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28 Days of Grace – Day 4 – it hits!

Ok, today I have a funky headache like thing going on…not quite painful like a migraine, but with all the pressure of a migraine.
Light and noise don’t bother me, but I am having trouble focusing my eyes.

The only thing I have right now is “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me”
And, if hanging on Jesus is the only thing I have…then I have everything I need.

Cleansing my life from toxins is painful….
For years I didn’t take getting rid of grains, sugar and dairy seriously!
Cleansing my life from besetting sins would be painful if I would work on it…seriously,
Cleansing my life from besetting sins IS painful…the reason those sins are besetting is that we are drawn to them…

So, today, I am suffering the pain of toxins washing out of my system.
Do I like it? No.
Can I see the benefit? Yes.
Will I stay the course? By God’s grace, yes I will – both physically and spiritually.
I just need to remember that this is part of the storm…and I’m supposed to be keeping my eyes on Jesus!

Not sure what else I’ll post today, but at least, I have posted for the day!

Evening Addition:]
What else?
well, we ran to WalMart, and they had a sweet lady handing out samples….and I caved!
what were the samples?
chocolate?
Cake?
no – fresh fruit! I forgot that I was not to be eating fruit yet on these 28 days….
I suppose that tiny cup with a blue berry, a black berry and two slices of strawberry won’t totally derail my program.
But, I thought it…I really did think it!
Therefore…I had to lean on God’s GRACE to let it go!
If this wasn’t these 28 days, that would have been one of the best samples to pick up in a grocery store!

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7

28 Days of Grace day 3

Take a little wine for your stomach

1 Tim 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

Yesterday, I was reading about the GAPS diet.
One of the differences between the GAPS diet and the YEAST FREE diet is the fermented items in the Introduction Diet…

“Increase daily amount of homemade yogurt and kefir, if introduced. Increase the amount of juice from sauerkraut, fermented vegetables or vegetable medley.”

Dr McManus warned me that the GAPS diet was MUCH more strict than the Yeast Free diet I am on, but the principles are the same:
Heal the Gut so that the Body can be nourished.

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy may very well have been to avoid the water….as in Montezuma’s Revenge…and drink fermented grape juice(what wine was back then). The goal was to help Timothy be healed so that he could be used for God’s glory.

verse 22 says:

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

verses 24-25 say:

Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some [men] they follow after.
Likewise also the good works [of some] are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

It’s as if, in the middle of exhorting Timothy in his ministry, Paul remembered and just said, “Oh, by the way – stop drinking that water, dude! Drink some wine and heal that stomach so that you can get over all these infirmities! We gotta get you better, man!”

I was asking God yesterday, after the whole discussion about Peter getting out of the boat, should I ask you to ask me to get out of the boat?

now, understand, I had an hour drive…and I use this time to listen to the Lord…so, He had time to deal with me!

I could hear a faint ‘yes…..here I am’
I didn’t want to ask…
I didn’t want to hear “come”.
I knew what getting out of the boat meant…
It meant moving ahead with the art and writing!
It meant challenges to face,
It meant scary opportunities,
…people saying no…
believing for funds and helpers and provisions and ideas and HEALTH!!!

I finally got quiet…
“If it’s you Lord….”
‘YOU ARE ALREADY OUT OF THE BOAT – STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

WHAT???? When did I get out of the boat?
“when you signed the lease to the studio! STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

WHAT???
“When you said you trusted me with your whole heart, now STOP LOOKING AT THE STORMS!”

Stop Looking at the storms – WHY?
THEY ARE MAKING ME SICK!!!
…WITH WORRY
…WITH FEAR
…they are paralyzing me!
…they are preventing me from moving forward to do the work that God has prepared beforehand that I should walk in them! (Eph 2:10)

What about the wine?????

Psalm 4:7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased.

Then, HE reminded me of this verse:

Isiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The point is, I have a job to do, I have good works that I am supposed to be doing so that God would be glorified. I have words that God has placed in my heart that need to be shared…
I’m NOT Christ, but I am CHRISTI, AND:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1-3

I’m already out of the boat – it’s my old nature that is looking around at that storm…
DRINK NO LONGER WATER – don’t pay attention to the things of this world…they are NOT PURE!
TAKE A LITTLE WINE FOR YOUR STOMACH – get your body healthy, with what I say!
AND FOR YOUR OFT INFIRMITIES – One preacher defined infirmities as those things that constantly come up and we constantly struggle with.
Mine is fear.
Lack of self confidence, even in my ability to hear the voice of the Lord.

