Counting My Blessings

I'm pretty blessed. I've been doing "30 Days of Thanksgiving" for my Facebook posts all month (today's the last day!) and it has truly made me turn my gratitude meter UP. I was even thankful for my dog one day...now I know a lot of furparents who love their pets like their children. I even know some people who care more for their dogs than their own flesh and blood. But, that is not me. I like having pets, I think there is definitely a purpose and reason people love animals. Like, maybe because God put us humans in charge of them. We name, watch, and generally steward them - usually from afar. But, I think getting our dog was a little bit of a mistake. It's like having a perpetual toddler that you can't actually take with you when you leave the house. Plus, the black dog hair everywhere is a pain frustration. However, there is no denying the comfort of that big black body sleeping beneath my feet in the evening and the "high alert" status he goes on at night. Protector of the house!

I hope to continue this atmosphere of gratitude and well-being as we enter the Advent season. Keeping my eyes and, by extension, our children's eyes set on the heart and person of Jesus Christ will definitely help. I'm thrilled to be preparing to take the journey of Jesus from Angelic Proclamation to His flight to Egypt. Talk about an Advent-ure! I'm thinking about getting a small tree to feature the children's special ornaments they're going to be making from Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands this month. I definitely need to prepare the special calendar with each day's focus to explore. I hope you will all go on the journey with us. Amanda is offering her incredible e-book for only $4.99 and it is full of great ideas, beautiful crafts your kids can actually make, and moments you'll always treasure. Consider joining the fun on the Tinsel Facebook page too! http://facebook.com/truthinthetinsel
We're working on our special "custom" advent calendar right now; we'll (of course) use our Lego one too. ;)

What special preparations are you making for Christmas?

The Truth About the Truth in the Tinsel (Review!)

I'm super excited today. Not only am I blogging again, which has strangely burned within me for the past few months of hiatus, but I'm starting it all off with the beginning of the Holiday Season. As a extra bonus, I've been asked to review the new e-book The Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands by the awesome mom-blogger after God's heart, Amanda White, of Impress Your Kids! Click here to visit Impress Your Kids.

It's always on my heart to make the advent season purposeful and focused on Jesus in the midst of the hype. This book is a perfect way to carve out a small part of the day (only about 30 minutes) and create something with your child(ren) that will make it easy to share the birth story of Jesus in a way that will be sticky to their hearts and minds - and maybe even their hands sometimes. What got me truly enthusiastic about The Truth in the Tinsel is this part of the section How to Use This Book: "The key to this entire advent celebration is to have a daily focus and meditation on God’s greatest gift. Your children will learn the ins and outs of the story because you’ve facilitated a time to discuss, play, and create. And in those moments, God will speak to their hearts and yours. 
The little Baby is no longer in the manger but alive and sitting on a throne—waiting to have a relationship with you and your children. Help your children get to know Him this Christmas!"
I almost cried with JOY!

Each day of December preceding Christmas has a small ornament craft planned around scripture verses. The sections on each page "Read it Together", "Make it Together", "Talk About it Together", and "Do More Together" make it easy to glance at and find your place in the midst of artsiness and - let's face it - noise. The accompanying photos show the materials needed, step-by-step shots, and the finished product hanging on a tree branch. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. I love the idea of reading the bible together and then talking about it while creating. Amanda White has planned this activity book to reach pre-school through middle elementary aged children, but I'm pretty sure all of my kids will want to make these cute ornaments (with the possible exception of my 13-year-old) and participate in the scripture reading and discussion. For days when we have extra time to spend on this, we will definitely be exploring the activities in the "Do More Together" sections; these can be additional scripture, picture books, singing, play-acting, and bringing others in on the fun!

In the weeks to come, my family and I will be exploring and creating The Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands, so make sure and check back here to see all the fun we're having getting to know the birth story of Jesus a little better. I know you'll love it and TODAY ONLY Amanda is offering this beautiful gem for only $2.99! After today, the e-book will retail for $4.99, so don't wait! GRAB THAT DEAL. Then, you can use the supply list at the beginning of the book and take full advantage of the fabulous coupon you got for Michaels, or Hobby Lobby, or JoAnn's. Make this Christmas season the best ever - be intentional and share God's heart with your little ones. They need know that He loves them than Santa Claus ever could.

21 Days of Prayer for Sons - Salvation (Day 19)

Antonio prayer-leading at OHOP

Today's prayer focus is the key for the entire challenge. To quote from the eBook: "Day after day you will parent, intentionally seeking the heart of your son. But until the King of kings and Lord of lords turns his heart of stone to a heart of flesh, your son's actions will be motivated by what is pleasing to him, rather than what is pleasing to the Lord."

