Our God Is In Control by Steven Curtis Chapman

Get Rid of the Junk

As you read this scripture ask God to open your heart to His word and to make you able to receive that which he has for you - it may be a little hard to swallow.


Psalm 119:37-40 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in your ways (or give me life in your word NLT). Establish your word to your servant, who is devoted to fearing you. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your laws, Revive me in your righteousness. (NKJV)

I began this morning with my bible studies and this verse struck me. "Turn my eyes from look at worthless things and give me LIFE in YOUR WORD".

How many "worthless things", I began to wonder, have I let slip into my life and distract me from my mission - that ordained by God task at hand - the work I am called to?

How many seemingly small things distract me from His precepts or laws and keep me focused on a task that is menial and has no eternal value. And if these things were distracting me what was my cost in this world?

So, as God does, he began to show me areas of worthlessness that creep into our lives, some of these I struggle with, some you may struggle with...this list is general and by no means complete.

(1) Your job and the acquisition of worldly things.
Have you allowed your job to consume most of your time?___________________
Is it to provide and be satisfied or has it become more, do you have to work
more hours or longer hours to pay for all your stuff?____________________
(Did you fall into the trap of instant gratification, this is so easy to do. Have you justified it because the kids need new clothes, we have to have this vehicle, a bigger house would be nice, that game system or newest electronic would make life easier, etc.)
(2) The pursuit of too many activities.
This can be all things, church related, school related, work related, hobbies, sports, etc. Anything that consumes your time to spend with the Lord and make more worthwhile the relationships in your life.
Is there anything you can cut out? ________________________________________
(Have you justified it as my children need this activity to be well-rounded it will develop character, I don't want my children left out. Or I need this time alone. Or I know I'm really busy but it's all church stuff it's all for the Lord - Do not get me wrong or get the wrong idea - I am all for church activities that cause us to grow in the Lord. However, if these activities are pressing out personal time with the Lord they become empty. They are only fulfilling and worthwhile when God is involved and leading you. They will only bless you with God involved - otherwise they are empty acts.)
(3) Housework. I know, right, but for some of us having things in order and always caught up give us a since of accomplishment, and they are often times a way to control our environment.
Does the drive to perfection in your environment crowd out time for God and those you love? __________________________________________________________________
(will you fold the laundry, sweep the floor, vacuum, etc. in order to keep it all nice when the Holy Spirit is calling for alone time, will you do these things even if you know you need to invest in relationships of those in your family and justify it that there will be time later)
(4) Television.
Do you set aside time to watch your favorite television show no matter what?
even if it means no study for the Lord? ____________________________________
(Do you justify it as a time to relax....)
(5) The computer/cellphone/facebook, etc.
Do these things eat up large chunks of your times, distracting you from those around you and your time with the Lord? ____________________________________

Worthless things - ANYTHING that distracts us from God and from those things with kingdom and eternal significance. Remember ladies the enemy comes to seek, steal, and destroy. He wants your time and relationship with God first and foremost, once he distract you from this all the other areas are left wide open. He then goes for the marriage relationship between husband and wife: breaking down communication, causing conflict and misunderstanding, bringing in diverse temptations. Then are the internal relationships. He wants mothers to neglect personal time with their children by substituting it with activities and busyness so there is no real personal, devoted time - Do you really know your child's heart? When is the last time they invited you into their world? When was the last time you stopped what you were doing just to look them in the eye and really hear from your heart what they were saying to you - invested in them personally?

Worthless things - time eaters - the distractions and deceptions of the world/the enemy.

Worthless things - things that appear valuable, necessary or require justification; while devaluing those things of highest importance.

O, Lord, today bring me to my knees. Cause me to see you. This life that is common I lay on your alter. Show me the worthless things I have allowed to creep into my life. Lord, I acknowledge that I am prone to wonder, that I am easily distracted. Lord, I need your strenght. Show me these worthless things and help me to control them, to leave them behind - to place you and the things of eternal significance in front. Thank you Lord for your help. - Amen

Ladies, God has intended great things in each of our lives. I pray that the "worthless" things don't pile up, turning our focus from that which is truly important. Redeem the time! Let's clean house today - pack up those worthless things! Let's put God first, then our jobs, our acquisitions, our activities/hobbies, will fall into proper perspective no longer having bloated importance.

