronomy 1:34

2008-07-20T02:37:00.000-07:00

"And the LORD heard the sound of your words and was angry" NKJV

"And the LORD heard the voice of your words and and was wroth" KJV

"When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry" NIV

"When the LORD heard your complaining, he became very angry" NLT

Strongs H6963 Voice
kole, kole
From an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound: - + aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, [pro-] claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder (-ing), voice, + yell

4 different translations, say partly the same thing. But I think that the NKJV and the KJV get to the heart of the matter. My words have sounds and a voice if you will. Tone is everything.

God heard not just the words, but the sounds and voice that they made. There is a praise song that one line is "let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear"

What are the sounds and voice of my words doing to God? Is He eager to hear me speak? Or does He cover His ears?

What kind of tone are the sound and voice of my words leaving in God's ear? Is it a screechy sound like fingernails on a chalkboard, with my whining and complaining? Or is it a joyous sound?

It's not just the tone, it's the attitude also. Do I come before Him with the laundry list? Or do I just come before Him?

Something to stop and think about.

What is your most prized possession

2008-07-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

My daughters have taught me a lot over the last week or so. And one thing that I have seen that they both have in common, is their marriages. Both of the girls told me that their most prized possession is their marriage. Wow, to hear the same thing from two very different people.. If I ask my married friends this question, I would probably receive the same answer from them also.

So what is my most prized possession? Honest answer, don't know.

My gut/heart response should be my salvation. I was purchased with a price. A life was given, so that mine was spared. What pretty words. And they are just words, because they are not being walked out in my life.

We guard what we value the most. We protect what we don't want stolen. And we reflect what we are closest to.

Oh, I can and do reach into my closet, and pull out the "spiritual suit" and put it on when the situation calls for, but I don't "wear" it 24/7. Because it is not my most prized possession, and it doesn't always fit where I am going or doing.

My heavenly Father is not my FATHER, He is...my father. My God is not the King of the Universe. Jesus is not my SAVIOR, He is...the savior. Yes, I do believe that Jesus is the living Son of God, that He lived, was crucified, died, and was rasied from the dead, and now is at the right hand of the Father, and that He did it just for me.

I know that when I die, I will go to be with the Lord, but am I living this truth out in my life?

I want easy, but God is not in the easy, He is in the hard.

My life is self centered and not God centered.

I see others that God is their most prized possession, and I think I want that, but am I willing to pay the price to get it? Not really. I want some one to just pour it all in and it be there. I am not into hard. I am lazy, I want some one else to go get it, then give it to me. And with an attitude like that, my Father, my God whom is my Salvation will not become my most prized possession.

This is not a pity party, this is an honest look at my life and why it is not working.

Things today

2008-07-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well, first I have decided that I am going to keep Rusty. We have nearly 26 years invested in this marriage I just couldn't seem to chunk it. Daughter #1 came by last Sunday, and I could not give away Rusty's plastic hangers out of his side of the closet. We are going to do some counseling and do a couple of other things. Also I have quit Wal-Mart. This will give us more time to work on us, and less away from each other. Rusty's parents have also agreed to start paying him for helping at their house.

Please continue to pray for us, our 3 adult children, or families, and for Vickie the other one. We all need large doses of healing, and God's guidence in our lives.

Please also be praying for Patience and Michael. Michael is back on drugs and Patience has moved out of Michael's house for the second time, and in with her sister.

I love you all more then you will ever know and feel so honored to call you friends.
Sallye

Please pray for:

2008-07-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Please be praying for Vickie, she was just as dupped as me and the kids in all of this. Funny thing I feel like I need to apologize to her.

Sallye

Me, Patience, and our boat

2008-07-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Patience and I are in the same boat. We both are having very large problems with our marriages. Patience and her man with drugs, and me and mine with infedility. I will not go any futher with the details except to say with Patience, she has moved out of their home, and I am sleeping in the other bedroom behind a locked door.

I have told Rusty that I am going to take 30 days and decide what I am going to do. Which at this point I have no ideal what the answer will be. I have told him that I can not just "sweep" this under the carpet like it never happened.

I had him move out on Friday, but allowed him to move back on Sunday, for the simple fact that I could not make my youngest daughter responsible for the care and feeding of him, since he has no income and no place to go.

Do I love this man, yes I do, he is the father of my children, and we have had a lot of good years, and been through many, many struggles as a couple.