We can spend our formative years parenting with pure hearts, great intentions, and our eyes set on Jesus, but if the stone doesn't turn to flesh it's a losing battle! I don't know how you feel about it, but I'm willing to put up with a pig-sty room and wet towels on the bathroom floor as long as my child turns to me with shining eyes asking, "Can I pray, Mom?" Talk about moving hearts!

Take a moment and look around your home, think about your days, consider whether the life you and your family leads is truly Gospel-centered. Do you talk to your children about Jesus? Do you TALK to Jesus in front of your children? Do you allow them a chance to ask questions, to lead prayers, to learn about God's Word? I know I need to better in all of these areas. 

Pray hard today - there is nothing so important as your son's salvation!

Salvation

May __________ confess with his mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in his heart that God raised him from the dead, and be saved (Romans 10:9) 

May__________be saved by grace through faith. Not of his own doing; but the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8)

May__________believe in the God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9)

May__________fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for him today (Exodus 14:13)

May the LORD be__________light and his salvation; whom shall he fear? May the LORD be the stronghold of his life; of whom shall he be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) 

May__________take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)

May__________work out his own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) 

May__________be guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5)

Lord, make Your face shine on__________; save him in Your steadfast love (Psalm 31:16) 

Lord, save__________to the uttermost as he draws near to God through him (Hebrews 7:25)

21 Days of Prayer for Sons - Joy (Day 10)

Carlo - Joyful in the House of Prayer!

There are plenty of times when I plead with Jesus to urge Holy Spirit grow fruit of Joy within me. (He is the great intercessor, after all.) Those times of frustration, irritation, brokenness all resolve when I remember "The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him" from Psalm 28:7. I will praise Him! My strength and peace and love in the face of ugliness comes from the Joy of the Lord!

You've heard the expressions "Love is a choice," well I truly believe that Joy is a choice too.  In those sleep-deprived early months with your son, you choose to take joy in his beauty and purity. In the wild toddler times of tantrums and two-million questions, you choose to take joy in his growth and wonder. In the tough years of discipline and training, you choose to take joy in the man God is growing him into.

So, this morning, when I had to struggle to get out of the house with my 4 youngest, appropriate clothing, hair and teeth brushed, shoes matching and tied, I really didn't want to go to the prayer room. I chose joy as we went to a back room with a couple other kids for a short teaching to prepare us for the time in the Children's Prayer Watch - in the midst of a hundred distractions. I chose God and I chose to take joy in Him and my children and the other children there. And guess what?

God chose to bring His JOY too!

As Brooke wrote in the Leader's Guide for this prayer challenge, "So how do I find joy and strength from the Lord? Enough to make me 'burst out in songs of thanksgiving?' How do you? Here's the secret: Focus on Christ. Focus on what He did for you (and for your sons) on the cross." Trust in Jesus Christ's work of grace on the cross to get you through those rough days with your kids. Trust Him to hear and answer when you pray for Him to turn their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

He hears and brings His Joy to you!

Joy

May the joy of the Lord be__________strength (Nehemiah 8:10) 

May__________be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22)

May__________go out in joy and be led forth in peace (Isaiah 55:12) 

May the God of hope fill__________with all joy and peace as he trusts in him, so that he may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13) 

May__________go to the altar of God, to God, his joy and his delight (Psalm 43:4) 

May__________count it all joy when he meets trials of various kinds, as the testing of his faith produces steadfastness. May he let steadfastness have its full effect, that he may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:1-4)

May__________know that while weeping may tarry for the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5)

May__________be imitators of us and of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6) 

May the God of hope fill__________with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit He may abound in hope (Romans 15:13) 

May__________know that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)

Fear of the Lord & Repentance

Romans 2:1-5 says: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."

Do you ever wonder if you're experiencing the fullness that God has for you? Do you ever "just know" that you're missing something? I do. For sure. And it wasn't till last week, listening to John Mulinde speak over the IHOP-KC webstream, that I realized why I was missing it. I am not fully repentant for some of the things I do or think. I ask for forgiveness, most of the time, but there are many times that I just go ahead and do it again because - hey, I'm human. But, true repentance takes an active act of change. Change of WAYS. If I think badly of someone, even if they "deserve it" for acting nasty, being hurtful, or not appreciating me or someone I love, it's not okay! How can I judge them when I am doing the same thing in my head to them? The plank is in my eye!!! 


I don't know about you, but I want to stop storing up wrath against myself ASAP!!! There is a reason it's called "the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord!" I want to see the treasures and rewards, not God's wrath. I do not want to be one of these: "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"(Matthew 7:22,23) And I also don't want the Lord to say to me:
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Rev. 3:15-17)

God is calling us out of our human ways to walk fully in God's ways. The work done on the cross was fully complete. If we are still dealing with woundedness, bitterness, selfishness, we have not died to ourselves, so we cannot be experiencing holiness. Holiness comes from God.
We are being called to deep repentance and total surrender to God.

