CNN News Last Night- Glenn Beck April 29, 2008

          I was watching Fox News late last night and saw this interview with some Dr. Lady who they ask a bunch of random questions to. The statement went something like this…. I am a mother who lost her son in an accident. Does anything good ever come of senseless death?  Dr. what’s-her-name-lady says, “No… nothing good ever comes out of senseless death! An no you will never get over it.”

     Now i don’t want to offend anyone by my thoughts on this topic, but I’m gonna say it like i think the Lord would say it. “Uh Hum… Since when did i do senseless things? When have i done something or allowed something to happen that was without purpose? Did i not give up my only son for you personally and the child or loved one that you lost?” Can I get an Amen on that one?! Death is not fun. No it’s not. But yes lots of good things happen in the wake of devastation. People have to die for people to live. An i don’t necessarily mean on Earth. I mean eternal life. An <NEWSFLASH> that IS what our purpose here on Earth is- To bring unbelievers to the Lord.

     I was so shocked at this remark i sat there perplexed (as my grandfather would say). All of us are prone to tragedy. An death is part of life. But death for those of us in Christ is not the end but rather the beginning of new life. Blessed are we!

     Don’t think that i say this because i’ve never experienced tragedy in my own life. I have and i wouldn’t undo my date with the Lord, August 24 ‘99, for any old life or even a fancy belly button ring either. (I say that because upon my accident i had one…NOT any more. There’s nothing there to attach it too.) Plenty of good has come from what has been taken from me. What i was given in exchange is even better. So i say to Dr. what’s-her-name-lady, “You should meet my Jesus. I bet he’ll change your outlook on senseless tragedy.”

     I am one example of how tragedy can change a person in wonderful ways. I don’t look at what happened and say, “Lord you failed me!”  In fact it’s quite the opposite. He rescued me in the nick of time- His time. When i skip from this world to the next one day i hope you all don’t act all sappy and miss me or anything. Because I’m gonna be dancin’ in THE streets, kickin my heels high, and shoutin’ hallelujah- In my ageless, unscarred body that is! An Carl better sing that song Fly To Jesus cuz folks… that’s where i’m goin’- GLORY. Anyone else comin’ along?!

Heather’s Bloggy Give-A-Way April 23, 2008

   

  I will be giving away one copy of “Fasting” by Jentezen Franklin! I have learned so much from this book i can’t wait to give someone else an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of knowledge you will have gained from it!

 

Here’s an excert from the first chapter…

…You know there’s more. You know there is an assignment for your life. You know there are things that God desires to release in your life, and there is a genuine desperation for those things gripping your heart.  It was for you that this book was written. (Page 4 & 5)

 

 To enter my first fabulous bloggy give-a-way here’s what you need to do:

1. Share with me the purpose that Lord has revealed to you for your life (I believe that He has many purposes for us in different seasons of life. I’m curious about what you know your’s is now.).

2. Tell me how this realization has changed you (Do you feel empowered? Did you set goals? Have you fasted for it? What about you or how you live has changed as a result of this knowledge?).

     Then on May 4th, 2008 I will be drawing a name and contacting the winner! Be sure to give me a way to contact you in the event you win!

     You can find out more about this book in the review i wrote here.

Happy Writings!  

Book Review: Fasting by Jentezen Franklin April 23, 2008

       Fasting

      By Jentezen Franklin

    

     This is probably one of the best books i’ve ever read! I love how Jentezen writes. He tangles his message and scripture together so beautifully. It’s not a book where there’s a bit of the Word and a lot of personal input. It’s a beautiful combination of both!

     I could not convey to you how much i have learned from this book the first go round. I will be reading it again and again. As i’m sure there is so much more that needs to penetrate my heart. This is the book that lead me to the fast i did on Monday.

     Jentenzen share about what the Lord had and the bible tells up about fasting- why & when it was done. He talks about the hard stuff like- “King Stomach” and Satan. Then he explains how this one action leads us deeper into a personal relationship with the Lord. Because of that deeper relationship we prepare ourselves to be more effective for Him and more sensitive to the Lord’s desires.

     Awesome Read! Once you pick it up it’s hard to put it down. I think i have half the book highlighted already! If you’ve got the time you will be blessed and your eyes opened to this new thought. I personally never knew much of anything about fasting. I know people do it but i never understood really why. Although at this moment in my life things are changing faster than i can keep up with and i knew that this needed to be part of my personal preparation for the Lord to have me fully surrendered- mind, body, and soul.