Am I in love with this man? Well, that is the question that puts me in this boat. I think that somewhere somehow we both let this marriage slip away. For probably about the past 2 years we have been two people leading separate lives living at the same address.

So the question comes back what am I going to do? When I figure it out I will let you know. Please be praying for both Patience and her man, and me and mine.

Sallye

I wish you all could see this

2008-07-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

I am sitting on my couch with my laptop typing one handed. Why you ask, because my Black Cat (BC) is laying next to me with his head on top of my right hand, and since I dare not disturb him, I have one hand to work with. He is waiting for me to get up and go to bed. Guess you now know who is the boss at my house, and it ain't me.

I have found the map

2008-07-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have found the map to the promised land. It's called a Bible and you pick it up off the shelf and read it. How profound.

I have been on vacation from job A this week, but not from job B. So I have used this as an excuse not to spend time with my Father.

Well, today I picked up my computer, and plugged in Joyce Meyer's CD Mental Strongholds, and got carried to the woodshed.

God has really been speaking to me about where I am "living" in my spiritual walk. So I am not doing the No Other Gods summer Bible study, but am instead going to go back to the beginning with the I AM so you don't have to be online blog study by Lisa AKA the preacher's wife, along with the stronghold study by Joyce, and the book of Deuteronomy and see what God is really trying to teach me, that I didn't want to see or hear.

Questions I am asking self are

1. What is my promised land?

2. Where is it?

3. What does it look like?

One thing that I know He is already working on is my attitude in regards to my appearance.

I have complained and whined about how tired I am working two jobs and because of that I have let how I dress for either job slide big time. God has been showing me that how I look on the outside is directly related to how I feel on the inside. Patience ask me the other day if I might be depressed. I kind of laughed her off, but God has been showing me that I am, and it is time to get busy and get over it. So one of the first things I am going to do is go back to spending the time on face, hair and clothes that makes me feel better. A brother in Christ at job B told me if I would just spend 30 minutes of a morning in prayer, that I would have the energy I need to make it through the day. I have also discovered that this depression is effecting mine and Rusty's marriage in a very negative way. So part of the plan is to spend 30 minutes with my Father as I shower, iron, and dress for the day.

Notes in my Bible from today.

God is telling me that I have stayed where I am (in my sin) long enough, it is time to move to the promised land- ties in with the I AM Bible Study, who would have thought. Deuteronomy 1:21 Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ How easily I become discouraged when God is attempting to make me let go and it doesn't work out like I think it should. Deuteronomy 1:22-33 22 “And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and of the cities into which we shall come.’ 23 “The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe. 24 And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out. 25 They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is giving us.’ 26 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; 27 and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. 28 Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’
29 “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ 32 Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, 33 who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.
How like the Hebrew Children I am, even when God tells me in verses 30 and 31 that He carries me. Verse 32 just stops me, because that is such a large truth in my life at this time. Even with what God tells me and what I have seen Him do in my life I still do not believe the Lord my God.

So it is time to pack my tent, take my map, and head to the Promised Land.

This is going to be so good. I am off to prepare for job B, and spend some time in prayer as I do.

Sallye

PRAISE GOD for ANSWERED PRAYER

2008-07-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

I am not real computer savvy or I would have a HUGE picture of people dancing and singing on this post.

Only Son and middle child, pickup's transmission gave up on him last week. $2,600.00 first time around to fix it. Warranty expired on June 25th 2008 and as you can tell today is July 7th 2008. Rusty's brother very kindly paid for the first one, but he like all the rest of us, did not have an additional 26 hundred laying around to replace again.

BUT, Glory to GOD, the guy at the transmission placed called today and has decided to honor the warranty any way and fix the transmission for FREE, yes you heard correctly F-R-E-E. God is good all the time. Proof positive that God is concerned with every aspect of our lives, and that if you will give it to God, and let Him handle it, He will.

I will be honest, I was stressing this, but I kept saying God, You are in control and You do have a plan to resolve this. Please keep us out of the way so You can work.

We are a singin and a shoutin...

Sallye

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 15

2008-07-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 15

Full Circle

Focal Scripture

Numbers 14

Numbers 32:16-18

Lisa writes

This week, we are going to revisit Numbers 32 This is the portion of Scripture where Moses is still alive but has already been told by God he would die before crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land.