This place of comfort I've come to live in is not good enough. It's time to get radical, and it starts with myself. Lord Jesus, help me to fully repent of my ways. Show me the things I need to change, and guide me in YOUR WAYS. Holy Spirit, reveal to us the fullness of God - the awesome power - so that we live in reverent fear and love. Don't let us stay lukewarm in our sleepy complacency of Your forgiveness.
He cannot forgive what we do not repent of.


As I wrap this up, I'm reminded of something Misty Edwards, one of the leading worship leaders and intercessors at IHOP-KC, said at the Onething 2008 conference. "You can't run the race with one foot still in bed." That really resounded with my spirit. There were things holding me back - things I wasn't ready to change about myself. Things I wasn't ready to give up. It's time. I'm ready to run this race with excellence. With God's help, I will follow His ways and leave mine behind.

P.S. Thank you, Keliah, for giving me an opening to teach you and your siblings about the fear of God.

Praying for a Miracle

Five days ago, my best friend from Jr. High put an urgent message on my Facebook page. "Do you know what's happened to Rachel Stotler? I don't know but all I know is we need to pray HARD for her!!! RIGHT NOW!!!!" That started a quick frantic search of Facebook to find out what was happening. I followed a link to the Omaha World-Herald newspaper article that recounted a bad car accident on icy roads that led to my friend Rachel (Stotler) Clasemann to being admitted to Creighton Hospital in Omaha. I friend requested her husband, Jon, who I'd only met at their wedding about 11 years ago and sent him a message. He was kind enough to get back to me the same day, after I'd read his journal on the Caring Bridge site set up for Rachel.

She is 35-years-old, a physical therapist, and mommy to 2 little boys: Nathan and Jacob. They are too young to be visitors at the ICU where their mom is in a coma. She is recovering from a severe brain injury. So severe, in fact, that 2 parts of her skull had to be removed to relieve the pressure from the swelling in her brain. There have been some good developments in the past few days, but we are dwelling in the needed-miracle area here.

Please join me in prayer for my friend of 23 years, Rachel Clasemann. Also, pray for peace, strength, and joy for Jon and their sons, and Rachel's parents. I know Jesus has this situation in the palm of His pierced hand. I continue to lay my fear and anguish for her at the foot of the cross. I am believing for complete, miraculous restoration! She will not only wake up, but be fully healed in the name of Jesus!

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him

   and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

A Lesson in Servanthood...

Andrea rubbing Nicole's legs and feet. Baby due in 4 days.

Sunday evening, 6 ladies from church gathered together at Nicole's apartment for a Girls Night. She was 4 days from a scheduled c-section and wanted to have some fun before then. We came together with chick-flicks and nail care supplies in hand. She provided desserts (YAY) and an empty apartment (NO HUSBANDS!). Chancia sells skin-care products and brought her samples so we all ended up with facials as well as our do-it-yourself mani/pedis. She was so great - sharing her expertise, painting on the masks, and as you can see above, giving a chair massage to Rachel. We took turns helping Nicole with her toes - removing polish, salt-scrubbing, rubbing lotion on, and painting. Andrea took special care after we told her about the pressure points that can induce labor. My point, besides sharing our great time together, is that my heart was so blessed by the attitude of servanthood exhibited by all of these ladies. These are the small moments in all of our lives when we can exhibit the qualities of Christ. Jesus was a model of leadership and servanthood (one and the same.) He provided wine for a wedding, food for over 5,000, healed so many, and taught us God's heart. My goal is to teach those I come into contact with me about God's heart, even without words and only actions. Thank you OHOP ladies for sharing this with others, and each other.

Smiling Chancia giving a chair massage to Rachel

Scripture of the Day: "Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him." John 13:3-5

Under Construction

As my regular readers may know (if I still have any), I haven't been blogging lately. Things are a bit... confused around here. Everyone is healthy, we are blessed, but I've been in flux. God is doing something in my life. He seems to be calling me to rise above my everyday existence and step into the destiny He has for me. I am still trying to get through the days in peace and resisting His voice. On the outside, everything seems the same with me, but on the inside I am under construction. I am not even sure of the blueprint yet, but I know preparations have begun. The landscape has been altered, smoothing the way for a new thing. I'm kind of excited, but also nervous about how it's all going to turn out.
This is what I know:

1. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I will follow God the best that I can.
2. He has definitely told me to homeschool my children.
3. My husband, Nick, is a man after God's own heart.
4. I am blessed abundantly - not only by God the Father, but by the love of the people in my life.
5. The time has come to live radically.
6. I'm not the only one who's hearing this call.