Matt 26:27-28 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The woman at the well asked Jesus for the Living Water, from which one would never thirst.(John 4:10ff)

Here is His reply:

John 14:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

My Father has provided, by His grace, a physical program to heal my stomach and gut. I need to follow it.
My Father, through Jesus Christ, has provided cleansing for my sins, and living water, pure and alive, for my ability to do HIS WILL to HIS GLORY.
I need to drink of HIS wine daily. I need to drink ALL OF IT!

I need to remember that sin is all around me, and always needing to be dealt with,
but in the middle of the storms of life,
God has provided me with PURE WATER – Water that HE turned to WINE by HIS BLOOD at the cross.

In a way, I need to give up my whine for HIS WINE…and drink freely from the fountain of living water!
And HE has provided the strength by HIS grace!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

28 days of Grace, day 2

Hungry and weak.
Yesterday, I ate what I was supposed to, and now its time to eat.
It’s been over 12 hours.
I could ignore this, and get weaker, our fill myself with junk to just get by, but then I would get weak in other ways.

I remember a church sign:
Seven days without prayer makes one weak.

Why its it that the good, better and even the best things for us take so much more work than those that would destroy us?

I have wanted to do my best for the Lord.
I would be satisfied, though not totally content, to just do better for the Lord.
Unfortunately, I don’t always do GOOD for the Lord.

Today, a friend of mine’s message about a message she was listening to at a conference really hit home:

“How to do the Impossible” based on Matthew 14 – Jesus walking on the water…actually Peter walking on the water.

1. Ask for something impossible – ask specifically. Peter was the only water walker because he asked.

2. Get your eyes off the storm. Your circumstances will always sink you. Do not lean on your own understanding.

3. Get rid of plan B. You must get rid of your comfort zone and completely trust God.

4. Get out of the boat. Take the step of faith.

David Gibbs gave this message and he told the story of a black pastor friend of his who asked God for the impossible: that he would win at least 1 person to Christ every day for the rest of his life. He is a terrible at witnessing. He shakes and gets his words all messed up, but God has honored this request because he asked and it was for God’s glory. David told the story of how he watched him do this one night when they were traveling together. 3 AM stop to get gas and food at a mini mart…the pastor was on his “soul watch” for that day he said. They went into the minimart and he asked the girl behind the counter. “Do you want to die tonight?….She looked pretty scared (black man and a big man had a pile of goodies on the counter)..I mean if you were to die tonight do you know if you would go to heaven?…She reached under the counter….and pulled out a Bible. Yes she was saved…not the one…but suddenly another woman appeared in the line behind them and said I don’t know…she had her story…and then two men walked in and one said I don’t know either…They knelt and prayed right there in the mini-mart. ….The black pastor would say: .”I’m not good at this. I get it all messed up, but God saves these people through me because I asked.”

Why are we wasting our time trying to do great things for God when God wants us to do the impossible. It will never be a good time to do the impossible because it is impossible. What do you want to do for God’s glory that is impossible?

Food for thought.

Cathie(Boulden)

I have always loved the story about Peter walking on the water.
Psalm 23 is my favorite go to section of the Bible, but Peter walking on the water has so many more truths that has also touched my heart and life over the last 43 years.
There is a song, “If you wanna walk on water, you gotta get out of the boat”
I can’t find it anywhere….but, here is a great song that fits in this instance:

So, fear is a giant….are insecurities little giants?
Why don’t I expect to do the impossible?
Forget impossible…I’m struggling to believe to do the great, or the better!

I am doing this yeast free program for the Lord.
My body is in it’s current shape because for so many years, I used food as my comfort and hiding place, instead of the Lord.

Over a year ago, I posted a blog “Burn That Fat”
It was part of my 100 days attempt at the beginning of 2011. It is day 23!
I am in 2012, almost beginning month 6!!!
I know that my fat is something that has to be taken care of, in order for me to be physically able to do better and best for the Lord.

And I feel like losing this fat is IMPOSSIBLE!