Redeem the time!

Sacrifice of Praise

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord's house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. PRAISE THE LORD! Psalm 119:17-19

I have come to understand this verse in a whole new way since burying Caleb on November 5th. It was my deepest desire to be back in church, to be surrounded by God's people, to worship him. Nothing, however, prepared me for the profound effect that the worship time would have on me.

If I have learned nothing else through this pregnancy and this physical loss of a child it is the grace of God. I have seen this first hand and have been changed by it. I can testify of His goodness - because it is real to me, tangible, I lived it and experienced it - I saw it in the physical and in the spiritual. I can with a clear conscience say I am not angry with God and I don't even question his will in all this. That being said, the pain is still sharp and real, and in this world I can't understand His will. I can not see what He is working in my life - my prayer is that my life is more beautiful because of Him in it, that I have lived and continue to live in such a way as to reflect the God I have come to know more intimately and personally through this trial - That I give him glory and honor which are due him.

However, when the praise music begins and I begin to pray and to sing something happens. As I sing about God's goodness, I praise Him for all that He truly is - as I stand face to face with those realities in the courts of the God most high something happens. All that pain, all that loss, all that ache comes rushing back. My breath catches in my throat, my heart feels squeezed, my eyes fill up and I struggle to keep composure. I struggle with the desire to run up to the alter and lay down weeping before a God that means so much to me that He has given so much that I simply do not deserve.

My praise has become a sacrifice - it hurts, it costs me my comfort - it is no longer all feel-good, fluff. For the first time in my life, I think, I fully realize the impact of grace, the beautifully tragic gift that was laid out for someone who is totally unworthy and will never be worthy. My pain, my loss, my dreams, those things I prayed for that will not be in this earth - all that falls away and I am overwhelmed, consumed.

A sacrifice of praise is the choice in the midst of your pain, suffering, turmoil, heartache, brokenness to come into the House of the Lord and offer up what you know to be true (praise of who He is, thankfulness for what He has done and what He is) even when it sometimes feels so distant.

The sacrifice is costly - it means to do it when you don't feel like it, when it would be easier to stay out of the courts of praise because the pain is so sharp and your throat closes up, your eyes overflow, and you feel again that intense breaking of your heart, your shattered dreams and aching soul.

This choice causes you to look directly on Christ - in all His glory and sacrifice - causes your heart to acknowledge the grace of God that is being lavishly poured out upon you. In the midst of this praise God brings you close to him and begins to comfort and heal you. He gathers you in His arms, wipes away the tears, and whispers his love: "My daughter, you are precious. This pain will come to pass, and in it will be something more beautiful. My heart aches with you, for you, but remember I am able to deliver you...I've loved you since before time began, known you by name and numbered your days and set your path - I can see the end..."

Through the sacrifice we are made more beautiful and we see the spiritual made manifest in this physical world. We are consumed by His love, grace, and mercy - and we are forever changed by the encounter.

I know this time of praise may be hard for a long time to come. The physical world takes time to heal. I am so thankful, for being able to enter the gates of thanksgiving, to come into the Courts of God most High and to lift praises - even if they come from a broken wounded heart that simply doesn't understand.

Knowing, Showing, Growing: My John 3:16 Discovery Workbook, Robert J. Morgan

This is the workbook much like Lola Mazola's Happyland Adventure. Although the items are idependent of one another I would recommend both at the same time. Once a child has read the story book they will enjoy this workbook. Or if you have older children this is ideal for them.

In order to review it I kept having to go get it from my 9 year old's room. Everytime I would lay it down she would pick it up.

It is as thourough and concise as the story book, but written for older children.

I am so impressed with this authors ability to break this verse down and present it in a logical way that children understand.

