The vastness of our God

In conversations over the last several days, I've taken a stand on some things. I don't think that God causes earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and other natural disasters to use for wrath. I believe that when the world was created, all those that are deemed natural diasters were planned and as time goes on, they were to increase as it states in the New Testament several times. God set in motion every thing at the time of Creation. That's my predestination view.

Now on the other side. While natural disasters were created long ago and planned out, the same God directs at a single moment the movements of the humans that he created as He gave them free choice. Events that occur through the sinful nature that we first acquired at birth, and then given the option to leave at the foot of the Cross are those that may have evolved through generation to generation or through just a single day's event that caused catastrophic issues, not natural born.

That is the vastness of our God. He is a planner, knows the very day you were born, but also lives in the moment of the very action you participate in. He knows all, sees all, and knows how we will react at any given moment to any situation.

When we choose to walk in His steps, in His plan, we walk in freedom. True we walk through some narrow roads, deal with people who choose to not to know Him as we do on a daily basis. But that's the free will part of His plan. He's not going to force someone to have a relationship with Him. That's not His nature.

Yes, I'm rather grounded. I have to work things out to understand them a little better. Watch out for my next post as it may go deeper as I ponder on these things a little longer.

God's word is true-sin is sin

When I was working with Child Evangelism Fellowship, there was a great and simple definition as to what sin is. "Sin is anything you think, say or do that displeases God". So why do we as Believers in Christ haggle over what is right and wrong in God's eyes, twist what He says in His word to fit what we are doing in our lives? I was asked if I believed that a certian lifestyle could be changed or not. When I answered, that no it can't, there was a reason behind it. A person can not change what they don't acknowledge. (Yeah Dr. Phil!) If a person is not going to acknowledge that what God deemed to be sin, they aren't going to accept it and are not willing to change, but will make excuses for it to be acceptable for themselves and those around them. And God has no use for them if they continue to live a life of rebellion. God's word is very clear, if we take out something to fit our fancy, then His word become useless because it is His whole word that makes us alive in Him. It is Rheama and Logos. His word makes us accountable. Its not a bunch of rules because rules make it religious, and God's not into religion, He's into our lives. If we say that we are with out sin and live our lives like we want and twist His word around, then we are calling God a liar. And again we are making the book He gave us to live by, just a book. It has no value to it at that point. God's word is living and breathing. It is alive, every bit of it is truth. His word is truth. He give His believers freedom when they do confess their sins. When we acknowledge that our lives do not line up to His word, and confess our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 john 1:9) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. " (1 Cor. 6:9-10). So either we believe that what was written in Corithians is true and God's guidelines to what sin is in these verses or we throw the baby out with the bath water. God clearly states that even symbols in the Bible can't be changed or taken outwith out reprecussions from it (Matthew 5:18) , why would we take out or change words from it as well? Christ came to fulfill the law not to change it, and nothing in His word needs to be changed. We need to stop walking on the fence on this issue becuase the fence is coming down and there will only be a line drawn in the sand where the fence was. What side of the line will you be on?

"Walk in Me"

When I was at Bethel in January, my friend Holly and I had recieved a Word together. For me I sometimes have to have it point blank, like if God was talking to me He would say "On thurs at 3 pm I will kiss you on your right cheek." Now that I understand clearly.

So when this Word (rheama) was given, it was long and vast and I was listening intently. Holly understood right then.

I had to ponder it for a while on our way back to Brookings from Redding. Here is what I discovered.

While I was in Uganda, I had no worries about what to eat, where sleep or what I was doing that day. It was all planned out. I just had to walk in the plan that was set out. This was what I understood the Word spoken to mean.

I was to take it to the next level of faith. Trust in Him alone for all things. Trust in Him alone as to where I would sleep at night, what I would eat, where I would go. Walk in His footsteps that He's walked before me.

I'm am seeing first hand now what He is meaning. I've watched God show me confirmation after confirmation that I am walking in His steps. He is taking care of it all.

The other day I was thinking how this is possible as there are times when I feel that I am walking with one foot in Heaven and another here on earth. Heaven's viewpoint usually becomes clearer when I take that step of faith here on earth. The walk is usually unbalanced at first but then God conforms the walk to be straight and even as He reveals His plan each day.

Uganda was a step of faith. I had to walk on earth daily, trusting what God told me He would do. It was a hard journey to go through, but in the end it was worth it. People said I had my head in the clouds, and I did, and God provided! It was His plan!

So today, as I'm musing over events, its God's plan. He already has walked in it and set His footsteps for me to follow in. Its in His steps that I walk.

Being an overcomer

I am an overcomer. That is what I feel like today.

There are times where I have been the victim. But I know that to move from victim to overcomer takes some strategy. In time victim doesn't fit, because its have been overcomed!

There are times when though that when satan wants to throw his firey darts that he will make us feel like the victim again. But there is a time when you realize that you haven't been the victim for a long time. You've actually overcome the situation, the darts are just that, darts. When the shield of faith is properly attacted, the darts cannot penetrate you.

