Memory work...

I took this picture back in the fall when I was in Colorado.  I loved this picture and I wanted to remember it, so I made sure to put it on my computer where I could find it.  I like to tuck things away on my desk, in my Bible, on my computer, in my office that will be reminders of special things I've seen or heard, or someone sent me.  Memories or treasures that provide hope, remind me of a special time of love, or a much need laugh!

What do you commit to your memory?  Once again I was challenged when I received my update blog post from Living Proof Ministry with Beth Moore about memorizing scripture in the new year.  I've never been a person that like to memorize anything.  I got myself in big trouble when I was in high school and we were suppose to memorize some William Shakesphere see I don't even know how to spell the mans name right!  Anyway, I struggled terribly with it because I didn't apply myself and I didn't like it so I refused to do it!  I do have a very stubborn streak and it cost me big time!  My grade showed I did not memorize and well let's just say Mary and Howard were not happy with me!  I wasn't either deep down I knew I could have done it, but I didn't really because I didn't want to.

When I got this blog posting from Living Proof I decided I wanted to take this step this year and put some scripture into my heart.  Scripture that I can cling to on that difficult day when I need a little hope, scripture that I can grasp when I have nothing else to hold on to...God's Word that will fill that empty spot in my heart!  Now don't get me wrong I do know some scripture by heart, but not nearly what I feel I should know.  So I'm off beginning tomorrow learning a new scripture each week!  Yes, hopefully by the end of 2013 I will have 52 new scriptures added to my memory bank to cherish, to treasure, and to refresh me!

My first one was shared by a sweet friend of mine on the JOS Facebook page this morning from Proverbs 16:9 and I decided to memorize the NIV version of this scripture.  It goes like this ~ In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.  It was so appropriate for me to begin with this verse since I talk about shoes a lot with my ministry about wearing our own shoes and not someone else's!  WE need to also let the Lord determine our steps and He determined this one for me about memorizing more of HIS Words!  Want to join me well it's time to pick one and begin the journey for 2013!

Treasuring God's Word by studying His Word reading the Chronological Bible and also memorizing His Words that is my excitement for the new year.  What is your excitement?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Are you ready? Ready, Set, Go...

The ending of another year and the beginning of another, but are you ready?  What resolutions are you making or do you even make resolutions?  I don't, because I don't seem to keep them other than one I made about five years ago now and that was to read the Bible through in a year.  I kept it and it forever changed my life!

I tell you that with all honesty!  I was already a Christian.  I already worked in the local church and loved my walk with Christ, but I wanted more and the more was Him.  I wanted more of Him and the way to have more of Jesus is in His Word, so I encourage you to get ready, get set and go with me again this year through God's Word.  Allow Him to transform you even more through an amazing journey of His Words forever changing you for the better!

We (JOS) use the Chronological Bible New Living Translation and it is awesome.  Order it through Amazon, go to Lifeway, or we have them at JOS office (will be closed until January 8) just make arrangements to join us for this race that you will definitely be a winner in the end!

Winning because of God's Word changing me everyday,
Debbie

So excited! It's almost time...

It's almost time!

Did you hear?  

Journey of Sisters is about to begin another awesome time in God's Word daily throughout the new year!  We are going to read together each day from the Chronological Bible the NLT to see what God wants to share with each of us and I can't wait! I get so excited about how God speaks to me and then to someone else so differently on the exact same reading!  I think it is because we realize that each of us are truly unique and special to Our Savior.  He so desperately wants a relationship with each of us and it is so special to watch Him develop the relationship designed just for each one of us!

Join us beginning on January 1 right here!  Get your copy of the Bible and join us on this spectacular journey right in the comfort of your own home.  Now for the next part and it is important too!  Please comment back so that this isn't just Debbie it's each of us sharing, because God may use one of you to speak to me or someone else!  He wants to use all of us, not just me!

So join me here on January 1 for the trip of a lifetime shared with your girlfriends!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Anticipation!

Oh the excitement in the air!  The children are so hyper and ready for Santa to appear and leave behind all these wonderful presents that were on each of their long list.  I listen and wonder do any of us really get the point of Christmas anymore?  Do any of us remember the reason for the season?  Oh, of course we adults do, but do we really?  Almost since Thanksgiving everyone has been in rush mode to make sure that the right gifts are purchased, the right food is cooked, the right parties are attended, and that everything is just right.  I'm just as guilty as the next person, so I'm just asking that today we all push pause and remember the true meaning of Christmas.  Give thanks for the gift that came into this world to save each and everyone of us!  Take a moment and read the story of the baby in a manager.  

Imagine perhaps being in the shoes of the shepherd as the angel appeared to them and in Luke it says the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  Imagine it for a moment and then suddenly a great company of heavenly angels praising God singing Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Imagine being Mary or Joseph and looking down on this beautiful baby boy that you wondered how you could ever be a parent to Jesus, the Messiah.  And yet you were chosen to be the ones to parent him and show him and protect him until his time to begin ministering to the world.  Imagine the shepherds suddenly showing up and telling these new parents what they witnessed and were told about this special little baby.  We are told that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  

Today practice what Mary teaches us through this story in Luke treasure what matters and ponder them in your heart!  Treasure Jesus every moment of every day and share Him and this amazing gift with all that you love and those that might not yet know Him!

Merry Christmas!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Tic Tock! Tic Tock!

Well, it is time to fess up!  Yes, I've been in a major crisis mode for the last several months.  People that know me well knew, but others I think I was wearing my masks pretty well! Yes I would wear a different mask for different people.  Am I alone in this or perhaps you do this as well? I was pretending everything was just rosy and well actually it wasn't!  There I said it and I feel so much better!

Nobody needs to know details other than for me to say it was something God was working on with me, individually.  It was some major reshaping that I wasn't really enjoying.  I am beginning to feel the new shape and allowing Him to do His masterwork on me ~ even if it is difficult!  It is very difficult!  Saying no to the world is not always easy and honestly we must make this choice daily!  Even if it is just to say yes and no to the world and spend time with Him!  Busy work that we call for Him is sometimes a cover that needs to be uncovered for a honest look at what might be going on.

