The Supreme Climb

Taken from My Utmost for His Highest:
The Supreme Climb

"Take now your son . . . and offer him . . . as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" —Genesis 22:2

A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25-26 ). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs which must be removed-for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God! If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.

The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even "to go . . . both to prison and to death" ( Luke 22:33 ). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.

Love n Hugs...Laura

At the End of the Day

Today Mom, the kids, and I made a trip to Watseka.
I met up with my good friend Dara at Promises Coffeehouse...not only did I get some great time with her, but saw all my friends that work there and had some awesome coffee and dessert!
Lil Miss Ellie got lotsa attention fromt the gals there...and towards the end she let the whole place know her newest activity: screaming, shrieking, laughing, giggling: ALL-IN-ONE ;) yup, you got it....once she gets started there's no stopping her. It's adorable, really it is, and we just love what a happy baby she is BUT....she has been blessed with a GREAT set of lungs...soooooooo everyone hears her within miles around! Good thing she takes a pacifier and we can stick it in quicklike ;) Mom and Gabe had went to Walmart while we were there, then came back and got us and we went to visit my Dad where he's been working at a retirement/assisted living center for my Uncle Ken. He is repairing what the big flood damaged. They had torn everything out and now he's installing cabinets, trimming out, etc....
After lunch with some sweet older people, we headed back towards home. We decided to stop in at the clinic I used to work for in Gilman and got to see some old friends/co workers.
After getting back to mom and dad's and putting the kids down for late naps, I headed over to Chenoa to surprise Jason with supper. Play practice for the musical Oklahoma was in full swing. It's always fun to see the before and after with the kids. Then went back to Mom and Dad's to spend some time with them and the boys. In the middle of watching a movie and eating a choc chip cookie, I discovered a chocolate stain on my sweatshirt....had no idea how or when it got there, but Mom made the comment, wonder where it went and where else it got?
Got home tonite and found it on little Miss Ellie's white shirt along with stains from pooping up her back while in her car seat...fun fun!

So, at the end of the day...me thinks these things before I drift off to sleep:

1- When the floods of life hit us, how bad is the damage? Is our foundation built on solid ground? How often do we have to be "gutted out" and "re-installed"?
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-26

2-At the end of our days, how spotted and stained are our garments with sin? Are they big stains, messy smears, or small specks?
Isaiah 1:18“ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Love n Hugs...Laura

My Purpose

"My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory." ~Oswald Chambers

I'm determined to keep shining...even when I feel dim.

I'm determined to keep smiling...even when I feel poopy.

I'm determined to keep pressing on...even when satan pulls me back.

I'm determined to trust Him...even when I can't see.

I'm determined to hold fast to the right...even when wrong is on all sides.

I'm determined to keep the faith...even when others have given it up.

I'm determined to have hope...even when it seems lost.

I'm determined to love...even when it's hardest.

I'm determined to choose joy...even when I don't feel.

I'm determined to be...my utmost for my Highest...for His glory alone.

Love n Hugs...Laura

Tears of the Saints

This is a powerful song sung by Leeland...he opened for Casting Crowns the other night.
Just wanted to share it with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7eFLs03aYo

May Jesus be shining thru us always.

Love n Hugs...Laura

Blueberry Coffeecake

A favorite at our house and those we host!

3 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
1 c sugar
1 c butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 can pie filling (can use your choice, our favorite is blueberry)
*crumb topping: 1/2 c granulated sugar, 1/2 c flour, 2 T. melted butter

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, bp, soda, and sugar. Cut in butter as for pie dough until crumbs form. Add beaten eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix until batter is smooth and creamy. Spread half of batter in greased jelly roll pan. Spread pie filling over batter. Drop remaining batter by spoonfuls evenly over blueberries. Using 2 forks, spread batter lightly to cover as much of pie filling as possible. If some filling shows, it's okay. Combine crumb ingredients and stir with fork to make crumbs. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 375 for 40 min. Can also drizzle with powdered sugar frosting while still warm. Enjoy!

Love n Hugs...Laura

Slow Fade

" Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. "
~Psalm 1:1-3

"Read carefully the above verses: Notice how the man is walking, then standing, then sitting. When we fall it is a slow fade. A man's house doesn't crumble in one day....marriages don't crumble in one day...it's a slow fade. It happens so slowly, little by little, that you almost don't see it happening. Don't let that happen with you. " ~Lead singer of Casting Crowns

Last night I had the oppurtunity to go to the Casting Crowns concert in Bloomington with my brother Isaac and 3 of his friends. It was the most amazing 3.5 hours of worship and ministry...just a taste of Heaven. I was so blessed by their music, their hearts for worship, their humble performance, their words of ministry, their prayers, and their love for God. But also, I was so deeply blessed to be worshipping beside and with 4 incredible high school students. We had a great night of McDonalds for supper, the waiting for the concert, the concert, then the crispy cremes stop on the way home. I felt like I was back in the days of hanging out with Youth for Christ kids ;) I miss those days...I pray someday soon it will be here at Prairie Central.

I cannot begin to tell you how awesome it was to share this experience with my brother and his friends....it was a Friday night and they could have been out doing things who knows what high schoolers do now days....but they chose to be in the presence of their Almighty Father. We had moments of our arms around each other praying and we had moments of hands raised in surrender and worship....and there are no words to describe...only tears just flowed and heart swelled. I did not want to leave that sacred moment of time.

"Precious memories, how they linger, How they ever flood my soul;
In the stillness of the midnight, Precious, sacred scenes unfold."
~J.B.F. Wright

If you get the oppurtunity, this christian music group is well worth the time and money to go see them live...and well worth buying their music! They are an incredibly annointed group and not only is their talent amazing....so is there ministry. There is no doubt that God is blessing them BIG! They radiate Jesus!

Love n Hugs....Laura

The List Continues

Thankful for...
21- Freedom to serve God
22- Friends
23-Springtime beauty
24-phone calls from someone far away
25-prayers from loved ones
26-accountability partners
27- Peace that passes all understanding
28- Healing
29- music

30-techonology

" Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." Psalm 95:2