Lost

I was lost this morning in my conversations in 

my head with my Father

I was lost in thanking and praising Him for the ability to be on my knees scrubbing my floors

I was lost in repeating the I am sorry for ....
Then I was lost in the thought of knowing I am forgiven
I continued to be lost in thanking Him yet again for the home (not to be mistaken with a house) He has blessed the golfer and I with
Then I was lost in thoughts of thanking Him for family, my immediate family and my family of origin
I was lost in the thought of praising Him for all the progress we have seen in my dear sister-in-law Marlee who had a stroke the end of May

Marlee and I during a visit

Marlee during a PT session

Then I was lost in praying for my brother Pat and the adjustments he will make in order to bring his wife home for the hospital

I was lost once again in thanking and praising Him for the ability to be on my knees scrubbing my floors

linking up with Lisa Jo for 5 minute Friday a day late here:

trusting today

I trust in Your unfailing love … Psalm 13:5

I lift up my soul; in You I trust … Psalm 25:1

In God I trust; I will not be afraid … Psalm 56:4

Those who trust in the Lord .. cannot be shaken … Psalm 125:1

Slowing Down

A couple of weeks ago I was able to take a drive out to Deerfield and enjoy space on a friend's farm for a 3 hour time frame, uninterrupted, to speak and hear from God.

The most important task was to slow myself down so I could find meaning in everything; every word I read, spoke, and wrote.

So when I started with 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" I knew how important it was for me to release my concerns, review what concerns actually led me into sin, and then remember God's faithfulness. These were the three areas, release, review, and remember that made it possible to slow down enough to find meaning in everything that day.

The view outside my window at the farm ...
breath-taking and peaceful

Surgery Day!

Hard to believe that it's "go" day ... the last time I went in for surgery was on November 8, 2011 and it was scheduled to be a 1 hour surgery that lasted 4 hours. I am glad the past is  behind me and I am looking forward to a new beginning. Got a great night's rest last night knowing full well that my friends were praying exactly for that. Why would I be surprised!

Anyways for the nitty gritty facts:

• showered with Hibiclens last night before watching a bit of the news and having my last drink before midnight (ginger ale).
• slept from 10:15 until 5:30 (getting up twice to go to the bathroom)
• showered, scrubbed with Hibiclens one more time this morning
• reading in 2 Corinthians this morning and Psalms

I feel ready but still have lots of questions which I am sure Dr. Nakib will address. (funny one of the questions both Terry and I have is if our devices will be compatible) :-) He had his pacemaker installed almost 8 years ago and today is my day for a pacemaker.

More later ,,,,  am really thankful for these texts from friends:

"I am the LORD that health thee." EX 15:26 Trusting in Him to do just that for you! Love you so much, praying for you and excited to hear how God is going to carry you through! ~Liz

I love you very much! continued to pray for you. I trust that the Great Physician is going to do good work. hug w scratchies. ~Andrea

Psalm 100 The Lord made you and will care for you. See you soon! ~Ginny

Also grateful for the many prayers from friends and family sent by e-mail and for the prayer from my best friend Terry (in person) and my good friend Ginny (over the phone) last night.

Remaining In His Arms today! B.

love these freebies from (in)courage

Already Read it, Already Believe it! How about you?

I am my Father's daughter

just hit me this morning .... I have an overwhelming knowledge and  feeling of God's love for me today.

Wholeheartedly feeling I am adopted ... I am my Father's daughter!

"he predestined me to be adopted as his daughter through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will--" Ephesians 1:5

Pursuing God in Conversation

God spoke a book and God lives in the words He spoke!

He is constantly speaking to me using His Words!

today He said in John 1:12 that I am His child

and in John 15:15 he said that I am His friend

and in Romans 5:1 He said that it is just as if I had never sinned

and in Matthew 5:13-14 He said I am the salt and light at my work place

Worldwide Wednesday

                                             http://www.jacobguenther.com/p/pictures.html

Beth, If you want to follow me you have to truly give up your desires. You must walk with me on the journey to the cross. The path is not pleasant but it is real.

“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Pracetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. And they stripped Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.” Matthew 27:27-30

Oh Father, I want to follow You! I kneel before you and say, “Help me to daily follow You.”