 I purchased Beth Moore's Bible study on the book of James when it first came out.  I've had it right by my desk at home for almost two years (I know it came out in 2011 not sure of month) well it's almost 2013.  Did I open it?  Not until the last six weeks and I must say there is absolutely nothing like God's timing!  He knows when to give us exactly what we need and when.  I love it!  When I finally decide to pick up a study to take a closer look that I order knowing that God will tell me when it always surprises me!  Why?  Because God is God and well I'm just little old Debbie plugging along filling in my calendar, working on my to do list and zap...God rocks my world!  Thanking Him for rocking my world!  Reminding me just how HUGE HE IS!

Today, all I wanted to share is I'm thanking God for His amazing timing, His discipline out of His love, His Amazing Grace, and His love beyond measure!  Thank You Father for giving me exactly what I need when I need it and for opening my eyes to see, my ears to hear even when it is painful.  I love you dearly!  Amen

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Mary or Joseph? Who amazes you the most?

Never will the amazing story of Jesus impending birth stop being a wow moment for me and for this I give thanks!  Stop this morning and ponder it for yourself and give yourself an amazing present to begin another busy day during this Christmas season.  A time that we celebrate the birth of Our Savior is a time to really look at the story and exactly how God worked the whole timing out for everyone.

A young girl perhaps 14 years of age is visited by Gabriel and told that she is going to give birth to Our Savior.  Imagine this wonderful news for a moment, did she view it as wonderful the whole time even in those quiet moments that had to enter her mind of whether she might die from stoning in the process?  Did she view it as wonderful when the people whispered loudly behind her back?  Did she truly realize that she was going to be the mother to Our Savior and her own?  Only God could work these things and so much more out in a 14 years old mind or anyone's for that matter!

Then you have this wonderful man by the name of Joseph.  Joseph a simple carpenter who loved Mary.  Are we told he loved her?  No, but in Matthew we are told that when he heard this news he did not want to publicly call her out no he wanted to divorce her quietly.  You know he had to be a little mad or angry, but yet something kept him from loudly declaring anything.  Once again an angel appeared on the scene to explain things to Joseph and he accepted this huge responsibility of being an earthly male figure in the life of Jesus.  A man that would teach the Savior about things here on earth and you know he did not want to mess up his role in the life of Jesus.  Joseph was indeed a special man!

It is hard to pick which one of these special people amazes me the most.  I love them both and their willingness to be obedient to God's plan for their life knowing in their heart that He would work it all out for them to just accept it and move forward.  Let's learn from these two amazing people about obedience and acceptance moving forward with the plan that God indeed has for each of us.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Hanging on to what?

I love this photo!  Look at those adorable little eyes beckoning to his mommy raccoon (at least in my mind) HELP!  Barely hanging on, but yet he's hanging.

What are you barely hanging on to this late morning in November?  Are you hanging on to hurt feelings that perhaps you might need to let go of?  Or perhaps that statement that maybe we totally took the wrong way? Exactly what is it that you will not let go of?  Or perhaps you aren't like me and beat something into the ground that I should have let go of months ago - I'm happy for you!  I am striving to do better!

I have been at the office studying and came across this scripture that just touched my heart from Matthew 22:37-40 that Jesus spoke so beautifully: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Did you see what Jesus said the Law and prophets hang on to?  It hit me well if I was truly clinging to these words I wouldn't be hanging on to the hurt feelings or the other stuff!  What about you?  Which are you clinging to?  I don't think either of us are as cute as this baby raccoon clinging to these awful things, but I imagine that if we start clinging to these wonderful words that Jesus gave us we will all be a lot cuter inside and out!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Book Review: "The Weight of Mercy by Deb Richardson Moore

My first words I want to share is that this book is a wonderful example of Deb's favorite scripture which is Mark 8:34 -- where Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."  I sent Deb a email with a few questions after reading her book and relating to so much of what Deb wrote about ministry serving the homeless.  The first was about her favorite scripture and I was so touched with her response.  Easy is not a word that is mentioned in the same breath with sharing about ministry with the homeless.  Rewarding, difficult, eye-opening, surprising, heart-warming, and so many other words describe this ministry, but never easy!  Deb's response about denying oneself is exactly what her ministry is all about along with sharing Jesus!

Deb shares beautifully through the story of the Triune Mercy Center in South Carolina exactly how she along with others are taking up the cross and following Jesus.  Jesus never told us it would be easy and it's not, which is exactly what she shares through this wonderful book.  The honestly of words shouted at her with anger, the awful smells that often times greet her upon arriving at her work along with the messy business of sharing about God's grace in a difficult setting.  Deb wasn't called to serve in a beautiful new sanctuary with the walls painted to match all the new pew swatches with the latest powerpoint worship setting; no she is called to minister to people that so desperately need to know about God's love where it isn't always easy to offer that hug is so needed!  She shares honestly that indeed it's not always what she wants to do, but it is where she is called to serve and serving is what this book is all about - service.

Finishing this book reminded me that people that enter into the Mercy Center must see hope when they look at Deb serving and digging knee deep into their world!  Allowing her world to be changed with the midnight phone calls of break-ins, or not giving up when the woman you placed so much hope into allowing her to serve and realizing that she is taking from the ministry, but yet she continues to show up daily to minister in their world!  Yes, she is the arms of Jesus to people that desperately need to feel those Mighty Arms!

I encourage you to purchase this book on Amazon.com and check it out for yourself.  I am including a special for your kindle to purchase this amazing book.  

Do you want your neatly wrapped package world to be rocked?  Well, purchase this book and read it to realize what getting down in the trenches might do to that neatly wrapped package!  Perhaps, God will use this book rock your world in a whole new way!  

Deb gets up daily to an adventure that God called her to and reading it you feel her passion for Jesus, you read about authentic real service with no pretense!  It's all about being real and Deb is just that being real for Her Savior! 