This book has three sections of salvation to explore:
(1) Knowing - coming to know Jesus: who he is, what he did for us, why we need him. This section Has two stories and worksheets. In the worksheet part other verses in Romans and other books are brought out to show our need for a Savior.
(2) Showing - Baptism. Again there is a short story and verses and worksheets. This helps a child understand what baptism is and what it signifies and why we follow a confession and prayer with this public act of obedience.
(3) Growing - how to grow in your christian walk. I Love the acrostic given to help the children remember the steps to christian growth. This is by far the lengthiest section in the book, having 7 areas. Each one has a short story followed by activities and additional scripture to be completed.

The book has helpful pages for parents.

Again - this is an excellent gift....a must have for young children who are asking questions about God, Jesus, salvation, and baptism. A book they will enjoy working through and that will help them dig deep into God's word to learn His truths.

This book was provided as a review copy by B&H Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for this copy.

Lola Mazola's Happyland Adventure, Robert j. Morgan

If you are looking for the best way to explain God's plan of salvation this book is it! My children loved it - all 4 of them from the ages of 2 years old up to 9 years old. I even tested it on my sunday school class of girls aged from 4th grade to 6th grade. All of them loved it.

This book is about a young girl named Lola Mazola who gets invited on an awesome trip of a lifetime with some friends. The catch - it costs too much money, his dad can't afford it. Lola is so disappointed, as any child would be.

At Sunday school she learns about John 3:16 and the Happyland of Heaven, and God's greatest and most perfect gift.

At this point in the book the verse of John 3:16 is broken down into small parts that are easily understood by even the smallest child. Who is God? What is the world? Who is Jesus (and what all he did - birth, life, ministry, death & Resurrection)? and How can we accept this gift? and What does salvation mean?

Still disappointed about her trip she soon forgets about John 3:16. When she receives a gift of money that will allow her to go she says this is the best gift ever. *This is where the story gets good - this author does an excellent job of tying scripture to real world experience. As a parent I LOVED it!!!

Her father explains that the greatest gift was from God. My Favorite quote is,
"Uncle Tom gave his money so that you could go to Happyland for a week. But God gave is ONE and ONLY son so that you could go to His happy land of Heaven FOREVER..."

The book ends with Lola realizing how special Jesus is and praying to accept him as her Savior.

An added bonus to this book is that following the story it gives practical steps of growth after salvation.

This is truly an all inclusive childrens book of salvation. Start young bringing them into the knowledge of Christ and they will see him as a person, a friend, and a Savior - they will desire a true relationship.

This would be an excellent Christmas gift.

This book was given to me by B&H Publishing in exchange for an honest review of the product. Thank you for the review copy.

Water Walking Faith

Matthew 14:28 "Lord if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.."

This is a familiar passage. The apostles were out in the boat and a storm came up suddenly and fiercely. The waves raged against the ship and threatened to break it apart. The apostles, frightened by what they saw, struggled to correct the situation. The winds hissed the lies of the enemy...."overboard, overboard, it's hopeless, it's hopeless..." Here they were surrounded by the darkness of night, their tiny vessel battered by tumultuous waves, the sails battered and ripped by the wind - without escape, seemingly without hope.

Then calmly, walking in the midst of the storm - on the tossing waves was a figure. "Is this a dream - is it a ghost - what is this that comes toward us - an angel of death???" The fear, the worry, the unknown - all in the form of questions.

And then the voice - "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid"

That calm steady voice. So very quiet it could have been missed amidst the rage of the storm, it could have been lost in the hiss of the wind, could have been drowned out by the pounding waves. But it is that voice that pierces all darkness, cuts through all distraction. It is that voice that demands an audience, complete attention - it can not be ignored. It demands action - will you stop to listen?

I have come to love this passage of scripture over the past year as God has brought so much to me in these 12 months. He has taught me the truth of water walking faith. You see I knew this story...I had a head knowledge of it...I believed it to be true - but when was I ever going to be out on the water to walk upon it? Simply a Sunday school story miracle.

What a deception of the enemy!

Water walking faith happens all the time, are you ready for it?

Water walking faith, however, has a cost. You must be willing to accept the storm to see the miracle. You must be willing to look only at God to trade in the physical for the spiritual. To trust what you don't see, can't explain, know in this physical world is impossible and believe in the one who said "Fear Not".

