Yes I know I heard it...

 It was about 1:15AM this morning and I heard a voice spoken in my ear.... and it was the name of which we call one of our grandsons.  Now we used to call his dad that too, so what did I do?  It woke me up, of course, and I thought about what a possibility could be - didn't come up with anything, so just began to pray for that grandchild AND that father, for protection, for wisdom, for everything that came to mind. I probably will never know if anything was happening.... because it could be that because I prayed, nothing did happen; that God adverted that situation.  I don't know. 

Parents - be alert.  If the Holy Spirit wakes you up in the middle of the night with a name in your ear, please wake yourself up long enough to pray for that person!  You never know if you have been able to advert a situation that could be harmful. You could also keep them from making a mistake.  No matter what the hour, pray.  Pray unceasingly.  

I hear hubby in the other room getting ready for his Bible study this morning.  Besides working, I need to take a break and go over to the grocery and pick up a turkey for next week.  Plus things for the dressing and giblet gravy as I don't want to get in the crowds next week.  Then again, there may not be that many.  Most will pick up when they do their grocery shopping this weekend.  I don't think I'll need to get a big turkey because there will be ham as well.  Most will go for the ham.  Hubby has also given me instructions I cannot get the ladder out of the garage and climb on it to get my teacups down from the ledge they are on.  It's easier to let him 'win' on this one than me slipping and dropping a cup and shattering it, trying to do it on my own.  I did try the stepstool yesterday - just to see if I needed the ladder, and yeah, I'm too short.   Need the ladder for about another foot.

I sure am hoping to get our tree up this weekend so that I can start clearing out this room.  I know a lot of things that I have bought and who they are for.... but there are some things I don't know if I bought them or just thought about it.  38 days until Christmas.  I'm not worried, as long as I have one thing for each one.  I try to put thought in to each gift, regardless of what it is.  Sometimes I buy things for myself and then think, 'why did you get that?' and wonder who I can give it to. LOL  i.e., my tool set.  Good starter set.  Wonder if one of the grandsons could use it.  I'll have to check with the dads.  I really don't need it.  I use a tool about once every six months.  And not when hubby is home.

2 Timothy 1:3 (NKJV):  "I think God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my forefathers did, as unceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day."

How would you feel if someone told you that they were praying for you unceasingly?  What would you think that meant?  My interpretation?  I don't think it means someone stays on their knees night and day (unless the circumstances warrant it) praying specifically for you..... but I do believe that God will lay someone on your heart and mind and if He does that, you are to pray for them - even a sentence prayer - right then.  Many of us are not able to spend hours in prayer.  So how can we pray unceasingly?  By saying a prayer every time that person or situation comes to mind.  Yes, even YOU can do it!  I frequently whisper 'Lord Help!' and that too, in itself, is a prayer.  He knows every need before we even speak it.  But He loves us to share our thoughts and needs and wants with Him.  He's a good, good Father.

And, as I shared yesterday, we also Thank God for His answer (or non answer) as we ask for those things.  He loves it when we ask for things, but He also loves it when we acknowledge our thanks to the One who can provide all things for us.

I'm still reading in Ezekiel this morning and wow.  I don't think I could be a prophet back in those days.  God used them as examples, and each one's life was very difficult.  Ezekiel just lost his wife, God told him she was going to be taken from him.  And he was told he couldn't mourn for her. In fact, God made him mute for a time.  Why all that example?  Because God was showing how Israel was the desire of His heart and she was breaking His heart by her idol worship and turning away from Him.  

Reminds me of the scripture where it says (in my own words) why would we cut down a tree, make firewood out of part of it, then carve a face in another part - and then fall down and worship it?  Isn't that stupid?  I'm so glad I know my God is the CREATOR of all things, of that tree that some worship.  We are the Createe.... God is the Creator... and He alone is the One we are to worship. Hallelujah!

It's going to be a busy weekend.  Yet, it will be a fun one.  I sure hope I push myself to get done all that I want to get done.  I've had a tendency lately to just be lazy and not do anything.  Using hubby as an excuse (although the issues are real) not to do something.  Most times I just don't want to deal with the questions of 'why are you doing that?  'Why can't I help?' " why why why"  UGH.  I just want to do it myself!  Unless one of my kids or grandchildren come over and of course they can help!  OOPS.  Yeah, I tend to show favoritism, I think.  LOL

And with that - I need to stop rambling and go sit at my computer - the work computer, that is.  It's turned on and I have several messages to go through already.  I know there are a couple meetings I have to get scheduled.  And I still haven't typed out the board minutes yet.  Surely I can get it all done today.  Maybe.  Will see.  Perhaps.  UGH.

Have an awesome day - and until tomorrow....

Blessings!

I really was tired yesterday morning!

 I realized this morning as I brought up this blog that I didn't even put a title on it!  Threw one on it - 'just because I can't leave a space blank!'  LOL  I know I was really tired yesterday morning... and this moring too, actually.  The night before hubby was bouncing all over the bed, I think... and last night, although he got up and went to sleep in the chair in the other room, I woke up when he got up so mentally was 'awake' waiting on him to come back to bed - which he didn't.  So I took a short nap jsut a few mintues ago.  Feels better, too.  The advantage of sitting in a recliner back here; and also the disadvantage of sitting in a recliner back here.  

