So Much

Where I have been ... Aaron was hording the computer all weekend:) Well, we has doing work. When he prepares a message for Sunday he has quite a set up with his laptop and the "wired" computer when he writes, so I was not able to blog all weekend ... but the final message was GREAT:)

When Aaron writes, I try to leave the house - otherwise I interrupt him constantly. I was able to see three of my nephews play basketball on Saturday - 2nd grade, 4th grade and 6th grade. 6th grade boys are tall, quick and look like some of my high school students! Hopefully on the next few weekends I will make it out to see my high school players on their club teams. Basketball is NOT my sport of choice ... and I have had sometime to think about the upcoming volleyball season. So I am anxious to see how all the girls are doing.

My bible reading has moved my out of Genesis into Exodus. The three times that I have been through this book I have always either just come through something or I am in the the midst of a trial - regardless just Like God does - the timing is perfect. (Am I really surprised?) I like reading that when God first called Moses he questioned God. And argued with God the he was not "worthy" to go talk with Pharaoh or lead the Israelites out. Which is a HUGE task ...
From Stormie: The task however, was NOT too much for the One who assigned it. God's reply to Moses was, "I will be with you." that was all Moses needed. The exact details of how this miracle would be accomplished weren't revealed to Moses at that time. He was to walk by faith, resting in the assurance that God's presence was truly all he required. The same is true for you. The question to ask is not "Who am I?" but "Who is with me?" If God is with you, you have all you need.
Many times in my life, and many many times over my pregnancy I would question why me, and how can this be used by God. Am I strong enough ... and so on and so on. When I finally realized that NO I am not strong enough, but God is - then I was able to move through my days and continue to take one step at a time. Once I removed the focus from ME - this burden was much lighter. I ask for strength everyday, my heart needs constant support. But in the grand scheme of it all, doesn't everyone. We are all fragile beings, crated by God for God.

Aaron and I watched a POWERFUL DVD that a dear friend sent in the mail. ( she watched it with her Sunday school class the day Jeremy was born ... coincidence NO!) How Great is Our God, yes this is the title of a Chris Tomlin song - and he is part of this tour. The speaker: Louie Giglio, from Atlanta - and shared just how amazing our Creator is.
From the sleeve:
Your life is a miracle, and the Creator of the universe knows you by name. HE's big enough to breathe out stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of who you are. The God who spoke the universe into existence made you, too, and knows everything about you. From the smallest molecule to the situation you find yourself in right now, He's aware of your circumstances and intimately acquainted with everything you do. And He cares about you and promises to carry you through.
That's where we find hope in the midst of the darkest places in life. The journey is often complicated and painful, filled with confusion and chaos. Yet, the cross of Christ reveals God's promise to preserve and restore you no matter what the circumstance. He will hold onto you and hold you together, giving strength to those who hope in His unfailing love.
He is the everlasting God!
After we watched the video, we just sat. I had tears running down my face and we were hardly able to talk. Still now, it is hard to explain the power of the message and just how much God loves us. (loves me!)
Thank you Friend for sharing such an awesome message ... more about Louie and the Passion Talk Series can be found on their website : www.268generation.com

So to ties this all up - my reading from God Calling this weekend was equally as powerful ...
On Me Alone
I am your Lord, your Supply. You must rely on Me. Trust to the last uttermost limit. Trust and be not afraid. You must depend on Divine Power only. I have not forgotten you. Your help is coming. You shall know and realize My Power.
Endurance is faith tried almost to the breaking point. You must wait, and trust, and hope, and joy in Me. You must not depend on man but on Me - on Me, your Strength, your Help, your Supply.
This is the great test. Am I your supply or not? Every great work for Me has had to have this great test-time.
Possess your souls in patience and rejoice. you must wait until I show the way. Heaven itself cannot contain more joy then that soul knows, when, after the waiting-test, I crown it Victor, but no disciple of Mine can be victor, who does not wait until I give the order to start. You cannot be anxious if you know that I am your supply.

God is good, I continue on step by step, hour by hour and day by day - God is my supply.

GRACE AND PEACE!

