Thursday, September 30, 2010

My revelation of Revelation 2-3

Have you ever read a verse or a passage in scripture that just struck every nerve in your body? One that made your hair stand on edge and sent chills down your spine? That happened to me this morning. I have had encounters with God like that before, but this morning brought me to tears. I could hardly believe what I was reading. God jumped off the page at me and I could hardly breathe. We are studying Revelation right now in bible study, and this weeks homework (Beth Moore always gives homework) was reading Revelation 2-3 and seeing what each churches message was. We then had to pull from each letter and write a bit about it. Our last assignment was to find the one that was the closest to our hearts. One that we identified with the most. As I read back through each letter to the 7 churches...I was glued to Philadelphia. I couldn't stop reading. I read it over and over! I felt as if the words were coming off the page. For those of you who don't know what that passage is read below:
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key to David. What he opens no on can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though are not, but are liars- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3: 7-13
So many lines come out and speak to me. The one that sticks to me the most, the one that I am clinging to; that literally brought me to tears, "I will make them fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I HAVE LOVED YOU" That weighs on my heart. How often do we listen to the negative people in our lives? Those that claim to know Christ, and yet they hurt us day in and day out with their words. How often we fall short of the glory of God, and they are there to point out our flaws and mistakes. We are judged by others and are not forgiven by them. We all make mistakes and we are all flawed, but Christ loves us, and those who stand against us and stand to harm us beware. Christ IS coming back and HE DOES LOVE YOU! He will make those around you fall at your feet. Never doubt your strength for it is in Christ's love for us that we find strength to stand up for our beliefs. Stand firm in his word. He is coming back!

Monday, September 27, 2010

After 9 months of waiting...He is HERE!

Evan Lee Lane is finally here. I have never been more excited to meet someone as I was to meet this sweet, not precious (that was for you Jenna) boy.
Last August Jenna and Brenton told us they wanted to have a baby and I started praying right away for them. No two people would be better parents than my two best friends! I thought I knew before they actually told us. But, I kept quiet about my suspicion. We got home from our honeymoon in January and they told us! I cried (again). I was so thrilled for them! It was so much fun planning the baby shower, going to the diaper shower and buying EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. We have had so many wonderful memories over these months!
Now you have to understand that Jenna and I have "old lady names" for each other. Please be warned and don't be offended. I am Nancy and Jenna is Betsy. We came up with these in the most random way, but they are what they are! When Jenna told me she was pregnant I was SURE I mean SURE she was going to have a girl. I love Fancy Nancy. It began when my niece was born and I saw the books at my sisters house. They are the CUTEST books ever! If there were Fancy Nancy movies, I would own them. We started calling me Aunt Fancy Nancy after my love of Fancy Nancy books, and my "name" being Nancy...did I mention I knew it would be a little girl that would grow to love Fancy Nancy as much as I do?!? When the time came to find out what they were having I was so excited! I believe we saw Jenna and Brenton that night and she let me know...it was a BOY! A Boy...hmm...that will be harder to get to love Fancy Nancy than a girl...but none the less, I let go of the idea it was going to be a girl! However, the name has stuck. Fancy Nancy I am :)
Bo, Brenton and Jenna all made fun of the way I acted. Especially when I started singing to Jenna's belly! My mom used to sing to me the sweetest lullaby and it stuck with me forever. I started singing as a joke and then it kinda became a ritual! I was the first person to sing to him when he was born and it is even written in his baby book! :)
September 22, 2010, it was time to meet the little one. I went to the hospital off and on that day. After work I made my up there and into the room...there he was! This amazing little bundle of joy. He brought smiles to every one's face. He was beautiful! I can't get enough of him! I want to hold him all the time! Words can not express how utterly amazing he is! I am so happy for Jenna and Brenton and so grateful they have let me and Bo be apart of this time in their life! I wouldn't have missed this event for the world!

The last picture of just us 4!!! We are forever changed, for the better of course :)

Uncle Bo (George) holding Evan. This is my favorite picture!

Evan's first photo with Aunt Nancy!

The happy family!

Our 5Th wheel as I like to call him :) We love you so much Evan!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Revelations this week

I started the new Beth Moore Revelation bible study a couple weeks ago. It is already stirring something deep inside me. Each day I am praying for God to give me a revelation, to help me see things with clear eyes. I am letting go of things that stand in the way of letting me experience God in a real way! The group of women that meet on Thursday night are absolutely amazing. It is so great to have such a close group to lift you up and encourage you along the way. Last night during the lesson, I looked around and was so thankful for my sisters in Christ who will overcome with me.

After talking to Lauren last night, I realized that I am so thankful for all the women in my life. I have some of the greatest friends. And, God is opening more doors for me to meet new people! We are not all the same age, or in the same places in life, but we can laugh together, pray together, cry together and seek answers together. It isn't about having this family or that family...it is about being one family. The family of God!

"You were cleansed from sin when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart." 1 Peter 1:22

After bible study I was left thinking...Beth Moore has that effect on people. I was thinking what is in my hands that I am not letting go of? What am I holding onto so tightly that I can not grab hold of God with both hands and hold on tight. So many things came to my mind in an instant. When I got home the house was very quiet and it gave me time to just reflect. I started doing my yoga and while doing so there was one point when I was standing tall, both arms were stretched high above my head and my hands were open wide. It hit me like a freight train. I started praying right there for all the things I was holding onto. I gave it all to God. All the hurt, the fear, the loss...I let it all go. And, there with my arms stretched above my head I closed my hands into fists and held on tight to nothing but God! It was such an amazing moment between me and my Lord. I felt closer to Him then I ever have. It was my first "who are you" moment, and it was soul shaking and wonderful all at the same time!