 

Drawing Nearer to the Heart of God April 21, 2008

“And it shall come to pass afterward that i will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

– Joel 2:28

Step 2:

1- Afterward

2- Pour out My Spirit on flesh  

3- Sons & daughters shall prophesy

4-Old Men dream dreams

5- Young men see visions

Step 3:

1- Not before

2- What God was gonna do- pour out His Spirit on man

3- Young shall prophesy. Prophesy meaning to speak as if divinely inspired, to preach, to for-tell.

4- Wise men will dream dreams given from the Lord. Dream- Strongly desired goal or purpose.

5- Discernment & foresight will be known by the young.

Step 4:

After a fast for repentance Israel was told this is one of the things that would take place. Sounds like revival in the land to me. I am opening the door in my life for the Lord to do amazing things by fasting (giving up something for a period of time). Am i ready for what He’s gonna or can do?

Step 5:

Well, physical readiness may never happen but spiritual readiness i hope is prepared and continuing to prepare. Heather squeals, “Bring It On!! Bring on dreams, visions, prophesies, and revival to me & my house! An if any part of me is in the way Lord, remove it!”

      I have embarked on something never done before today and i’m curious who else has done this or does do it presently and what you think about it. FASTING… Sounds like the easiest but is much harder than i expected. Especially food- my friend.

     Tomorrow Barry & I begin our bible study together. I happen to be reading an AWESOME book on fasting right now and felt a fool if i didn’t put into practice all that i’ve learned thus far. Not to mention that i have been praying that the Lord would cause something only of Him to take place while Barry & I study His Word together and learn (& re-learn) what He has to say to us. I can’t convey to you how badly i want Barry to become so addicted to reading & learning from God’s Word that he can’t get enough. Therefore, this study is more important to me than even the conference! I asked myself what can i do to prove my sincerity and bring on the Lord’s blessing. Thanks to this book… fasting was the answer. Fasting, prayer, and giving- so i’ve learned. 

     I wondered if any of you, my readers, have done this. Maybe what came about because of it. I’m anxious to hear some feedback on what you think. Please share!

     Also, for any new reader wondering what the 2,3,4, & 5 are about please click on the links below to see a full description and then an example.

Listening To the Lord’s Voice- Share the steps in full detail.

Here is What it Looks Like- Shows you an example of a verse i did.

Book Review: The First 90 Days of Marriage April 20, 2008

     No, Barry & I haven’t been married that short a time. This July 4th will be four years! Obviously, we read this a little late- @ in our 2nd year of marriage. I absolutely loved this book! I laughed many times as we read it together at bedtime then giggled as we took turns whining, “Honey, will you go get me a drink i’m thirsy?” Then laugh, “Tensile strength, tensile strength!!”

     In the beginning of the book we were challenged to write a marriage mission statement. Which we did in the past month. Finally! An now it hangs on the wall in our house. So as we come and go it is before us as a reminder of what we are supposed to be living up to.

     If you are still in the first several years of marriage you’ll enjoy this book and still get a lot from it! We did and i think it has set the tone for many years of togetherness coupled with godliness.

     Here’s the Twitchell Marriage Mission statement for you to see an example of:  

 Barry & Heather Twitchell

July 4th, 2004

 

Matthew 22:37

To love the Lord our God will all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

 

 To love each other selflessly, unconditionally, and passionately, just as Christ loves us.

 

To lay down our own selfish desires and wait upon the Lord to lead us together towards His divine plans and purposes in our lives as husband & wife. Because of this may we bear much fruit.

 

To make Christ the center of our home where everything we have, do, and desire revolves around Him and Him alone.

 

To remain satisfied with the things that we have and know that our faithful Lord will always meet our needs.

 

To overlook each others shortcomings and be forgiving.

 

To lay down our lives for each other.

Here is What it Looks Like: April 18, 2008

As promised here is an example for you to actually see how it looks step-by-step. This sample is from my own person bible study that i’m in for writer’s.

Step One: Read God’s Word.

Moses answered, “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then the Lord said to him, “What is in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.

Step Two: What does God’s Word say. List the facts.

1. “What if”
2. Not believe me or listen
3. What is that in your hand
4. A staff

Step Three: What does God’s Word mean. Learn the lessons.