God's Longing

from God Calling:
To the listening ear I speak, to the waiting heart I come. Sometimes, I may not speak. I may ask you merely to wait in My presence, to know that I am with you.
Think of the multitudes who thronged Me when I was on Earth, all eager for something. Eager to be healed or taught or fed.
Think as I supplied their many wants, and granted their manifold requests, what it meant to Me, to find amid the crowd, some one or two, who followed Me just to be near Me, just to dwell in My Presence. How some longing of the Eternal Heart was satisfied thereby.
Comfort Me, a while, by letting Me know you would seek Me just to dwell in My Presence, to be near Me, not even for teaching, not for material gain, not even for a message - but for Me. The longing of the human heart to be loved for itself is something caught from the Great Divine Heart.
I bless you. Bow your heads.

God longs just to be with us - the creator of the universe, longs to be with me. He LONGS for us.

LONGING FOR: also means: eager, wishing for, keen, hoping for, wanting ... It is hard for me to imagine our God yearns for us to want to be with Him. He created us and then gave us each free will to choose Him.

This week I was meeting with some friends and the topic of how children would approach Jesus came up. They would come to him freely and with out any need other then to be with Him. In contrast the adults approached Jesus because they needed something, they needed something from Him to believe in Him. The children were simply drawn to Him, with out a need except to be.The way children flocked to Jesus, just to be - that is the longing He has for us today. I think about my time of being still, and have a new view - Because Of Jeremy (BOJ) - I have time to draw near to God. I have a heart to simply BE with Him.

This morning Aaron and I talked about many of the Because of Jeremy experiences we have heard about and witnessed over the past few months. So if you have a BOJ story, please share with us - we are so encouraged by all the ways Jeremy has touched our world. You can email if you want: shelbyab@sbcglobal.net

GRACE AND PEACE!

Joseph

my daily reading has brought me to Joseph's story ... Genesis 37
I read the account of Joseph being sold by his brothers.
stormies prayer: God, remind me that even when life seems unfair and things don't turn out like I expect, You have a plan for my life, and it is good.
Reading on, Genesis 39 Joseph and Potiphar's wife ... and he is placed in prison. Where again, we are taught the Lord was with him ...
stormies prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the favor You show to those who love, obey, and serve You. Thank you for being with me and making the things I do prosper.

I cannot help but imagine how terrible the circumstances of Josephs life were. Through it all he maintained a close walk with the Lord - through good and bad. He was not kept from trouble, but God was with him right through it. This is still true today. God does not keep up from trouble - but will be with us, and bring us right through. In each circumstance Joseph came out on the other end in a better position them before. All of his experiences allowed him to be placed in a position to help his family. I can only begin to imagine what the Lord has planned for me - there are new things moving in my life right now - I am not ready to share details - but these opportunities would not be available if I currently had a child or if I were teaching daily. For this season, I am able to work for the Kingdom in ways I have not been able to serve - for that I can be thankful.
I pray that I can be obedient and serve him fully. I will continue to listen for God in my heart concerning how to proceed with opportunities and my roll in this adventure.

What a model of walking with God Joseph creates for us.

Finally ... if you are in the INDY area, you must got to Capstone, the coffee house/bookstore at Northview Christian Life Church (www.nvcl.org) to purchase the CD released by the North Beach Worship team - completely amazing!

GRACE AN PEACE!

Ask for Rain

(really ... what does this mean?)
Ask For Rain
Today's Scripture
"Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain" (Zechariah 10:1, NKJ).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
In the Scripture, rain represents God's favor. This verse is telling us to "ask for rain even though it's raining." What does that mean? You might think, "If it's raining, it doesn't seem like you'd need to ask for it." But God is saying, "My favor is available to you, but you're not going to receive it unless you ask." Right now, God is showering down blessings, healing, promotion, and good ideas. It's raining favor. But we have to do our part to get our words in line with what God wants to do. We have to ask for that favor. We have to call it in if we are going to experience it. We have to release our faith with our words.This is a great day to be alive! God is pouring out his favor like no other time in history. Right now, it is raining increase. It's raining new ideas. It’s raining promotion. Don't let it pass you by. Start declaring it for yourself, "I am blessed. I am prosperous. I am favored. I am healthy. I am free." Ask for rain in this time of rain, and you’ll see His blessing and provision in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for Your grace, mercy, and favor. I ask for rain in the time of rain, I ask for increase in Your favor and blessing so I can be a blessing to those around me today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

So I can honestly say, that I did not ask for this trial specifically - but I will ask for rain if it brings favor and blessings ... which brings me to a song by MercyMe "Bring the Rain". When I figure out how to attach a song I will. Turns out I was introduced to this song a year ago at the Discipleship Walk, then again just before Jeremys birth ... very powerful and very true. I will post the lyrics later if I cannot get the song to play.