Check out more of Worldwide Wednesday here: http://mistysmornings.blogspot.com/2011/04/worldwide-wednesday-and-my-first-linky.html

Strength Everyday

Be Strong in the Lord ... that's what the e-mail said this morning. I said, "gratitude is everything".

I said this for the simple reason that I have made a personal goal to say this each morning this week. I found myself even saying this throughout my day yesterday.

I love that out of all the e-mails, subscribe to blogs, RSS feeds that one can sign up for and read each day I have chosen Zondervan's daily verse.

It's just a sinpet and takes less than a minute to read but I always find that the words are just what I need for the day ahead.

It' raining this morning and the rain will turn to snow this afternoon when it gets colder her in Minnesota yet I wake up to the same God who does not change with the weather.

As I start my day with hot water and a smoothie and I fix my lunch of applesauce, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs and ensure I continue to remember that He is my strength everday.

I am looking forward to the day and also counting down the days (just 6 now) when I will be in TX where He is the same God who does not change with the weather.

Praying you all will have a blessed day In His Strength!

In His Arms,
Beth

Keeping Company

morning pages from the word
July 14, 2010

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life, I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (The Message)

Looking forward to keeping company today with Him, my husband Terry as we shop for the food shelf, my daughter Kelley, her kids, and Ms Cathy, as we go to the library, my good friend, Keli Moen, who I have not seen it seems like forever, as we enjoy lunch. And I will be continuing to keep company with Him in the school of praying unceasingly.
Notes from my handwritten journal ...

I have a good friend ....She is always asking thought-provoking questions. She often asks me, "what is God teaching you through His word these days?, or how has God answered prayer in your life this week?" When I ask her questions about the Word she often turns it back to me by saying, "that's a good question, that's a worthy question, what do you think?" It's what I love about this friend, she causes me to think and to grow spiritually

.
As I was keeping company in the word this morning I was keeping company with Stephen in Acts 7.

Remember Stephen in Acts 7?

Am I looking in, out, up, and around, to see the glory of the Lord?

I proceeded to our back yard and both looked and listened to His Glory ... These are my questions today ....

Have you seen the glory of the Lord in the flowers?

Have you rested long enough to hear the water coming from the pump that once belonged to you earthly father?

Are you hearing My wind blowing through the trees?

Are you listening to the wind chimes created (seemingly out of nothing) by your earthly father-in-law?

Are you hearing the blue jays (made by the Creator) squawking for their peanuts?

Do you wait for the creator of the bird feeder to wake to feed the blue jays?

I love that the father of our children, my husband, Terry, cares so much about the birds that he daily feeds them peanuts from inside the top of the home made recycled Weber grill bird feeder!

I am certain that the questions in my mind will continue to come forth. I look forward to a day of keeping company with the Lord and others I come in contact with!

Remaining In His Arms, B.

Father's Day, June 20, 2010

Did you know that Father's Day is 100 years old today. Father's Day started in 1910 by a woman. (interesting little fact I learned today in Church)


In Honor of fathers past, present and future ....


My own father, Gordon Walker (gone to be with Jesus)

My father-in-law, Arthur Pederson (gone to be with Jesus)

My husband Terry (who I happen to think is the best father and grandfather in the world!)

Matt (father to cats, husband to Lisa)

Jacob (father to Annika and Eden, husband to Carrie)

Adam (future father and only son, husband to Renee)

Josh (father to Sid, Pru, and soon to be Lennon, husband to Kelley)

But can I just say I have the greatest Father and His name is Jesus ...

Would you get to know Him?

I have ... I not only know Him, I love Him, I respect Him and I Honor Him!

Wishing all father's a Happy Father's Day!

A Simple Prayer While Waiting

This is me with my co-teachers from last year's class at Edinbrook ... I love these kids!

Oh Father,

Help me not to be a complainer and / or a questioner but rather a faith filled Worshiper of You.

May I know that prayer is a call from you
a
Consecration to you
Communion with You
Conversation with You
and
Cooperation with You

Oh and Father I am ever so thankful that your, Holy Spirit intercedes for me, that You help me in my weakness ... for I indeed do not know how to pray especially regarding a job. you know my heart is to be at Edinbrook for 6 hours or at the very least to be working a job that includes benefits ... would you make a way in this wilderness of not having employment for Marshall, Reed, Stephen, Dean, Tom, myself and others ... Surprise us Lord .... surprise me!