I started THIS BLOG with saying:

Hungry and weak.
Yesterday, I ate what I was supposed to, and now its time to eat.

I remember a church sign:
Seven days without prayer makes one weak.

Here is today’s breakfast:

2 eggs and Sweet Potato

In addition, I need to eat daily of the word of God in order to be strong enough to tackle the giants that will arise through this program.
And the Bible feast today was Matthew 14:28-29
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

I need to eat food, the RIGHT food at specific times of the day so that I do not get weak.
That fits, whether the food is physical OR spiritual!
And I need to ask Jesus to come, and help me walk this path!

Now I go to plan the rest of the day, and the rest of my meals…and I have to eat out for lunch…so, I am going to report back later about how that worked out!

End of Day Report:

salad day2

Salad, remove croutons, lemons and oil for dressing


picnic supper

YF meat wrapped around green with V8

I ate a lunch at home before leaving for my lunch meet up, and just purchased salad, with olive oil, and used lemons from the ice tea counter with the oo for my dressing.

My lunch at home was actually eating the right things while I packed up a supper picnic for Jim and I! I had roast beef, snap peas, and my snack/fat was olives!

I needed to wait for Jim to get there, so I went to McD’s and got the $1 unsweet iced tea, and used the free wifi!

Picnic Supper – well, yf lunch meat per the yf diet manual wrapped around lettuce and snap peas, some cherry tomatoes, and a V8 low sodium.

Oh, I forgot to add that I made ‘bone broth’ from the chicken I cooked yesterday! Tomorrow, I’ll have that broth for lunch!
I did have a refill of that unsweet iced tea…but even so, I sure feel good about today!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! Just sign up for an account, and you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

28 days of Grace – day 1

This morning, I went to get blood drawn…and before I even got to eat, I was confronted with temptation.
TRIAL/TEMPTATION #1
Fear.
I have written before about the giants that tend to attack me, and one that I wrote about is the giant of fear.

In that blog, I said this:

Another of my favorite verses about fear is this:

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When someone is standing up to the giant of fear, 2Tim 1.7 is the perfect stone to throw. What fears are not covered by power, love, and a sound mind?

This morning, I wrote my dear husband Jim and said
“I’m scared of failing or quitting”
Jim replied:
“You have not quit, therefore you won’t fail”

smart man.
love, power and a sound mind. I talk about it in that blog…but,
Jim’s text back to me gave me love.
The music that Jim had uploaded to my phone gave me power….Here I am to Worship
And with that love and power, I gathered myself up, and trusted in a sound mind!

I was able to pack my little cooler(I bought a cute one) with a breakfast, and head out to my blood letting session.

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #2 –
ENVIRONMENT – or location, location, location!
The corner of 6 Pines Drive and Research Forest is a very favorite place for me. In fact, I have used this medical building’s parking lot frequently!
Let me show you!

The Temptation!

See the hint?

There's one of my tables...Culver's!

No, not the butter burgers…the Turtle Sundae!!! Chocolate, Caramel and Pecans on top of frozen custard. NOT on a yeast free diet!

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God [is] faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear [it].

God is faithful.

Amy Charmical, in Edges of His Ways, May 26th writes this:

The pressure of temptation is measured by One who knows what the substance to be tested can stand. The maker of glass would not subject his glass to a weight of 20 tons per square inch. Here lies our comfort. We commit our souls “as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pet 4:19)”
And there is more in this. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that even though the pressure would be nothing to another who is stronger, it is too much for us. But it never is: “He knoweth our frame; He remembereth we are dust. (Ps 103:14)”
The temptation to yield and do what the flesh would naturally do is meant to offer us an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith. This ‘is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev 13:10)”

As I read this the other night, it hit me…it’s not the trial or temptation that is too much…is whether I will choose to endure, whether I will choose to exercise my faith.
My Heavenly Father chooses tests for me that HE KNOWS are not to much for me. Because HE LOVES ME!
He is giving me the opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. Because HE LOVES ME!
I am in the position to CHOOSE whether I will exercise those faith muscles.
BTW, where did that faith come from? My Heavenly Father!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My Heavenly Father has given me the measure of faith, and with it, if I exercise it, I can move mountains, I can do the deeds of Christ, and even greater deeds (Matt 21:21, John 14:12)! Of know credit to myself…it’s ALL God’s power….given to me by GRACE!