I hope you will read this wonderful book and share it with your friends!  I purchased the book for our office at Journey of Sisters, because I believe it is worth your time and your money!  A wonderful gift for yourself or your friends!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie Covington

Give thanks for family and all that implies!

Holidays usually mean getting together with all the family or with those you love!  We love them and they love us, but that also means accepting things about each other that we don't necessarily love.  Holidays bring busy schedules, which brings on short fuses, along with patience left the scene yesterday.  Anybody relate?

We rush all year long and we come into November and December on what is left over along with the rush of the season.  We gather together to share stories, laugh, eat, and celebrate thanks and joy when suddenly brings up a story that you don't think near as funny as the others do.  Oops, it starts!  Seriously, I love the family gathering together and truly being reminded how much I love each one.

I've been doing the Beth Moore study on James the brother of Jesus.  Imagine being the little half brother to Jesus!  Talk about some sibling issues of feeling well way less than this perfect older brother!  Yes, He truly is perfect not like our brothers or sisters that we make perfect in our own minds, but truly perfect and not to mention He is the Savior of the world!  I had never given this thought much thought until this study and I am someone that is open about the insecurity issues that I faced with my older brother's success on the golf course and my sister's beauty.  God's word once again helped me realize that all is healed through Jesus!

Imagine, Jesus hearing the words that his own brother thinks he having issues with his mind.  James lived in the house with Jesus, but yet was not a believer at first!  Read the different scriptures in the early stages of Jesus preaching and the things we learn, but most important we find him with the other believers praying when Peter escapes from prison.  Finally, he believes that indeed Jesus was the Savior.

I bring this up today because do you have relationships that need healing within your family?  Pray and ask God to show you the way to allow Him to heal the relationship. WE are not able to heal the relationship, but HE is!  So pray for God's guidance in using the right words, patience in understanding and letting go of situations that more thank likely they don't mean anything by it...no they are human just like we are and we all need forgiveness and to let things go!  Yes, each and everyone of us all need to let go!  So let go and give thanks that you have family and that God makes each of us unique and we are all His children!

Jesus forgave his own family for not honoring him.  Read Mark 6 about among his relatives and in his own house a prophet without honor.  Yes, He was sent for His own family and they didn't realize who He was and yet He loved them just like He loves us.  We are all forgiven because He loved us first, not the other way around!

Love first your family member that needs to see and feel love and allow God's healing love to run all over each of you!  Invite Him into your gathering to sit at your tables and share His amazing love with everyone!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Like a clap of thunder

I found myself right back in the story of Samuel being called this morning because God wanted to teach me a little bit more about this special man.  

Yesterday, we talked about the tingle of God.  Riding in this morning the Lord brought the word tingle back to my mind, so I responded okay I'll give it another look when I get to my desk.  It was amazing what He once again taught me because I was obedient and responded!  

I started with the word tingle and it means in the original language of Hebrew exactly that tingle with the ears.  The commentary went on with these examples "like a clap of thunder", "slap both ears at once", or "make them smart with pain".  God was making a point loudly to the people and to Samuel.  I think God was doing the same with me through this story today.

First point that grasp my attention today was that it took Samuel going to Eli 3 times before Eli realized it was a Divine Appointment for Samuel.  He was the teacher and it took him a little while to grasp who was calling.  How often do we go to the wrong person?  Or how often does the teacher respond without grasping who might be needing a reply of ask the Lord to speak to you?  

Samuel was a young man in his early teens when he was called in this story.  He served the Lord, but did not yet have the personal relationship with the LORD to recognize His voice.  Yet he knew about Him, he served Him daily.  In fact, he was sleeping by the doors of the LORD to open them in the morning.  

I want you to picture this young man asleep it was still night, but dawn was near.  Because we are told that the lamp of God was not yet gone out we know it was nearing the early light and he heard his name.  Samuel was thinking it was his mentor, so he responded by going immediately to his teacher.  Don't you know he might have wanted to roll over and ignore it?  Think about early teenagers you know!  Okay, settled we all know that he might have been tempted to roll over, but he didn't he got up.  Not once, but 3 times to be sure he wasn't needed.

Finally, Eli realized that it was God wanting to share with Samuel.  Eli gave Samuel wonderful instructions about being a respectful, willing, and obedient servant.  At the time do you think Eli might have felt disappointment because he wasn't going to receive this special word?  Do you think deep in his being he knew God was going to share about Eli's family?  Eli knew he put his family before the LORD and ignored the things his children had done.  One commentary stated that in his heart he knew it was going to be about his judgment and that part of the discipline was that he did not receive the message himself that he had to receive it from his obedient student.  What words have someone stated to you recently that perhaps were a message that you didn't receive from the LORD, but were given from someone else in discipline?

Samuel received the harsh message about God disciplining Eli.  What did Samuel do?  Did he brag about it? Did he walk around the next morning shouting guess who talked to me about what He is about to do?  No, we are told he laid back down until morning and went about his chores.  In fact, he did not share with Eli until Eli made him share with him.

Yet he shared it!  Don't you know this was difficult for this young man?  Isn't it hard to tell an adult bad news, yet this young man had to do exactly that!  In fact, we are told that Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him.  Eli responded with resigned respect knowing exactly who God was and is!  He is LORD!

So much in this chapter for all of us to learn.  Are we listening to God?  Or perhaps continually running to someone else?  Also, when God does use us are we humble and remember that actually it is God doing it and He allows us to participate?

Wow, Samuel was a special young man that God used in a Mighty Way!  What special young person do you know that perhaps you need to direct to go lay down, ask the LORD to speak and then listen?  Then again maybe it is us that needs to follow this advice for ourselves!

Listening to the clap of thunder,

Debbie

What makes you tingle?

What makes you tingle?  Is it being tickled?  What about someone running their finger down a chalkboard?  Good news?  Being cold?  What about when you hear from God?

Every time that I realize that God sees me I just tingle all over!  It is the most wonderful feeling not like the chalkboard experience, but that dies make you tingle too!  Reading from 1 Samuel 3 this morning about the calling of Samuel and God calling his name.  Several times Samuel hears, but mistakes it to be Eli calling him. When Eli finally realizes the Lord is speaking to Samuel,  he instructs Samuel to go, lie down and then ask the Lord to speak to Him when he calls and then to listen.

