I am SO Thankful for SKYPE Technology...

During Deployment days, it is good to be able to IM on AOL with my soldier and chat with him.

During Deployment days, it is good to get a phone call from my soldier and hear his voice.

BUT---

During Deployment days, it is even better to get on SKYPE with my soldier and SEE HIM.

I don't even have the words to describe the emotion that overwhelms me when the screen comes up and I see his face. Not only because it has been months - but also because of the reality that he is at war.

He is wearing in his ACU's... he is in a tent... other soldiers are at other computers behind him...I am looking at all the details.

On SKYPE we are all able to "chat" but only one of us can have video time. This was my night. I really did not have much to say. I just wanted to watch him.

No... actually I wanted to jump through the screen and hug him.

But since I could not - I did blow kisses - I did chat some - I did watch his every move - and I did hold back my tears.

... until he had to sign off. And as the tears began to flow from this Military Mom's eyes - I prayed. Silently. I had no words to speak. I once again held on to Scriptures that I so often pray for him... I once again make myself believe what I say I believe...

Isaiah 52:12b

"For the LORD will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard."

He IS in our Lord's hands - the Lord is in front of him and the God of Israel is behind him...



and I know it.





I think when I go to the mall later in the week - I may find a soldier to hug.



I have been known to do that...

Readers Write...Writers Read

I have heard this particular saying several times in the last few months. Maybe it is because I have been reading/studying more about "writing." Hence, I have read several who have made that statement: "Readers write and writers read." Interesting.

Then I find as I read, it gives the prompting to write. Often, I just want to share with you here in blogland what has touched me as I have read. So I would have to agree with the statement. As I read, I want to write. After I write, I want to read more.

Saying all of that leads me to the main point of this post. I want to share with you a quote that I have read recently. It is marked in my book and I have returned and read it several times. Actually, when I pick the book up to read again, I first turn to this page and read this quote again. I think I am trying to digest.

Ministry is when the people who hear you don't want more of you, they want more of Him because of what you have said.

When you point them to God's fire instead of trying to get attention for yourself--that's ministry.

Often our thoughts run to "what do they think of me?" when what we should be concerned with is, "what do they think of Him?"

This is from Pricilla Shirer's book, He Speaks to Me. (pg 56)

Now for those of you who are not in full-time ministry... do not excuse yourself thinking that this is not for you too. Certainly not. We are all called to be Ministers of God's Grace to our world. Our world consists of our homes (with our immediate families), our church (with our church family and in the area where we are called to work), our vocational work (with our co-workers and/or our boss), and then those that we touch as we go along (like those who wait on us at restaurants... check us out in the grocery store... help us at the mall, etc.)

Do you see what I am talking about?

Ministry. Pointing others to our Lord. In such a way that they will desire more of Him.

Ministry. Let's do it-- to the best of our ability and to the Glory of God.

As I read, I share with you.

Readers write, writers read.

Craving...

The definition of CRAVE is: to ask for earnestly : beg, demand : to want greatly : need : to yearn for : to have a strong or inward desire

Strong words.

So I ask myself ... What do I crave more than anything? It is easy to say the right thing... but my actions will speak louder than my words.

I read the definition again as I think about making personal application...


The following is a short article that I wrote for The Emphasis on Moms Newsletter:

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,

so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”

I Peter 2:2

I remember feeding my three babies… and now, I am watching my grandson act in just the same way. When they get old enough to realize that you are preparing their bottle or getting ready to nurse them, they become very impatient. They sometimes act as if they will “surely perish” if you do not get their milk to them NOW.

That is the picture that comes to my mind as I read this passage. Craving the milk. We are to be like the little babies. Our desire needs to be the Word of God for our very existence. We will “surely perish” if we do not have it.

So, today my encouragement for you precious moms… is to have your milk.

A good serving of it.

It will sustain you during your day. It will feed your soul. It will give you the nourishment that you need to take care of all that your busy days demand.

For the moms reading today...
I recommend signing up for this newsletter. It is packed with encouragement and help for you.

Is Facebook an Addiction?

I am still having trouble getting back into the routine of blogging on a consistent basis.

It is not that I do not have things to blog about. I have several going on in this head of mine.

