Tender Heart Ministries

Prayer for today

2011-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you, God that you have created me and anointed me. You tell me that you have established me and given me free access to stand in your Holy of Holies, that you have known me to wash your feet with my tears and that you have washed my feet so they would be clean to enter that holy place. Thank you Jesus that by the power of your shed blood, I am free to walk in righteousness and truth, that grace and mercy abounds for me and that You are The Rock on which I stand.

I praise You, God, as Lord, Master, Creator, King of Kings, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Ultimate Authority and Ruler over all things. Yet I am in such awe that even though you are all those things, you still reach down and pick me up as Abba – my Daddy! You know my every move and thought. You gather my tears in a bottle and when I am humbled before you, I am pouring them out on your feet. The blessing that comes from those times is so amazingly sweet that I sometimes never want to stand up and leave your sweet comforting presence.

Yet you have called me to other things after those times of comfort and refreshing. So as I go about this day of work, play and rest, I know that you will guide me with your Spirit, usher in divine appointments and use me in a way that will be utterly amazing!

Thank you, God for taking charge of this day in my life and letting me see you work!

Rain

2011-05-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

I love how God walks with us and comforts us in the storms of life!! Watch this video that shows how good God is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koutUz0Im48&feature

Patti

The Shelter of the Most High

2011-01-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, two eagles spent a long time in our field. I could see them pretty well just looking out the window, but when I looked through the field glasses, it was like they were right there next to me. God uses eagles to express attributes of our relationship with Him, so they have such significance to me when I see them in person. I feel like God put them there at that particular time as a blessing for me to see.

I have been so drawn to Psalm 91 lately. And as I watched the eagles, I was reminded of that chapter again. It seems that if I am involved in a conversation with someone for any length of time lately or if I am praying for someone or counseling someone, Psalm 91 comes up! It is such a wonderful wonderful picture of so many facets of our relationship with God and has such incredible power to dispel fear and anxiety - especially when spoken aloud. I am focusing on just the first four verses today. They go like this:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Psalm 91 talks about dealing with fear and the power and authority we have as His followers. These first 4 verses make us aware that the key to walking in God-given authority is being in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The authority God has given us is delegated and not something we can operate with independent of him. We, as members of the body of Christ, must be connected to the Head of the body, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit in order to function as we were intended to. If we try to separate from the source of power in our lives and still operate as the were connected it will be just a matter of time until we fall flat. In the New testament, this thought is constantly reinforced. One example is in John 15, where Jesus talks about abiding in Him. Then in chapter 17, verse 24, Jesus prays for all believers as He says:

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

If we make a habit of spending more time with him, He will turn that habit into a desire. We will truly hunger and thirst for Him as our daily sustenance. We will learn to hear more clearly to discern what is behind the fears we face and the hard times that come. Then we can take bold action against our enemy using the authority he has freely given every believer in Christ.

In my next post I will move on to the next few verses in Psalm 91 to talk about that authority. In the meantime, "draw near to Him and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8)

Hurts

2010-12-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

This morning as I was spending time in the word, I read Psalm 16:8-9 and felt it was a really important one to soak deep into my heart and mind. It says, "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope."

As I began to memorize and meditate on that, I began speaking out loud to God about His goodness and praising Him for who He is. I began praising Him and saying, "You have unlimited power, love, grace, mercy ..." Then I began making statements about the fact that He never abandons me, never condemns me, never forsakes me, etc. When it came to my mind to state that He never hurts me, I found that I did not have the steadfast assurance to say it right away. So I began asking Him why that was such a hard thing for me to proclain.

He showed me that all my life, I have heard how God disciplines us to sharpen us and strengthen us. I have heard how He tests us and that he is a stern God who punishes us just like He punished Israel. He showed me that I have always related those things with emotion. For instance, when a parent spanks their child or slaps their hand to protect them from putting something in the light socket, etc, there is always an emotional reaction involved besides pure love. The parent is usually reacting out of anger or frustration or fear. Because of my human nature, I cannot perceive true unlimited and unconditional love, where discipline and trials are part of the big picture that I cannot see. But He can. He truly will not "hurt" me, even though I may perceive it as such, because of my limited knowlege and understanding.

I then spoke and forgave my parents for punishing me and disciplining me with reactive negative emotion, I forgave those who have spoken those words that made that impression of God for me. I forgave myself for the times that I have beat up my own self. I asked Him to forgive me for perceiving Him as someone who would hurt me, when I know that is not true.

Though I still cannot completely fathom the depths of this, I do know that I am not the only one who struggles with this notion. I know that He wants me to know Him for the good God that He is - that He wants me to fear Him with a fear that drives me TO Him, not away from Him. And I know that this particular issue is HUGE when it comes to the ability to completely and absolutely trust Him for everything, in every circumstance.

That fear of hurt holds many of us back from "always setting the Lord before us" (as it says in the scripture above), or always thinking of Him as we go about our daily life. Sometimes we hope that He is going to spare us from painful situations if we just can slip by under His radar and not make waves. Sometimes we get so consumed by the pain that we can only look up and say "why, God - why does this have to be?" And deep in our heart we grasp at anything to resolve - or at least - cover up the pain.

But that scripture says that when I set God always before me - keep my eyes on Him and walk in His Kingdom every minute:

I am glad, filled with His joy;
My glory rejoices - the bible dictionary defines glory in this context as the external things upon which the people depend, and the possession of which is the ground of their confidence.
My flesh will rest in hope - stress and anxiety will not affect my body.

By understanding that the thought that He will hurt me is a lie, I replace it with the truth of His word - that I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14), I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2), I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39), I can find grace and mercy in time of need (Heb 4:16), I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph 2:6), and that I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph 3:12).

All this does not mean we won't go through times of pain and trial - we know that we will (God's word says that too) but that those situations are the times we can go to God for His peace and help - and He will extend His amazing grace to us for the things we suffer because of this fallen world. He does discipline us too - but Jesus came to show us that this discipline is imparted out of love instead of fear, anger or frustration. He weeps with us and rejoices with us - and the angels do too!

More than ever, I am determined to take worldly thoughts captive and turn my thoughts back to Him in every part of my day. I thank God that He is showing me more of who He is minute by minute. As Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14 ^"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. (The message bible)

Love and blessings to all who read this post!