In 1 Samuel 3:11 these words spoke to my heart, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle."  When were the last time your ears tingled with a word from God?  It is my prayer that you answer just a moment ago, or something like that, but if not ask Him to make your ears tingle!  Ask Him to show you His fingerprints all over your life and then pay attention when He responds!  Listen to the words that God wants to share with you.  Just like He shared with Samuel allow Him to tingle your ears!

Allowing my ears to tingle,

Debbie

Honor your father and mother

I share a lot about my family and today is another day that I will share family stuff!  First I must share that I am very blessed with the gift of my parents and siblings!  We are very close and always say what we think to each other - sometimes not a good thing, but we always know that it doesn't matter what we say we love each other!  We are honest and yet we still know in our hearts that we are loved.

Our family hits a lot of milestones in November this year.  My parents will celebrate sixty years of marriage and my dad turns eighty.  Always I can tell you that my parents put us first in their life.  In early years of growing up we were their priority.  It wasn't about what social ladder they might climb, or what event they were missing always we were number one in their life.  We ate family dinner everyday at 5:00 together and shared about our day.  I am thankful that my parents knew how badly we needed them and so they placed us at the top of their list.  I love you both dearly for letting go of other stuff and making us your priority!

Second, my dad.  Any of you that know me know that I think he is number one.  He is a man with a heart as big as he is in size.  He helps others almost to a fault at times, but he taught us that people are what matters it is not the other stuff!  Many times I've watched him help and in turn he was teaching me what needed to be done in life.  I think the biggest compliment a girl pays her dad is when she marries someone a whole lot like her dad and I sure did that!  My hubby is exactly like my dad and I love them both beyond words!

Today is voting day and today is another first for my family.  All of you that know my dad know -  that he is a great business man, a man of opinions (whether you want it or not), a man with values, a man of compassion, but many of you may not know that he always supported candidates but did not actually vote.  Now this is not a good thing, but he felt this election was so very important that he admitted it was time to change this one detail in his journey.  So today at two weeks short of eighty he will make his path to the voting booth to actually pull the lever, because he felt this time he MUST take a stand that our country could not afford another 4 years.  Now I don't know how the election will turn out, but once again my dad is teaching me that  it is never too late to change your mind and follow your convictions even if it might be a little out what you had on your daily planner!  Also, both of my parents taught me that even if our man doesn't win the election today - we know that God will  win in the end!

Today, I am sharing about one of ten commandments from Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother...  I not only honor them I love them both beyond words!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Even for just one!

Last night Frankie and I were invited to attend a local Bible study while visiting here in Colorado and it was wonderful.  The group was women from their twenties to their sixties or so from all parts of the United States gathered together to begin a study on Philippians.  It was the first time they gathered so to begin the teacher began with the background information of the book of Philippians and the author, Paul.

I must say right up front it was great!  I enjoyed the background of exactly where this was happening, what was going on around the writing of this letter, and the setting up of the scene.  I love to think about what is going on with the people in God's word as the stories happen, so this was right up my alley!  I loved it!

We began by learning to important points about the book of Philippians that the word "joy" appears 16 times and that Christ is mentioned over 50 times in a 4 chapter book!  Wow!  I knew both were mentioned a lot, but I had not counted them and don't remember if I've heard heard that fact before, but what touched me most was the study of Acts 16 and what exactly Paul was dealing with during the time he planted the church of the Philippians.

Paul was ready to share the news about Jesus with others.  He was trying to go to Asia, but God closed that door and opened the door of Macedonia (Greece) through a vision.  So he headed for Greece to bring the special news of Jesus to a group of women and a guard that was put in charge of Paul!  Yes, Paul went through some pretty major things all for the special news of Jesus to reach these people!  God is going to do what it takes for each of us ~ even if that means pain for the ones delivering the good news!

Yes, Paul arrives in Macedonia and begins to look for the local church, but can't find one.  Do you know it only took ten men to form a Jewish synagogue?  Yet, in this really large city there was not one, so he headed to the river to find a place to pray.  Upon arrival they found a group of women that were there to share news about God, but Paul began to share and their hearts were opened.  Lydia responded to the message and ask Paul to her home.  Paul stayed and the beginning of this new church.

Along the way a small slave girl that told futures and made a group of men a large amount of money crossed Paul's path.  This little girl began to get on Paul's last nerve with her shouting of the truth.  Yes truth, but it must have been in a very aggravating manner because Paul finally had enough and demanded that demon out of this little girl!  Yes, so these men lost their money maker and became angry.  So Paul was in trouble now.  Yes, they attacked Paul and Silas.  Stripping them, flogging them, and then threw them in an inner cell and placed in stocks.

A very long day for anyone, but these two special men at midnight began to sing and praise God!  Imagine it.  We complain about long days, but our day usually don't include any of the above.  No it may be we miss an appointment, we have an argument with a spouse, we have a sick child, we lose our job, we receive bad news at the doctor, but not usually a beating, naked in front of a huge crowd throwing us in jail in the dark attached to another human in chains!  No this was a bad day all for this guard that was told guard this man or your life...

Well, God showed up!  Earthquake form and everyone was freed to run.  But no one runs because of Jesus showing up through these two men singing and praising God in the jailhouse!  Yes, they all heard the news that they each needed!

God is going to go to extremes to reach even one!  I look around right now and ponder isn't God really trying to reach a whole lot of us?  Truly look around for yourself and God loves us all so much that He is going to get our attention.  Yes, even through difficult situations He will get our attention because He loves us and wants to spend eternity with us.

It gives me chills up and down my spine at just how much God really does love each of us!  Even through the pain of another He will do what it takes to reach us.

Paul still had the joy of Jesus even after all he went through to plant this church!  He knew the importance of sharing with others, do we?