1. “What if”- Moses asked the Lord a question. Which to me meant that he was comfortable enough with Him in a relationship that showing his flaws, in this case momentary lack of trust or he thought he was inadequate. It’s okay to come to the Lord with my character flaws.
2. Not believe me or listen- The truth is NOT ALL people are going to hear and receive the message. I need to come to terms with that. Not all people are the fertile soil spoken of.
3. A staff- Webster’s definition was that this was that a staff was a symbol of authority. Which makes sense because the shepards had staffs too. They guided and rescued their flocks with a staff. Perhaps the Lord was reminding Moses that he was the Lord’s staff. The (A) man that the Lord chose to lead and spiritually direct His flock (the Israelites). What i mean is that the Lord might have been trying to tell moses (and us) that He can work through us and bring His flock to Him. Not that it’s us- it’s Him through us.

Step 4: What does God’s Word mean to me? Listen to His voice. 

1. Why does what if matter? What if… I don’t do it and then i miss an opportunity that the Lord gave me. What if… i miss the blessing. What if i miss the lesson. Don’t what if Heather!
2. The harsh reality is that yeah some people that know me are gonna think i’ve gone madd or flipped my lid. Does what the world or my family thinks really matter? Do i serve them or a Mighty God? Do i love the Lord because if i do then of course the world is gonna resent me?!
3. What’s in my hand- a pen, a keyboard, a phone, a note, a book, an opportunity, a microphone? What ever God has put into my hand is what i can and should use for His Glory. In this particular case… it’s the keyboard. So i write. I write of His love for me, His restoration, His works, His answers to prayer, His call to me, My leaping from the proverbial boat, and on &  on it goes.
4. Staff. I am a tool in the hands of the Lord. May he use me, mold me, and shape me into whatever His heart desires. An may i not resist the process and just melt in the presence of His Holiness.

Step Five: Live it out!

Put my questions to the side, do as the Lord asks, if you think i’m nuts or you love me it won’t matter, and whatever the Lord puts into my hand today i’ll use. May it be for Your Glory Lord! Help me to focus on You more and the world less, silence my what if’s, and help me to be faithful to your call to me each day. So that i bring you a speck of the Glory you so richly deserve!

 

Listening to the Lord’s Voice April 17, 2008

     I wanted to share with you all the method of bible study i learned in the “I Saw The Lord” class. I really felt empowered by this method that i could actually open up my bible and truly hear what God wants to say to me in this modern-day world. Once i actually got going on it, I found this to be easy- of course, after a time of serious prayer and asking the Lord to please help me understand, grasp, and use this method. After my success with this type of study i thought everyone ought to know this method. Because who doesn’t want to be able to hear what the Lord has to say to us through His Holy Word.

     In fact, Barry & I are going to do this study together. Me for the second time and him for the first. This will be the first time that Barry’s ever done anything like this so I’m praying the Lord will really help him to grasp it. I pray for the Lord to give him the desperate desire to learn what His purpose for him is. I’m excited because my husband is a really great guy inside and out. He has all the qualities i lack- which is a lot… starting with deep compassion. I know God really must have something awesome in store for Him an I just want to hurry up and find out what it is. “smile” No, I’m not impatient at all! I am i admit it. Mostly i just want Roni (barry) to rely more on God’s word and less on what we are capable of.

     What i am about to repeat is verbatim from Anne Graham Lotz Book & Bible Study “I Saw The Lord.” I owe her all the credit for sharing this method with us. I hope you will enjoy this and try it out for yourself. Should you have any questions please feel free to e-mail and I’ll help anyway I can or I’ll put you in touch with my mother who is the teacher of this class. Be blessed!

Step One- Read God’s Word

Read the passage one verse at a time. You will do each verse separately.

Step Two- What does God’s Word say? List the facts.

Make a verse-by-verse list of the outstanding facts as you see them in the passage. Pinpoint the most obvious facts. Do not paraphrase or put His words into your own but use actual words from the passage itself. Leave out secondary details and start with the nouns and verbs.

Step Three- What does God’s word mean? Learn the lessons.

Go back to the list of facts and look for a lesson or spiritual principle to learn in each fact. Ask yourself, ” What are the people in this passage doing or not doing that i should or shouldn’t be doing? Is there a command i should obey? A promise i should claim? A warning i should heed? An example i should follow?”

Step Four- What does God’s Word mean to me? Listen to His voice.

