Well, in light of all of the buzz about the "end of the world", I wanted to post this song. I've been listening to this song alot since the Memorial Celebration for my dad a couple of weeks ago. Though it may not be the end of the world for most of us, it will most certainly be the last day that many people have on this earth....possibly even someone you know or who is very close to you. Truly, life is but a vapor. When I look back over the decisions I've made over the past few years that my Daddy was still here in this realm, I am especially pleased that we were able to spend so much time together. I have no regrets. I miss him deeply, but I am at peace.

So, even if the world doesn't end today, are you making decisions you won't regret if today is your last day?
http://vimeo.com/4790384

No More Striving Alone

Let me paint a picture. You are sitting in a boat on a large lake. You have a goal, a certain place you want to be on the far side of the lake. You are rowing with all your might, trying, striving to get there, but these strong waves keep coming, crashing against the side of your boat, trying to make you veer off course. At this point, you have a choice; will you let the waves direct your course, or will you take authority over the situation, command the waves to be still, and reach your goal?

The far side of the lake represents goals, or dreams God has put on your heart. Maybe it is a short term goal, a seemingly small thing you want to accomplish.   Maybe it is a long term goal of ministry, or a dream God has shown you, of what He has for your life. When God has a plan for our lives, you can bet the enemy has his own plan, and it doesn't line up with God's plan for our lives. He wants to divert our path. He does this by bringing about circumstances that make our path difficult. Perhaps by trying to bring about sickness, or people who want to discourage you from your goal.

I am discovering the importance of moving in the Spirit. For years I have allowed the waves and winds of the world to influence me.  These come in the form of emotions and circumstances, seemingly beyond my control. I had a good example of how this works recently. There was an event planned, and close to the scheduled day, things began to go wrong. People were sick, people had car trouble, there was talk of rescheduling. Now, my old self would have just accepted that this meeting was just not to be, but something inside me told me that it was an important meeting, where mothers and children would get together and be encouraged, and uplifted, and learn and grow in relationships with each other, as well as relationship with God.

So I began to pray, and shared my feelings with a dear sister, and we joined in prayer and took dominion over the situation. As a result of our prayer, the meeting went on and no one was sick that day. We don't have to be helpless in this world and allow life to just happen to us. If God shows you something, continue, and pray, and see it to the end! Don't allow the difficult circumstances to overtake you. I don't want to be an infant it my faith (Eph 4:14). I want to see things happen, and prayer answered! I want to be strong, and an over-comer!


I have been reading in Ephesians 4 lately. It speaks of the body of Christ, and how we are given spiritual gifts to lift up each other, to come alongside each other and work together in Him! Are you striving alone in your boat? Get connected in a body, find a church where you can be taught, and grow, and be encouraged! Let others row alongside you. It's his plan! We aren't meant to strive on our own. I am so thankful for the church body where God has placed me. For their encouragement, for the hard word at times that makes me think, and grow into a better person, and for their prayers! Without their encouragement I know I would be the same person I was 10 years ago. But i am growing, and learning and overcoming things in my life!


So stop striving on your own! Let Holy Spirit, and the body of Christ come alongside you and help you in this world! Let Him show you clearly the things He has for you! Grow and learn and become a powerful force in Him, an over-comer! Get rid of your pride and share your struggle with the ones He has put in your path to encourage you and come alongside you, and see things happen! You will get rid of depression and loneliness and find hope and healing!

"For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)..." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For a long time, I have thought of these verses in the context of "negative" thoughts, part of the sin nature in my flesh that needed to be brought into subjection to Y'shua: bad attitudes, bad habits, etc., that were strongholds in my life that kept me from experiencing all Holy Spirit had for me.

Holy Spirit has shown me another angle, however, in "leading every thought captive into the obedience of Christ".

For starters, every thought means just that: every thought. I realized that thoughts pass through my mind for a purpose, but I don't always readily recognize what that purpose is. I must "capture" every thought and take it to Y'shua, asking Him what I am to do with it. In doing so, I am offering myself, my time, my mind to Him and giving Him the opportunity to use me/move in me. People, places, pictures, memories flash through my mind all day long. How many of those things is He bringing to my mind so that I may intercede, that I may stand in the gap, that I may prophesy and see strongholds torn down in the Spirit? How may times do I miss that opportunity because I'm simply not paying attention?