Patti

The Word of God

2010-05-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

As I was meditating on the things of God the other day, He so lovingly gave me some great truths that were for me, but that I think will ring true for you as well.

This is what poured out on the page, as I asked for wisdom from Him:

"I, too, want for you to hear me better, dear Daughter. Bathe yourself in my written Word and I will unlock secrets to hearing that are beyond imagination. As you read my Word, I will open it up with understanding. Lean on My interpretations - not man's interpretations. As you read other books, do not believe that they are all filled with truth for you. Ask me about those parts that do not resonate in your spirit well. Keep seeking me earnestly and the breakthrough you desire will come."

At times, we all go through a period where it seems that our time in the word is lifeless. But did you hear what He said? He wants to give it life for us! Sometimes we are led to read the Word or do our Bible study because it is what we are "supposed to do", and it is all an exercise. Yet God wants us to read it with an attitude of love for Him and our desire to know Him more.

I don't know what the formula you use when you get stuck in a rut when trying to focus on the Bible, but for me, He always breaks through the fog when I sit back, take a deep breath and ask Him to show me what to read or how He wants me to receive what I just read. I ask Him to give me clarity and for the Holy spirit to push aside any fleshly thoughts or interference by the enemy. And when the heavens open and His truth begins to soak into me, it is like a breath of fresh air or a healing rain!

He is so faithful and true. We can know this because He said in His word: "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, ... Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:22-23) And what better way to draw near to Him than to dig into His Word and ask Him to show you stuff!!

He also gives us a warning in James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Then He goes on to promise in verse 25 that "the person who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." So when we sincerely ask Him to enlighten His word in us and through us with the motive of knowing Him more, He will bless us with more of His promises, mercy and grace. And He will give us the power to go out and do what he has called us to do.

I pray mighty blessings from God for you who are reading this post. May he plant a desire in your heart for more and more of Him as you go on this journey with Him.

Patti

The Shack

2010-05-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hope you can view this video on "The Shack".
Patti

The Shack: Interview with Paul Young from cornwallchurch on Vimeo.

Prayer for today

2010-03-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here is the prayer I am meditating on today as I seek God. I am letting it seep and soak as I read it and say it aloud to the Lord. It is the very cry of my heart!!

O Holy God, write Your Word on the tablet of my life. May it flood my heart and shine its light of truth into every dark corner of my conscience. May it enlighten my eyes and be the filter through which I see all things. May it fill my mind so that all of my thoughts will be captive to obedience to Christ. May it direct my steps into Your good, pleasing and perfect will. May it guide my hands into the work of the ministry. May it guard the doorway of my life so that all of my comings and goings may pass under the scrutiny of Your divine wisdom. May Your Word, O God be the constant employer of my spirit, soul and body. Amen.

(From The Way of A Worshiper, by Buddy Owens)

Enjoy God's presence, worship Him and cry ot to Him for your heart's desire. He wants to draw you closer and reveal more of Himself and His word to you.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Here it is - Valentine's Day. What better day could I have to speak about God's amazing love for me and for you!!

This morning, I was so deeply moved by I John 3:1, even though I have read it so many tines - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

As I read on, it says in verse 3 - "Everyone who has this hope [that we will be like Him] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." And the following verses speak about what that means and how we purify ourselves.
It is hard to read the verses where we are told that if we are in Him we will not continue to sin. I don't know about you, but I sin way more often that I would like to admit. So does that mean I am not in Christ? No - John also goes on to explain that we know we are His by the Spirit He gave us. Even though we still sin, and even though we may have a habitual sin we are trying to overcome, God's love and His Holy Spirit are at work in us to help us become mighty overcomers! When we focus on Christ and seek Him for help in our deepest needs, fears and sins, He opens his arms wide and surrounds us with His amazing love and grace.

We can only overcome sin by the strength He gives us and by receiving the grace and love that is unconditional. When we continue to sin and try to find ways to justify that sin - that is when we enter the danger zone where we harden our hearts toward God and slip further away from Him. But if we come to Him with true repentance, He surrounds us with forgiveness and healing for the damage caused by the sin.

When we understand that He truly is a LOVING Father, we can begin to see that he does not command us to keep from sinning because he is mean and does not want us to have fun. He commands us to repent and keep ourselves pure, because when we sin, the chasm that is created separates us just a bit more from the closeness we could have with Him. True repentance closes that chasm, because He is there waiting for us to let him wipe it away with His love and grace.

Christ loves to have us abide in Him and He loves to abide in us. Oh, sisters and brothers how he longs to draw you close and speak loving words of forgiveness when you have been separated from Him by sin. His love has made the way for us to repent and truly receive His grace. If you are struggling with guilt, hurt, shame, fear, or anything that has blocked the Holy Spirit's work in your life, look at the Father of Light. Look at the beautiful hands and feet of Jesus, where the nail scars prove to us that we are everything to Him.

Lately, when I have been striving to do the right thing, feeling guilty and beating myself up for not reading His word enough or not witnessing enough, He has told me to just rest in His arms and let Him give me what I need to persevere and overcome. He is saying to His children, "Come and sit at my feet." When I do that, I pour out words of praise and worship to Him, or just quietly soak in His presence. That is what He wants most from me. I think it is what He wants most from all of His children. As you continue to practice that, I think you will be amazed at what He completes in your heart.

The only way to be His warriors is for us to be as close in spirit as possible to our King. He has battles for us to fight in His name and work to be done. Our flesh cannot prepare for what is coming. Our minds and our intestinal fortitude cannot prepare us. Only His amazing, abundant love, lavished on us, can make us ready for whatever comes our way!! Against this love there is no law!

Have a beautiful Valentine’s Day with your Savior - today and every day!!
Patti

Psalm 91

2010-01-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

What more can I say - Psalm 91 says all that I want to convey and what I am feeling today. Read it below and if you have some beautiful instrumental praise music to turn on in the background while you read it aloud, I think you will be truly blessed (I cannot yet figure out how to add music to play on my blog while you read).

Remember that Christ is always there for you and that His love for you is far beyond anything you could ever dream! Soak in His word and His love while you read!!

Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the Shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

They will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy himand show him my salvation.”