Sharing how happy I am that God took me to this study last night to be reminded of how much God loves each of us!  He will share it with or without us, but don't you want to be one of the ones that is allowed to be part of this amazing adventure?  Imagine it through everything Paul went through he still felt joy and love and was excited to share it with everyone!  

Share today,

Debbie

Follow Me

I woke up this morning still tired.  I tossed, I tumbled, and tossed, and tumbled more last night.  I just can't seem to relax and honestly I seem to do the same thing when I'm awake during the day.  My mind is jumbled, my thoughts are jumbled and I'm not sure of my next step.

I awoke early to read God's Word and was lead to the story of Levi being called to follow Jesus.  Levi is the disciple that later became Matthew.  Remember he was a tax collector and others viewed him as less than desirable, but Jesus saw something special in him.  So he said the words in Luke 5:27 ~ Follow me.  

I love that Jesus calls all of us to follow Him and that absolutely none of us are worthy.  Or I will speak for myself and know that I am not worthy.  At times I feel this so strongly and He always reminds me just like this morning.  I called you because you are worthy because of me Debbie.  

I am always amazed how I am directed to a scripture that touches my heart where I am in the moment.  Lately due to stress from life in general I've questioned what I'm doing and where I'm going, but this morning ever so gently the Lord reminded me that He called me to Follow Him.  Now He didn't give me the answers to all my questions, but He reminded me that what is important is just to Follow Him.  So, I'm following and we shall see where exactly He leads me.

I'm still not certain, but I'm okay with that knowing He will show me the certainty of the next path.  I am experiencing the pangs of unsteady feet along the path, because He knows where we are headed, but I don't.  Yet I know it is an adventure that I don't want to miss, so I've taken His hand to parts unknown and we shall see where He takes me now!  It's exciting yet jumbled times waiting to watch it all unfold along the way!  Stepping with faith to parts unknown...

Seeking,

Debbie

I lift my eyes...

Well, all of you that know me know that I am a true Southern girl, right?  Well, when it snows in the south we stay home for the day, right?  Well, this Southern girl drove through a Colorado pass last night in the dark with it snowing and yes dodging moose!  Exciting, yes!  Anxiety-ridden? YES!

Until this Psalm came across my mind with a reminder of who I look to for strength ~

Psalm 121

I lift my eyes to the hills-

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-

he who watches over you will not 

slumber;

Indeed, he who watches over Israel 

will neither slumber or sleep.

The LORD watches over you-

the LORD is your shade at your right

hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm-

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming 

and going

both now and forevermore!

Actually once He placed this on my heart even though I was creeping along the drive; I didn't totally relax, because He also gives us a brain to think with and mine kept repeating what were you thinking Debbie?  Why didn't you get a motel room and drive over at least in the daylight?

Because indeed when I woke up this morning to the beauty of the hills truly mountains I was reminded of exactly where my help does come from and indeed it is the LORD.  He drove that car last night for this Southern girl and got me to the house which was nice and warm with excitement feeling my spirit ~ because He always welcomes me to this place in such a special, beautiful way!

Thank you LORD for the blessing of sharing this part of your amazing creations!

Sharing in the beauty,

Debbie

Whose treasured possession?

Today I feel so strongly the reminder from Malachi 3:16 that we are all God's treasured possession!  Yes, each and everyone of us, if we are His!

I loved the picture as a reminder that we all look different, we are all made differently, we are all special!  Yes, we are each unique and special!  Remember, the words in Psalms 139:13 and 14~ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made!  Yes, Praise the LORD that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

God loves each of us more than we are able to comprehend!  In Malachi 1:2 we are told by the LORD these words - "I have loved you," Do you get it?  Do any of us get it?

You are God's treasured, loved, uniquely made special person!  Claim it today with whatever you face remember who loves you!!!

Loved by the King,

Debbie

Because

Do you remember growing up and your parents would tell you not to do something and your automatic response was why?  Was their automatic response because I said so?

I remember a lot of conversations very much like the one above with no other explanation is needed young lady type of attitude shown by my parents.  (as a side note I quickly changed my attitude too) I truly felt more information was needed and definitely would have been appreciated!  Oh when we were young...well maybe last week something might have happened along this line because we always want the answer to why.

Once again in study yesterday the story from Luke 5 with the calling of the first disciples was being taught and discussed.  The line that just grasp my attention was Peter's response to Jesus.  Jesus was teaching from the boat of Simon Peter when He told Peter to put down their nets to catch some fish.  Peter not sure exactly how to let Jesus know that they had been doing this all night with no fish to speak of and now He was telling them to go again.  Peter being quite the diplomat responds, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets."  How often does Jesus tell us to do something and we respond with why?  Perhaps we aren't even diplomatic like Peter was and we shout not me ~ I've already tried that it didn't work?  Peter was probably tired, but yet he did as the Master requested even filled with a little bit of doubt.  Are you filled with a little ounce of doubt today?  Well, I encourage you to respond like Peter and because Jesus says to do it you will or I will!  After all reading further the fish caught began to break the nets and then even sink the boats!  Wow, if we respond in a positive manner Jesus always gives us way more in return than we ever give Him!

God shows up in Mighty Ways, but do we?  Allow God to astonish you today just like He did with the crowd that watched this scene unfold.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Praise the Lord!

Are you grumbling today?  Are you complaining?  Well, let's have an attitude adjustment and Praise the Lord!

After all we woke up this morning, the sun is shining, and God is good all the time!  I was thinking about praising God while I was thinking I was praising.  You know when your alone and you get your praise on??  Well, even alone my praise and worship is a little quieter than some people because God made each of us unique!  Yes and He knows how He makes us, so He appreciates us being who He made us to be.  If you are loud with your praise, get it on!  If you are quieter with it,  you get yours on to.

Today is a day of praise!

Psalm 33:  1-5 (HCSB)  says it like this:

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful.  Praise the LORD with the lyre; make music to HIM with a ten-stringed harp.  Sing a new song to Him: play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.  For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is trustworthy.  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the LORD'S unfailing love.

Give thanks for HIS unfailing love!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Move on!