I want to walk in the Spirit more than I walk in the flesh. I want to be connected to Yahweh all the time, every minute, always listening, always ready for battle. The first step to that kind of Spirit life is, I believe, taking all of the negative thoughts/attitudes and everything that is "fleshly" and "leading it captive to the obedience of Christ". In this way, I tear down strongholds and pride in myself. 

It follows then, that the second step to that kind of Spirit life is leading all of the other thoughts that are not necessarily "negative" or "personal" to Him as well: "Holy Spirit, I just thought of (________) - show me how you would have me pray for this/them....." Then take time out of whatever it is you're doing to pray in the Spirit and listen for Holy Spirit's directive.

After all, if I truly belong to Him, my life is not my own...

On Daughters (and wives and mothers) and Confidence.

Recently I was talking to my six year-old daughter as she was lying in her bed. I looked down at her and was impressed to tell her that she is beautiful. In typical 6 year-old fashion, she replied, "I know." It welled up in me to express to her that I am glad she knows she is beautiful, and to tell her that there may come a day when someone may say something to her to make her feel like she is not beautiful, or that circumstances may come about that would try to make her feel like she is not pretty, but to always remember how YHWH feels about her, and remember what his Word says about her. The world wants to break us down, and life is hard, YHWH stays the same.

When I was around eleven or twelve years old I asked my mom if she thought I was pretty. Her reply to me was, "I think you're just a Plain Jane, like me." My feelings weren't hurt, and I didn't think she was being mean, I just thought she was being honest. I trusted her to tell me the truth because she was my mom. The problem is that her truth was warped by the way she felt about herself and how she had been spoken to as a child. Only now in my thirties have I begun to feel pretty and take on more of a style of my own and really care about how I look. I have been married for ten years to a fantastic husband who would tell me I was beautiful, but I just thought he just said it because he loved me so I was beautiful to him because of what he saw on the inside.

What really has made a change in me has been Holy Spirit working in me to feel more confident over the years. Then, with more confidence, I began running, lost some weight, started to work at how I dress more and take care of myself and began to receive compliments. I don't look any different now than I did 15 years ago (other than aged a bit, I imagine,) I have the same nose, same hair, same skin color and eyes. What I do have is confidence in the one who created me, and that shines through. Through obedience to Him, I feel better about myself. When we don't follow after the things He shows us to do, we can't feel good about ourselves because we have the guilt in our hearts that come with disobedience.

Disobedience comes in many forms. I was not in some big outward sin, and I imagine that to most people I appeared to be a godly person. For me, the main struggle is in attitudes of laziness, selfishness, unbelief and fear. When I make the choice to overcome these attitudes, and allow him to work through me, I can be a blessing to others and myself. I have a 9 year-old son with special needs who requires most things to be done for him. For years I was depressed because I felt sorry for myself. I had to learn to get over it, and be diligent in the things God has given me to do, and I am blessed in that. In reaching out to others, I minister to myself.

I want to see my daughter thrive in life, and be blessed and be a blessing to others. I can do that by being an example to her, praying for her, and building her up in the Word, teaching her how YHWH sees her, and teaching her obedience. I warn her of the things that may come against her, and equip her to stand up against them.

We have a running joke in our family (as many people in our society do these days) about being prepared for the "Zombie Apocalypse". It's everywhere you look! People are picking up on it and capitalizing on the opportunity to make a buck off of it for sure. Now, for years we've had "zombie" video games, music, and movies, but now we have cell phone apps, t-shirts, stickers and magnets for your car, cartoons, music - you name it, all much more "mainstream" than it used to be.

Couple all of that with the recent stories in the news of people under the influence of drugs (and other forces, IMO) attacking people and trying to "eat" them, and your "Zombie Apocalypse" ratings are through the roof!

Since it's been on the front of my mind then, I've been meditating about the idea of being "walking dead", "twice dead", etc. Galatians 2:20 has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager:

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: 

and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, 

who loved me, and gave himself up for me." Galatians 2:20 (ASV) 

So, in a way, I am the "walking dead", having crucified my flesh on the cross with Y'shua. In Him, I am "dead to sin but alive unto God" (Romans 6). I am to be dead to the world. I am to be dead to sin nature. I am to "put off" the old man and his deeds (Ephesians 4, Colossians 3). I am dead to sin but alive unto God. I really like that!

But there is a different sort of "walking dead" in the world today. They are the ones whose body is alive but whose spirit is "dead in trespasses and sin". They do not know the Messiah. They have not been made "alive unto God" through faith in Jesus Christ and His blood shed for them.

Which kind of "walking dead" are you?