May your times with the Lord be truly blessed! - Patti

Overcomer

2010-01-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

Wow – where has the time gone? The holidays have come and gone since my last blog and it is a brand new year. Though I have not blogged for a while, I have been journaling and here are a few of the highlights from the last half of 2010.

Last time I wrote on this blog, I was in the midst of acting as campaign manager for my friend and colleague, Kathy. I am pleased to say she won the campaign and was sworn into office this week! My husband and I went to Orlando in August – mixing a little business with a vacation. It was a wonderful time for us to connect and get away from everything for a few days. Then for Thanksgiving, we drove to central California to spend time with my youngest son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters Natalie and Kendra. For Christmas they came here to Northwest Washington, as did my other son, daughter-in law and grandchildren Jayden and Jenessa. It was so great to have all 4 of my grandchildren here at the same time for a few days. They had so much fun together! (We also went on a camping trip in July at the Oregon coast with all the family and what fun we all had!!)

And now as life is settling back in and work is in full force again, I have been asking the Lord for divine direction for 2010. I am praying that the business of life will not overshadow the business of drawing closer to my heavenly Father.
This morning I was reading the word and this is the passage that resonated with me: “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous and praise His holy name.” Psalm 97: 10-12

For some reason, I have been struggling a bit the past couple of weeks with a spirit of defeat. I have had trouble sleeping and have not been very motivated. The good thing is that it has drawn me to the Lord in prayer and into His word many times a day (and in the middle of the night!). I really want to know what He is trying to teach me through this. I don’t want to miss that “AHA!” moment that He wants to give me. One thing He has been telling me to repent of is my lack of trust and my tendency to try to take control. It is amazing that so often we think we need to handle things because God is too busy or because we think we have screwed up so badly that we have to deal with the consequences alone. The enemy wants us to believe that.

But do you see what the author of this Psalm is telling us? God sheds light on the righteous and on the upright in heart. He also delivers us from the hand of the wicked. We may make huge mistakes, we sin, we falter – but where does our righteousness come from? It comes from the beautiful act of love that Jesus committed for us. He alone is our righteousness and it is only because of our relationship with Jesus and through the Holy Spirit abiding in us that we can we walk ‘upright in heart’.

So, because we are righteous through our heavenly adoption, we can do what the last line in this passage says – we can rejoice in the Lord and praise His holy name. In the midst of this battle with the spirit of defeat, I have been so blessed when I followed this advice. It is so amazing that when we praise and rejoice, when we declare our love for the Lord, the enemy is crushed beneath our feet and we can walk victorious. When I do that, I am then more able to see the light He sheds upon the situation and realize the truth that He wants the very best for me – in spite of my human frailties.

He has shown me that even though I have felt like a failure, He continues to pick me up, help me stand and give me the power to overcome! I am His bride, friend and daughter. He truly has made me to be a beautiful warrior princess. As long as I continue to focus on Him, He will deliver me and show me new truths throughout my whole life. “He (she) who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his (her) God and he (she) will be my child.” Revelation 21:7

Oh Lord, thank you for giving me the power to overcome. Help me to focus always on you and continually praise you – no matter what trials and suffering come my way here on earth. Show me any chinks in my armor that need to be restored. Show me any lies I believe and help me to overcome by the blood of Jesus. Let me know what, when and how to repent, that I may walk more fully in your ways. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Campaign management 101

2009-07-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

I am reading “The Hole In The Gospel” by Richard Stearns, who is the president of World Vision. His premise is that Christ meant for us to go through the whole world and preach the gospel and to do those things God has anointed us to do in the 61st chapter of Isaiah. This has become my favorite and most significant passage from the Bible over the past few years. This morning, I reflected on how since I realized that this scripture applies to me, I have not been able to approach a task without looking at the process through His anointing and His lens. So I got thinking about how this lens and this passage applies to the new position I find myself in.

I committed to becoming the campaign manager for a friend who is running for county council. My work in that role is just beginning in earnest and it has already become a steep learning curve! One of the things people tell me is that the candidate I am representing is a commodity and I am to help market her to the public. Yet God has placed in me the assurance that nothing I do in this life can have meaning without a Godly purpose. When I was speaking with God this morning, I asked Him to make clear to me where this particular job fits. Being a campaign manager for a local county election seems so insignificant when held up against going to Africa or Haiti and helping to revolutionize poor nations. Yet, because of Christ in me, I cannot look at this as something separate from my Christianity, something insignificant. My relationship with Christ is my identity, my driving force and my calling.

As I began running it through my head, I realized that I am doing this because it breaks my heart to see people in this community lose their livelihoods – their farms, their small businesses and their homes - because of greedy, self-absorbed and unholy government bureaucrats . I know that these things may seem small compared to the horrors that are going on in Africa and other third world nations, but they are important and critical in our daily lives in this community.

When I see decisions being made to further the environmental agenda, to gain power and to line the pockets of the government officials and activists, while at the same time ignoring the people who are trying to eke out an existence from hard work and risk, I want to help. Right now God is not calling me to go to Africa. He is not calling me to run for public office. Nor is He sending me to preach to the nations. However, He is calling me to be effective for His Kingdom wherever I go.

So I will continue to stand for those who feel they do not have a voice, to support those who feel they can listen and make Godly decisions, and to reflect the light of God, no matter what my job or volunteer efforts are. I know that everything has a purpose – actually more than one purpose. For me, this may be another stepping stone on the way to a bigger calling than I can imagine – one that seemingly has nothing to do with politics, or it may be one of the many experiences that He is letting me have that will add skills to the strength and direction He gives me. For the community and for this Nation, I believe His purpose is to bring the lost sheep home, to turn our hearts to God and to heal this nation. The more followers of Christ that are involved in even the smallest political machine, the more He can further His purpose.

I have no desire to reach greatness and esteem in the eyes of the public. I work behind the scenes and like it that way. My desire is to do what He has anointed me to do in Isaiah 61– to preach good news to the poor, to support the brokenhearted, to help the captives pursue freedom and to help them rebuild the ruins and restore the devastated places. My campaign involvement is only one small facet of what I am doing now to do what God has called me to do – only one iron in the fire. I know that this position will be a time consuming and whirlwind task that seems surface and focused elsewhere at times. I also know it is temporary. Yet I pray that as I work on this campaign, I will continue to keep His perspective in mind while supporting those who are called to more public arenas.