I love Peter's response when he hears that familiar voice - the voice of the one he has come to trust as Savior, Messiah, Master, and Teacher. The one he has heard call the dead to rise, the blind to see, the possessed to be set free. The one he has heard pray and talk with Father God.

"Lord, If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.."

For me it came, all to often, in a question like this - and I believe this is the way many of us have phrased it: "Lord, my world is falling apart, my heart is shattered....IF you are here call me - show me a miracle"

But look closely at Peter's request. He did not ask for a miracle, he did not even ask that the storm be calmed. He asked for Jesus to bid him to come to him on the water. THROUGH the storm, in the midst of the turmoil. He wanted Jesus to bid him come into his presence. He knew something so many of us forget, or never fully learn, or somehow don't grasp - He Knew where safety was. Safety was not in that earthly vessel, it was only in the presence, the company, at the feet of, in the arms of JESUS. No where else.

My request has become: "Father, here it is - my life, all that I am, just as I am - use me: help my sight be on you and you alone."

As we continue this we see that Jesus responds to Peter with firmness and authority in verse 29 - One simple word, "COME"

Come: step out, a simple command. Come....do you hear it? An invitation of Jesus into the safety of his arms.

Please note that the storm has not stilled. Very likely the others are a mixed group: some terrified still, others staring in disbelief as the events unfold. The winds still rage, the waves still pound - - - the enemy still attacks with his lies: "it is hopeless, it is hopeless, give up, there is no salvation"

But there in the midst is the truth "FEAR NOT, IT IS I - the I Am, the Alpha and Omega, The Strong Tower - FEAR NOT I am able to deliver you - I love you, you are mine!"

Peter stepped out in the midst of that storm - eyes on Jesus. One foot after the other, walking on water. All is well even in the midst of the raging storm because all he could see was Jesus' face, all he looked at was that out stretched arm - all he listened for was that calm, quiet, authoritative voice.

But the enemy was still there whispering. And Peter saw the crashing waves, he saw that his feet were on uncertain ground that rolled and shifted and threatened to upturn him. He looked away.

In verse 30 we see him sink.

Then the miracle of grace comes in - He cried out and Jesus lifted him up.

Thank you Lord for that grace! "Why did you doubt?" Jesus asked.

So it is still - why did you doubt, why do you worry - you are my child, I love you and know you and have set forth your days, I have good thoughts toward you - plans for an expected end.

Wow! Why - because we are weak, we are of this physical world - because our faith falters, and we long to be in control.

Through this year God has shown me spiritual things that are more beautiful than anything this world has to offer. However, it has come at the cost of my being in control. Some say this should be easy - but I ask each of you to look closely at your heart, seek that which is hidden. Is is not our tendency to try to fix things, cope with things, be the strong one.

In my darkest hours as the enemy whispered his lies of defeat I cried out to Jesus to show me the cross, to extend his hand, to comfort my heart. In my times of doubt I have learned to ask for His perfect strength, His understanding, His peace.

My earthly vessel is weak and battered. It shatters easily when the waves of life beat upon it. This road I walk shifts beneath my feet and I stumble. Sometimes this world I know falls around me, and the things I thought were in my control slip through my hands like sand. These dreams I cherish sometimes never come true, these hopes I treasure sometimes are stolen or broken. These things I strive for sometimes do not happen. These prayers I whisper are not always answered the way I want.

Yet it is all beautiful - and perfect - and calm.

Water walking faith is trading in this physical sight for things unseen - it is looking to Jesus and through him it is being given spiritual sight of things more beautiful and precious, things hoped for, believed in and things to come. It is grace in its purest form.

Water walking faith means in the midst of the storm you accept it for what it is - a storm that will pass - and look to what will be - The perfect will of God.

This is no easy thing, there are times we will begin to sink. But this is our hope - "IT IS I" will immediately pull us out of the crashing waves when we cry out.

My darkest hours were still dark, my pain was and is still very much real. But in those hours when the enemy whispered and in those hours when my world shifted, and in those hours when my hopes shattered - I was allowed to see the cross and Jesus said "COME".

Our circumstances and storms may not change - that is not what water walking faith is. It is just that our focus, like Peter's, changes from the storm to the Sustainer, from the lies to the Truth, from the bondage to the Freedom, from the Fear to the Peace-giver, from the shifting ground of life to the Solid Rock of Christ.