I travel this realm as a walking dead man,
My heart filled with eternal longing....

So...I got a speeding ticket yesterday morning on the way to the prayer breakfast. Total bummer. I didn't realize what the speed limit was on the road I was on, and I was clocked at 13 MPH over the limit! The officer was super nice, and we actually had a nice little chat before we went on our way. I thanked him for doing his job, told him how much I appreciated him and his service to the community, and wished him a great day.

Interestingly enough, that's the second traffic citation I've received in the past month or so, and I've only ever had one other in my entire 19 year driving career (LOL!). Several weeks ago, I accidentally ran a red light at a busy intersection where a cop just happened to be sitting. He was very concerned for my safety, and said so over and over: "Ma'am, please be careful while you're driving - you really could've been hurt badly going through that intersection like that." I appreciated his concern. I hate that I had to pay so much money for his concern, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Again, I told him how much I appreciated him doing his job, thanked him for it, and wished him well.

Yes: I said I thanked them for doing their job, for stopping me and giving me a ticket. Why? Because I was wrong. I was not paying attention and I was wrong. 

No one likes to be pulled over and given a ticket. Sometimes we feel like it's not fair; sometimes we're just mad that we got caught. In both of these situations these men were working to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, because it's part of their job to do so. By driving along, oblivious to the things around me, I am a danger to my self and anyone I come across. When I push the speed limit as much as I can, zip through yellow lights because I don't want to stop and wait, or "slow down" at stop signs when I feel there is no real need to come to a complete stop, I run the risk of damaging myself and other people. Don't sit there all pious and judgmental - you know you do it too.

This experience has caused me to think about myself as a Leader, as well as one under the leadership of others. Bringing the whole scenario closer to home, as a Leader, I am one who has the oversight of others and the duty and responsibility to train, equip, and protect them. Now, don't get excited if you don't think I'm talking to you anymore: if you're a parent, you fit this bill! It is your job to train, equip, and sometimes protect those in your care, whether children or other servants in the King's house. You do this by imparting to them the knowledge you've gained from your experience, your studies, and the time you spent in training yourself. You use your better judgement to make a call, to correct, to shape, to prune - to do everything you can to make sure those in your care flourish and bear good fruit. When you correct them, you expect them to humbly receive the correction, listen to it, and grow by it.

On the other hand, as one under authority, it has caused me to question how I respond to correction. What do I do when those who are given oversight of me correct me? Do I humbly receive it and become changed by it? Or do I pay my fines and walk away undaunted, resolving only to be more careful about getting caught?

I certainly do pay more attention to the road now while I'm driving. I didn't realize just how many yellow lights I zipped through! Boy, I stop now - I don't care how late I am! And you can bet that I will pay more attention to the speed limit too - on all roads.

How about you? How do you respond to correction?

I've been meditating on relationships today, particularly the relationship between a husband and a wife.


For years I was frustrated in my marriage (and frustrating to my husband!) because I was trying to force something into being that was not meant to be. I have finally understood that the connection I need with my husband is different than what I always thought I wanted or needed from him. The problem has been that I did not receive my husband for who he is and needed to be to me. I was too busy trying to smash him into my idea of who he was and what I thought I needed. I wanted so badly for him to relate to me this "certain" way that I overlooked and rejected the ways he was trying to connect with me.


When you find yourself in that place of "dis-connect" with the person you're supposed to be spending the rest of your life with, it's easy to fall for the enemy's suggestions of loneliness, unhappiness, rejection, etc. And if you happen to come across someone of the opposite gender that you have an instant "connection" with on many levels, it can really unsettle you! It can also lead to all sorts of problems...




As I have come to know and understand my husband more completely, receive him, and allow him to be who he is and needs to be for me, I am finding that connection with him that I've so desperately longed for! It doesn't look like other connections with other people, but it is exactly what Yahweh purposed when He put Jason and me together. This relationship is shaping me into the woman Yahweh needs me to be, and I love that.


So, that's what I've been thinking about...

Let's re-boot this thing...

So...I created this blog a couple of years ago because I really have things on my mind that I'd like to share with others; for discussion, for encouragement, for learning and growing. I have been extremely sporadic with posting (!), however, I am now looking to be more consistent.

There are so many things that fly through my head on a daily basis: things that Holy Spirit has shown me, things about nutrition/exercise, things about parenting, things about homeschooling. It is my desire to share all of those things here with anyone who'd like to hear it!

I hope you will join me ;-)

Talk soon,

Lyd