Snippets... "Victory Shall Be Mine"

I was driving through town singing

a new twist

to an old favorite

and it carried me all through that week

If I hold my peace, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

Monday...

I recorded it on my phone to share with friends

(but had technical difficulties)

Wednesday...

I re-recorded it on my camera to share with family

(when we suddenly lost a loved one)

and everything was put on hold as we took time to

grieve and

celebrate

life

lived and

loved

as the song continued to carry me...

If I hold my peace, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

Then I read Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush

God spoke

Moses questioned

God clarified

Moses doubted

God reassured

Moses worried

until finally

God asked

"What is that in your hand?  Use that."

and Moses began to sing...

If I hold my piece, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

(and in that moment) 

I realized there are times to...

"hold your peace"

and other times to...

"hold your piece"

as Moses demonstrated by using

that same rod many times

to

perform miracles

bring victory

glorify God

and just when he thought his enemy had him cornered 

he cried out to God again and God's response is classic

Why are you crying to me?

I told you to use what you have in your hand!

Because in life we face many enemies, 

and must constantly learn and relearn

how to use what God has given us to conquer them...

Thoughts of doubt and insecurity?

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart... Proverbs 3:5

Thoughts of anxiety and uncertainty?

Cast all of your cares on Him... 1 Peter 5:7 

Thoughts of fear and depression?

God has not given us the spirit of fear... 2 Timothy 1:7 

So, pick up

your weapon

His Word

for your warfare

and learn how to

hold your peace /"hold your piece"

all the way to victory!

--------------------------------------

"Victory Shall Be Mine"



These Hands

These hands belong to a girl

who likes to paint her fingernails...

one day while watching me clean
she asked,

"What are you about
to do now mommy?"

my inner Martha answering

(without even turning to look)

finish dinner, wash the dishes, and 

fold the laundry that's on the bed

moments later she returned and said,

"All finished, come see"

so, I followed her 

to find...

small piles of

freshly

laundered

clothes

(neatly folded neatly on the bed)

She said...

"I folded the towels too, and put them away. 

Now after dinner, you can sit down with me."

and I marvel at how this nine-year old child

is already learning to balance her inner Mary/Martha

because...

These hands belong to a girl

who likes to paint fingernails

(and help fold laundry)

So, my prayer is that

God continuously

blesses...

anoints...

(and always)

holds...

these hands

Leave Your Mark

He appeared small and insignificant
and we would have missed him altogether had he not left a mark;

a mark signifying the impression of his presence

It was early morning, and perhaps

no one had noticed
no one could see
no one even cared

But his mark was undeniable...

and even though we almost missed Him

He left a mark

an undeniable impression on our souls
(signifying His ever-presence)

His mark is undeniable
and reminded us as we left our house that morning (and saw this mark)

that no matter

how big
how small
how insignificant

we may appear to be

to this world...
in this world...

we should always... always... always remember to leave a mark

A Lesson from Above... Bring Your Nest to the Light

I almost didn't see it...

 

I had just parked my car, and was heading 

out of the parking garage when I looked up

and noticed

She brought her nest to the lamp so the 

light could provide what she could not

heat

nurture

protection

because when you want 

your unhatched egg to

develop

grow

mature

the right thing

the smart thing

the best thing

to do

is to bring your nest to the light

John 8:12

A Mary... or a Martha

Martha was busy... 

serving

cleaning

taking care of business

while her sister Mary sat

listening

learning

resting

at the feet of Jesus

It appeared that Mary was

leaving Martha to do all of the work

(but Jesus saw it differently)

And I did too...

looking through recent vacation photographs

My inner Mary/Martha showing up

right there in Palm Beach, Florida

as I paused to collect photographs of the ocean

and as sights of

the sand and the sea

were captured...

I missed being in that moment with

the child in the shadows watching me

(who I didn't even notice until today)

and now...

I realize that being

"a Mary or a Martha" 

is not just 

an attitude

a position

a state of mind,

it's a daily choice

So each day I have to remind myself

that someone is watching me become...

a Mary or a Martha

Nine Candles

It's Birthday Season in our home

and we like to celebrate!

The festivities begin with my daughter's birthday

-------------------------------------

First up... 

a spa party sleepover with facials,

mani/pedis, giggles and girls galore!

Homemade "Cookie Cake" by Auntie Sunshine

with a 1985 flashback
(proof that second generation friendships rock!) 

The next morning the girls woke to a lovely continental
breakfast and then made and decorated rainbow cupcakes

(plain white cake mix with food coloring
so the girls could make their own color variations)

 

Then we opened the doors to our

Children's Art Studio

for more fun with...

 

Microwave Puff Painting

   Cloud Dough

Rainbow Rice

and homemade

Chocolate Play Dough 

that looked and smelled

good enough to eat!!

Thanking God for All of That... and a Bag of Chips

Eleven years ago today,
our son was born

healthy

happy

whole

We marveled that he didn't cry at birth.
My mother worried, but the doctor told her...

"He doesn't need to cry,
he needs to breathe...

and he's breathing"

my husband

his father

God's man

took our tightly swaddled bundle of joy
to the side of the room and whispered into his ear

Later I asked him
"what did you say to the baby?"

It was...

"Hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
Fear God, and keep His commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man"

That was eleven years ago today...

This morning I overslept and woke
to that same child's lips pressing against my cheek. 

My eyes opened and a broad smile spread across his face
as he said "congratulations, you have a son."

Later in the car I listened as he and his sister
took a trip down memory lane

"I remember when..."

"And then we..."

"Oh yeah, and what about the time when..."

(and as I listened) 

I smiled as I noted the things
they were referencing

were not things

they were

experiences

moments

times

we have shared together as a family

They were sharing memories!

"Remember when we went to the snow for Christmas?" 

"My favorite part was in the cabin

with hot cocoa, marshmallows...

and a bag of chips"

I smiled at the details they remembered

(from a trip we took over 4 years ago)

I smiled, grateful for the memories
(the lessons in life and love)

and I thanked God that

my life

my experience

my gratitude

really is for

"all that and a bag of chips!"