So, first, God so LOVEd me that HE led me to this reading BEFORE I entered temptation!
Then, God gave me the grace to have the POWER to withstand temptation!
And, He promised to make a way of escape( 1 cor 10:13)…He gave me the STRONG MIND to prepare my breakfast and take it with me!

Let me show you the victory!

No milkshake for me!

 

Roast Turkey for my protein!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #3
LACK OF PREPARATION
I forgot a drink, but I had a bottle of water in the car….not quite enough!
So, here’s my third TEMPTATION and VICTORY!

I forgot a drink!

so many temptations here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the price is right...$1!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICTORY!!!

LARGE UNSWEET ICED TEA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s only noon, and I’ve had two trials, but I’ve also had two victories.
I’ve spent an hour writing this photo blog…and that has challenged me.
I give up on getting the photos straight, and the words right…I just want to post this blog…share my thoughts…and go paint.
In the mean time, I am going to be leaning heavily on God’s GRACE to help me through the next 28 days.

5pm add on – today has been great.
The concern about workout recovery was answered with coconut milk!!! Better than anything else I’ve ever done to try to handle the crash when I perspire a lot!
I am behind on my water, but have had unsweetened ice tea twice.
After supper, I’ll do my evening protocols, and day one will be over!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! Just sign up for an account, and you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

My response in Light of a 13 yo’s suicide in MN

A post I wrote on May 10, 2012, in response to hearing of a young girl’s suicide – and complaints that no one did enough:

I survived a suicide attempt…I was considered dead at the scene(beyond non-responsive)…and God revived me…in the ER on 11/17/2009
I know what goes on inside the mind of one that does this….
I did everything I could to prevent it from happening to my mom
I did everything I could to keep Anna from succeeding (can we spell familiar spirit????)
And, yes, those around me missed some things, but I kept them hidden.
Those around me were tired…and made a few missteps…but, in their minds, they did everything they were able to do –
My voices were voices from the past…doubled by some ‘bullying’ in the present…but mostly, my voices in my head were voices I’d believed, and had internalized…and any external voice just made the internal voice scream louder, and validated that internal voice.

No, those dealing with this precious child probably didn’t do ‘everything’ they could…because they probably could not conceive of what goes on inside a head that REALLY believes that suicide is the only way. But, they may have done ALL that they knew to do.

I have had to forgive those that were not able to hold my hand and pull me up from the sinking sand that sucked me into suicide that day.

I have had to forgive myself for thinking that my mom had gotten over her voices. I have had to thank God that Anna never succeeded, and yet, I’ve had to forgive myself for whatever brought things to that point(I know some of them now, and each time I learn of something new, I go through horrible grief, and have to take it to the Lord again).

Bullying will never stop…though it needs to be dealt with. The battle is to strengthen the minds and hearts of these wounded ones, so that they have an armor against the attacks of the enemy!

I think I’m supposed to be speaking to people about this…and the death of this child has stirred up an urgency in my heart.
I will be preparing my talks ASAP – and I pray that I will have an audience – and if I can save ONE from suicide…then, I know that my life has had purpose in Jesus.

Praying…praying, praying…..
~Christi

5/16/2012 – once the mind is made up to commit suicide, it is too late, unless the person is placed into a mental hospital that will protect them while helping them get past that mental state. There is nowhere safe enough to prevent a suicide, other than those places created to do just that.

I don’t know all the details about this young person, except that she was apparently at home, doing normal family things and walked out of the room with the family, and went to her bedroom and hung herself. At what point could the family have intervened? I don’t know…Once the hopelessness takes over, then the plan to protect others from having to listen to you anymore sets in, and then, the hiding, and the secrecy takes over….and unless someone can read minds, it is probably too late.

The time to intervene is MUCH earlier…IF there is any indication.
Sometimes, as in another suicide of a young man, there is NO indication, at least, not enough to add up to ‘suicidal thoughts’.

Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

This is NOT an answer for WHY
This is NOT an excuse for those that ignore
This IS a reply to the guilt of those that didn’t SEE because the victim chose to keep it hidden.
For those that read this, please pray for me to know what I am to do with my experiences…to follow God’s calling in my life.
The answer to protect children from suicide is to instill in them their worth, so that they have the armor to stand up to bullying, and have a positive mental sound track to take down the negative voices.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription, and maybe a newsletter.
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps #51 – Listen AND WRITE IT DOWN

This morning, in my prayer time, I KNEW I had something I was supposed to write.
I KNEW I had a word from God to share.
I also knew that I have a few things to do in order to get up, and come to my computer, and sit down and type it up.
My problem with that is my mental illness – my mental disability – my ‘handicap’ if you will.
In order to write a blog from the LORD – I NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN WHEN I GET IT!

Sometimes, I have written down the scriptures – but not today.
Even when I write down the scriptures, I may not remember, once things have cycled through my rolodex of daily duties, what it was that God was giving me.
If I don’t write it down – I may as well have not obeyed at all – and forget even sitting down at my computer.

That is why there is such a huge time and date difference between some of these steps…
Some, I started writing, and life happened, and I couldn’t remember what I was writing. Those are in drafts…waiting for my mind to remember.
Some, are in notes on a notepad – when I was obedient and wrote something down – but I cannot remember what my notes meant.
Sometimes, I get so busy editing the blog so it looks pretty, and easy for someone to read, and I forget what God’s voice is saying.

Do I stop hearing God’s voice after my morning prayer time? NO!
This has been a lesson I have had to learn.
But, in the quiet of the morning, I hear so much clearer…when I am lying on my bed, only focusing on Him, and my prayers.
It is then, that the writer in me is able to write what she hears – not being distracted – not having the weeds of the world and life float in and distract.

I need to be quiet, body, mind and spirit, to write.
Writing is an act of worship for me – it’s between me and God…and the fruit is what gets shared with others through this blog.
When I am in the ‘God zone’ – there is something that happens to my hands, and I rarely have typos…and I can type VERY fast.

This blog is an attempt to just be obedient to the call to write.
I can ‘feel’ the message in my mind…but I cannot get ‘eyes’ onto it in order to bring it out and share it…my heart will hold it, I know it’s not lost to me, spiritually, but because of my challenges, I cannot type it out. I cannot get it out of my head, and onto the computer screen – or even paper via pen.

Why would God call someone with such a difficulty to write?
I don’t know…and yet, I do.
Anything that I write comes from the Lord…that is, anything that is glorifying to Him! I do write garbage sometimes, later in the day…but early in the morning, when I write things that are blessings to people, those come from the Lord.

I feel like the full field in which the sower sows seeds.
In the morning – the seed falls on good ground…ground prepared by prayer, and worship.
In the afternoon – the weeds of the world start choking it out…I can’t hear as clearly..oh, I hear the basic stuff…but not the things that folks think are really insightful and gifts from God.
By evening…well, the ground is harder…and this is the time that is hardest for me to hear the Lord’s voice…and, it’s not always because my heart is hard, it’s because my inner voices have been telling me all about the things I failed to do that day, possibly starting with, not writing the blog the Lord laid upon my heart.

Moses argued with God that he was not a good speaker…
Gideon argued that he was not courageous…
Peter argued that he was not worthy….
I know what God has called me to do…I have spent time arguing…HE WINS the arguments with “Who made your mouth, ear, mind, hand, legs, back, neck?”
He wins with “who called you?”
He wins with “Do you love me? feed my lambs”
He wins with “If you love me, obey my commands”
HE WINS WITH “I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE!”

And how could I say no to that?
Well, I have. over and over.
But, HE continues to reply to me, over and over, with the paraphrases above, and others.

You see, My God is a personal God – and I call Him, Abba, Father!
My Jesus is my personal savior, and HE calls me friend.

Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

It breaks my heart that I cannot remember what God shared with me this morning…and that I cannot share it with you.
Some will say “Then it obviously wasn’t supposed to be shared” and they will miss the point.
When God calls a person to do His will, and they refuse, or delay, or object, or whatever….His will is going to be done, but not through that person.
The thing is, what if there was someone that would have read this blog – and had their heart turn, and because I did not speak to them, their blood is on my head?

Ez 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Ez 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

These chapters in Ezekiel do not give much leeway for the watch(wo)man that does not choose to stand in the gap, nor shout out the warning to draw in the children of God.

