Saying Goodnight

As adults we long for that moment when our head hits the pillow and drift off to la la land.  I chuckle out loud as I think of all the different places we all drift off to.

Last night ended up being a crazy routine and might I add late night to get the kids to bed.  Three of them at least.

Grabbing the Ipad Dean takes Emma up stairs at 9:00 p.m.  "Brush teeth" the speech program button spoke.  Each task involves her using the Ipad to speak for her.  Along with encouragement to for her to speak the words.  They go through pressing each button; going potty, changing diaper, putting on p.j.'s, reading book, doing a prayer, hug and kiss and lastly turning music on and lights out.

From there it is usually getting Bella to bed but last night that girl did not want to sleep as she had a later nap due to not feeling well.

So off we go down to say goodnight to Troy and Scott.  Troy gets suited up with his leg brace and I pray with him, hugs and kisses and off to his "la la" land he went.  Dean goes in with Scott and prays with him.  Then Dean and I switch boys rooms and steal hugs and kisses. All in the mean while Bella is running back and forth between boys room.

Oh gosh this is going to be a long night.  I grab my tea and Dean goes in to lay with Bella on her bed.  As I go in to say goodnight to Bella between my weary eyes and being hit with a childlike spirit I hear Bella's Mini Pops CD playing and instantly Dean and Bella became my audience as I began what I call dancing.  Gods way of saying at that moment we all needed laughter especially myself.

All of the days many many tasks at that musical moment became obsolete as I danced around Bella's room and Dean and Bella were laughing so hard.  Assuming I was done after that one song I said goodnight and danced out of her room.  But I wasn't done apparently as I grabbed a pillow and all of a sudden pillow up shirt and back I go into her room and then became a pregnant mom dancing.  I am thinking to myself I must be overtired to be doing this but my spirit was telling me just to have fun and make Dean and Bella laugh.  "Ok, mommy is done.  Goodnight Bella" I said as I walked back out.  I could hear them giggling wondering if I was going to come back a third time.   

Again my spirit kept me going cause I went from a pregnant mom to mom with a big tush as the pillow went to the back side.  Back I go.  Dancing like most moms can.  This time I knew I was done and turned the light off and closed the door as I left.

Fifteen minutes later Dean and Bella come join me in bed.  It turns out Dean fell asleep and Bella was still awake.

Bella finally fell asleep and I just thanked God for that moment last night.  He knows I hate serious and love feeling and acting like a child.  No worries, believe everything.  Those dance moves were crazy, on beat, but crazy.  At that moment it was the three of us and God. 

A good reminder life is so short.  Not me being short, life is short.

I am a follower!

Spirit be with me as I write this.

For one month now our family has been attending ministry in a school gym.  Previous we attended another church in our small town.  It doesn't matter which one.  Those who know us will know which one.  The pastor of that church had many conversations with God and realized he was at a crossroad, the church was at a crossroad.  Many in the church would say they carried a feeling in their hearts of reaching a crossroad. 

My personal definition of crossroad being defined as a group who are content in one space and the others who are hungry for so much more without the dictation from a manual or man made rules but rely solely on the Holy Spirit/God/Jesus.

We were so blessed to have our Pastor announce that he was leaving the church and beginning a ministry with the support of another ministry.  The blessing was that many of his services he revisited teaching us we must listen to God to know where we would attend church in the new year.

Five years ago our family started to attend the church and our Pastor/friend/brother because of his devotion to our Papa God and teaching us each Sunday from the BIBLE and from his personal life has given Dean and I the platform to totally change our lives.  Growing up Catholic I personally thought the Priest was to do everything; pray for people, visit hospitals, heal, talk to God and go once a year in a booth to repent to a little hole in the wall.  In saying that I am so thankful for the life of growing up in church. 

Everything our Pastor was telling us every Sunday is in the bible.  It is so simple.  While rules are important everything we are to do is in one book, His word, The Bible. 

It tells me to talk to God myself-   'God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ' (11 Cor. 4:6).

I can repent everyday myself- 'Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord' (Acts 3:19)

I can pray and ask for Jesus to heal through me- 'And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues' (1 Corinthians 12:28).

There is so much I could highlight that yep I can do.  Little me, mom of four kids who has sinned, and will sin again.  No walls came crashing down when I entered the church.  The only ones that did were the ones that Satan put up.  This teaching didn't come from a certain denomination of church it came from a devoted Pastor.  His love of God, love of the Spirit, love of Jesus, love for all people no matter where there walk is with the Lord and love for God's word.  No matter where our Pastor goes the whole faith package goes with him.  Like many big name followers (12 disciples and more) in the Bible, I chose to be one of them.  Some call us "Pastor" followers (substitute pastor for his real name).  In a way yes our family is following him he is a good man who puts the bible before all else and his family is precious but sorry we are following the Man our Pastor holds in his heart.  The Papa God he teaches that loves us.

Ministry can be held anywhere and definitely anytime.  On Sundays that gym is transformed into an amazing room of worship and so many can feel the love as they walk in.  When one feels freedom the Lord has a new space to move and create new things in. 

Thank you God for Selah Fire!
I can't wait until you make the walls tremble and the earth shake.

FAITHRAISER

Holy Spirit be with me as I write this:

I was grunting and groaning as I walked in our front door following a Christmas family get together.  How did I fit all that food in my tummy?  "Love you," I said to our little Emma as I put her down for her very late nap.  Literally plopped myself down on the couch and grabbed the lap top to check email and Facebook.

It doesn't take long before smile turns upside down as my eyes scan an email from a friend.  On our bible study group page she is requesting prayer for someone at her work who has breast cancer.  That someone happens to be our neighbor.  My frown turns jagged as I fill with anger. I begin talking to God, "Really? I have had it with the "C" word. I just want to go over and pray for her and there to be healing.  Lord our sister at church to have healing.  My father-in-laws sister for healing.  I am sick of raising money." 

Then a little revelation.  Please do not misunderstand me as I write this I think it is so amazing the hearts that raise money for Cancer.  I believe God has a purpose for that.  My revelation or vision happens.  Are we so busy raising money to find a cure that we are forgetting about Gods healing hands?  Are we forgetting to teach people to pray for healing first then raise money?

My vision is so amazing...Imagine a Faithraiser instead of a Fundraiser.  No forms or t-shirts. I see the curbs are full of people who are waiting to pray.  Hands are raised, eyes are closed, worship is happening, SPIRIT is alive, tongues are praising, eye lashes are twitching and arms are high.  Those who know a fire tunnel this would be fun. 

Then the Faithraiser starts....Jesus with his cross begins the walk.  Following Him are children with cancer, adults with cancer, people who are blind and the list is endless of those who need healing.  I would be walking down with my anxiety but quickly side step to the curb so I can pray for rest of the people.  I see thousands of angels all assigned to a certain person.

These Faithraisers can happen everyday.  God is waiting for us to ask Him.  God is waiting for us to teach people to trust in him more.  Don't google what type of cancer or disease people have google how to pray for healing.  While we need money to find a cure what we need more is people in the hospital beside beds praying for healing  or going into someones home and singing worship songs with them.  Don't tell someone, "I hope everything will be OK" declare to them, "God will take care of everything." 

While I believe God wants physical healing I also believe more so for internal healing.  Having two children with Cerebral Palsy I pray for physical healing everyday, but my Spirit says, "Pray for their hearts and minds and souls.  When they are full on the inside it won't matter how they walk or talk.  The shadows of their wheelchairs, crutches and walkers will heal others."