As Moses' last act of war, God has just executed vengeance upon Midian for their part in seducing Israel to idolatry. The spoils were divided amongst the tribes and the request arose from the sons of Reuben, Gad, and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh to be given the land east of the Jordan as their inheritance since it was a suitable place for livestock.

Here we find ourselves in a familiar place, one the Israelites had been before. Once again as forty years prior, the nation is standing at the edge of the Promise and here are a small number who want to remain behind.

The set up is reminiscent of Numbers 14 when the nation wailed over the reports brought back from the spies about the land and its inhabitants. Only Caleb and Joshua trusted God to go before them into the Land while the other ten spies discouraged the people by spreading doubt and fear. The ensuing rebellion cost Israel forty long years and the death of the entire generation - all because ten men did not trust their God to finish the work He had begun by leading them out of Egypt.

Was this about to be a replay of what had happened forty years earlier? Had Israel learned anything in their wanderings? Which leads us to ask ourselves the very same question: What wisdom are we gaining in our afflictions? How are we reacting differently when we are presented with circumstances which yesterday would have found us in rebellion against God?

There comes a time, Girls, that something has got to give. We can live in this borderland the rest of our days but this is NOT the life Your God intended for you to live! How long do we have to flounder without yet learning to draw from the well of experience we have with our God in order to let His deliverances CHANGE the way we move through this life? AFFECT our decision making? MOVE us from bondage to abundance? When are we going to stop making the same ridiculous mistakes over and over and over? God can and will clear the way for you into abundance, but He can not take the steps for you. Just like the Israelites, the Promise is there waiting for the generation and more specifically, the woman who will be brave enough to possess it.

Burning Questions:

1. I think we can all agree most of us find ourselves closer to God in the struggle than without it. How does it affect you knowing that trial is what draws you more intimately in relationship to Your God?
Honestly? It sometimes angers and defeats me. Why do I have to keep going through trials? Why can't I have it easy once in awhile. The answer always comes back the same. You don't need me in the easy, you only come to me in the hard. When I learn to lean in the hard times all the time, then I will also learn to lean in the easy times too.

2. Have you ever made a huge mistake but then found yourself in the position for a 'do-over'? Did you make a better decision the second or third or fourth time around? :)
Yes, I have found myself in a "do-over" a couple of times, and thankfully because, I remember the lesson, I was able by the grace of God to respond differently.

3. Is there a 'generational sin' in your family you have overcome? This can be anything from a lineage of unbelief to issues of many kinds. This may be a private matter. Share if you feel liberty or quietly thank God for His deliverance. If you have not yet been delivered, I pray with all my heart God's Word is giving you courage to ask for help in that area.
There is a generational sin of Alcoholism in my family. I have chosen not to drink, or if I do very seldom. My sister is a practicing alocholic, and my brother is on the border. I have three children, that also battle this sin, two have it under control, one does not.

4. Have you ever been misunderstood? Do you feel unforgiven for past mistakes even though you know God has forgiven you?
Yes, I am known for the "Peter disease" I open my mouth and promptly insert my foot.

5. Is there a sister you need to extend grace towards in order to be able to 'bless God together'? Do you comprehend how your unforgiveness is hindering her from inhabiting her own Promise? If no, do you recognize a situation within your church body where this may be happening? If so, ask God to raise up a 'Phinehas' (mediator) in this situation. He may just reveal the Phinehas is you. :)
We have been attending a new church, and I am still the "new kid" on the block. I am trying real hard to keep my foot out of my mouth, and to be a encourager.

Good lesson Lisa, friends and I were just discussing this very topic.

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 14

2008-06-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 14

Focal Text

"Say therefore to the sons of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD'." Exodus 6:6-8

"In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; in Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation." Exodus 15:13

"But He brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that He promised on oath to our forefathers." Deuteronomy 6:23

Lisa writes:

We introduced this last chapter by considering four purposes for the Promise based on Leviticus 26. They were: A sense of self-worth, security, provision, and finally and perhaps most importantly, an assurance of love.

Let's set up today's Lesson. In Exodus 6, Moses has gone to Pharaoh to ask for the Israelite's release. Instead of freedom, Pharaoh increased their labor unmercifully.

Moses' doubt soon turned to determination when God unleashed all the plagues upon Egypt. Pharaoh, under compulsion (Exodus 6:1), finally let the Israelites leave the country.

