 Here's the newest picture of our house taken a few days ago. We still have the exterior paint to do, but it's snowing up there right now, so has to warm up about 20 more degrees and be dry, before paint can begin.
The hardwood floors are in, the window casings are in process, then comes all the trim. Kitchen cabinets will be installed in 2 1/2 weeks, and carpet immediately after. We're hoping to move in 6-8 wks, and we've just made a counter offer on our house...the offer was way too low, so we'll see what happens with our counter.
On another note, I'm trying not to get frustrated over my book still not having a title. The publisher was out sick the first of last week, and planned on making a final decision when he got back. The marketing person was out the first half of this week, so I couldn't check with her till today...I finally sent both she and the publisher an email, only to get a response back that the publisher is out of the office from today till March 6th. Big sigh....I really am trying to be patient, and I'll let you know when I know anything more!
I also am hoping to have a release date by the end of next week, as well as getting a peek at the front cover, but we'll see what happens. God is still in charge, so I'm not sweating it, just curious and a bit anxious to see what they decide. I hope you all have a wonderful week end!
I Thes: 5:16--- Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
The Purposes of prayer---
1. To Minister unto the Lord-----Through praise and worship, recognizing who He is, just talking to the Lord, taking time to listen for His voice---
To establish relationship with God, to know the character and nature of God
This is non-existent in most people’s lives and certainly isn’t a top priority in many peoples lives
2. To Minister to Ourselves
Not necessarily to ‘get’ something material for ourselves, but rather to bring us into fellowship with God and make us like minded with Him.
Prayer develops character in us, makes us sensitive to the Lord. It changes our attitudes and perspectives to line up with His Word, especially when mixed with the Word
Prayer makes us useable…..A sign of spiritual maturity is to ask the Lord to rather make me useable, before you ask Him to use you. Prayer is meant to be an avenue of change for our own heart, as we spend time in the presence of God
As God’s love builds up in our lives through spending time with Him, faith will start to grow. We will find that the more time we spend with Him, just being with Him, not asking for anything, the more His love will fill us and the more our faith will grow. Then when we have a need, the faith is planted and growing in our hearts and will be a natural outflow to help bring to pass the answer as we pray.
3. Allows God to flow to us and through us
Prayer is a way of us receiving things from God for ourselves and for others---- for ministry and our needs
John 14:12-14, I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus is saying we should bring our petitions before Him in His name
John 15:16…. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
If you asked the average person what the purpose of prayer is, they would tell you it’s to ask and receive things from God. That is one purpose, but shouldn’t be our primary purpose. Prayer is not meant to be need related exclusively, but rather to be relationship related. Our prayers should draw us closer to the Lord and our main desire should be to develop a closer relationship with Him.
 For any of you who don't know, I've written a novel and it's to be released this fall. Publishing houses like to have published authors endorse the book if possible, meaning they read it and make a short (hopefully positive!) comment about it, which will be used in some form of advertising, or in/on the book some where.
I put out a call to several authors I know and four of them were gracious enough to offer to give their valuable time to reading my manuscript. Now, here's the thing...I assumed the book wouldn't be sent out till AFTER it had gone through a full round of edits by the staff at Kregel.
Wrong. I just got a note from one of my prospective endorsers, saying she was so excited 'cause she's just received her copy of my manuscript. Being very new to this entire process, I was a bit shocked and I have to admit, a little horrified.
It's one thing to have friends and family read your book, you know they're all going to love it...they have to, right? But never did I expect other authors to be reading my book that hasn't gone through editing yet! Well, honey...let me tell you, I'm not sure I'll be sleeping tonight! Praying a lot, but sleeping? Naaahhh, don't think so!
Okay...I've blown off enough steam now and I'm feeling considerably better. Still biting my nails and chewing my hair off, but feeling better, LOL! I'll let you know if I get any positive comments after they've all had time to read it...and I'm asking them to be honest, believe it or not! Pray for me! Scary stuff!
Why Pray?
Does God mind if we ask questions about prayer? Or is he like a parent who constantly says when we ask why, “because I said so?”
God doesn’t mind our asking Him ‘why’, in fact, He wants us to care enough about his instructions to want to understand and follow them out of love for Him and a desire to do so.
God tells us that we should pray; in fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
The Word tells us to pray, but we often hear that God will do what He wants to regardless, so where does that leave prayer? Do my prayers really matter, or will God do what He wants to do no matter what?
Will my prayers actually change anything that happens in my present or future?
If we really knew that MY prayer could actively change the course of history, would our prayer life improve?
Why don’t we pray more often? Is it because we either don’t believe God answers, or we aren’t seeing evidence that He’s listening? If not, why not?
Dutch Sheets in his book “Intercessory Prayer” says this:
“If God is going to do something regardless of whether or not we pray, then He doesn’t need us to ask and we don’t need another waste of our time. If it’s all que sera, sera, or (what will be, will be), then let’s take a siesta and let it all just happen.
If, On the other hand, John Wesley was correct when he said: God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer:”, I’ll lose a little sleep for that. I’ll change my lifestyle for that. I’ll turn the TV off and even miss a meal or two.” More Next Time!
Wow! I've never gone a week before between posts, much less 9 days! Life has gone by at super sonic speed this past couple of weeks and I'm finding myself falling behind daily. Just a short catch up note, then I'll do better this week, and post something more uplifting and helpful. First, an announcement~Ta-Da----drum roll---- Our 28 yr old son Steven just got engaged about a week ago. He and his lovely fiance Hannah spent a day on the Oregon coast where he proposed. We feel so blessed at the choice he's made, as Hannah is a wonderful, Godly young woman. They are tentatively planning on an August wedding. Wow! A wedding, and my book releasing, within about 30 days of each other, that's going to be some kind of exciting summer!Our house is making good progress....in fact, that's what's kept me away from here this past wk or so. We're at the place where our contractor is installing the tongue and groove fir ceilings. But we wanted to stain them a light mahogany color, with one clear coat over the stain, so a two step process. My hubby and I have been doing all the staining an coating, trying to keep enough boards done to stay one day ahead of the workers. The entire upstairs will be done by tomorrow afternoon, but we had to spend this afternoon coating enough more for the entire day tomorrow, then will go up to do more, so they can have enough for the next day. One more week and all of them will be complete. Then we get to start painting all the baseboards and window/door trim boards and crown moldings, LOL! I'm waiting to hear from the title committee on my book. I do know that it won't be Yesterday's Child, as that title is being used too many times already, but other books on the market. I've submitted a list of titles for their consideration, and am hoping they'll make a decision this week. Here's my top 4....tell me what you think...? If you haven't read the excerpt yet of the opening scene, you can do so on my web site. Yesterday's Secret Child of Yesterday Forgotten Secret Forgotten Memory
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