I love it when God shows up in a fresh new way though His Word!  Last night He showed up in a Mighty Way through His Word and I have to share it with all of you ~ my friends!

We all know who Moses is right?  He is the man that God picked to lead the people out of Egypt.  Moses had much wisdom and yet he was so human just like us.  We think we know the right answers some times and so did Moses.  I want each of you to take your Bible and read the following scripture for yourself out loud.  Yes, out loud.  Exodus: 14 beginning in about verse 5 to picture the whole story of the people leaving Egypt, Pharaoh and his big guys change their mind, so they set out behind the people.  The people face the sea in front and the Egyptians in hot pursuit from behind when they scream out to Moses what now?  Moses replies don't be afraid, stand firm, and watch God fight for you!  

Are you like me and you quit reading at that point?  Don't and please read this for yourself out loud it makes a huge difference!

In verse, 15 listen to what God tells them:  Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the Israelites to move on.  Get moving in other words.  Don't stand still and wait for me to act.  Act and watch me work at the same time!  How often do we sit still when God is wanting action and faith in Him to work while we move?  I love this!!!!!  Share this with a friend that is perhaps standing still instead of taking action and moving on and having faith!

God is so awesome!  Be in AWE of Our Amazing Savior!!!!!  

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Do you want more from God?

One of our Bible study groups has been looking at Exodus 33 this week and God's glory and Moses asking God to go with Him and be with Him!  

How does God show up in your daily life?  Do you ask Him important questions about Him showing His glory?

Today, ponder a time that God showed up in your life and His glory shined through you!  Give thanks for this special moment and then share it with someone that needs to hear about Our Savior showing up your life and that He will show up in theirs as well, if they desire to have relationship with Him.

Allow God's glory to shine through you today!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Come and follow me!

Are you someone that it's easy to take that step out of your comfort zone?  Remember, when you were younger and perhaps friends ask you to try something different perhaps try out for cheerleader, or a sport, or even the school talent show?  Perhaps you were like me and that just was not comfortable for you!  

Then we progress to college and a whole new world.  Picking your lifetime job to begin studying for at the age of 18 was quite a challenge for me!  I think I switched majors 4 times and at the age of 40 something finally realized that my calling was nothing like I studied in college, but it was something that was a challenge for me.  A step way out of my comfort zone.  A step away from all that I knew, but it felt right in my heart and still does!

Imagine, you are out fishing with your family and fishing is your line of work.  It's how you provide for your family by the fish you catch you feed your family as well as those that purchase them.  Suddenly you notice this man walking along the shore that calls out, "Come, follow me" and immediately you leave your nets and follow him.  Do you think they paused and looked at each other or immediately tossed the net to follow Jesus?  Look at the story in Matthew 3: 18-22 and ponder these thoughts for yourself.  

Once Jesus captures your heart I believe you are able to leave your net immediately with His help!  What is Jesus calling to you?  Is He calling you to come?  Is He calling you to step away from the net and allow Him to show you a new way to proceed with your life?

Today listen carefully to the voice calling you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Surprise!

Are you a person that likes surprises?  When I answer that question I must reply "it depends"!  Not all surprises are welcome, but some are fantastic!  Before I go any further I love this little girl and the hint of smile and the hands lifted up with surprise, really?  She is adorable!  I felt like her this morning in my devotional time asking really?  Did I really not recognize Jesus?

Beginning my devotional time this morning Luke 24: 13-35 spoke to my heart!  Jesus surprised me once again this morning with the reminder that He shows up when we least expect Him and do we recognize Him.  

Do you remember the story about the two men walking along the road to Emmaus.  Do you know the word Emmaus means "warm springs" and they were used for healing purposes?  Doesn't that add a lot to this wonderful story?  Two men hurting walking and talking about what happened on the cross with Jesus.  These two men don't realize it, but they are on the road to healing and how often are we found on the exact same road?  Often times I would hazard a guess!  It doesn't take much to be hurting, but these men were devastated they had followed Jesus, believed Him to be the Messiah and did not understand what had just happened.  This event happened 3 days after Christ was crucified, these two men were sad, because they were not sure about the being risen story, or that He was really Christ after all.  Doubt had entered their hearts and they were sharing and talking when suddenly a man appeared to walk with them.  The Greek word used in the story actually means "to draw near, approach."

So, the men were on a road to healing when Jesus drew near to them!  Isn't Jesus the coolest?  The men didn't recognize Him and shared the whole story with Him about what had just happened.  I wonder sometimes if Jesus ever gets tired of reminding us who He is?  He went back to Moses and other great stories of things found in God's Word to remind these men of the whole story.  Don't you begin to see and feel the healing beginning slowly to their souls and our own?  When we go to His Word the healing begins!  

They arrive and the men ask Jesus to stay and share a meal with them.  When they break bread their eyes were opened and they knew who He was!  Yes, and then He is gone.  Do we realize when Jesus shows up on our road to Emmaus?  Do we recognize it when He heals us?

I love this story and I love the fact that sometimes I know Jesus shares a chuckle at our humanness and how He must continually reassure us!  These men traveled with Jesus and yet they did not recognize Him until He opened their eyes!  The important thing that Jesus pointed out to me this morning was that  once again He did open their eyes!  He doesn't give up on us!  Thank you for continually pursuing us LORD!

Are you on the road to Emmaus?  Where has Jesus showed up lately and surprised you?  Look for Him today and allow Him to surprise you once again, so that you may be healed!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Everyone is looking for you!

Daily I am in groups of people and listen as people share about something missing.  Oh, they don't say I've lost something and I can't find it.  No, it's more like I am working so hard because I want to be able to buy that house in that part of town, or I want that type of car, or I want that piece of jewelry.  Or the conversation might go something like this;  life is so hard and I just don't get it.  So many conversations, but the root is all the same.  Something is missing.  So they search in stores, they search in bars, they search in different towns, they search on the internet and still the answer isn't discovered.  Oh, they might get an answer and they think it's the right one.  Finally!  For a moment or even a few days or months it makes them feel better, but before long the search is on again.