Those of you reading this blog post – please keep this nation in prayer. And if you don’t mind, pray for me – that God will give me discernment and strength to stand for what is right and to encourage those I come in contact with to avoid just going with the political flow. For me it is not about commodities, it is not about winning a campaign, it is about accountability, and most of all, it is about glorifying God, the maker of this universe!

Spiritual Fitness

2009-06-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Wow - life has been crazy for me lately (not that this is unusual). I just got back from almost three solid weeks on the road. I was looking at fitness sites, trying to get myself motivated to get back on track and realized that not only have I not had a fitness plan working as I was traveling, I was not keeping up with a spriritual fitness plan either.

As I was trying to catch up on emails and blogs this morning, I came across a blog post by Karen Rodriguez on the Robin Tramble Community website. Here is a quote from her post regarding Ephesians 6:14-17: "God wants us to be prepared to put on the full armor of God daily. As you dress daily be sure to stand firm in the belt of truth with the breastplate of righteousness (v.14) have your feet fitted in peace (v.15) take up the shield of faith (v. 16) and wear the helmet of salvation & the sword of the Spirit (v.17). God has said it! He provides the vehicles for us to be strong in Him and in his power. What an awesome God we serve!!"

Though we don't have to repeat specific incantations or mantras to armor up, we do need to daily be in the word and constantly be in prayer so we can hear clearly and are ready to spring into action when God speaks to us.

I want to be fit and able to stand or run when Christ calls me to do something or be somewhere. I cannot do that if I leave Him in the back of my mind. I cannot hear clearly from Him if I am not constantly listening. And I cannot respond with confidence unless I have been keeping in shape spiritually. As I am now renewing and revising my fitness goals, I am focusing mostly on the spiritual one, because if I am fit spiritually, the other things will fall into place. He is the one who can keep me focused on being healthy in body, mind and spirit if I keep my focus on Him. He is with me on the road and at home!

So here is my prayer right now - "God, please help me to continually put on your armor by reading your word daily and moving in accordance with it at all times".

DC's victory

2009-05-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

I woke up the other morning, went out to get a cup of coffee and saw a strange sight. An eagle was sitting in the field eating something and not more than two or three feet away, our old barn cat (named Devil-cat - DC for short)) was poised and looked like he was ready to pounce on that eagle any moment.

This got me thinking about being bold and courageous. I don’t know what was running through that cat’s head, but you and I know that in nature’s cycle of life, the is no way a common domestic cat – even a feral cat – could take down an eagle. The eagle would win – hand’s down! But that was not deterring him for that moment.

Devil-cat was a good example of what God wants us to be when we rely on Him as we go into any battle – whether it be a battle in our mind, a battle against principalities and powers or a fight for our very lives. Ephesians 6:10 - 18 tells us to be strong in Christ’s mighty power, to put on the full armor that He has provided for us as believers, and to take a stand against the enemies’ schemes. When we are focusing wholly on the Almighty, we can have a boldness that will bring us to victory, no matter the laws of physics or the laws of man. When we combine that with the truth of who we are in Christ as believers, we can be assured that we are washed clean of all that comes against us and continue to stand firm. Even when everyone is telling us that our goal or purpose is impossible, we know that if God has called us to it, He will provide all we need to be OVERCOMERS! That is because He loves us and wants us to live and abundant life of freedom.

Of course, I did not want to see the battle in this case unfold before my very eyes, so I went out and called to the cat. When he heard me, he knew I had much easier sustenance for him, so he came running and forgot about the eagle. I think that when we are focusing on God and facing a monumental battle, He sometimes calls us to the table instead, and the battle becomes a distant memory, as He communes with us and shows us the truth in scripture that says: “Thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57). Remember how Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac? He was right there in the battle, focusing on God, because he could not really think about what he was doing. Then God stopped him and brought him another source of sacrifice. What a victory the Lord provided through Abraham’s obedience and devotion!

So whether God leads us and strengthens us through the battle or whether he draws us close and removes the threat, He is sovereign and will provide what we need in every situation!

Memorize Eph. 6:11, and read it as part of your prayer today. Thank the Lord that because you have the full armor of God on you that you are equipped to stand strong against the wiles of the devil at any time, under any pressure, against any temptation. Thank Him for giving you the power and the victory in all situations!

Then, like Devil-cat, you can be strong and courageous!!

Altars of Remembrance

2009-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

This morning as I read Genesis 12, I was drawn to the fact that God told Abram to go on a journey and that while he traveled, God would bless him. As Abram traveled, he “journeyed by stages” to the Negev. During certain significant events at each stage, Abram built an altar to worship God and to serve as a reminder of the significance of that place in his journey.

I know that this is what God wants me to do. As significant things happen in my journey with Him, he wants me to recognize them and somehow “set” a reminder. For me, He is saying to write it down. It may be something else for you. Whatever our altar of remembrance is, He wants us to record the significant stage – otherwise, in our humanness, we forget.

I try to do that, but sometimes passivity and apathy creep in and I think, “I will remember it” or, “I will write it down when I see what it relates to”. Then I wander off on some path out in the brambles and bushes where apathy and passivity can reign supreme!!

The times when I seem to be drawn away from God the most are those times when I think I can go on hiatus. For instance, I had the week off last week and started out really well in my worship times. Yet in my mind, I was thinking about things I could accomplish and how I could rest and take it easy – just enjoy life. So as the week progressed, I got lazy.

Why is it that when I think of kicking back and not pushing myself to do something, I think I can take a hiatus in my battle with the flesh? As I start drifting off on that path, I see things, insignificant things that take hold of my mind and suck me into a mindset of procrastination. I become off guard and seem to think the enemy will leave me alone, because I am ignoring the whole spiritual battle thing. But then, I get sick (like I did last week) or I start playing too long on the computer or spinning my wheels and I end up further away from God and with more things I need to get done at the end of my “hiatus” than when I started!!

The enemy would like nothing more than for me to forget to sit down and truly focus on God and seek Him for His goodness, strength and mercy every morning. That is because doing so will strengthen me for any battle and allow life to go much better for me in my walk with God. It also sets my mind on God so my focus more readily remains there throughout the day.