On the other hand, maybe this is the blog I was supposed to write…
What has God called YOU to do?
Be about YOUR Father’s business…the time is short…we know not the hour or the day, and it doesn’t have to be the rapture. Every moment of every day, we are called to speak the truth and shine a light….

I pray that my confession has touched your heart…to turn to the Lord – not take your hand off the plow, and to press on towards the mark of the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

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Soon, we’ll have email subscription, and maybe a newsletter.
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

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I’m still a terrorist – to America as it is today, 3/12/2012 – reposted 11/11/2016

note – 11/11/2016 – In this election, I’ve been branded an uneducated, ignorant, deplorable, KKK lover, xenophobic, misogynist, bigot because of my vote.  In 2008 and 2012, I was branded as well.  This is to state, on Veterans Day, some of my beliefs as an American.

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I took an oath –

“I, My name, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

I have never rescinded that oath.  Here is what my country has thought of me.

note – 3/12/2012 I wrote essay this April 2009. Today, there are youtube videos being shared that the CIA is watching us on Facebook. Even a news mimicking satire is scaring people!

There are anti Christian, anti Biblical things going on all around us, and Bible believers are the bad guys…and I don’t mean the whack jobs that kill abortion doctors or protest at veterans funerals!
Here’s my original post – and I did send it to Washington, DC. when Obama asked for us to turn in our neighbors.

This is in the Washington Times news – April 16th, 2009. You tell me if I’m over reacting.

Napolotano Stands by Controversial Report
PDF of the publication is available.

Original, written in 2009.

My country now considers me a terrorist.

I am commenting on the Department of Homeland Security report on “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” Dated 7 April 2009 note:”(U) Prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division. Coordinated with the FBI.”

The report starts with this clear statement:
“The DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no specific information that domestic rightwing* terrorists are currently planning acts of violence,
but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues.” pg 2/9

The report also clearly defines Right-wing extremism:
“*Right-wing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.” pg 2/9

I don’t hate, but believe that other religions are not inline with what I believe to be truth.

  • I am antigovernment, in the manner of rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority.
  • I am against abortion as a flippant convenience, or birth control option.
  • I am against illegal immigrants getting monies without paying taxes, and benefits that should be given to the families that are legal, and do pay taxes.
  • I agree “with the “belief in the prophecies of a …one world government” pg 3/9 based on Revelation and end-time prophecies in the Bible.
  • Our family has purchased a gun since the election of Barak Obama pg 3/9
  • I “perceive” and “discuss on the internet the economy, the perceived loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures.” pg 3/9
    Doesn’t everyone?

While I would not say I am antagonistic toward the new presidential administration, I am antagonistic toward its PUBLISHED “stance on a range of issues, including immigration and citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms, ownership and use.” pgs 3&4/9

“Antigovernment conspiracy theories and “end times” prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.” pg 4/9

I believe that it is prudent to have resources to provide for your family in the event of a crisis,
and I believe that an economic collapse, or an end-time apocalypse, or even an unbelievable hurricane would be a crisis.

I held these views in 1990, 1980, & 1970…
“Prominent among these themes were the militia movement”s opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements (particularly those with Mexico), and highlighting perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists” longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage.” 4/9

…and hold the same ones today….and will until the day I die. I have never been part of any more of a militia than the United States Navy.

“The dissolution of Communist countries in Eastern Europe and the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s led some rightwing extremists to believe that a “New World Order” would bring about a world government that would usurp the sovereignty of the United States and its Constitution, thus infringing upon their liberty.” pg 6/9

I do believe that the United States is giving over its sovereignty to various organizations such as the UN, NAFTA, NATO and others rather than protecting the rights and liberty of Americans.

“Rightwing extremist views bemoan the decline of U.S. stature and have recently focused on themes such as the loss of U.S. manufacturing capability to China and India, Russia”s control of energy resources and use of these to pressure other countries, and China”s investment in U.S. real estate and corporations as a part of subversion strategy.” pg 7/9
While maybe not a subversion strategy, I believe we are weakening the US with these practices. I believe that is why we are in the crisis we are in today. We haven”t taken care of our own house first – then gone outside.