Take the lessons or principles from step three and put them in the for of a question you could ask yourself, your spouse, your child, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker. As you do so, listen for God to speak to you personally through His Word. This is the most meaningful step, the one in which I so frequently hear God’s voice. But you cannot do step four until steps one, two, and three are completed. No skipping steps! Don’t e discouraged if it takes a while to develop this ability. The more time you spend in this prayerful, meditative, listening mode, the clearer God’s voice will become.

Step Five- How will I respond to God’s Word today? Live it out.

Listen for God to speak to you personally through the passage. He may not speak to you through every verse, but he will speak. When He does, record the verse number, what it is He seems to be saying to you, and your response to Him. You may wish to not the date, both as a means of keeping a journal and to hold yourself accountable to an obedient response.

     It took me a bit to get myself going on this. But i promise it will come then you’ll be surprised how easy it becomes to remember the steps and do it to every verse you read. There are no right or wrong answers. Each of us are in different places in all aspects of life so the Lord will speak to each of us accordingly. <Which is where the crazy name “Swallowing A Moose” was born out of. The fact that some are like me- slow learners- and the beginning of anything great is one step at a time. Or in the case of the moose- one bite at a time.> I really hope all of you will try this out! It’s great fun to do and fun-er to hear from the Lord. Then the challenge is on because it’s up to you to be obedient and act upon what you learn and what He has to say to you! In my next post I’ll break it down for you and do one so you can actually see what i looks like and how it works.

Hide & Go Seek Jesus Style April 11, 2008

So…….

     What a week it has been! Whew! I’m glad it’s over. I have had one of “those” weeks. The kind where you get into a funk that you just can’t seem to shake. I’m sure it was satan trying to pull me down and keep me there out of guilt.

     It all started on my birthday with the pain episode. Those alone wear my patience thin and my scruples to a frazzle. Then family arguing got tossed onto the pile along with irritation on the lack of acceleration in the process of replacing my trauma surgeon. <HEAVE-HO> The pile grew, my attitude declined, frustration took over and wha-la… ummmm… “Where did you hide my Jesus?,” Heather says to Life.

     He wasn’t really hiding. I just wasn’t doing a good job trusting that He was gonna bring us out the otherside of this yuky week with anything good to show.  I have been counting the moments till Barry was off to work so that i could delve into my bible studies and figure out where my week went so wrong then how to get back on track.

<Momentary interruption! You all should see my cat right now. He was laying on his back with his little feetsies up in the air and eyes closed. Entirely too relaxed. The real point i’m trying to elude to is that he’s s-t-i-l-l. Something i don’t enjoy much of with him. Usually, he’s up to NO GOOD somewhere in or with something. Oh! I spoke to soon. He’s back up lurking around the bed looking for a blanket to suck on. Yes, my 6 year old cat sucks a blankie like his thumb. It’s weird, yes I know. Want him?! Some of you are laughing i’m sure. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in the brat dept. eh?!>

   I wound up on 2 Peter 3:8-9(click on the link to read if you like). There was a lesson to not forget that God doesn’t operate on time like we earthlings do. Momentarily i was like him when i awoke from the coma- I had NO concept of time. I didn’t have a clue what day, month or year it was. For that matter i knew not what the hour or minute was. I just existed. To assure us that things will be okay His Word says next that He is not slow to His promises and patient. Then of course it says because He wants us all to come to repentance.

     It occured to me that this week i was time controlled! ARGGGG! I was frustrated because nothing was happening on time in my needs. The medicine didn’t work- on time. The doctor’s office is dragging out my results and a new surgeon- not fast enough according to my schedule. The secret endeavor wasn’t moving along quickly. All of these and more having to do with “HURRY UP WOULD YA!” If i would have just prayed more about this and considered how possibly the Lord was teaching me to be patient. To wait for what He’s got. Things might have gone smoother.

     After that verse i wound up on Isaiah 30:18. God wants to be gracious to us and rise to show us compassion. Why? Because He’s a just God- faultless, perfect, without flaw. Blessed are those of us who wait for Him. W-A-I-T!! No get impatient and in a funk like me. Those who wait for Him will be blessed. Isn’t God so awesome?! He wants to see me wait and trust in him- happily patient- so that He can bring to me the right surgeon, the results on my liver enzymes & platelets, an end to the pain (maybe not forever but for the day), and the people needed to move onward with the secret endeavor. I got myself emotionally in a tizzy over all of this and i could have opened up my bible sooner and got to the bottom of this. SHAMETH on me- Heffer Jayne!