Moses sang. For the first time noted in Scripture, Moses opened his mouth - the one unskilled in speech - and belted out a tune to the Highly Exalted, Warrior God. A big change from the Moses at the end of Exodus 6!

The words of Moses' song in Exodus 15 mark an important shift in his ministry.

When the Israelites saw the great power God displayed against Egypt, they not only believed in Jehovah, but in Moses also. Hear me on this one, girls. We hold an amazing amount of power in our words. It is our duty as women of God to build one another up in the Lord lest our sister lose heart in the individual mission God has laid before her. The Israelites' complaining at the end of Chapter 6 caused Moses to return to an old place of unbelief in regard to his stammering lips. However, the realization of the people that God indeed positioned Moses as a Judge and Deliverer in turn gave Moses the courage to shout praises to the Lord in front of the whole assembly. We don't dare ever be the reason one of our girlfriends stutters! Instead, try an 'I believe in you'. You have no idea how brave you'll make her!

Perhaps the most fascinating part of Moses' worship is seeing him transcend before our very eyes beyond Egypt and the desert to spiritually inhabit the Promise.

Which begs the question: What is the difference in living the abundant life within Spiritual Promise and remaining yet outside it? Based on the experience of Israel, I think we can fairly evaluate our own position by the following:

1. Living Outside the Promise - The purpose of the desert was to humble and test the Israelites to see if they would obey God. God caused the Hebrews to hunger so He could fill them with manna they had not known. Though He was not obligated to such extravagances, God wanted to prove He would provide every single physical and spiritual need. God was building trust between His people and Himself, therefore; the ongoing fight was against unbelief and distrust. (Deuteronomy 8)

2. Living Inside the Promise - The unbelief of the Israelites cost forty long years in the desert until a new generation raised up who believed God enough to allow Him to go ahead of them and overtake the inhabiting nations. Joshua and Caleb were the only two scouts in the first generation who believed their Warrior God would bring them victory. When it was time to once again attempt a conquest, the greatest issue was no longer unbelief but the internal effect of Satan's schemes in the specific area of idolatry. The fight would also continue externally on behalf of the brethren. Many battles would ensue in which a group of Israelite tribes would fight alongside one another in order to clear out their inheritance from the Canaanites.

Burning Questions:

1. We talked of the importance of encouragement when God has called us to task. Has a lack of encouragement or even ridicule ever taken you back to a place of insufficiency you thought you had conquered?
Yes, any negative words spoken can bring me to a standstill. I have not discovered who I am in Christ yet, working on it.

2. Is there someone you know right now who is attempting a new ministry that could use a world of encouragement from you? Why do you think this thing may be scary for her? Will you commit to write a note, make a call, or send an email with a dose of courage inside?
No, but I have several friends both blog based and local based that I try to keep encouraged in their daily walk.

3. Read Moses' song in Exodus 15:3-18 What line speaks to you most? Why does it touch you?
Verse 2 which was not included but states "The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him." This verse shows who Moses knew God is. His salvation, it is very personal and possesive. I want to be this way with my Father.

4. Based on the applications of living either inside or outside the Promise, where would you now say you currently reside? (As I read your answers, if this one point seems to have been confusing, I'll elaborate in a separate post. Again remember I am asking this question in terms of abundant living and not in determining salvation.;))
I am living outside the promise, but can see it and am moving toward it.

5. If you are 'Somewhere in the Middle' between the girl you were and the one you want to be, how do you plan on changing that? Is there a barrier you feel you can't climb? Knowing God is for you and this study group is for you, is there a way we can help?
By giving over to God, opening my hand and letting stuff fall away, not clinging to tightly to the plantings that God is pulling up.

Are you an Oak Tree?

2008-06-21T10:15:00.001-07:00

Are you an Oak Tree

This morning has been time spent with my Father.

Psalms 1 is one of my most favorite psalms

1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I have been pondering the verses about the tree. I have observed the Oak Trees in my neighbors yard.

An Oak Tree always has green leaves on it. They are never without them. They bear fruit in their season, and they are always growing.

This is what I am suppose to be according to the above verses. I am always suppose to have leaves, which are the word of the Lord in my life, I should never be bare. I should have fruit in season. And I should always be growing. The oak also has learned especially in West Texas how to bend with the wind. This I am still having to learn.