GRACE AND PEACE!

my choice

this was a reminder today from Joel, that I have a choice. And I choose to bounce back - and use my setbacks for His glory.

Be a Bounce-Back Person
Today's Scripture
"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold…" (I Peter 1:6-7, NLT).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
We all face disappointments and setbacks. Life is full of things that try to push us down. Maybe you got bad news concerning your health. A relationship didn't work out. Maybe you lost your job. It was a setback. When we face setbacks, it's easy to get discouraged or lose our enthusiasm. Too often we are tempted to just settle where we are. But if we're going to see God's best, we have to have a bounce-back mentality. That means when you get knocked down, you don't stay down. You get back up again. It means when disappointments come, you shake them off knowing that what the enemy meant for your harm God is going to turn around and use for your good.When you're a bounce-back person, you know that adversity is not permanent. Weeping may endure for a night, but you know joy is coming in the morning. There is wonderful joy ahead on the other side of this trial. Keep standing, keep believing, and choose to be a bounce-back person because you are coming out better off than you were before! You are rising higher, and you will fulfill the destiny God has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, I choose to set my focus on You. I know that You are turning things around in my favor. I choose to stand and believe Your promises. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Sometimes Joel seems way to "Rah Rah - Go Team Jesus" to me - but in those instances I reflect back and that is just what I have needed. That is my team, and I need to remember He is always with me ... so sure bring on the "Rah Rah" I am on this team and Joel is simply reminding me. And if I recall, I choose to be on this team:)

GRACE AND PEACE!

Call on the name of the Lord

From Stormie:
What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord? It means to acknowledge who He is and the power of His very existence to do more than we can ask or think. It means to place your trust in Him and praise Him for all He does. When you call on the Lord's name, you give Him the praise that He deserves by recognizing Him in all of His holiness, authority, and glory. In doing so, you open yourself to the power and blessing He wants to bring into your life.

My Prayer:
Lord I call out to you, I call to you in praise and thanksgiving for all you have done and will do in my life and the lives of those around me. I call out to you to continue to fill me up with your mercy, grace and joy. Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that I can call on you and you hear me. Praise you Father, you know my heart, you know my pain and you know my tears. Thank you Father that I am not alone and as I call to you, you have heard me before I call out.
In your Son's precious name, Jesus, Amen.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Looking back

4 weeks.

One month.

6lbs 14oz 21 inches.

1.04.2009

Jeremiah Parker Shelby

Yesterday was a hard day for me, I was very restless. I did not want to talk with anyone but I also did not really want to be alone.
I finally just let myself cry. (about 10 pm) Big tears.
Asking God Why, Why My son. Why only 71 minutes, Why my family .... I cried for about 1 hour, then went to bed and fell asleep.
I think I just needed a good cry.
There are no answers to my questions and I do not expect to have any - but to let them out was a release. (As it is to share today)

This morning in my reading I was in the story of Lot, specifically when God was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was extended a warning and was able to flee with his family. All made it out, but them Lot's wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:22-29) Stormie provided a specific prayer:
Dear Lord, walk with me to where you are leading me; help me to not keep looking back to the past so that I become paralyzed by it.

The key for me, is not to become paralyzed by the past. This can be true when dealing with loss as well as dealing with letting go of past sin. God is leading us all to his promises and we can not let our past keep us from the promised land. We can build on those experiences and learn - but not be stopped in our tracks. Satan would like us to become paralyzed by our circumstance. With Gods help, strength and His kingdom ... we press on.

So yes, I know and admit to the sadness and aching in my heart - but I continue to pray that God will use me and my experiences for the kingdom.

GRACE AND PEACE!