I am appalled that our government would consider the men and women that return from fighting battles, giving various degrees of sacrifices as potential terrorist threats. This is explained under the heading Disgruntled Military Veterans, pg 7/9. H

  • Have YOU tried to get medical service at the VA????
  • Have YOU experienced the VA and the Military mysteriously losing YOUR medical records?
  • Are YOU suffering from something that should have been taken care of before you were discharged, but you were just a kid and didn”t know any better?
  • Have YOU been homeless because of PTSD from a war that the military is refusing to acknowledge????

Just ask me about Disgruntled Military Vets. I’m one of them. And I’m not alone.

Then, page 8/9 blames the internet as providing the “information related to bomb-making, weapons training, and tactics, as well as targeting of individuals, organizations, and facilities, potentially making extremist individuals and groups more dangerous and the consequences of their violence more severe.”
The internet has made it easier for child porn, child abductions and stalkings, but I don”t see it blamed for that!

I’ve read all 9 pages of this Department of Homeland Security report on “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” 7 April 2009 (U) Prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division, Coordinated with the FBI.

NO WHERE Does it Talk about the REAL TERRORIST THREATS, those that have repeatedly been committed against our people.

  • I don’t care if our president is black, white, green or purple.
  • I don.t care if our president is male or female.
  • I do not want race to be a card played – though it has been played so often since the preliminaries I am ashamed that we have not come farther, on either side.
  • The only thing I care about is our Constitutional Rights – and how we are losing them day by day – and now, I could be watched as a potential terrorist threat!

Ok, let me use my 1st amendment right while I still have it.

  • I believe the Bible from the very first verse….
  • And all the way to the very last verse.
  • I believe that we are all one blood, we all have pains inflicted upon us, and some have familial pains and generational pains – no matter what color our skin is, or how rich or poor we are, or whether we are legal or illegal in this country. We all need healing, forgiveness, and to let go of bitterness and open up a dialogue for trust.
  • I believe that when God is finished with His plan with this earth – there will be an Armageddon and many will die.
  • I believe that it will center on the middle eastern lands, with a horrific nature we have never seen.
  • I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that HE is the only way to heaven.
  • I believe that life begins at conception, and responsibility begins before consummation.
  • I believe that everyone will face a day of judgment, and on that day, they will face the Creator God as supreme judge, and defend themselves or have Christ defend them.
  • There is only ONE judge – God the Father.
  • There is only one choice for a defender, and there is only one fee to be paid – your life.
  • There are only two rulings on that day – Heaven, or Hell.

2nd Amendment –

  • I have a gun in my home, and ammo. I know how to use it.
  • And if the colonists did not bear their own arms, they would not have been able to pull together a militia to fight an oppressive government. That was called the Revolutionary War…..when we became the Americas!

4th Amendment should give me the freedom to do whatever I want in my home….secure in my person, house, papers and effects. So – most of my papers are online now….and they should not be searched or seized without probably cause and a warrant.

10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The US Government has many fingers in the state government”s oversight. This is unconstitutional. Oh, that may include federal taxes as well, but that is taken care of by giving up our rights and ratifying the 16th amendment.

13th Amendment – everyone likes this one – the abolishment of slavery. But if the government can tell you what you can think, what you can say, and what you can do…..and enforce discipline upon you, or martial law….doesn’t that sound like slavery?

And for some great quotes for our times, and not from the Bible for those that would be offended, I have chosen these from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  1. An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  2. He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  3. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  4. Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  5. One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  6. Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  7. The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
  8. We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

And my favorites for such a time as this:
9. The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be… The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
10. When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I AM AN EXTREMIST!

If you want the version with Bible References added – give me a day or two, and I’ll have the verses in place….there are so many to choose from! Of course, I don’t want to be recruiting anyone to my terrorist cell of those who might happen to think like me.

Team Wildman

Team Wildman

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, or other social media!
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Covered

An email forward I received…with a powerful point.

Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?

GOD: Sure.

Me: Promise you won’t get mad?

GOD: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

GOD: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

GOD: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

GOD: Okay….

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

GOD: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call

GOD: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn’t work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

GOD: Well let me see….. the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh…

GOD: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road

Me (ashamed): …………

GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work

Me (embarrassed): Oh…..

GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered

Me (softly): I see God

GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I’m sorry God.