Sallye

I AM so you don't have to be and No Other Gods

2008-06-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am finishing up the Blog Bible study I AM so you don’t have to be by Lisa AKA the Preacher’s Wife, and beginning No Other Gods by Kelly Minter.

The ending of one and the beginning of the other are walking hand in hand in dealing with issues in my life. Lisa made a statement in Lesson 14 “Let's set up today's Lesson. In Exodus 6, Moses has gone to Pharaoh to ask for the Israelite's release. Instead of freedom, Pharaoh increased their labor unmercifully.” I am finding that as God is working to make me let go of my “pharaohs” that instead of freedom, I become bound more tightly to them. Why? Could it be that just like the Hebrew children, that I do moan and groan under the “pharaoh”, but when shown how to live without them, I get scared, because God is taking what has basically become my reality or my identity, and saying “Here Sallye let me relive that and give you this.” The first step I am finding is changing my attitude. Even if I am saying with my mouth “Please God come set me free”, if I am not saying the same in my heart, I will not allow God to change me. It’s all about getting to the bottom of the barrel, and finally giving it over to God. Words can be written on a page that announce this, but until my heart is crying out to God, change can not and will not happen. Now all I have to do is move this from head knowledge to heart knowledge.

I am going to let God pull up all the plantings that are not of Him (Matthew 15:13 Amped) He answered, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots.
And I am going to live Isaiah 60:21 Amped Your people also shall all be [uncompromisingly and consistently] righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

I am going to listen to my Father tell my pharaohs. “Let my Sallye go” And when He turns to me and says “Sallye open your hand and let it go” I am going to look up to Him and open my hand and not even look at what is falling away.

Wow. Father I love you, and I come before you and ask that You come and You do a work in this child that has not acted like Your child. Father God You are I AM, You are the creator of the universe. You are able to handle this. Father I lift a hand to you, while the other holds tightly to my pharaohs, and I ask that You show me how to let go of all of the things that You are asking that I do. Father please come and prune, cut, and pull up anything in this life that does not glorify You. Father please hold me as You do this. Thank you that Your Word promises that You will bind up the broken hearted. Father I give you all the glory and praise. Please forgive me when I yell it hurts, it’s painful, and it’s uncomfortable. Father please restore to me the joy of my salvation. Father, I want to love You whole heartedly. In Jesus name, Amen

No Other Gods Week One

2008-06-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

OK, So lets talk about this.

Beth Moore in her instructions for the first week said:

To please share what you perceive as your biggest challenge toward walking with God victoriously this summer.

Me, I am the problem. I have all this wonderful HEAD knowledge, but no, zip, zero, Nada HEART knowledge. It is like there is this huge wall between me and God. Who built it, me.

Those that know me say that I am kind and generous, an encourager and a good listener. Which I am sure that I am. You see God does use me in spite of me.

I am a very angry person, most people do not see it, but inside I have to be angry about someone or something all of the time. I have this face I put on for the public, but home it's another story.

What does it say about a person, when their first thought on seeing some one is not a kind one?

I want easy, and with this there is no easy. I am afraid, I am afraid to tear down the wall, because...

I don't think I can even go there.

Am I posting this to get sympathy? No I am being honest first with my Father, and second with me.

The memory verse for the study is Jude 1:24-25:

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

My Father is able, if I am willing.

Sallye

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 13

2008-06-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

I AM so you don’t have to be Lesson 13

I AM study Lesson Thirteen
The Purpose of Promise

Focal Verses
"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward'." Genesis 15:1

I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase then thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. You will still be eating last year's harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high." Leviticus 26:6-13

"And [God] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:6

"And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:18

"The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you'." Galatians 3:8

This spoke to me very deeply:

Blessed To Be a Blessing
Our culture teaches us we can either manufacture within ourselves or purchase all of these basic things, but God created us to need the things only He can fully provide. There is a huge difference between pride and righteous confidence. Pride fools one into thinking we can create our own Promised Land. The other recognizes, just as Abram did, God is our Portion, our shield, and our very great reward.
I believe we can define living in a spiritual Canaan as being in a place of righteous confidence in the Father. A place of our identity completely being wrapped inside of His. A place we can live with our faces turned unashamedly towards the sky. A place of faith in the means of God's provision and being satisfied if what we receive is a huge portion of Him. In this place is where we will be able to operate in a mode of full effectiveness for the Kingdom unbound by the carnal baggage Satan continually piles on our shoulders. As we evaluate the experiences of our lives, it is time we process those with the covering of God's Word so we can move into the Promise - the place where we can use our blessings to minister to others. As Galatians 3:8 says, this is how the Gospel is spread!

BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Do you struggle with a sense of self-worth? How do you perceive this has affected the way you are able to 'keep your head upright'? If not, do you know someone who suffers in this area?
Yes, what others see as an over inflated ego, is actually low self esteem. If I receive a voice message from a friend asking me to call my first thought is “what have I done wrong?” My head is held up by a stiff spine.

2. What are you most afraid of? Does this fear affect the way you move through life? (Ex. Are you overprotective with children? Afraid to take risks?)
Of not being accepted, loved and valued.

3. What is one of the most marvelous ways God has provided a need? I can't wait to hear your stories on this one!
My job that I have had for nearly 30 years. I put in an application, six months later received a call asking if I was still interested in the job. (This was even before I became a Christian) God knew that I would not be married to my first husband for much longer (total surprise to me) and that when Rusty and I married, that I would be the main means of support in our home. This job has met all of our needs and a few wants.

4. Steve Brown, a Moody Broadcasting Bible Teacher, is one of the first people I ever heard teach the concept that God was not mad at me. I grew up in a denomination that led me to believe He was in a continuous state of disappointment over my failures. How about you? Though in your heart you know God says He loves you, does Satan in your mind ever try to convince you otherwise?
Yes, but I always thought that was just normal. I didn’t realize that we are suppose to be safe in that unconditional love. Even though this is the same type of love I have tried to give my children. One of the greatest gifts I ever received was my Mother telling me, that there would never be anything that I could do that would cause her to stop loving me.

5. How close are you to your own Promised Land? Not at all, 1/2 way, almost there? By this I mean the place of abundant living and effectiveness here on earth, not the ultimate fulfillment in Glory! Though I hope you are going to heaven, I don't want it to be today! :)
I look forward to our discussion this week!
Not at all. I feel like Moses must have when he stood and saw the Promised land, I can see it, but can not find the trail or the map.

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 12

2008-06-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

I AM so you don’t have to be Lesson 12

I AM Study Lesson Twelve
A Face With The Name

Background Passages
Exodus 33
John 14

Focal Verses
Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, don not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on earth?’ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name’. Then Moses said, ‘Now show me Your glory’.
Exodus 33:15-18

Phillip said, ‘Lord show us the Father and that will be enough for us’. Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’
John 14:8-9

‘I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me; for they are Yours. All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to me through them.’
John 17:10

Lisa writes:

The only kind of recognition we should ever seek for ourselves is the kind which will point directly back to our God. Anything less sets up the same type of idolatry the Israelites were so prone to practice.

Been here done this got the T-shirt, and it was pretty shredded when all was said and done. If I shine the light on anyone other than may Father, I am setting myself up for either a large fall or as Bethany at Beyond this Moment said “a trip to the time-out chair.”

Lisa writes:

I hope you have taken the opportunity to read the Background Passages. To gain context, remember Moses has just returned from Sinai with the first copy of the Tablets of Testimony to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf fashioned from the plunder of Egypt. God threatened annihilation of the people and offered starting over with Moses as the father of a new nation of Israel. (Exodus 32:9)

I have to stick something in that I find very funny. In Exodus 32:7 God tells Moses to “go get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.” I can just see Moses getting all ramped up and stomping off the to take care of things..then to have God say “I’ll just kill them and start over with you” The expression on Moses’ face probably said “UH- NO!”, we’ll deal with what we got.’ Moses was a holy man of God, but was also very human. Moses was probably mad enough to “spit nails”, but when given the “easy” option of starting over, He chose the “holy” option of taking what is and letting God make it what it will be. This is all God is asking of me, to let Him take what is, and make it what it will be.

Lisa writes:

In Moses’ experience, the success of the Israelite nation in its deliverance would either be a credit to or slander against its God. Moses’ love for Jehovah caused him to take seriously the Third Commandment, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His Name.” (Exodus 20:7). This reverence for God’s name spilled over into protection it at all cost against defamation.

How sad that we as a nation and a body have lost this reverence for the Name of God.

Lisa writes:

There is one thing God will always be, and that is the One who fills the Universe with marvelous light. God’s eternal, transcending glory is never compromised. However, in a divine mystery we can scarce comprehend, human agency has been allowed to have effect on God’s fame in the mortal realm.

