Run With Sparkle

Psalm 1  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.    But they delight in the law of the   Lord,  meditating on it day and night.    They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.  But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.    They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.    For the   Lord  watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.  Jesus, we want to be a family that lives out Psalm 1.  As  our family gives up the influence of media in our lives this Lenten season, would You lead us, guide us, draw us to be more like you? Would you give us a Holy “plan” on how to live set apart & not allow the TV & video games to...

As the Lenten season approached, I knew I had to face off with what we were going to give up this year as a family. Let me preface this post with this: I have thoroughly been enjoying movies each night as I nursed Levi. It was something I looked forward to & I was getting to the place where I couldn’t imagine life in the nursing a newborn season without those movies.  One night, as I sat on the bed nursing the baby, I told the Lord that I really didn’t want to give up T.V., video games, or movies this year. I enjoyed playing Candy crush & watching movies to take my mind off of how tired I was. I asked God to give me the desire to give it all up. I needed a miracle! Sometime in the next 24 hours I was watching my kids on their devices & watching T.V. and I realized that it was time to regain our focus. To give it up again for the sake of putting it in its rightful place. The Lord actually gave me a longing to give it up, maybe even an excitement for what He would be able...

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure and breath of mind like the sand on the seashore so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt… He spoke 3000 Proverbs and his songs were 1005. He spoke of trees from the Cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop the grows out of the wall He spoke also of beasts end of birds and reptiles and the fish and people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon and from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34 Holy Spirit, I thank you that you will do the same for my husband, my children, & me. As we seek You, there is wisdom, You will lead and guide, give understanding of the things in our world, like Math, science, history, etc. I can trust you to teach my children & my husband. I can rest in You, in your promises. You will give wisdom for the future, for our church, for our family, finances, school, and Everything. Thank you! I...

Right now, my praying isn’t led by tears and great pleading, like it has been in other seasons of life. And, that is okay. The Holy Spirit has to remind me of this. God still hears & is still answering. The Holy Spirit is interceding for me & I will keep claiming the promises for my kids & other people’s children.  Psalm 2:8 says,  “Only ask & I will give you the nations as your inheritance,  the whole earth as your possession!”  Lord, would give to me the children- my children, other people’s children & all of those whom You have placed a burden for on my heart...would you give them to me as my inheritance? When I get to Heaven I want to see them & see the fruit of their labor for You! That is enough, Lord, more than enough! Keep my eyes focused on this inheritance, not wavering from it!  Psalm 3- 1 O LORD, they have so many enemies; so many are against them. 2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue them!”  3 But you, O LORD, ar...

In the early years of motherhood I was caught in a pool of fear, unsure how to get out. The enemy had completely ensnared me using fear, lies, perfectionism. But, The Holy Spirit, through words of wisdom from a mentor, taught me to pray scripture. Why scripture? Because it is life-giving, sharper than a double edged sword, & God is the one who will see it come to fruition. He is the one responsible to make it happen. Yay! “The rain and snow come down from the heavens      and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow,      producing seed for the farmer      and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word,  I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,  and it will prosper everywhere I send it.“ Isaiah 55:11 I began to cling to verse, “I will teach your children and great will be their peace.”  (Is. 54:13) and other verses that remind me that God loves my ki...

These two pictures represent some major answers to prayer in my life right now. The first one is the beautiful red car in the picture above. Ever since I said “Yes!” to God and decided to have another baby, the faith walk has begun.  Again, we are at a place in our lives where we need another vehicle, but can’t really afford it on paper.  I know God will provide the right vehicle in the right way, His way, different than He’s done it before.  Bill & Marge showed up with this vehicle on September 25th this year and gave it to us. They said we could sell it and use the money to go towards a new van. God is beginning to answer our prayers! I have faith and will not waiver. “I will put my hope in God!” Psalm 42 The second picture is an answer to prayer that came on Wednesday this week. Last Saturday I was outside sweeping the front porch and I realized that Nate hadn’t bought flowers for our flower pots in a very long time. As I pondered this, I felt like the Holy Spirit...

With each of our children we prayed over what we would name them. Nate gave me very specific guidelines for the names of our children- biblical, Hebrew, Old Testament. Yikes! It seemed like such a huge task, but, I believe that God led us to the perfect name for each child. I have asked that the Lord would give me life verses to pray for my kids that go along with each of their names. Isaiah- Jehovah has saved Isaiah 6:6-8- Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”  Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah at PMBC this summer throwing a ratchet Moriah-  God is my teacher, the place where God is worshiped.  “This is what the Lord says: Because you have...

Eight years ago I asked God for a promise to pray for my husband, Nathan. This was the Psalm that He gave me. I haven’t always been faithful in praying for him, but the Holy Spirit has brought back the desire to pray fervently for my family, church family, & world. I’m so thankful. The Lord hears our prayers & over the years has made it so clear to me that He answers my prayers. I am without excuse to intercede for those around me. My prayer for Nathan... Psalm 89:15-18 “Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exult in your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. It pleases you to make us strong. Yes, our protection comes from the Lord, and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king. Psalm 89:20-34 I have found my servant David (Nathan).       I praise you for calling Nathan to be your messenger, your minister in this dar...