Do you recognize the scene above of searching?  I've done it myself.  It's kinda of like that song from years ago that goes something like looking for love in all the wrong places.  Remember it?  Well, I believe that is what we all do at different points in our journey!

This morning sitting on the back porch God lead me to Mark 1 and the story of Jesus going off by himself to pray.  I imagine the scene of an early morning, the quietness of the house, still dark and people around everywhere.  After all, Jesus always had people traveling with him, so people would have been surrounding him in the home.  He woke up and wanted to spend time with God, so he left the house and went to a solitary place.  Alone in the quiet speaking to His Father and  suddenly his disciples show up with the words that just spoke to me this morning.  "Everyone is looking for you" immediately the Spirit said that is what is wrong with the world.  Everyone is looking for Jesus and nobody realizes it!  Our society, our friends, our world whatever your world looks like tells you and me constantly that the answer is more, more, and more of whatever and that is true, but it is more of JESUS!  Not more stuff, not more money, not more events on your calendar, not more friends, not more of anything, but Jesus!

I share this because I know from personal experience that it is true.  I have the most profound peace that only Jesus provides.  I will take a wrong turn and my world turns upside down and I realize that what is missing is my solitary time with My Father and the way to correct my upside down world is to spend more time with Jesus!  He didn't move, but I did!  My world got busy with the stuff and suddenly something is missing and thankfully The Spirit will nudge me to return to Jesus!  Share with someone today about your journey of looking for Jesus!

Found Him and So Very Thankful that I did,

Debbie

Don't lose anytime...

I've been studying the story of Abigail.  I've always enjoyed her story.  Wondering how such a woman filled with such wisdom ended up with a "fool" like Nabal.  Nabal's name even means fool!  He was mean, he was proud, he was loud, and these are just a few of his finer qualities at least from what we read about him in 1 Samuel 25.  We also learn he was very wealthy and had a beautiful wife and she was intelligent!  Yes, both of these are listed in God's Word.  Such beautiful words shared about Abigail, but my favorite verse was found in verse 18.  Abigail lost no time!

I want to back up a minute and explain the story a little bit.  David and all of his men were hiding in the desert from Saul.  David had helped Nabal's shepherds while they had been  doing the job of taking care of Nabal's sheep.  David had watched over them during their sheep shearing time and now he needed Nabal's help.  So he told some of his men to go remind Nabal how they had helped take care of the shepherds and now Nabal could return the favor.  David wanted Nabal to help provide food for all of his people.

Well, Nabal being true to his name turned them back to David with a reply of "who is this David"?  When they returned and gave the reply.  Well, David was not a happy man!  He was going to answer Nabal's reply in haste with pulling his sword on him!  Yes, he was going to be rid of this man.

In the meantime, the servants told Abigail of the actions of her husband.  Abigail knew who this man/David was and knew she had to do something.  I love the picture of Abigail.  Her servants thought enough of Abigail to come to her and tell her what was happening.  During this time women just weren't consulted much, but this servant recognized Abigail's intelligence and went to her for help.  In verse 18, we are told that Abigail lost no time!  What a lesson for all of us to learn from this smart, beautiful woman named Abigail.  We see wrong things happening around us daily and God placed on my heart this morning this question to ask myself and to then in turn ask all of you - Are we wasting time watching the wrongs that surround us?  How do plan to act?  Are we going to jump into action like Abigail did to right the wrong?

Abigail gathered all the supplies she could gather and placed herself in the path of David and all of his men!  She stopped David from making a very bad mistake of having blood on his hands.  She kept David from acting in haste without thinking about the wrong that he was about to do to another human because he was in a hurry to answer a fool's response to his request.  Abigail humbled herself to show David the respect he deserved and God placed this woman in David's path to say the words that he needed to hear before he answered evil with a wrong answer!  Yes, sometimes we must move out of the comfortable place into an unknown area to be where God is calling us to be at that moment.  So today be like Abigail and waste no time!

Sweet Blessings,

Always amazed!

It is my prayer that I never loose those goose bump moments of God showing up in my life!  I love those moments when I realize that Our Savior sees me or anyone else for that matter!  Do you not love to hear these moments shared by the people around you?  Don't you love the reminders of God's Mighty Power?

This week in one of our Bible study groups we have been looking at Ezekiel 1- 2 and how God might be using a storm in our life to speak to us and are we allowing the storm to wake us up.  I love the reading that we studied this week with the wonderful reminder throughout of God's Power and are we even realizing how powerful He truly is.  You would think this point would be well obvious, but with the busy world we reside in      is it?  Do we realize it?  Do we get caught up in the storm and forget to look at the power in the storm?  Do we open our eyes and receiving the message that God might have for each of us?

I am responding by sharing this amazing passage with each of you.  Read it and really listen to the word that God might be sharing with you!  My message was to open my eyes and allow God to show me His Power!

What is your message? 

I will be waiting to hear the gift of the message that God had for each of you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Review of "Cradle My Heart"

Serving in women's ministry when I was offered the opportunity to read and review this little book on the topic of abortion, I immediately replied yes please send it to me.  My heart breaks at the times I have come across the path of a broken heart of a woman due to an abortion that touched her life or that of a loved one. The abortion brought with it suffering and most of the time experiencing it all alone, because of fear of how others will react, if they know that the choice of abortion was made so the suffering is spent alone filled with shame.  

Cradle My Heart written by Kim Ketola is a beautiful sharing of allowing God to use the broken heart of one woman to heal her and others by the sharing of her own personal path.  Kim is very real in the telling of her story.  The reader feels her pain in the shame of the abortion causing her to walk through so much of her life alone, the feelings of unworthiness, and finally the healing through realizing God's love is still her's for the taking!  Yes, indeed He restored her hope, He renewed her spirit, and He is using her to help heal others by her opening up her journey through the pain and back to Her Savior!

Kim walked the path and knows the feelings women feel and she speaks beautifully to the despair and the heartache, but also to the hope of being healed!  I have found in ministry that it is so helpful to be able to offer the words of someone that might have experienced a decision that is close to the one another might have made.  If I haven't walked the path, then my words fall short even if I mean the words with all my heart!  Some might doubt because I don't truly know the path, well Kim knows the path.