GOD: Don’t be sorry, just learn to trust me………in all things, the good and the bad

Me: I WILL trust you God

GOD: And don’t doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

GOD: You’re welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

Scriptural References: II Samuel 22:31, Proverbs 3:5, Hebrews 2:13

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.. .” (Proverbs 11:25)

In all things give thanks. 1 Thes 5:18

I’m trying to learn, no, I’m trying to remember that I’m covered.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Daniel Fast – Day 3 – Storms

~I am not sharing these to get glory, I’m sharing these to encourage those that are participating in the Daniel Fast.
Bring the Rain

Yesterday’s blog was my heart crying out.
I gave up several things that I was ‘fasting’ – and I gave up on the fast.
I had my husband bring me “Wendy’s” with a large fry. Wendy’s fries are my ultimate comfort food.
I also gave up my fast from TV shows, and just sat and watched TV while I was in pain…

…but something happened…

NONE OF IT HAD ANY SATISFACTION TO ME!!!

The hamburger was just blah in my mouth.
The fries were just salty warmth in my mouth.
The shows that I had previously enjoyed were just noise in my head.

My flesh was weak, but God strengthened my spirit!

Two verses that are very important to me are:

Is 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

But today, this is my passage from the Lord:

Isaiah 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.
:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

THESE VERSES PRECEDE MY LIFE VERSE!

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

I am praying to be set free from the things that hold be back, that poison my attempts to be Christlike.
The first day of this fast, my flesh gave up – but God, by the Holy Spirit, took the pleasure out of those things.
I have heard of Him doing that for drug addicts, smokers and such – but I never thought he would do it for me.

I am humbled.
I am convicted by:

Is 40:29 -He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I know that verse is referring to ‘things’ needed – but I needed strength to go on.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I have always seen this as ADDING strength to me….and yesterday, I was without strength.

Is 40:29 and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength.

I prayed – oh yes, I prayed…and there was a time in my life where I would have quit, in a very ugly manner.
But this time, there was NO thought of quitting…just praying, and confessing that I had no strength.

Ps 30:5 For his anger [endureth but] a moment; in his favour [is] life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy [cometh] in the morning.
Ps 30: 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
:12 To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Why is there darkness in the world?
So we can desire the LIGHT!
Why is there sadness in the world?
So we can appreciate JOY!
Why are there wars in the world?
So we can desire the Prince of PEACE!

My signature verse is….

Ps 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

the next verse is:

Ps 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
A nod back to the verses in Isaiah.

It reminds me thaqt God will never leave me nor forsake me….

Heb 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

And that ties it all back to BOLDNESS.
I have been snared by things that are preventing me from being the Christian God wants me to be.
I have been snared by cowardice and fear.

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God is FOR me – Whom shall I fear? What shall I fear? Why shall I fear?

Ps 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

I have a life that causes some people to ask why – and I love this song as an answer, an answer that I need to remember:

~Thanks to me dear friend, June Stephens, for helping me find this song again!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps #41 – John 3:16, football and boldness

Tim Tebow - www.timtebow.com

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Tim Tebow – the wonderful young man that is quarterback for the Denver Broncos – threw passes for 316 yards against the Steelers.
They said he couldn’t do it…but God is the one that writes the story of our life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This young man is an example to all who call themselves by the name of Christ:
Tim has embraced the reality of John 3:16, along with the following passages from John 3:

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

I have posted my testimony as “Who Is ChristArtist?”

But here’s a question for all that want to ride on Tim Tebow’s coat tails…Do you think you’re going to heaven?

If you are a Christian, why aren’t WE being persecuted in the same manner as Tim Tebow?

Tebow has done what we as Christians are commanded to do – encourage one another while it is still day….Heb 3:13;
and

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Can we say:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

And do we believe:

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels.

or

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

I wrote about boldness in Step #37 New Beginnings, Again!

I have been challenged to be BOLD this year…BOLD for the LORD…and Tim Tebow has been a beautiful example of that this year.
You can see a ripple of boldness in the other football players, and the teams…being unafraid to share their faith.
I challenge anyone to live like Tim Tebow – imitating him as he imitates Christ.
We could all follow much worse.

Thank you, God, for bringing Tim Tebow into our lives for such a time as this! Bless him and his family, as they have blessed us, in Jesus’ name.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.
Soon, we’ll have email subscription.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!