We got a great surprise yesterday afternoon.  One could say it was a gift for me from God.  Seriously!  I have had some beef jerky I have been holding for my son for several weeks now and it has been on the bed back here.  It was even in a bag to keep it together.  I had just picked it up and mentally tried to figure out how I could get it to my son..... when my phone rang.  Yep, it was him.  He was in the area and asked to stop by.  Absolutely!   He did stop by, I gave him the beef jerky - and a partial bag of walmuts I had in the freezer (I had two bags, both opened), and he stayed for awhile and we caught up on things.  It was so good!  I took my phone where I could watch my emails from work and know if there was something I needed to take care of, and sat out in the front room with him and hubby so we could all chat.  I love that he stopped by; made my day.  We may be meeting up later this weekend for dinner to celebrate hubby's birthday.  

Today I have an hour's drive -thereabouts - to meet my boss for lunch at one of our favorite places in Tempe Marketplace - Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ.  REALLY good food.  We planned it a few weeks ago and boom - here it is today!  Which means I need to clean up today and put make up on.  But that's ok.  I'll do it for her.  Love spending time with her.   We usually do breakfast.... and I think we are actually scheduled for that in a couple weeks, but may cancel that one and wait until June.  July she will be in NY for 3 weeks so probably won't meet in July and looking at her calendar, we may not get to meet until late August.  I need to be thinking ahead - her birthday is October 1 and Boss's day is October 16th.  

I was reading in one of my books this morning and it shares how we need to be consistently praying for our children, our grandchildren (and our great-grandchildren).  I do pray for each one, many times calling each one out by name and praying a blessing or need over them.  Unfortunately, I don't always know their needs, but when I do, I know how to pray specifically for them.  How I wish I could see them more often - each one of them - but time and distance and now even age - all play a part in that.  No one's fault - it's all the 'circle of life'.  We all get busy.  I still miss them a lot, and long for the days long ago when we gathered together, but.... I still gather them close in praying for them.  I wonder if they know they can always call me if they have a prayer need.... specific prayer is always good, versus generalized prayers.  

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NKJV):  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand."

There are so many things out there that want to take us down.  Each morning we should put on the armor of God and ask Him to watch over us and our loved ones.  That He would guard our words and our actions, that they would be pleasing to Him.  That we would treat others with kindness.  That we would be His witness to this hurting world.  So many of our youth have gone astray. 

You may be the only witness for Jesus they will encounter.  You may be the one who leads them to Jesus and ensure they will go to heaven.  Are you living your life in such a way that they will want what you have (spiritually)?  

We can raise our children in church.... but unless we give them more than a head knowledge of God... they won't know God.  They need that personal knowledge, they need to see Christ living in you (and in me) that they will choose to follow Jesus.  It's more than a head knowledge; they need a heart knowledge.  And that is what I pray for each of my children and grandchildren - and great grandchildren.  That they will gain a heart knowledge of Jesus Christ.  He is the only One who can lead them and guide them.  Are we doing our part to teach them?  Pray the armor of God over each one by name.  Pray that their hearts will be turned towards Him.  He IS the only way to heaven.

As a reminder to myself to put on the armor of God each day, I bought myself a cup that has it on the side - even have my name on the cup.  I had ordered it through Etsy and I missed their email on the color of my hair... which is a a mixture of bleached blond, brown, and gaining lots of gray... so when they sent it, the woman kneeling with the armor on has blond hair.  Reminds me more of my sister who does have blond hair - but my name is on it - so I go ahead and use it.  But using that cup, I am reminded that I, myself, need to put on the armor of God each morning, that I may withstand the wiles of the devil.

Oh you do something right; you make amends with family, your put yourself 'out there' to help others - and the devil is going to do all he can to cause discontent, to cause discord, to create problems.  He doens't want you to put on the whole armor of God.  He doesn't want you to put on the helmet of salvation - he wants to penetate your mind and throw distraction in.  He wants to attack you where it will hurt the worst - your heart with which you love your family.  He doesn't want that breastplate put on you, nor the belt of truth, for then you can see the devil's hand when you have discord with a loved one.  What all is the armor of God?

Ephesians 6:14-20 (NKJV):  "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you willb e able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Pray without ceasing over your family; your prayers may be what saves them from an accident; from harm; may enrich their lives with friends who can mentor them and teach them, may change their minds about your influence in their lives (we all know our children generally reject us as they want to make their own decisions) - pray for them!  Ask God to give them wisdom, knowledge, and revelation in all that they do, that they make the right choices.  Just pray.  If you love your children, pray for them.  You may be the only link to Jesus they have right now - surrender that little one to Jesus and ask for His protection over them, that they will grow into a mature adult, full of wisdom.

Sometimes, just sometimes, we are their only link to Jesus.  Especially if the world has gotten ahold of them and they are rejecting Jesus.  Pray for them.  Start today. Ask Jesus to cover them with His hand and lead them back to Him.

Blessings!