I learned in "Bibical Foundations of Freedom" in the last several weeks about the sheild in the Armor of a soilder. The shield is a made of leather and is soaked in water to prepare it for battle. When it is saturated, the firey darts of the enemy cannot set it on fire!

Its the same as if we don't use the shield of faith in our armor of God. The shield dries up and that is how the firey darts attack us!

So today, when you look at your situation, soak your shield in the Living Word of God, saturate it. Then let go of being the victim and release your faith. The battle has already been won. You just have to show up dressed in the armor of God. He will fight for you.

Making Bath Oils from the herbs in my herb garden

I went out to check on my herb garden from the freezing weather we've been having. My Lavender, Rosemary and Sage plants seem to be weathering well. I did cut off the dead blossoms from a couple of the Lavendar plants. (I know this should go in my "Abiggermess.blogspot.com blog but its part of my journey that's why its here.)

I cut off a large chunk of the Rosemary and decided to start making some bath oils.

I found a large Mayo container with a lid that I stuffed the Rosemary leaves in and shoved in as much as possible to fill the jar and then filled the jar with a 24 oz bottle of canola oil. Use a knife around the edges to clear out the air bubbles. The scent of the Rosemary is strong and with the canola oil it makes a good fragrance. I did a smaller one last year just to experiment and it was pretty easy.

Let the oil sit in a warm area for about 10-14 days. You can let it sit for up to two months if you'd like for a stronger scent. I'll have more batches to make up every couple of days to keep it rotating.

After the time has lapsed, strain through cheese cloth into another clean jar and cover that jar and let it sit for another 7 days. After this, I'll be pouring the bath oil into small wine bottles that I've had around for years to do this project with (currently housed in the cupboard about the washer and dryer that I'm reorganizing for my garden seeds and other gardening stuff that stays indoors).

Eventually I'll be doing bath salts using the oil from this method. I'll post how to do that when I make those. I want to use as much of what I have here and grow on my own for most of what I do. For me it makes the giving of it to others a little more personal.

Dag Event today

Today was the Southern Oregon DAG event! 6 ladies showed up, and we made 4 dresses. One of my friends brought a friend with her and the two cut out the dresses from the pillowcases, making it easier on my three sewers.

I usually set the time to be from 10-4 with one shift coming at 10, leaving about noon and then another group coming around 12:30. Around 1:30 when it was down to me and another friend we started packing up. It seems like the little corner that I promised I would use for my DAG stuff gets a little bigger each time I put things away. We left a bag on top of my stuff with the cut outs so that my sewers can just go in, get the dresses and take home what they want from the supplies.

Later I took some cut outs to another one of "my ladies" as I call my sewers as she stayed home to rest today. Her grandaughter is collecting pillowcases from Coos Bay and sends to grandma to use.

My goal is again 100 dresses to be sent to AZ for Hope 4 Kids to take to Uganda.

While at my friend's home we were talking about my garden. She loves to garden and is helping me to plan it out. I've got some ideas later for it that I'll share. One thing at a time.

I did take apart the upper tension part to my sewing machine as the upper tension spring broke. I'm trying to locate one. I thought something that size that gets used in all machines would be interchangable, but I don't think so. Not sure I want to spend the 2.95 for the spring and find out it doesn't fit.

It was suggested I take up sewing machine repair as there is no one here that does that. Another possiblity as I'm having women draging out a sewing machine that they haven't used for a while, dusting it off and making sure it works before they use it. I've been doing some minor repair on some machines and the lady that that I talked to today that told me not to take my tension gear apart even though I already had, made me feel like I wouldn't be able to get it back together again. That's what the other machine is for is to see how that's put together!

Tomorrow is my worship day. Looking forward to it as God is doing some amazing things lately! Can't wait!

A new leg to my journey

I know I didn't post much in this last leg, but God knows and that was what was important. It was an exciting time as I learned to get very close to Him and to the heart of His that I am seeking.

Tomorrow starts a new leg in my journey in seeking His heart, the lover of my soul.

Over the last couple of weeks, God has been showing me a different direction that I needed to go to. Several years ago those that remember on my followers and perusers list I did a leg of the Prov 31 wife. It wasn't until a couple of days ago that God showed me that was what I needed to do again in a different demension. I'll be explaining that dimension as time goes by. As with most legs of my journey they interceded quite a bit from time to time, picking up baggage from one leg to help complete another several months and sometimes years down the road. This is one of them.

So I'll post Prov 31 here to start off. I know its probably a scary part to read in today's day and age, and I know I'm going to be hitting on some topics that will seem stone age and "what is she thinking?" (that one's for hubby!). But know one thing. I'm seeking God's heart. I want my heart beat to match His.


Prov 31 10-31 (The Message)
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.She's up before dawn,
preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside,
plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

(I like the Message version!)