Quiet Time - Pastor Matt on my mind...

I have been so sad, but thinking now that sadness must end, and that thankfulness and rejoicing must begin.

• None of us are promised tomorrow.
• I am thankful that God has given me my pastor for the past 7 years, and now for another day.
• None of us are promised that life will be happy and always good, but are told that troubles and sorrow will come into our lives.
• I am thankful that my pastor practices what he preaches.
• God has numbered each of Matt's days.
• God has breathed life into me, and He has numbered each of my days.
• I don't think that God planned for me to be sorrowful and to not trust in Him on day 19,435.
• God is sovereign.
• God has a purpose and a plan.
• Today I will trust Him.
• Today I pray the Lord show me His perfect purpose for my life, and help me to live each moment passionately for Him.
• Matt's awesome preaching of the Truth has brought God's word to life in my heart. I thank my God and praise Him alone.
• Through this weighty struggle of the Chandler's personally -- and it's effect on all our church, I am thankful that we are brought to our knees - that we continually seek the heart of our Father - running to our Lord and finding there that He catches each tear. I am thankful that I can "ask", "seek", "knock", and that when I do, my Lord God is always there with open arms.
• I am thankful for another day of strength and healing for Matt.
• I'm looking forward to seeing him strong and well, and preaching God's good word.
• I'm grateful now to watch Matt live out God's word as he "fights the good fight".

This earthly nightmare...

...your heavenly piece of

an incomprehensible puzzle.

"I AM". Exodus 3:13-14

The Heart

Not a soul battle,

but a heart battle.

My soul is bought and paid for...

My heart battles each moment

of each day...

Creator or creation?

...give me a "God" shaped heart.

Praying for Matt...

Oh Lord, today is Matt's surgery. Your will be done. You are God. You are in control. You breathed life into Matt 34 years ago, and you ignited your Spirit in him. He is in your powerful hands.

And Lord God, I plead for his life as he goes through this brain surgery today. I pray for your presence in the operating room - guiding the surgeons hand. I pray a hedge of protective angel warriors all around that place, that no fiery arrows can come near. I pray for precise cuts, strong and complete probes, and removal of this mass. I pray that Matt's vital functions, emotions, and creativity go unharmed. I pray for an amazing recovery and miraculously manifested new beginnings.

Psalm 57:7 My heart is confident in you oh God, my heart is confident.

I pray for Lauren oh Lord - your arms around her, whispering into her heart, to be still and know that You are God. I pray the comfort and peace of your Holy Spirit continually washing over her today.

Lord, I pray for my dear friend Janet. A mother's heart....I am so reminded of Your mother, Mary -- A mother's journey is not an easy one...I pray you give her strength today Lord, as she anxiously waits. The baby that moved in her womb, the little boy that got into things, the young man that seemed at times hopeless, the man that you called, the young Pastor that loves you Lord and whose Holy Spirit inspired words touch so many - ...her baby boy......I pray you give Janet a strength and peace that only you can give, as she trusts her baby boy into your strong hands.

Lord, You are God. You are in control. We faithfully trust in You.

Psalm 2:12 Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

My Favorite Season!

This morning, as I make a bowl of hot old fashioned oatmeal, I add sweet cream butter, brown sugar, chopped dates, and my favorite ingredient of all -- P E C A N S! (...and that is pronounced - pc-ahhh-ns....) **sweet southern giggle**

As I held the pecan halves in my hands, and broke them into smaller pieces into my oatmeal, I was carried back to another time...another place....

When I was young, on our farm...I would go horseback riding with my cousin Lisa. Fall was the best season to ride! The air was crisp, the leaves were golden, and fell in a magical carpet before us as we rode beneath the orchards of pecan trees. We would laugh and giggle, as young girls do...and share our dreams...

As we rode, the broad arms of the trees would reach out to us, and offer their sweet pecans. We would reach up and grab a handful of pecans, press them together in our tiny hands and listen to them "c r a c k". We would hungrily break off the shell, clean off the sweet-meat inside and hungrily pop the nut into our mouths -- oh my - the most w o n d e r f u l taste!!

Last week when I was Trick-or-Treating with my grandsons, we were walking beneath some pecan trees -- and that childhood memory rushed back to me, as I picked up two pecans and cracked them between my now older and arthritic hands....

And, as I eat this oatmeal, laden with rich pecans, I thank my Creator for my often troubled childhood -- that also had many sweet memories. I thank Him for my grandchildren, and for today....I thank Him for growing me in Him.