It's December Already

Yes - it's December already. Many times I've come to stare at this blog, thinking I should write something, with thoughts swirling in my head, only to click the "x" at the top of the page - because I somehow thought I had to write something long and profound.

Today I'll just put down some little tidbits.

Today --

• I decorated my house for the birthday of my King - playing "O Come Let Us Adore Him".
• Talked to my son on the phone -- it was a blessing
• Prayed for my best friend over a phone call before she went to the doc for a test
• Talked to my daughters on the phone -- was a blessing.

I guess you could say the telephone was a blessing today.

Top "10" books

I was challenged to put down my top "10" books. This is a challenge because I LOVE to read and read almost 4 books per month. I started writing down everybook I read with comments a few years ago because I suspected I was re-reading a book half way into it and I was also facilitating a bookclub so wanted to remember what we had read.

It might be easier to make my top 10 books I didn't like, and this list may change next year - but here goes. Actually I think I'm going to re-read these in 2011 - so that should help me make my list.

1. The Politically Incorrect Wife by Nancy Cobb and Connie Grisby
2. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Ormartian
(God used these books to change my marriage and show me how wonderfully He designed a woman's role. I now have a passion for helping other women and have a top 10 list of marriage books.)
3. What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lisa Terkeurst
(God challenged me and changed my direction as I listened to His promptings and quit my job, spent time with my dad, and He directed my path.)
4. Making Jesus Lord by Loren Cunningham
5. Holiness by Henry Blackaby
(These books started showing me the importance of surrender and living by the power of the Holy Spirit.)
6. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. (I love books on prayer - it's another of my passions.)
7. Calvary Road by Roy Hession (radial living)
8. Victory Over Darkness by Neil Anderson (know our identity in Christ - who we really are)
9. Emma's Journal by Ed Rowell (a fiction makes the list - I should have a top 10 fiction - this is about living for Him and learning and growing no matter what our age)
10. Experiencing His Presence by Tommy Tenney (challenged me - I read it slowly)

• If I had to give One Book to someone to read - it would be the Bible. Without God's life giving words I would be lost.
• If I could have only One Book - it would be the Bible - the Only Truth we have in this world.
• I would give up reading All books - to have one copy of the Book written by the lover of my soul - the Book that shines light and life into me.
• I don't care if you ever read any of the books on my top 10 list - but I have a burning passion for all to read the Bible and let it's power change their lives.

Farm visits

The lazy days of summer go fast ... although on the farm there are very few lazy days.

My days are "full" when the kids and grandkids come home and we make memories, messes, roasted marshmellows -- and many miracles!

Nate the Great - our one and only son, came home in June bringing alot of Joy with him - that is Mariah Joy, someone special God has put in his life. I loved seeing the farm through her eyes - as she loves the Creator and all He has given us. She's a night-owl and a risk taker -- climbing to the top of the quonset and doing a little barn raiding.

July 4th we celebrated with the Jensen's, everything being a thrill through Miracle's eyes and Matthias just smiling through it all. We put our son-in-law to work making haybales for the 1st time and it was quickly noted - as we drove along the countryside and saw other bales that they were the best bales ever made! Prayers with Miracle on my prayer chair where she makes sure I say A-men instead of Ah-men (like my gramma Evenrud) are instilled in me forever.

Being honest - I like it that Link - our 18 month old grandson - really likes me and doesn't take much to grandpa -- or even seem to like him. He's very interesting to watch as he has to figure out how the toy works more than he plays with it. Kora, his 4 month old sister, is cuter than cute -- and smiles as much as she spits at this point - but we don't care! Everyone who sees her is taken with her big brown eyes and all her brown hair sticking up from the latest trendy headband.