I think the truth of the matter is that I have spent entirely too much time on Facebook.

Now, I am not saying that I am against it or that I plan to take a break from it. No, I really am so thankful for my FB connections. It has given me the opportunity to re-connect with long lost friends. It is a wonderful way to connect with those in our present day "world." ie - church family. It is such a good way to stay connected with our REAL (flesh and blood) family.

It is simply a way to know and be known. Does that make any sense?

While I might not have the time (or actually take the time) to write a letter. I may not even have/take the time to write an email. But when I sign on my Facebook page, I can quickly see an update on the people in my life. Then I have the opportunity to respond or not. It only takes a minute. The connection is made.

Today is a good example. I had just talked to my Jonathan by IM. My heart was aching. I posted about it on my status:

once again... time with my soldier this morning on IM... makes me happy and sad... I just hate it when he says "my time is up... I have to go"

I sit and stare at the screen... and pray...

And the support/connections began. Such sweet manna to this Mother's heart. Support. Love. Prayers. None of which took much time - from me or from my fb world. But it was real. And it blessed me more than can be expressed.

So, I have no intentions to give up my Facebook.

But... I may need to limit my time there.

Winners Announced

Congratulations to

Jacky at The Sweetest Petunia
won the Starbucks card.

and

Mary at Owlhaven
won the CD.

Congratulations Ladies!

Please send me your address so I can get your gifts in the mail to you!
halanddd@charter.net

Information Overload (for Me and my GPS)

Do you ever find yourself talking to your electronic devices? i.e. computer, tv, gps?

I do. It is as if I think they will straighten up and work correctly with my verbal prompting.

Today I share my latest ordeal.

After the She Speaks conference on Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to and visit with my daughter and son-in-love. They only live a couple of hours away from the conference site. They also were sharing about their recent trip to Ecuador on Sunday night at their church. It was good to visit with them and hear their story about their trip.



On Monday morning, I pulled out the loyal GPS. I went to "favorites" and programed HOME. Easy enough. Two items needed when this woman is traveling alone: my cell phone and my GPS.



But before officially beginning the 8 hour drive, Julia and I were going to eat breakfast. She went ahead to order our Chick-fil-A, and I stopped at Starbucks to get our latte's. This meant that I was ignoring my sweet GPS. I knew the way to Starbucks, I knew the way to Chick-fil-A, and then I would pay attention to her directions once I was officially on my way home. And just to be honest, I am somewhat amused at her insistence when I get off route. "When possible make a U-turn". "In 600 feet, if possible, make a U-turn." And if I get off route far enough, she will start the "recalculating...".

Evidently, my sweet GPS has stored our trips. Even the off-route portions.

Evidently.



I got back in the car from Starbucks and this is the message that I was given:

MEMORY FULL

FATAL ERROR

What?



So I did what I do when my computer starts mis-behaving.... Shut down.... Restart.

MEMORY FULL

FATAL ERROR

Now what? I have already had to buy a NEW SHINY RED Blackberry on this trip. (since mine died). I have already bought a new purse on this trip, since my handle broke. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to call Hal and tell him that I am stopping at Best Buy to get a new GPS before I come home.



So, the discussion with the GPS begins. Seriously.

"Ok, sweetheart, I completely understand. I am in information overload too. But here is the deal. We have to get home. And I need you. So, all I want you to do is just remember the route home. That is all. We will figure out what to do with all of this information that has you overloaded when we get there and can get some rest. Surely there is a way to sort through what needs to be stored on here and what can be deleted.

I am doing the same thing, so I completely understand. I have more information in this head of mine from this weekend than I know how to handle. My plan is to get home and begin sorting through... see what I need to keep....see what I need to file away for a later time....and see what I need to delete.

But today the simple goal is to just get home... and I need your help. So will you just co-operate? Please and thank you."

Then I turned off. Un-plugged. Restart. There she was. Once again telling me how to get home.

OHHHHHHHH thank you so much...

They (who ever "they" is) say that it is ok to talk to yourself as long as you do not answer back. I wonder what "they" would say about talking to your GPS. She does answer back sometimes.

Sweet Blessings my friends...sweet blessings..