I pray that God continues to show us more revelations in the weeks to come.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Psalm 143:8

" Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show my the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul."

I read that in the book I am currently reading, 48 Days to the Work You Love written by Dan Miller. He was talking about starting your day on a positive note. So many people watch the news of read the paper first thing in the morning and it is filled with heartache. The author was expressing the need to take time each morning and fill the first hour you are awake with positive, creative and inspirational input rather that filling our minds with the pain that so often is in the news. Think how many times you have watched the news and gotten worked up over something you heard. I know that happens to me more than I want to admit. Imagine what your day would be like if you blocked that out first thing and found something that lifts you up.

About 3 months ago I started praying something similar to that each morning on my drive to work. It started as a plea for God to help me get through the day at a job that made me less than happy. Now it has become part of our morning quiet time. I want to believe that my attitude change has to do with the fact that each day I give it all to God. I ask him to control my thoughts and my words. I give him full access to guide me in any direction that he sees fit. When I started doing that I noticed an immediate change in my behavior. There are days that I don't pray that prayer, and I feel it by the end of the day. I can sense it in my behavior. But, each day is a new beginning. A chance to start over and take complete advantage of the grave God offers us...no matter what we were like the day before.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Speechless

I am so overwhelmed with feelings right now. I can hardly type this, but I wanted to share what just happened to me. I work at Baylor University in the Keyboard Division of the School of Music. I work with a lot of graduate and undergraduate students from all different places. I met a graduate student a couple weeks ago named Judy. She is from China and doesn't know anyone in the U.S. She moved here to study music at Baylor. She has had to come in my office several times for different reasons, and I always try to be nice and patient with her. I can't imagine moving somewhere I didn't know anyone and barely spoke the language. I drew a map from Baylor campus to the mall, I have copied music for her because she didn't know where to go to get that done, and I have tried to just talk to her and make her feel welcome. Today she came in my office and paid me the highest compliment anyone has ever given me. She told me that I was the kindest person she has met, and that my kindness has helped her settle in at Baylor. She said where she is from it is rare to meet someone who is as kind as I am. I don't know about you, but it makes me so happy on the inside to know that I have made a small difference in her life. I love the feeling that I get from helping people. I truly do believe that a smile and a positive attitude can brighten someones day.

She has no idea how she made me feel by such a simple compliment. It has given me proof that it isn't me, it is God working through me. I pray every morning that I will be a Christ-like example to someone who needs to see God's love...I only hope I can become close enough to talk to her about how amazing God's love really is! On days I don't feel overly friendly or Christ-like, I am again humbled by someone else's view of me. I will always remember what Judy said to me, and how it has made me feel!

Thank you God for Judy and her words of encouragement to me. Thank you for giving me the greatest example of a kind person, your son....Jesus!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The rain

This morning was one of those mornings. I didn't hear the alarm in time and I was rushing to get ready for work. As I am walking out the door I noticed it is raining! I hurried to get in the car and spilled soda on myself. I got out of the car went back in the house and changed. Now I am late for sure! I finally make it to the office and I have to park a block and a half away from the building. No big deal right? Wrong! We don't own an umbrella!!! Not even a small one we keep in the car just in case...nope, nada! By the time I got to the office I was soaked. head to toe I was wet.

When I finally got to my office, up 2 flights of stirs, I sat down and was humbled. I realized that when we get in a hurry we miss out on so much. If I am constantly in a hurry, how can I possibly realize it is raining...finally. I have been praying for rain for weeks now! I guess it was one of those moments when I realized I need to stop rushing, and start paying better attention to the blessings that God is providing for us.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Moments with God

I listen to Pandora radio on my phone in the morning while I get dressed for work or church or whatever I have going on that day. I have it programed to Selah. It is mostly soft songs that are just easy to listen to. It is a time for me to hear from God. It is my quiet time with him. The house is still and I am the only one awake. I have broken down to God in our early morning quietness and he has wrapped his loving arms around me and picked me up. I have prayed so hard that I cannot even hear the music. And, that is ok...that is our time together. One song keeps coming back to me over and over every morning. I feel like it is my song right now. It is completely how I feel about God. I thought I would share it here.

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good.
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
you are good, so good.

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again.
When the moon rises high before each kiss goodnight
You are good.

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned
You are good, so good.
And, when some body's hand holds me up, helps me stand
You are so good.

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
Because it's more than enough just to know I am loved
and you are so good.

So how can I thank you?
What can I bring?
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king?
So I'll sing you a love song
it's all that i have
To tell you I'm grateful for holding my life in your hands.

When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul
you are still good
When the world has gone cold gray and the rains here to stay
You are still good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
And the storm my swell even then it is well
and you are good

So how can I thank you?
What can I bring?
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king?
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful
for holding my life in your hands.

Every time I hear that song I am reminded that God is so good. And, no matter what is going on in my life or in the world, this one true fact remains...God is still good. He doesn't change. He is ever present in everything!

Have a blessed day!