Practicing the Presence

Hey friends!
I've been a horrible blogger lately- :( Sorry about that! We have a birthday-a -month from Dec through March- (when we have 2 back to back!) And like everyone else, we were sick, passed it around and around, got secondary ear infections, and our latest was an allergic reaction to antibiotic. All that to say- life's been busy- sorry I haven't been blogging!

I'm leading a discipleship group at my house on Sunday mornings (are any of you reading?!?!) and we've been going through My Heart, Christ's Home- a tiny booklet I mentioned a few posts back. This week we were discussing the discipline of "Practicing the Presence of Christ"- in other words, reminding ourselves often that the reality is- HE, Jesus, is right here with me, whether I acknowledge Him or not. An author I have learned SO much from, Leanne Payne, refers to this as Incarnational Reality.

The Incarnation was when God became a man- "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." John 1:14 And though He ascended to heaven- He is with us through His Spirit- "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ... 13 when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:8, 13) So, Incarnational Reality is acknowledging this "unseen real"- the spiritual dimension- the "Kingdom of God" that is all around us, yet, we are so frequently oblivious to it!

A few verses we talked about if you are interested in a little Bible study...
Psalm 139:7-12
Matthew 28:18-20
Deuteronomy 31:6-8
2 Corinthians 4:18
Ephesians 3:16-18

These are just the TIP of the iceberg- the Bible is basically the story of how God is with His people!

Hope that you are able to very practically discipline yourself to acknowledge the Presence of Christ with you- ALLLLLLLL the time! Right now! When you sleep! When you pray! When you go to the grocery story, talk on the phone, make dinner, etc. etc. etc!!! :) What a comfort- what a relief, what an amazing reality.

In wonder and gratitude,
Katherine

Multiplication Tables?

Just a quick note... if you have a school aged child learning multiplication- may I recommend Timez Attack @ Multiplication.com? They have a free version for download- and you can upgrade to the full version which just allows them to go into more "worlds" and have different backgrounds, etc. The game teaches the concepts of multiplication as well as tracking your child's mastery of the times tables and working them up through the 12s. Hope says it "is the MOST fun math game!" Hope it can help someone else, too!!!

Talking with God

Hi friends :)

A few days ago, as I was praying by writing in my prayer journal, I had a conversation with the Lord that I felt He wanted me to share with you. I have hesitated in doing that for a few days- I've never shared from it before, except with my husband- but I know He wants me to share it. So... here goes! I hope you are blessed- imagine it's a conversation between YOU and Him!

March 3rd, 2009
Me: What's on your heart this morning?
the Lord: YOU are.
Me: I am? Why am I on Your heart this morning with all the people who need you? (I name several people I am regularly praying for)
the Lord: There is enough of Me to have them all AND you on on my heart. Just a reminder from Psalm 139
"I made all the delicate, inner parts of your body and knit you together in your mother's womb."
Me: "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is MARVELOUS and how well I know it!"
the Lord: "I watched you as you were being formed in utter seclusion, as you were woven together in the dark of the womb. I saw you before you were born. Ever day of your life was recorded in my book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed!"
Me: "How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God!"

When I woke up this morning- you were still with me! (v. 18b)

v. 23 Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out what in me offends You; and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Then I read Romans 4:5 and down to 5:17 and 6:11-12 all in New Living Translation. (If you've never tried it- do! It's not a study Bible- but a wonderfully conversational Bible- it brings things to light in a brand new way if you've always read another translation!)

The reason I believe I was to share all of this--- just to say that YOU are on God's heart- EVERY DAY!!! Sometimes I get to thinking that God is most interested in the people I know with serious struggles. He wanted to remind me on March 3rd- and I believe wants to remind You- not to put Him in a box. He is plenty big for all those we pray for AND US! YOU are on His heart- don't forget it!

My discipleship group is going to read My Heart- Christ's Home by Robert Boyd Munger. It's a tiny little booklet. If you've never read it- I highly recommend it. A wonderful illustration of Ephesians 3:16-17

NIV- ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

NLT-17 I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.

I pray that with Paul for each of you reading and for myself- may He be more and more at home in our hearts! Have a great night,
~Katherine

Where are you at, friends?

Dearest friends,
Where are you at in your walk with the Lord? Are you on a flat, boring plateau? Worse, down in a high-walled canyon? Are you in a fertile, arid place? Are you climbing a high mountain towards a glorious view? Or are you wandering in a desert, praying for an oasis?

I climbed a mountain (spiritually speaking) to get to the opportunity to help Ryan teach about women's role in God's Kingdom in church two weeks in a row. Then, I slowly succumbed to a horrible bronchial virus. :( YUCK! I am now steadily emerging from the bed and re-entering and re-engaging my life. :) The kids must really be pleased with this!!! lol! But I am reminded, that after any major spiritual mountain, the valley usually follows. Is that because I am so focused and disciplined before hand- knowing how I MUST depend on Him- for in me is no good thing? Or, is it because of the "let-down" of sorts that invariably follows any exciting thing? Real life just can't compete. I don't know why it is- but it seems to be a pretty predictable pattern for me. Now if I could just learn to anticipate it and ease its effects. If I could remember how this works, I would be extra diligent in my quiet times on the days following such a high. I would make a poster to hang to remind myself that I must press through the onslaught!

Eventually the Lord gives me a new motivation... this week it is praying for some friends in difficult health situations- one a pregnancy with potential genetic defects (we reject that in Jesus' Name and declare the baby HEALTHY!) and two others with cancer and another with an auto-immune something or other in the process of being diagnosed.

What is your motivation? (Perhaps you don't need one! That's GREAT!) I find, that something outside myself- like my children, or friends, is better motivation than "I should". The truth of course, is, I can't LIVE without HIM!!!! :) Why do I need a reason to seek? I don't know- I'm just the kind of person that is motivated by purpose.

So, I don't know where you're at- but- if you're on a plateau, or down in a valley, or wandering in a desert- perhaps you need to ask the Lord for purpose. What does the Lord have for you right now? He has something, to be sure! And everything He is doing is working for your good- no matter what it looks like right now.

Lord bless you with renewed purpose and calling--- start climbing!
~Katherine

Teaching on Women in God's Kingdom

Hello my dear friends!
I just wanted to let you know that Ryan & I taught this week and last in church about women and their unique role in God's Kingdom. They have been posted on Trinity's sermon archive. tlcsermonarchive.blogspot.com or you can get there by clicking "Sermons" on the church's main webpage! The message's are from 2/8/09 and 2/15/09.

As you listen- please pray for the women who heard the messages in church. There were of course, such a wide variety of women there- with many different life experiences and current situations- abuse, husbands who've abandoned or just shut them out emotionally, alcoholic husbands, unloving fathers, etc. Please join me in praying that God will touch them with only what will be helpful to them and let the rest go. I desire for this to be a message that blesses- not burdens. Thank you for praying with me--- and please comment back on THIS blog if you have thoughts, questions, comments...
Blessings to you all-
~Katherine