Lisa states in regards to Jobs trials:

“Satan is not omniscient so he could not know that with every new ruin brought fresh resolve, every pang of suffering birthed supernatural strength, and each rebuke of a friend forged a relationship with God so strong that the gates of hell would not be able to prevail against it. God’s glory will not come unintentionally or without great determination.”

I say: satan is not omni anything. God has always got him on a leash whether we see it or not.

Lisa writes:

Moses has seen the Wonders- now he desired God’s glory. This is defined in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary as ‘his goodness, his entire character, and nature’. To say Moses’ request pleased God is an understatement. More than anything, God wants us to seek relationship over provision, intimacy over the miraculous, the intangible over the material. Would you like to know the amazing thing which happens when we do this? The former request is often coupled with the latter based on the concept of Matthew 6:33 which says ‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ God caused all His goodness to pass in front of Moses and covered him with His own hand and yet the sight of it was not as precious to Moses as the love of the Father who would arrange this display.

Burning Questions

1. We discussed how we are God’s fame and He is ours. Have you ever been in a situation where you are applauded for your ministry and had to fight back the idol of pride? Ever been tempted to believe your own press? It’s okay to admit it! Your testimony will help others in their resolve!
Yes I have, and sadly I have not fought back the idol of pride, and as a result stole God’s glory. I try to stay off that pedestal as much as possible.

2. Did it ever occur to you in the 3-way drama of God, Job, and Satan that Satan was the only one outside the loop as far as Job’s reactions would be? Does this encourage you in resolving to make a fool of him when he attempts to use you to defame the Name?
Yes, although I do forget at times that satan CAN NOT read my mind. He can only affect my surroundings. Yes, it again reminds me that satan is under God’s control at all times.

3. Are you in a situation now where you feel you are being overcome? Better yet, are you in a situation where you should have been overcome but are not?
Yes I feel like I am being overcome by my big god Money or the lack thereof. I feel like I have done the right thing in taking a part time job, but counsel from friends is leading me to doubt this. And now I am tired, unsure, and unhappy.

4. Have you ever failed in a Satan-designed trial? Can you recognize God intends for this failure to refine and resolve you for the next time? God is not out for your destruction but your perfection!
Yes, because I am human. Yes nothing is wasted with God

5. Can you describe yourself as a Wonders Junkie? Found yourself in spiritual highs and lows depending on whether you perceived God was doing wondrous things or not?
No, I am still surprised when God shows up and shows His Wonder.

6. Have you ever been like Phillip and had God right in your face and not recognized Him?
Yes, sadly several times, and He ended up tapping me on the end of the nose and asking if I was paying attention.

7. Journal a brief prayer asking God for His Glory. Let it be the thing we all desire above all else…
Father God, I can not at this point ask you to show me You Glory. Father I would ask that you move me closer to you. I do not want to be like the Hebrew child and be consumed by your anger.

Please be praying

2008-06-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Please be praying for my friend Cindy, her husband Wesley, their son William, and Wesley's sisters and other family.

Wesley's Father had lung cancer surgery today. He came through the surgey fine, and was in recovery where he died. The Dr had come out spoken to Wesley said that they thought they got it all, and that recovery would be long and painful. Wesley had called Cindy at work to let her know. Then called back about an hour later telling her Bill had died.

Their son William is having to fly in from CA.

They do not have a home church. Cindy is a non-practicing Christian. I do not know if either Wesley or William have made a profession of faith.

There is a lot of healing that will need to go on in this family.

Sallye

kids and dogs ain't it good

2008-06-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I do not have a picture to go with it, you will just have to use your imagation.

Tanner middle child, he and the "granddog Whiskey" have been living with his older sister Pamella and her two children Benjamin 5 and Hanna 2. Tanner said that Whiskey has decided that Pamella's bed is better than the blow up or the couch. Benjamin, since his father has been in Iraq also decided that Momma's bed was better than his.
Well, home comes Dustin, son-in-law and he wants his spot back. They,for privicy sake have started locking their bedroom door.
Tanner said about 2am in the morning, Benjamin and Whiskey are at Pamella and Dustin's bedroom door knocking asking if they can come in. He said it is to funny cause Whiskey just waits for Benjamin to come through the livingroom so she can go with him.

Kids and dogs what would we do without them?

Sallye