Even if I don’t have the strength or time on a particular day to record a facet of my journey, when I have left altars of remembrance (journal entries), I can go back and see each time I entered the land of milk and honey and the times that I had to wage serious battle. Only then can I truly see the victories and gain strength to fight passivity and other fleshly and worldly things that corrupt my walk onward and upward with my King!!

OOPs - video problem

2009-03-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

OK - I realize now that you cannot view the video I posted last week on my blog page. So I was going to paste a link here, but when I tried it out, I found out that the video is no longer available. Guess they didn't want it to be viewed for very long.

Anyway it was a great video of Il Divo performing at the coliseum in Rome.

I think they are coming to Everett in June. I am going to try to get tickets.

Take care and God bless!

Patti

Amazing Grace

2009-03-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me a clip of this video and it is amazing!
Enjoy ... Amazing Grace performed by El Divo at the Coliseum in Rome , Italy .

Wouldn't you love to be there as they did that? I am contunually amazed at His grace in my life!

Patti

A New Name – or Confirmation?

2009-02-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.Isaiah 62:3

Have you heard women saying that they asked the Lord to “call them by name” or to let them know that He had “given them a new name” – and that He did? I have spoken with women who said that after He spoke to them and gave them a new name (or confirmed an old one) that it really spoke to their identity in Christ and became a source of revelation. So for years now I have prayed that from time to time – that He would do that for me. But it never seemed to be what He wanted to do for me at that particular time, so that was ok.

I was doing my Esther bible study this morning, and looked up the correlating scriptures she wanted us to study to make her point. Here is what they were: Matthew 11:11; Mathew 13:11-12; Luke 17:20-21; I Corinthians 4:20; I Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; and Revelation 5:9-10. If you look them up, you will see a common theme.

Even after reading those and commenting on what she was asking us to fill in, it didn’t seem to have a huge impact on me. But I was thinking “that theme is one I need to get across to the women I am speaking to in March”. In case you didn’t get the theme or didn’t read the verses, what God wants us to know is that we are a royal priesthood, His ambassadors in this world while on earth and that we will reign with Him in the Heavenly Kingdom. Beth Moore said that we need to realize that “right now you are representing the King on official business in another land, but you are no less royal than the Queen of England would be if she visited the White House. Or the Bronx. She is Queen regardless of where she is and how she is treated. Her status is secure. So is yours.”

Later this morning, while I was just combing my hair and talking to God, I was telling Him that I want to be real and yet have others see something in me that makes them want more of Him. Not want to be like me or wonder if I am phony, but want that spark of excitement and abandon that He is giving me right now. All of a sudden it was like a light went on and He reminded me that even when I was a young girl, I knew that the meaning of my name, Patricia, is “nobility”! Yet it never really resonated inside me – deep in my heart – before today.

Wow – makes me realize that I had better start living like royalty representing my King! Sounds like a whole new in-depth study for me and perhaps a retreat subject down the road. Hmmm – how should one who is of royalty act if they get beyond the pomp and into the circumstance?

Maybe there will be more to come on this later – or maybe I have spurred you one to dig in deeper in His word to find out for yourself!!! If you come up with any revelations or ideas for me, let me know – I would love to hear from you!!!

In Christ,
Patti

Ministry Overload

2009-02-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of January I realized that there was a bible study that I really wanted to attend – but it was on Monday nights – for 10 weeks! As many of you know, because of my job, I very seldom can commit to anything that requires me to be in town regularly on a particular week night. But as I counted, it became clear that God opened up my schedule in January and February. I realized that I had more than 10 Monday nights in a row off. Now, because I don’t get paid when I don’t work, this is a blessing that may prove costly eventually, but His economy is not mine to worry about. All I know is that the opportunity was there and I grabbed it.

What a blessing this time has been. I have been participating in the Beth Moore bible study on Esther for the past 4 weeks with over 100 other women. I am amazed at what she pulls from scripture – what a role model for those of us who want to go deeper!

Starting that same weekend, Ralph and I began helping to facilitate a class at church on Sunday nights. The subject matter is Neal Anderson’s Freedom In Christ. Though we went through this material many years ago, and had a similar ministry, we have been placed on hold by God for the past few years as far as ministry goes (other than my speaking ministry).

Wow – I knew that God released us from the waiting a few months ago and that He was going to send us out in ministry again, but suddenly I am on Ministry overload – and it is FABULOUS!!

Take this week for example. On Saturday night we had our “Freedom” class (due to the Superbowl on Sunday afternoon). On Monday night I had my Esther study. Then on Thursday morning, I was blessed to be asked to pray with two women in the group through the “7 steps to freedom”. There has been homework for both classes AND I am in the midst of writing a whole new series of talks for a retreat I get to speak at the first weekend in March! Is God good, or what?!

When I was experiencing ministry burnout several years ago, I never thought I would be so happy to be back in the midst of a busy ministry schedule. The Lord has really refreshed me, built me up and encouraged me these past few months and I am so looking forward to following Him to wherever He takes me.

And now as I sit here, with my music playing, I am listening to “You Raise Me Up” and truly know what that means!

Romans 8:16, 17
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

Thank you, Jesus, that you have made me more than a conqueror. Because of your love and power, I can live as a victor instead of a victim today!

Have a great weekend, all!
Patti

From Winter to Glorious Light

2008-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

Gosh - it has been so long since I have posted to this blog!! I wound up being sick with the flu and cold for a month – that wore me out. Then by the time I was well from that, I had surgery a few days before Christmas.

Anyway – I am recovering well and looking ahead to greater things in 2009. We actually have not celebrated Christmas yet. Our children and grandchildren are coming on New Year’s Eve, so we will have Christmas on New Year’s Day with them and with Ralph’s family all at the same time. I am soooo looking forward to it! Family is such a blessing.

What a winter storm most of us had! Here at our farm we had over a foot of snow. The first few days the wind blew hard and all the snow drifted, but it didn’t look like much at all on the fields. Our driveway was drifted over, though. We could get through (barely) in our 4-wheel drive pickup, but anyone with a regular height vehicle –even SUVs got stuck and Ralph had to pull them out. When the last round of snow came, the wind was no longer blowing, so it accumulated over the course of 2 or 3 days into over a foot on the fields. How beautiful it was!

