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..

Birthday and Two Give-aways!

A sweet blogging friend/preacher's wife just recently had a birthday -and offered a give-away on that day on her blog. I thought that was a WONDERFUL idea...

And then just a few days later, I received an email offering a free music CD to give away on my blog... I was SO thrilled. So, I have saved this until today.

The duo is TAL and ACACIA. I encourage you to go to this site and you can hear their music - and even download three songs for free: www.talandacacia.com/freemusic

THEN - I am also giving a $10.00 starbucks card...

So... here is the deal:

You know how we bloggers all LOVE comments - and we LOVE our followers :)...

So, this is how you enter for the give-away. (five chances) You can enter one time or you can enter 5 times...

(1). Leave a comment. Tell me if you would rather have the CD or the Starbucks card...
(2). Tell me which song you like best.
(3). Add yourself to my list of followers (and if you already follow - say so - that counts too)
(4). Add my button to your side bar.
(5). Announce this giveaway on your blog for your readers to come and enter... (make sure that you tell me that you have done so...)

So, there - you can enter this giveaway 5 times...

Happy Birthday to me! - I want you to win a prize! I will announce the winners on Monday, August 3rd.

Thank you also for your patience with me as I am having a hard time being consistent with my blog lately. Surely I will be back on track soon.

Love to you all!

Taking a Break...

For the next several weeks, I will be taking a break from the "Tuesdays Together."...

Several have let me know that this summer has been hard to participate. So, just try to keep up the reading (remember the plan is posted on the sidebar under the button). Then be ready to start back up on the first week of September...


My "mister Linky" has not been working correctly for several weeks now... I think I have found another linky... I will have it working for us all by then...

Maybe the much needed break will the remedy for my "writer's block". That, along with the trip to SHE SPEAKS... :)

This is not to say that I will not be blogging at all... just not the "Tuesdays Together" for these next weeks.

Sweet Blessings to you all!

She Speaks Conference 2009

I am excited about the opportunity to go back to the "She Speaks" Conference this year.

I am registered for the writing track this time.

I am battling the thoughts of 'WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?"

I am asking for your prayers. Our enemy loves to try to defeat us before we even get started.

And last but certainly not least...

I am going to try and not overpack this year...

Songs of Praise...

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD). # 28

I am so glad that you have joined us.Our goal/purpose is that we are reading God's Word and we are sharing with each other a "nugget" of what we are learning. Join with us - at any time. We welcome your comments and/or your thoughts of what you have read and/or your link to your blog post. You do not have to be a "blogger" to join in on the encouragement and sharing together.

This week our reading (as posted on the sidebar under the button) was from Matthew 4-7; Psalms 68-70; Proverbs 16.

Lately our three year old grandbaby has been singing.

Constantly.

About everything.

Sometimes she is singing songs that she knows and that we have sung together. Sometimes she is singing about what she is doing. And sometimes she is just making up words to sing.

I thought of her as I read this particular passage - and several other verses in the reading from Psalms this week.

Scripture tells us to sing songs of praise to our God. And this is just one of those verses:

Psalm 68:4

"Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the LORD; exult before him!"

Now, I want to share a picture of her singing. Her Dad took this with his camera on his phone.

She is singing to her rabbit and dog. That is her little Bible in her lap... notice her little hands.... (oh and by the way - she is in her bathing suit)

... she is singing praises to His name. It is sweet music to my ears.

I just know that it is a sweet, sweet sound in HIS ears too.

I pray that she NEVER loses that song that is in her heart.

Makes me want to sing...





Now, your turn.

Remember... leave a comment... share your thoughts... and if you blog - link with us. Also, please post a link back here so that others can come and read the other Tuesdays Together posts. You can use the button on the side bar if you would like.