Happy Leap Year Day!

I know... go ahead and laugh but I can only say that once every four years!

May today be a day you have only once every 4 years.

Haha!

-Monika

Lean not on your own understanding

The Lord is so patient with me. As I have been crying out, "I don't understand, Lord! I don't understand!" over the past several weeks or months, it seems. He said, "It is a good thing you don't understand as you would be leaning on it." Wow, the light bulb turned on above my head. Yes, I have not understood so much and now it is a new revelation. It is trusting and not understanding with deaths, cancers, etc. I do believe He has our best interest in mind even though there is pain associated with it. He even allowed His only begotten son to endure pain and death of a cross. Aren't we suppose to be like Jesus? Well, then we must be obediant even to death on a cross. It really puts it in perspective and allows one to rejoice in the Lord, always. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own undestanding. Proverbs 3:5

-Lisa

Vig-i-lant, adj. Keenly watchful to detect danger or trouble. ( Random House Dictionary)

The Lord gave me two words yesterday after service in the bathroom. It was after a phone call was received by a very precious family that their nephew died. The nephew had been sick but the pain of loss is no less. The family received much prayer, love, and comfort from their church family. As I went in the bathroom, I heard the Lord speak, "high alert". He showed me how we are on high alert just as the military is placed on high alert when there is a real enemy threat. On high alert, the military are watching, waiting, awake 24/7 looking through night vision goggles, and praying. They are not comfortable, relaxing, or taking it easy. There is a time for that but not on high alert. As Dave and I have been up many nights with children, etc these past couple of weeks, we have been praying, watching, waiting. Many times, not by choice, the Lord has woke us up or used the children or something to get us up. My flesh cries in pain but lately has just gottten up because I have gotten use to it.

Jesus has many instances in the Bible for waiting and praying on the night watch and I kind of find it comforting that even His closest buddies had a hard time with the night watch. Luke 22:45 And when He rose up from the prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. and he said unto them, why sleep ye?Rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation. We must be vigilant keeping on guard yet resting in Him. It is interesting to be on high alert yet resting on and in Him. Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. I think if he said "take heed", that it must be pretty important.

I am reminded of another place in the scriptures where the Lord taught using a parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. The wise bridesmaids were waiting, watching and prepared for Him with oil in the lamps. There are many more instances in scriptures but the kids are waking up from a long, full weekend. In closing, there was a dear friend of ours who was always dessed in military complete with painted face and gun. He was 12ish and you never knew when and where he was going to pop up with the gun pointed and a shout of "Aha, got ya!". Well, I thought I would get him and I know you find that very hard to believe but I put on camo and paint, etc and told his parents and siblings I was coming over...boy did I get him!!! We must not be on the defense. We must be on the offense.

Blessings, Lisa

PS Charlene, I know this is hard to believe but this will be your best birthday ever. You will receive many gifts that are priceless. You would never be able to buy gifts like these they are eternal. I love you and bless you on you birthday!! It is hard to believe your older than me!!!!

Pemberton Park

Sunday the 17th we went to Pemberton Park for their sugaring demonstration. Pemberton Park is situated on a 262 acre 1700's estate. The 1700's house is a working museum with gardens, an orchard, and 2 out buildings recreated to period times. They also have many nature trails totaling 4 miles!

The demonstration was headed by the education director Chad Ford. We started with a movie on the process of making maple syrup in the recreated tobacco drying barn. Since the Eastern Shore doesn't have many sugar maples Chad tapped a few red maples, named after the red buds they have during the spring. Summer carried a yoke with 2 buckets with very little sap in them to the cauldron they had set up.

Chad showed us how after a couple of days of boiling the syrup had started to turn a dark brown instead of the clear sap we had just seen. He then had us taste real syrup from Vermont and fake Wal-mart brand stuff. We didn't know which was which and had to guess based upon taste, color, and texture. We all got it right! The "real stuff" was not as sticky nor as sweet as the Wal-mart brand but you could definitely taste the maple flavor!