Here are a couple of pictures of the view from our windows taken during the last two days of snowfall.

This kind of beauty just reminds me of how glorious God is. He has given me a life incredibly full of beauty and rich experiences. Last night at church, the pastor was speaking about how glorious heaven will be. I cannot even imagine how amazing it will all seem when we get there. But I do know that it will be even more splendid than the most beautiful and joyous earthly experiences.

Sometimes in the midst of our day to day struggles or in times of pain and suffering, it may be hard to see the glory of all He has to offer. We get tunnel vision as we trudge along just trying to get through each day, sometimes. But look at what the word of God says about that:

Psalm 56:13 – For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life!

Psalm 76:4 – You, O God are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game!

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For God, who said, “Let light shine out of the darkness” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is not variableness, nor shadow of turning.

Today – at this moment – the sun is shining through my window. The reflection of the sun on the snow that is left (after all this rain for the past two days) is absolutely brilliant – almost blinding. But it is such a joy to see.

As 2009 approaches, remember that in those times of darkness that will inevitably come, God is there with you. And if you look at Him in the midst it, you will see His light working its way through to your very being. Eventually, His light will shine so brilliantly, you will hardly be able to contain it as you come out the other side of the valley.

Look at His light and continue to walk in hope and truth as we forge ahead to the end of this year.

I, for one, am excited to see what his plan is for me in 2009 – I don’t want to miss the light and glory He has for me along the way!

God bless you – every one!!
Patti

He Lives

2008-11-20T18:49:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning with the song “He Lives” going through my head. I have not heard that song in ages, so I don’t think it was coincidence that it was there. You know how sometimes, you wake up with the last song you heard before going to sleep, or one you have heard a lot recently, or the song in your head is one that was retrieved from your memory banks as you heard a couple of words that took you there?

Well, I can’t think of anything that would have brought this song to mind, so I can only assume that it was God who brought it to my consciousness. So I began to ask Him “why this song, this morning?” It is more of an Easter song, really, and we are headed soon into Christmas. But here is how it goes:
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HE LIVES!
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

Chorus
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives -
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho' my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Repeat Chorus

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Repeat Chorus
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I guess maybe it is important for me to remember that Jesus is my HOPE and no one can take that away from me. No matter what the circumstance, He has promised a hope and a future – and He cannot lie or take back what He said. I feel sadness for those who have placed their hope in a mortal man, thinking he can fix all their problems. And though I think this country’s problems will only get worse because of the outcome of this election, I feel surprisingly unaffected. In fact, it has been a catalyst for placing my focus more on Him and less on this nation. He Lives – and that is all I really need to know!

IT'S ALL GOOD!

2008-10-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

This morning, I was sitting at my kitchen table enjoying the sunrise and reading The Word. I went back to Genesis 1 and read again about the creation. As I read about what God did each day, I was really struck by the fact that He is all about not just renewal, not just regeneration, but GENERATION! He created out of nothing. The earth was void, blank, nothingness and He made this incredible complex place with all these incredible complex pieces that work together for RE-generation. After He created each day, he looked back and said “it’s all good” (my paraphrase). It seems like we hear so much about regeneration and renewal – which are the essence of His presence in our lives. But why do I forget about the generation part – creating something out of nothing? When we are taught about using our gifts to serve somehow or another in ministry, does that limit us? Does that put God in a box?

My husband and I had a prayer counseling ministry when we lived in another town and we loved it! We are feeling called into ministry again and I think we have this concept that it will be really similar to what we did before – that our gifting will again be used and our ministry renewed. But maybe He wants to generate a new ministry with gifts that we never thought we had. That is kind of a scary thought, huh? Yet, when hearts are tender and yielded to God, people follow Him to amazing miracles in their lives. I don’t think the fishermen who left their nets and followed Jesus had any idea the gifts and experiences they would receive. They were not taught what their gifts were – they just followed to see what Jesus would do and they joined Him in what He was doing. Wow – how unorthodox that was!! Did they stop and say, “wait – let me see what my gifts are before I decide what I will do for you”? NO – they just went along! Oh – and what miracles they saw - and what an incredible journey they took. Was it all fun? No – sometimes it led to death and there were many trials, but in their relationship, and in their willingness to follow, I believe that God said “it’s all good”.

I am so excited that He is calling me to something new! I don’t know what it is yet, but I just want to follow, no matter what I think my gifts are and see the miracles He produces at every turn along the way. I hope that no matter where this takes me, and even in the hard places, I can look at Him and say along with Him “IT’S ALL GOOD”.

God's Economy

2008-10-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

It has certainly been an interesting time in our history these past few months, culminating into a wake-up call to to people of many nations about the economy of this world. The stock market dabblers and forecasters don’t seem to have a clue what will happen by the end of each day - let alone in the long term.

I have friends who have money in the stock market and they are a bit freaked out right now. But my husband Ralph came to me the other day and said “well I looked at our stock this morning and it is doing just fine!” Here is a picture of our ‘stock’.

Some day we will inherit the cattle on a thousand hills, because my glorious and wealthy Father in heaven owns them all!!

I have been watching all the anxiety and fear in the news and on Wall Street lately and I am glad that I know that God is my source.

Does that mean good Christians will always be prosperous financially? I don’t think that is true, but we can know that as we go through hard times, He will be with us and wants us to focus on Him rather than the physical world we live in. We can believe His promises – that he is our provider, our strength, our peace, our healer, our helper, our friend, and so much more. It is when we take our eyes off Him and look back at ourselves and this world that fear and other negative emotions invade our lives.

The first chapter of Joshua is often used as an encouragement and a promise - that the Lord will be with us wherever we go. Period. But sometimes we forget that with promises and blessings, there are some things that God puts in as disclaimers – “if’s”. In verse 7, God tells Joshua to be sure not to turn from the Book of the Law - THEN he will prosper wherever he goes. Verse 8 says he should meditate in it day and night, observe and do according to it – THEN he would be prosperous and successful. God then commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous” and to remember that God is with him wherever he goes.