All 6 Breker's descended and filled the house. The energy, enthusiasm and never-ending creativy were obvious. Grandpa is definitely #1 and fishing, fieldwork, and the 4-wheeler found 2 little boys at his side. The entire house became a library as little Miss Reader went to the bookmobile and read every book we brought home. I loved taking a sneak peak when she was playing in her "own space" - making cards for her mom or lining up the prayer bears for a special service. My little soft hearted Noah blessed me with "The 3 Bears" puppet show and loved the weater balloons - 75 balloons were not enough, I'll have more next t ime. Little Gideon keeps up with it all whether at the zoo or on the clue hunt - and is so smart you forget he's only 3. Benaiah's likes to have his mom in view - but I did sneak in some special "just the 2 of us" moments.

Then to top it off 4 more of our favorite kids came out to visit (with their parents minus one dad) - Ryland, Collin, Kera, and Braden - now Texans - yelled and squealed with delight at running through the thick bush of weeds and jumping in the canola -- bringing what seems like half the field with them back to the house. We are indeed blessed and consider them part of our family, having a strong bond glued together by the love of Christ.

It was a week full of fun and fantastic moments which we've finally (maybe) recovered from!

Looking forward.......waiting in a clean and organized and quiet house.......for the sound of little voices and little fingerprints to come once again.

Blow your socks off miracles

A prayer

~~ May I hear your voice above all others
~~ May I following the Spirit's promptings
~~ May I DO Your Word Lord. (yes it's WORD = not a typo)
~~ Take me to a higher level of obedience.

When I prayed this prayer on April 30th - I had no idea what God was up to. He's always up to something -- and it's always miraculous and blows my socks off.

I also prayed for God to give me "supernatural ability and strength" when I traveled to Minneapolis for I could "use my gifts for Him". And HE did.

Blow your socks off miracles:

~~My "connected thru the heart" daughter from India called me the 1st night I was there (she didn't know I was in the cities), and I led her in a prayer to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. There are no words to describe this than to say "Our God is An Awesome God!"
~~My 7 year old grand-daughter Emma was sitting beside me on the couch and listening to me pray with Rushe. How special is that! I'm sure God had His reasons for this -- so this is .... to be continued as God writes the story....
~~Praying with and for Miracle - my 2 year old granddaughter - and every time I said AH-men - she would say A-men -- this also, will be continued ....
~~Taking care of Miracle and Matthias and my shoulders and back DID NOT hurt! I had claimed Zechariah 10:12, "You WILL strengthen me and I WILL walk up and down in Your name."
~~Sharing and talking with my sister about things dear and near to our hearts, promising to pray.
~~Meeting with a woman I had never met - a God connection thru my friend, Lisa, who ministers to her. I had been praying for her and God gave me specific verses to give her. I had nothing to give - but God did through me. May God strength and mold her through this encounter.
~~Meeting and praying with another woman I had never met - a God connection through her sister (whom I barely know). This was very encouraging and strengthening for both of us. I consider her a gift from God to me.
~~Buying a Bible with Rushe - a new daughter IN Christ and becoming her mentor.

When I think about it -- all of these are going to be continued ......
I wrote in my journal upon my return from this trip, "No words, not even thoughts or emotion can even come close to Who You are Lord." In Psalm 145 it says, "Your Greatness NO ONE can fathom." I thank the Lord He has let me glance - how favored I am to see :

~~His Mighty Acts
~~His Glorious Splendor
~~His Wonderful Works
~~His Great Deeds
~~His Abundant Goodness

Cough, cough, cough --

Coughing - that's what I've been hearing lately.
It's so loud it gives me a headache.
It keeps me from sleeping all night.
It can be downright irritating.

I used to get mad about it.
I used to think "what's wrong with you? quit already."
I used to not understand at all.
I really hated coughing.

Now when I hear it -- I pray.
Pray for healing.
Pray for God to "have His way".
Pray for direction.

I pray for the man who is coughing.
A man who seeks the Lord.
A man who asks others to pray for him to "be obedient to God's voice."
A man who is gentle and humble and who loves his enemies.

No, coughing is not good.
But he's committed to me
And I'm commited to him (even though I may cover my ears)
I'd rather have him coughing than not at all.

Standing Firm in this thing called
Marriage ........
Wearing glasses ....
Made by God.