Once the demonstration was over we went on a nature walk. It was so fun and we would have stayed longer if it hadn't of started raining. The day was well spent. The demonstration was interesting and the nature trails beautiful. I am looking forward to going again soon.....

Note: Blogger wouldn't let me post the pictures the way I wanted to so I guess this will have to do. *sigh*

-Monika

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What do you think of the "new look" for the blog?



-Monika

Comments

I think I have fixed the commenting problem. You all should be able to leave comments now. HOORAY!!

Seeds, Seasons and I

I can't even begin to describe how busy it has been lately. Teaching, Real Estate, Family....so much work, so many opportunities, not enough time. I have been asking the Lord continually to open only His doors and close those that I'm not supposed to walk through.

Sometimes though, in the midst of all this, I feel as though I am doing nothing. That I am waiting for Him to send me or use me. Standing by as all my friends finish college, go on missions trips, and fulfill the dreams and visions God has given them, is hard. When I look back on my life during those years I sometimes feel like I have nothing to show for it. No college degree, no amazing mission trip.
That's when the Lord reminds me that I am looking through my physical eyes and not my spiritual. I'm not listening or believing what He has told me because I'm busy doing all the talking. That's when He reminds me of all the opportunities I have had to shine His light. In my work place: doing my absolute best for everyone in everything. In my teaching: being patient and encouraging to all. With my family and friends: being a godly, helpful and loving example. In the post office, in the grocery store, at the library, at the... well you get the idea! I was forgetting, not only all the opportunities, but also Who gave them to me. Of course! I am in this season for a reason. Even if I don't see it now, so what! I'm only a human, why should I expect to know the reason for every thing. And anyway, this is only a season. One day I'll be in a new season just like the seasons of the year change. This is a planting season for me. I can't see the seeds any more but they are there and they are growing in the soil... where I can't see them. So I choose to trust. No matter what is going on around me!

And besides, I'm not my friends and I'm not living their life. I'm living my own and am loving every minute of it!!!

-MONIKA

Will ye also go away? John 6:67

Two nights ago just before I was going to turn off the light to go to bed; I heard the Lord say, "John 6." I picked up my Bible and read thanking Him for giving me something instead of the, "Oh, I am so tired, I will read it in the morning." So much spoke to me but mostly when Jesus asked the twelve if they would go away also as many had went back and walked no more with him as He had asked a "hard thing" of them.

I am finding that I seek Him more fervently during the hard and troubling times and that I am loving and drawing more near to Him in the the times of need. I never would have thought I would say that this has been the best thing, that we have come to the end of any human help with regard to finances, relationships, jobs, health, etc. It has been painful yet freeing to be at a "Red Sea" place as He must do the parting as I CANNOT! Job 5: 7-9, "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number. "

Why do I even write on this blog? Do I think that I might know something or that I "got it"? Sadly, I did think that at one time! Oh, contrary, I know nothing but do know who has all the answers....Jesus. Where else can one turn? John 6:68, "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." As the circumstances are becoming more difficult and the press is squeezing hard, and the potter's wheel keeps spinning...I will praise!Hosea 2:5, "And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor (which means trouble) for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth." He has given us the door of trouble and the test is to sing at that time. Again, I don't "got it" but am leaning that way and it goes against flesh to sing at the trouble!

Anything that is being taken away or voluntarily given for Him is worth it. Yes, there may be some pain with the departure of those things but I find this comforting, Mark 10:29-31, "Jesus said, Assuredly, I say unto you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first."

Blessings, Lisa

"This thing is from me." 1 Kings 12:24

My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from me.
Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, “he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye” (Zech. 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isa. 43:4) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.
I would have you learn that when temptations assail you, and the “enemy cometh in like a flood,” that this thing is from me, that you weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.
Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.
Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.
Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard for you to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil. 4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, “In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Duet. 1:32).
Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may find everlasting consolation (2 Thess. 2:16,17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead you have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all- Prayer.
This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.
-Laura A. Barter Snow
Streams in the Desert