When he bids you come - step out. Surrender and walk upon the water. Invite Jesus to take your life and make it calm in the midst of the storm.

If we began to live out water walking faith a revival would sweep our nation. For you can not walk into grace and experience water walking faith and not be changed.

Surrender your life - all that you are - to Christ. Be as Peter and ask that He bid you out into the water.

Created for a Purpose

The following is an email I sent to a dear daughter of the king. However, when I logged onto my email after bible study tonight it showed up as an unsent draft. Maybe this was meant for others as well, maybe God was speaking a truth to me. So here it is...something so simple, a message lost sometimes in the loudness of the world, hidden under our daily cares, forgotten in our rush to complete our tasks at hand. We all need to be reminded from time to time how very precious we are to Abba Father. Though this was written for someone in particular - I think it was also meant for others and myself - why else would God have not allowed the email to go through the first time (nothing in life is by happenstance but by divine appointment).


We are each created for such a day as this - to do our Father's bidding. I only say or write what is in my heart - I have learned in my years that my life must be surrendered to the One who created me and knew me before time began, who knit me together, placed me in my mother's womb and set my days - Just as he has done for you.

Always remember that you - a daughter of the king - are the crowning jewel of his creation - created for a purpose.

My loss is only physical - the spiritual side is so beautiful it can not be put into words. I rejoice daily in the time I had with Caleb Levi and I am ever thankful for the four children that are living (Anna Grace - 9, Chase "Rocky" Ryan - 7, Justin Wyatt, Jay - 3 and Rachel Elisabeth "RaeBird" - 2). I was four months pregnant with Caleb when a hemorrhage that I had developed at 4 weeks became worse and the bleeding blocked Caleb's blood supply. God answered many prayers during that pregnancy - he showed my husband and I many spiritual truths and we are forever changed because of our encounter with His grace.

Never forget that you are the crowning jewel - God saw woman and for the first time in the creation story said the words It is very good (not just it is good). Your life and the things in it are never by chance. Even our pain is beautiful when we allow God to use it.

Many nights during my pregnancy as a lay in bed hurting from the hemorrhage, tired from the blood loss, frustrated at the unknown - I prayed that God let me see the cross - that He support me with his strong arm - that he give me spiritual sight that overlooked the physical. Nothing in this physical world changed but my perception, my focus, my reality became that of the spiritual (this is the truth of the spiritual: it is not seen by human sight but by faith, it is comforting, beautiful, and peace that is incomprehensible). The enemy would whisper lies and Holy Spirit would whisper life sustaining, faith altering truths.

I do not know what the enemy has whispered to you - what life has done to you, what things you wrestle with I only know that God has said you are His daughter, you are more precious than rubies, more beautiful than anything on this earth, capable of all things in His strength, valuable above any earthly thing - created for a purpose. Even your heartaches, mistakes, pain, disappointments, broken dreams, broken heart, hurting spirit are made beautiful in His hands.



Ladies, we are each priceless, valuable, and loved beyond measure. Let Abba Father scoop you up in His strong arms and lift you high in the air and twirl you around. Look deeply into His laughing eyes, drink up this delightful love. Let laughter spill from your soul. Be filled. Be freed. Be Beautiful!

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Thank you Lord for trails
that have brought me to my knees
That I may see your love
and grace more abundantly
I can not know the reason
for such suffering
Or why there must be pain
in this offering
I only know the surrender
that brings about your peace
That covers all this pain
and brings my heart relief
No longer bound by sorrow
in the midst of suffering
I rest in arms that hold me
through all these things
I thank you Lord for for things
I do not comprehend
That I learn tor trust in you
not what I understand
Thank you Lord for sight by faith
of spiritual things
More beautiful than earthly sight
that make my soul sing
Lord, my faith was shaken
in the midst of the storm
Yet my eyes were straining to
see your sweet and holy form
The waves rose up hissing
with lies of the enemy
But you asked me to stand
and trust what I can't see
Take this heart that's broken
and all that I am
Make it more beautiful,
use it as you plan
I will not ask you why
nor question where you lead
Only for your grace
and comfort will I plead