This whole chapter is a series of IF –THEN principles. The New Testament teaches us that since Jesus came, our sins are washed away and we have no guilt or shame. I truly believe all that when it comes to salvation and an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. However, at times we seem to forget that God’s principles still apply.

How many times have I claimed God’s promises, yet forgot to pay attention to the commands that God gave to Moses and Joshua. Then, when the promises don’t come to pass as quickly or in the way that I would have wanted, I get discouraged. Though it is true that When Jesus died, the barrier between us and God was destroyed and the Old Testament law was abolished, there are times when I put up my own barriers between God and myself, creating quite an obstacle course for those promises to overcome. When I allow the enemy to controls aspects of my life or when I get too busy for God, I am clogging up the conduit through which those blessings flow. We are not bound by the law anymore, but it is true that if I have not spent time with the Lord and His word, it becomes much harder to hear his voice and to be strong and courageous. Fear creeps in – then worry, then fretting, then anger, then pride, then shame – and on and on and on. Because many of the Israelites turned against God, worshipped other Gods, and forgot His commands, they were not allowed into the land that God had promised. Consequences!

Yes, we are to “be strong and of good courage.” But we don’t have to muster strength and courage from within ourselves. In these uncertain times, step back, remember that God is for you, not against you. It is times such as this that I need to look back at the triune God and ask “Where are you in this and how do you want me to help you there?” In serving and watching Him at work there are so many exciting things that happen and it helps put things in perspective. Then we can more easily see the big picture through the barriers of the immediate challenges.
I pray for God’s blessings, strength and courage for all of you who read this blog.
Patti

Uncle Larry

2008-10-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

My uncle Larry has been fighting cancer and though it has been in remission, recently found that it is in his lymph nodes and liver. He has been a pastor for years and his last couple of e-mails have so amazed me. This is a person whose focus is on God and his faith remains unshaken. Let me insert an excerpt from his last e-mail as an example.
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I not only got up feeling blessed this morning but God was speaking words of wisdom and comfort into my heart and soul. He was helping me keep cancer in its proper perspective. It is not the main thing in my life. It certainly is a disruptive thing that I have to deal with and even with its attendant focus on death, it's not the main thing. When I get up in the morning I go about my day just like I did before any of this was ever a reality. Each day is filled with life and living. In the midst of the disruptions that we face God shows us new ways to serve and give and encourage. It's the living that occupies our minds and hearts not cancer.

Yesterday, Linda and I encountered some senior moments that were lighthearted and funny that got us to laughing and just enjoying and delighting in life and each other. We are doing ok. Today, to celebrate Yom Kippur, October 9th, seemed like a good as reason and any, we're making a tub of homemade ice cream. Actually we're just celebrating another day of life. It just happens to be Yom Kippur.

I've decided as I did the first time around that Satan is not going to win. In saying that I don't mean I won't die with cancer. That's not Satan's victory. His victory is when I quit living, give up, become discouraged and despairing. There isn't a week goes by but that I read about, hear about or encounter someone who has struggles that are far greater than mine.

Again, we don't know why God chose us for this adventure but we do know that it is seamlessly connected to a greater purpose that he has for us.We are seeing some of that worked out as we see our own hearts being transformed by God's love and goodness and grace.Thank you for your care and love and especially your prayers. Thank you for sharing the journey with us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mind you, he is in a second round of Chemotherapy with all its ravaging debilitation - but he still remains steadfast and wants to encourage others!

As I have been writing sections for a retreat I will be doing, I am trying to learn how to always turn my focus on Christ - every minute of every day. Larry's e-mails have given me an example of Christ's outlook. As Jesus was dying on the cross, He was still thinking of you and I.

May His grace always be sufficient for all of you who read this.

Lovingly posted in the name of Jesus Christ,
Patti

Garden Harvest

2008-10-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I knew that it was supposed to be the last really nice day and rain would begin, so I decided to go out and begin preparing my garden for winter. In my mind, I was thinking about how the weather had been so cool that my garden was not the only one that was behind in its production this year. Feeling a bit discouraged that my corn and tomatoes were not very plentiful, I set out to salvage what I could of the fruit of my labors.

I planted 8 potatoes in July and I knew there were some potatoes under there and I wondered if there would be many to store for the winter. Yet, by the time I got done, what a bounty!! I had a whole wheelbarrow full of potatoes and most of them are quite large!! Then I started lifting the vines to see what my pumpkins are doing and I found at least 12 pumpkins of Jack-O-Lantern size. They have not turned orange yet, but they are starting to turn. I was happily enjoying the thought that my grandkids could pick pumpkins from Grandma’s garden this year as I picked another bucket full of green beans.

As I was harvesting and cleaning my garden, I began thinking “well even if the economy falls flat, we will have lots of potatoes, green beans and beef to get us through the winter!” (We have a small herd of beef cows too). Immediately I realized that this cool summer has actually benefitted some things in my garden and has given the cows more to eat, since the grass has not dried up as much this year. Was it what I thought I wanted? Not really,I wanted longer spells of warm weather so my tomatoes and beans would flourish. But God is amazing! He decides what will thrive and what will wither, but He is always faithful and knows what is best, even if we don't always agree at first. Sometimes we miss the miracles and divine providence He fashions, because we are focusing on a specific outcome – like I was with the tomatoes and corn. But if we really look, we realize that there are many underlying miracles that we might have missed if we didn’t choose to look at Him instead of our circumstances.

In this case, it was a simple realization that this actually was better. For instance, potatoes and beans are easy to store through the winter. When I put up corn, I cut it off the cob and freeze or can it. Whether you freeze or can tomatoes, they are much better with the skins peeled off. So corn and tomatoes take more work to store. There is a big sale on canned goods at the local store, so I can go buy canned corn and canned tomatoes fairly inexpensively. Not to mention the fact that the blackberries and blueberries were late this year too; but because my job kept me so busy all through the summer and I now have some time off, I have been able to pick and freeze some of those this past week too. That is providence!

These are just a few minor examples of how the Holy Spirit so faithfully turns my whining into praise and thankfulness! When we keep our eyes on the Sovereign God, He really does turn our mourning into dancing and our sorrow into joy. That's miraculous!