    What am i doing now you ask? I’m relaxing, i’m writing, and i have committed to let those things go so that God will be able to work instead of me clenching the wheel of “in-charge.” Guys, will i ever learn! HA-HA! Here on my blog we talk honestly about life, the screw ups, the pot-holes, the victories, the praises and give all the Glory to God. I swear He is the only way i can get up, look at myself in the mirror, and get on with the day. Everyday!

     I hope each one of you have a great weekend with your families! Please be safe and treasure these moments of learning we all have.

Opportunity #2 Knocked April 8, 2008

     Below i am sharing with you the second opportunity that knocked for me to write. It was for a website. I was to share about a woman who reflects the heart of the Lord and how. I chose to write about my grandmother. This had me write for a time constraint and a word count. So here it goes…

“I Won the Prize”

 

In my life I have been blessed to be the grandchild of a godly Grandmother. Not one that just entertains her grandchildren or lets us win all the games but one that lives out the attributes of Christ right before our very eyes. I can say with the utmost certainty that my grandmother’s life is an outward reflection of an inward encounter with our awesome God. Her love is so precious, her giving is beyond, her wisdom touches my soul, and her servant’s spirit is a living picture of the Lord’s heart.

 

 The love she shows to each of us in our family is tender. We always know her sincere interest in the things going on with all of us. She never misses a call, love note or opportunity to get us over to the house. Once you’re there every minute revolves around you; and don’t think for one second you will be helping wash those dishes because you’re never to big for grandma’s spankings. I’ve tried! 

 

Whenever there’s a need, a cheerful giver she is and beyond the call she goes. You can count on her to cook, visit, write or call anytime there’s an opportunity. Her time never seems about herself but always about someone else and what she can do for them. Sometimes I wonder where the energy comes from then I’m reminded that if God calls you he will equip you. At that point I’m certain it’s not the Cuban coffee to blame.

 

Grandma shares with me words of godly wisdom that lead me into a deeper knowledge of my Heavenly Father and challenging me to seek Him above all else. Our chats of school days and neighborhood fun have matured into talks shared between two women who desperately love the Lord. Through her stories I see how God’s hand has been upon her life and all it’s happenings since she was a young girl who came to know him. I have so much more to learn from her yet. Actually, we all do!

 

Recently, Grandma shared with me the story of a time when she wasn’t sure that she could fulfill what the Lord called her to do. So she pleaded with my grandfather to get them out of it. In the end, the family farm with house went up for sale, they packed up their belongings, and made the big move back to Ft. Lauderdale, FL from Tennessee. It was there they answered God’s call to serve and lead as mom & pop of Sheridan House Ministries home for girls. Fourteen years extra after already raising her own three kids she became a mother and mentor for the second time. I know the Lord used their willingness to serve Him through the lives of those young girls.

 

As a little girl I learned my “Grandmommy” was a prize and me- the lucky winner. Now as a grown woman I value even more the relationship with her I have come to know. I hope that in my lifetime others will look at me the way I look at her— seeing an undeniable reflection of the Lord shining His light straight out of my very being. I pray I will become half the reflection of our Heavenly Father my beloved Grandmommy is.

 

My Growing To Do List April 8, 2008

Anybody have any suggestions on how to speed this process up! I thought i was a good time manager but apparently i’m not….

1. Compile my writings, revamp & edit them, then print them off and put into some kind of attractive book for the conference.
2. Finish reading “For the Write Reasons” and do everything it’s taught me or challenged me.
3. Find a blog designer for WordPress blogs.
4. Finish reading “I Saw the Lord.”
5. Find more writing opportunities.
6. Be on the lookout for more opportunities given to me by the Lord. Act on them.
7. Find out what the barriers are in my life that have kept me from following the Lord’s call and remove them.
8. Quit asking questions and be obedient.
9. Discard excuses.
10. Be a far better example.
11. Pray for everyone and everything. All day, every day.
12. Understand better who i am in Christ.
13. Ignore the devil and his taunting me.
14. Trust the Lord.
15. Discover if I am truly available for the Lord to talk to or if i just think i am. If not, correct that because it’s a serious issue.
16. Be used by God.
17. Be willing- every moment of every day from now till He returns.
18. Don’t let the stuff in other people’s lives draw me away from my groove with the Lord and make me feel a weird distance.
19. Look for Godwinks- then thank the Lord for them.
20. Become Isaiah 61:1~ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoner’s.