Always remaining in Your arms, B.

sickness and the power of the word

Can I just say that last night I got (in my description since I have a low tolerance for pain) violently ill. I won't go into the gorey details but let's just suffice it to say that I was in and out of the bathroom from 11 pm until 3 am and I was actually sleeping during the hours of 12 midnight until 2:30 am ... you have to really get your head around this time frame to realize that violently is an overstatement because I have a low tolerance for pain and discomfort ... having said this when I went to the word from 3 am to 5 am I was reading and studying Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121, and Proverbs 1 ... the following is what I recorded in my handwritten journal.

Saturday, June 27, 2009
(note to self; allergic reaction to gluten from lunch on Friday sharing cheese with Sid's crackers with gluten, oh my!)

Thank you Father that I can say I trust in You for You are my God. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. May your face shine on your servant. I desire Lord to have my trust in you unwavering and my defense against my powerful enemies to be my reliance on your faithfulness and discerning judgement. Thank you Father that I can indeed make you my dwelling and my refuge and no harm will befall me. No disaster will come near my tent for you command your angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways. Thank you Father that your are with me in trouble and that you will deliver me and honor me with long life and that you satisfy me and show me my salvation in you. Thank you Father that I am able to lift my eyes up to the hills and know that my help comes from you. My help comes from you and I know that You will not let my foot slip for You don't slumber but rather you watch over me as I sleep. Thank you that you keep me from all harm ... that you watch over my coming and going both now and forever.

Conclusion: Can I just say that after attempting to return to sleep with a hot water bottle on my tummy and the temptation to take something, anything for the pain ... God got my attention and I got out of bed and sought Him for healing, yet once again ... Thank you my gracious healer for helping me to obey, read, and pray ... their surely is POWER IN THE WORD!

Learning from Him and Leaning into His arms again and again ... B.

Saturday, January 31, 2009
evening pages

Wow! Tonight I am a grandmother for the 3rd time and this time for the first time I saw the birth. As Kelley went through labor and delivery she was amazingly strong. Thank you Lord for this miracle of new life! Thank you that You have made all In Your Image. Prudence Catherine , weighing in at 8lbs, 4oz and 20 and 1/2 inches long born at 6:17 pm you are truly beautiful! I will have no greater Joy than to see you one day walking in the truth! I praise God from whom all blessings flow!

January 28, 2008
morning pages

Thank you Father for the verses of focus for 2009. Thank you for confirming these in my heart!

"Teach, me, O Lord to follow every one of Your principles. Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your decrees; Do not inflict me with love for money (selfishness)! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word. Reassure me of Your promise, which is for those who honor you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; Your laws are all I want in life. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness."

Psalm 119:33-40

The greatest intention I have found myself to practice so far this year is that I now have a

Time, Place, and a Plan

for both the reading of the word and prayer and it shall not be moved. And although I have not blogged regularly I have journaled daily!

Constantly remaining In His Arms, B.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008
election day prayer

Heavenly Father I approach your throne today in freedom and confidence that Your kingdom come and Your will be done on this election day!

Monday September 8, 2008
morning pages

My first week of school as a teacher was the most difficult week I have had so far in my teaching career. So, because of this, let's just say I was less than excited to get up this morning and go in for my second week.

What was interesting to me though is that God has me in Matthew 6:5-13 a very familiar passage to everyone "The Lord's Prayer". As I was reading and praying this morning not really sure how to pray ... I thought about the phrase "my will be done". It occurred to me that I need not think or worry about school, the students, the teachers, etc. because if I leave all of this into the hands of my Father indeed His will will be done!

Remaining In His Arms today, B.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
evening pages

so I am sitting with the Lord tonight and this is what has come to my attention to be praying for myself...

Help me to love what you love Father.
Help me to hate what you hate Father.
Help me to marvel at what you find marvelous Father.

In His Arms tonight, B.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
morning pages

Thank you Father that you make no mistakes with what you allow or permit to happen in my life. I trust you no matter what! Oh Father, bring me to a deeper knowledge of You and Your will for my life. In Your Arms today as always, Beth