I'm going to be blogging regularly again. I will still share cute pictures of my kids and stories of our journey of faith. I will also be journaling about this path I am traveling - wherever it may take me.
Blessings, Dixie

Back in the Saddle Again...

It's time I got serious about something.
Time to quit hemming and hawing.
Time to get off the fence and ride that horse! Metaphorically speaking, of course.

It's definitely time for me to quit fighting my life, let God take the lead, and take the easy yoke He has for me. Time to grow up. I am after all 30something with 7 children growing up way too fast.

I am taking up the commandment to "love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
There isn't anything else worth doing. With Him, all things are possible, without...not so much.
I'm standing with Him. I'm LOVING Him! Can you feel it?

Love Conquered Death

Yesterday we celebrated Easter - or Resurrection Sunday as some like to proclaim!

This is my absolute favorite time of the year. This Holy Day is the only time I truly feel like I understand that "weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning!"

Last Thursday, we were doing a Worship With the Word set at OHOP off of Song of Solomon 8:5-7. Powerful stuff. The line in verse 6 that proclaims "For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave" hit me particularly hard. I know that God's jealousy for us - for me, for YOU - meant that He had to send His Son. Jesus' sacrifice was cruel, but He conquered the grave! And, beloved, Love is stronger than death!

How blessed are we? How Loved are we? "For God so loved the world (that's us!) that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life."

John 3:16 is the ultimate love letter, don't you think?

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that my 8-year-old daughter joined me in singing on the Thursday morning worship with the word set at OHOP. We were singing out of Song of Solomon. It was beautiful! Draw me away...

I'm also thankful to my prayer partners for their prayers regarding out "house" situation. The house we're renting has apparently been foreclosed on. Without our knowledge. It's complicated & we need those prayers. We're believing that God has a home for us and we will find it in His timing.

Most of all, I am thankful for the sweet love of Jesus. I don't deserve it, but He is longing for my love too!

Little Sacrifices

With the way things are going, not only in our nation but also in the world, I'm finally convinced that we are IN the end-times. I'm not going to get all political on you or try to convince you of my viewpoint at this time. Suffice it to say, I am determined to make some changes of my own in this horrible/WONDERful time.

Starting with the little things, like television and Coke. I don't really need those things, do you?

They're nice and all, and I'm not going to judge anyone else for watching T.V. or drinking Coca-cola. We all make our own choices. These happen to be mine.

Another little sacrifice I'm willing to make now is my time. My (relatively) peaceful morning time. The time I used to take to linger over breakfast, sipping coffee and reading while the kids played in mostly harmony. I want to have the kids in the prayer room with me - at the Orlando House of Prayer - as much as possible. Not only am I called to be an intercessor, but they are too. They're not too young to be raised up in prayer. This is the time. I'm convinced this is part of the reason that God thrust me into homeschooling this year. He's got to give me a little shove now and again to keep me going on the right path, don't ya know?

I'll be posting more on how we're doing. This morning went pretty well. There were distractions and some squirrelly activity, but there were also warfare prayers and communion. I think as we're there more as a family they will find their place and grow in grace. ;) Feel free to join us as OHOP has live streaming for the live sets now, and IHOP-KC has live streaming of their prayer room 24/7! It will bring peace and joy and love and Jesus into your home!

Thankful Thursday

Antonio, Rocky & Nick with their CUBE

Yes. I am back again. FINALLY!

I have been thinking and percolating and juicing up good thoughts for my blog home.

Today, I am thankful for my beautiful new iMac. It's a HUGE blessing!

I am also thankful that God is ever-present and ever-lovely to me. I don't deserve His attention. (But, He thinks I do.)

I am thankful for a longsuffering husband and loud crazy children.

I am thankful for the IHOP-KC webstream. What could be better than sitting at the feet of Jesus?

I am thankful to have this blog to pour out my thoughtstream before it escapes entirely.

Blessings!

The Pursuit of a Family Fast

Cecelia, Carlo, and Keliah Singing at the Prayer Room

Our Mission Base, the Orlando House of Prayer, started a corporate 21-day Fast yesterday. We've decided to try our first "family fast." The other times that Nick has fasted, I've been pregnant or nursing so my fasting was limited. This time, Nick and I are trying to maintain the Daniel Fast, and the kids are too - slightly modified to include whole grains for them. Truly, this is going to be an adventure. I think 4 kids asked me for ice cream today. Uh, no.
We're trying to make it fun for them, focusing on Jesus and great opportunity to come together and pray, eat healthy veggie-centric meals, and their favorite fruits. They are little fruit piggies, but the munchies tend to set in after naptime.
It's a work in progress. I really need to do some meal planning this evening and grocery shopping tomorrow.
This week the focus for the fast is Intimacy. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.
In the meantime, I'm praying these chocolate cravings pass quickly!