I intend to purchase this book for our women's ministry to offer women that made the choice of abortion and need to know that God still loves them!  It is a wonderful book and whether any of us realize it or not abortion breaks many hearts of the women sitting in the pew next to you at church.  One fact I learned in this book is 1/3 of women in their mid-forties have had an abortion, more than 1.3 million experience elective abortion every year which translates into around 8 to 10 million Christian women had an abortion.  Most of these women suffer alone because of the fear of how others will react if they know that they made the choice of an abortion.

I highly recommend this book to any woman whether the choice of abortion was part of your own journey or not it helps you to understand what the choice truly does to other women that did choose abortion.  It will help you to help others without judgment, but with love.  We all make choices that are perhaps not a good choice, but not all of us must suffer alone or feel the shame that these women experience.  It breaks my heart that these women suffer so deeply and they experience it all alone.

Also, if you would like to hear more about this wonderful book sign up for the webcast that I am going to link for you:

In coordination with the launch of their fall releases, Kregel will be hosting a live webcast event on September 20 at 8 PM EDT featuring authors Kim Ketola (Cradle My Heart), Teske Drake (Hope for Today, Promises for Tomorrow), and Dawn Scott Jones (When a Woman You Love Was Abused). The webcast will allow women to come together to share their struggles and fears in order to move toward healing and hope. Women will able to support one another and discuss shared experiences in a non-threatening, open and loving environment.

Cat Hoort of Kregel says, ""We are seeking to provide safe means for Christian women to be vulnerable with each other, to seek help and guidance from authors and counselors, and to find encouragement from those who have shared similar experiences. Our hope is that the Women Redeemed webcast will become a forum for hurting women as well as for those who can help. Kim, Teske, and Dawn are all survivors and their stories will surely inspire and equip other women to move toward healing and hope."

To register for the event, just click here. {https://www.facebook.com/KregelBooks/app_241719209283045}

Also, here are a few more facts about the book and Kim that might interest you:

Abortion continues to be a hot topic in politics, women’s rights, and medical practice. But for the eight to ten million American Christian women who have had one, abortion is a spiritual issue as well, raising questions of life and death, heaven and hell, grief and loss.

Writing from her own experience, Kim Ketola sheds light on one of the darkest and most neglected personal issues of our time: the widespread need for healing and spiritual recovery after abortion. “After abortion brought the worst trouble into my life I had ever known,” writes Ketola, “I just couldn’t see my way free to believe in God’s love.”

With a compassionate heart, Ketola offers ten true stories of healing promise from the Bible to help women answer the most common spiritual torments they face: Is abortion a sin? Does God hate me? Where can I turn in my shame and distress? How could I ever tell anyone the truth? And more.

Inspired by Romans 6:4--“just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life"--this is a definitive resource to help women see themselves and God anew and--finally--to find spiritual healing.

Meet Kim: 

Kim Ketola is a sought-after writer and motivational speaker with the Ruth Graham and Friends conference. After thirty years in the broadcasting industry, she founded a nonprofit organization through which she presents professionally accredited conferences to equip counselors and help individuals recover from the emotional and spiritual wounds of abortion. Kim lives in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Visit her website: www.cradlemyheart.org

If you would like to purchase this book and I do recommend it highly here is the link:

Link to buy the book:

http://ow.ly/cTF02

I don't know your story, but if you walked the path of choosing abortion please purchase this book.  I am a woman that suffered with infertility and this book allowed me to see the suffering of women that perhaps might have been used to heal my own suffering.  I never realized until God called me to women's ministry the suffering that these women also experience.  Deep in my heart I held resentment towards women that made this choice until God showed me the broken hearts of these women and just how easily any of us might make the same choice.  Once again I had to admit to God my judgments that are not mine to make!  Judgment is not mine and it's not yours either.  I believe this book speaks to ALL WOMEN and opens our hearts in a whole new way.

Thank you Kim for sharing your journey back to Our Father through the pain allowing God's glory to show through the cracks!  Father, forgive me for the times that I fail you and become one of those women that allows judgment to enter my heart.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie Covington

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

I remember like it was yesterday going to Sunday church and being allowed to pick your favorite hymn to sing.  I was a little girl and even at that point in my life I loved the old hymn "Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know... I remember the peace, the calm that just speaking the name Jesus would bring to my little girl problems.

Well, I'm now a woman in her fifties, married for 29 years and still know the peace that the name Jesus brings to my life.  I bring peace into my world just by speaking the name aloud.  I picture this man that was filled with love, compassion, mercy, kindness, laughter, forgiveness, goodness, patience, grace and so very much more and it fills my soul!  When I get into difficult situations, if I simply speak His name softly it is like He is caressing me with all of the traits above and I feel that peace that passes all understanding!  Do I hear an Amen?

Who doesn't need that feeling?  Well, in John 17:11 we are taught that indeed there is power in His Name!  If we say His name, we invite His power into our life whether it is a fight with our spouse, a child that is ill, or a simple disagreement with a friend, whatever we face if we speak His name, His power will come into the situation and bring our focus to Him!

Today, Speak His Name and remember that indeed it is the sweetest name we know!

Loving the sweetest of His Name,

Debbie

Writing block

Lately, I haven't written much and I guess you noticed.  If not, well then you didn't miss anything.  I've been in writer's block or should I say I haven't tried too much.  I've been tired, so I took a break.

I am glad you dropped by and hopefully I will be back at this in a couple of weeks.  No promises.  I have realized that it's okay, if I don't.  All of you go on with your own life and so do I and that is okay with me.  I've been spending quiet time with the LORD and time with the family and friends, which are very important to me.

Sometimes we all get our priorities a little off balance and I am working on spending more time with the LORD than just writing and talking about it actually the doing it.  So if I'm away and not writing perhaps I'm sitting at His feet and learning and growing.  Do you want to join me?

Sitting at His feet,

Debbie