My friend Annie reminded me of this verse as we had lunch the other day, and it so aptly seems to fit our Christian walk in what could be a very scary economic time in our nation: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" ( Matthew 6:28,29).

Oops I’d better go – gonna make a blackberry cobbler!

Unbelievable Grace

2008-09-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am so constantly reminded of God's wonderful Grace. When I began this new year, I asked God what His theme for me would be. I very quickly understood that my theme for the year was "Grace". Well, I imagined wonderful things, but by February, two important people in my life had died and I began to realize how multifaceted God's grace is.

Dictionary.com defines grace this way (theologically speaking):

a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.

c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.

d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

Grace comes when we need it the most and when we don't feel in need of it. It is freely given by God when and where He chooses and to whom He chooses. It comes in the midst of pain and suffering, grief, fear, and joy. Sometimes we don't recognize it, but it is there. Even though I don't ever deserve it, I am so thankful that it is there for me.

In March of this year, a few weeks after my Dad died,I was blessed to go spend two weeks with my granddaughters, Natalie and Kendra, while their Dad and Mom were gone to Africa. (My son Brian and his wife, Cheri were in Africa for a month, so of course I shared the care-taking with others). They had such a wonderful adventure and today I found out that . . .

Brian's book about their African adventure has now been published. There is a link to it on the sidebar of this page and a picture of the front cover at the top of this post.

God's grace was abundant to them throughout the whole trip, just as it was to me while they were gone. I am so blessed with the family that God gave me and so proud of my boys and their families. They love the Lord and understand that Grace is abundantly available in every circumstance!

I am learning more and more about God's grace and as different areas of grace open up to me I hope to share them here. Hopefully I will be more able to share specific instances and discern what grace really is as the year goes on.

Patti

Morning Glory Garden

2008-09-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

MORNING GLORY GARDEN

If my walk with God were a Garden, it would be a Morning Glory Garden.

You see, God has given me a gift – it is the ability to see beauty – to see God’s glory - in the midst of the weedy parts of my life.

There is a patch of morning glories near my house. They are all tangled in with blackberries and other grasses and weeds. People say that they are a noxious weed, but when they are in bloom, they are magnificent!! Underneath the thick vine are some hidden treasures, if I dare but look. They grow in the place where my mother-in-law’s gardener deposits the clippings from her flower beds. Buried beneath the vines most of the time, some of these flowers raise up through the mat and I am always amazed at how much it looks like they are all raising their faces up to God. So whether the morning glories are blooming or not – they still allow others to join in their display.

That’s how it is with me and God. As we walk through life, He shows me beauty through the weeds of my life. When I have been in pain, He soothes me, when I am sad, he holds me close and makes me smile. When I am discouraged or afraid, He gives me strength I never could have imagined. And when I am in full bloom, it is because He is shining through me and I am lifting my face up to Him.

So you see – even though I still have many weeds that invade my walk with God, when I look at Him, he shows me hidden gems beneath the surface. When I feel like I am struggling beneath the tangled mat (many times because of my own doing) He shines light and gives me room to grow – with new strength, because I had to go through the tough stuff. When I see myself as noxious and weedy – God sees my beauty, because of Jesus in me.

He provides the morning glories of my garden for growth, medicinal purposes, my own natural hallucinogenic, and to keep the ground from washing away from under my feet. And even when I feel like the ground is washing out – I can glimpse little glories daily – the face of a baby, the caring of a friend, a supportive husband, my incredible grandchildren, a “coincidental” miracle - the list goes on and on. Perhaps the greatest glory is the fact that my walk with Him – my garden - is uniquely mine – it doesn’t have to be like or look like anyone else’s garden.
His Glories are new every morning - because I am His and He is mine!
By Patti Wieland

My intro

2008-09-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 4:32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Hello, my name is Patti Wieland, founder of Tender Heart Ministries. The name for the ministry came to me when I realized three things: that Jesus was a man with a tender heart, but he was not by any means a wimp, that God wants to tenderize our hearts so the seasonings of truth can enter and that the Holy Spirit can work through me when my heart is tender toward others.

I am a wife (30 years) mother, grandmother, a business owner, a sister, daughter, friend, colleague, adventure seeker, counselor, mentor coach, international christian speaker and most importantly, an agent of God’s kingdom. I know that I have been set apart for such a time as this and that God fills me with the power and might of a warrior when I need it through the shed blood of Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit. This may sound somewhat boastful, but it is only because of God’s presence in my life and my belief in His word that I can say these things today.

Listen to what He says in Psalm 92:12-14
“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
· shall flourish in the courts of our God,
· shall still bear fruit in old age ,
· and shall be fresh and flourishing.

I love that! It so clearly shows that it is never too late to have an impact in Gods kingdom. I love life and when challenges come, my desire is to meet them head-on! But sometimes the enemy and my humanness get in the way. So I need to remind myself that it is time to once again “plant myself in the house of the Lord”.

When I speak to women or counsel them one on one, I want them to know that no matter what their life has been, what they have been through or where they are right now, God wants to lovingly direct them to great things for him. I want them to know that God has abundance for them and created them for His pleasure. He has appointed them for this time, this place and for His glory. I want women to know that life is so much more exiting and full when intimacy with God outweighs their fear, shame, guilt, apathy, and pain. I want them to know that they really can soar as eagles to greater heights than they ever dreamed possible. We have all read these things in God’s word, but it is so crucial that our hearts – not just our minds - know the truth of what a close relationship with Jesus does.

Because of my life experiences I also know that God loves each one of us and sees us each as the apple of His eye. So in those times when I don’t feel confidence about my walk here on earth and with Him, in those times when I don’t feel very adventurous, and when I feel totally discouraged, He holds me and loves me and cries with me. That same God that fires us up also calms us down and even carries us when we cannot walk for a while. Isn't that an awesome and inspiring truth?

I would love to share more of my life, thoughts and passions with you. You may hear about how God has been working on me and wooing me even when I was not walking with Him. You’ll probably hear how he protected me even in my own adrenaline junkie pursuits. You will find out that I am not always a shining example and my failures are many. But I always pray that women I speak to and with will hear what God wants them to hear during our time together - and that with love and transparency I can be an instrument God uses to spur them on to what they are called to do no matter what their abilities or “disabilities”.