Thank you

On October 26th we went to our regular OB check up expecting that all was well with Caleb. Dr. Mason listened for the heartbeat and found none - encouragingly he patted my hand and told me that sometimes babies turn and it is difficult to hear the heartbeat with the Doppler. So they got the ultrasound machine. As I lay there that day watching his expression change my heart went numb. No heartbeat, Caleb had passed away. I felt my world crash around me and could barely hear the next things that Dr. Mason said - I called Brent and he came in with all our children in tow.
The next week passed in a blur of heartache and questions - and how do you answer the questions of your children when your very own heart is reeling in shock. I felt so separated from reality - begging for a Lazarus miracle and receiving a small answer: "Surrender it all to me, I will take care of you - this seems like it will overwhelm you, but just as I stilled the wind for my disciples I will still this too, surrender".

What a difficult thing to do - human nature cries out for answers, demands control, wants stability, needs things fixed. God however wants us to be fully reliant on him, to give up the need for control, to accept the broken - knowing that in our brokenness He is making something more beautiful in the end. The key is letting him have the brokenness and not asking what he's making but fully trusting that it will be better and blessed.
I think I cried enough tears to fill a river, yet my comfort is those tears were lovingly counted by my Father.

Peace comes in that surrender - a strange peace that I am unable to put into words. God did not remove my heartache, he did not stop my pain, he did not stop my tears. He just wrapped me up in his love, wrapped my family up in his love. And we are changed because of this surrender, because of this encounter with His love, His grace, His provision. Our eyes were opened to spiritual things so beautiful that we shall never be the same. What the enemy would have as tragedy our family sees as victory, what the enemy would use to drive a wedge between husband and wife have driven us all the closer together as we leaned into our Lord, our Refuge, or Strength and Strongtower.

My Father's words to Jeremiah so many years ago echoed in my heart.."Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; and before you came forth I sanctified you..." (Jeremiah 1:5), and again in Psalms David recounts the same knowledge. Caleb was known and loved by God. He was given as a heritage and blessing to Brent and I and our children - Anna Grace, Chase Ryan, Justin Wyatt, and Rachel Elisabeth. Caleb's days from conception where written out by God, numbered by His hand just as each one of our days are. His life was sanctified - set aside, special and valued - by God. He was created for an expected end (as the scriptures say each of us are). In what the world sees as a tragedy I see such blessing. I am continually overwhelmed by God's provision. we prayed to see Caleb - God gave us a clear ultrasound just 3 weeks before his death. We watched as he waved his arms and kicked his feet to the beat of his beautiful heart. Then God granted us delivery in the hospital where we were able to see his perfectly formed body.
Through this entire pregnancy God has faithfully answered our prayers, strengthened us in our weakness, comforted us when we were fearful, given us words to comfort our children, and filled our hearts with overflowing love for God.

Life is beautiful, real and precious! I am ever thankful to God for this life that changed our family. Though he will be greatly missed I am so thankful God saw fit to allow him here for the time that he was here.

Today, we were surrounded by our spiritual family - our church family. They grieved with us and comforted each one of us in ways that others have not. They have stood by us throughout this, and lifted faithful, beautiful prayers on our behalf to God. I can never say enough to this family God has provided us in way of thanks. Through this God has shown me how very special our spiritual families truly are - for we are joined by a common God in a miraculous love.

Caleb Levi Riddle
Born November 2, 2010
12:26 am
3 1/2 inches long
8 ounces
Titus Memorial Hospital
Little Brother to: Anna Grace (Sissy), Chase Ryan (Rocky), Justin Wyatt (Jay), and Rachel Elisabeth (Rae Bird)
Son of Brent Ryan and Abbie Day

30 Days of Praise & Thanksgiving

I've started 30 days of Praise and Thanksgiving on my blog and Facebook. Care to join me?

We have much to be thankful for and much to praise the LORD for. His blessings are without measure.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name." Ps 100:4

1. I am thankful for my faithful husband.

2. "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

3. I'm thankful that I live in America, where I can participate in free elections.

4. "I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness; and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high." Psalm 7:17