Crisp Air, Cat Hair and Crankiness

Did you ever have one of those weeks that was so overly busy, you didn't have time to sleep? I just finished one of those. And this morning as I headed to work, I realized how exhausted I was. I pray I'm nice today, and not cranky because I'm so sleep deprived. I think I am typing to stay awake!! HA!!
I'm sure Romeo thought I was living somewhere else, and just showed up to feed and brush him. Poor kitty. By the way - he hates to be brushed. He tolerates it, a little; but he hates it. I can get a couple of strokes in, and then he gets up, moves about 3 feet and lays back down. So I scooch across the floor, start the brushing again, and without fail, he tolerates about 3 or 4 strokes, and moves again. It's like a game we play across the living room floor. But because he is so blessed with wonderful fluffiness, I have to brush him quite often. One would think he might be used to it by now, but no. Perhaps his previous owners did not man the brush as often.

Regardless of the cat hair, Monday has arrived, and I need a nap. I have my doubts about today's productivity. I will rely heavily on my trusty co-workers, and slightly on the rest of them! It is a beautiful morning, though. Blue skies, sunshine, crisp Colorado air. We've had crazy weather this spring and summer. It's not been typical at all. It's been very mild - usually July is hot, well into the 90's or even to 100. Not this year. We've had a couple of 90 degree days, but this weekend probably didn't even break 82. But praise God, it's always beautiful here in Colorado. I believe that if God ever took a vacation, He would come to Colorado!! Have a great week friends! Know that God reigns - and He loves us so much!

Hike - Again

This weekend I hiked up to Isabelle Lake. It's not a strenuous hike at all, but is so very pretty. With all the moisture we had this spring - and yes, even now as I type - everything is so alive and green. The wildflowers are blooming, but not at their peak yet. And there was still a lot of snow to be seen. I'll post a few pics:

Hope you enjoy!

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Hike

Went on a short hike this morning. One of the benefits of living in Northern Colorado is the easy access to the Rocky Mountain National park. I still believe it to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I didn't want anything too strenuous today, but just enough to be out, enjoy the scenery and get a little exercise. So I hiked up to Dream Lake (photo at top), and then on to Emerald Lake. Round trip is just under 4 miles, so it was short and sweet, and I was home before lunch.

The hike along the way is just as rewarding as the final scenery.

I thank God for His wonderful creation, and the beauty of His handiwork.

Cell Group Cookout

We had our first cookout last night, and I think it was much fun. I'll post a few pics so you can see who I'm talking about.

This first one is Andrea and Dan - hmmm, yes, posing.

And then my very silly girlfriends, doing some type of glamour thing - or something.

And this great couple is Lorrie and Dan. Lorrie is the one with the awesome testimony of how God delivered her from leukemia! Praise God!

And then the group! Yes, they rock.

I think we had enough fun that we'll do this again soon. Hanging with friends and loving Jesus...yeah, life's pretty good.

Loving His Presence

Has it been a week already?? Really?
I'm not sure where the time went - we've had weird weather, long days at work, LSU winning the CWS, lawn care, Bible study, and house-sitting to fill in the days since the last post. Oh, and one really awesome night at church!! The presence of God was so thick last night, you could cut it with a knife. Holy. It was holy. No other description seems appropriate.

Can you wrap your little brains around the idea of spending an eternity in God's pure, uninhibited presence?? Complete light. Complete peace and love. And never having to think "I wish it could be like this forever."

I understand that some folks are content to go to church, sing a few songs and listen to a quick sermon, and then head to Cracker Barrel for lunch. But there is oh, so much more. God literally dwells on the praises of His people, and when we can lay aside an agenda simply to worship Him, His presence is sweeter than any cobbler I can buy. He loves it when we praise Him, and He delights in meeting with us. I pray that our hearts are increasingly drawn to Him, and the things of this world cannot satisfy that longing. Only spending time in His presence can feed the deepest part of man's heart.

Well, just a quick admonition to make the time to praise and worship the Lord. It is SO worth it!!

Happy Father's Day

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!!
It's hard to believe that it's been four years since my dad went to Heaven, but time has a way of just passing on by, even when you aren't looking.


As you know by the name of this blog, I was very much a Daddy's Girl. I was the "apple of his eye" as mom used to say. My dad was very much a sweetheart of a man, gentle and loving.
This was his Army days - with time in Korea, and in Okinawa, Japan. Handsome, isn't he?? But then again, we're all suckers for a guy in uniform.

And this is one of my favorites - I don't even know where it was taken, but I love the shot.

And then this last photo of dad in the yard - this was in 2001, four years before he died. In case you didn't notice, he has a great smile in all of them. That was typical. He was a happy man, and he loved life. He found his joy through Jesus, and spread love and kindness pretty much everywhere he went.

Happy Father's Day daddy. I love you.

Asking for the Big Things

Shortly after moving into this house, I knew the Lord wanted there to be much love and laughter within these walls. In April, I started a cell group on Monday nights. In case you're wondering what a cell group is - our church has many home groups, called cells. The basic idea is that the body is made up of many cells, but it functions as one body. (A quickie lesson in biology would cover it enough.) But the church is the body of Christ, with each person being a vital part. OK - I could ramble, but this is not where I'm headed. But you get the idea of a cell group.

But we started a study on Bill Johnson's book, When Heaven Invades Earth. If you haven't read it, and you know Jesus as your Savior, you should read it. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, email me, and I'll be thrilled to introduce you. And then you should read it. It's a powerful book about the Kingdom of God, and the reality of it's superiority. The Bible clearly teaches that this world as we know it, is temporal...it will pass away. But the Kingdom of God is eternal - it's the unseen realm that is eternal, and thus superior to this visible world.

This single concept should be enough to rattle the strongest cage of any believer. We simply cannot afford to live life without expression of faith. And I mean, real faith. Faith that acts. Real faith that reaches out for what is realized. Example - if I realize that there is no sickness in Heaven, (and there isn't) then I will be quick to act when I see a sick person here. Jesus said we would do the things he had been doing (John 14:12), and from I read, that involves healing the sick. Just a rabbit trail here...Jesus didn't just say 'pray for the sick'...He said "heal the sick" in Matthew 10 - among other things.

OK - so when I realize the Kingdom principles, I begin to act accordingly. And it's been pretty cool to experience this. I see it, not only in myself, but also in the people in my cell group. As we understand that we are co-laborers with Christ, His Spirit urges us to take the risk to pray for someone we don't know. And this past cell group meeting, my friend brought her parents - who were both in need of miracles. Can I just say my groupies converged on them like dogs on raw meat! Praying down the power of Heaven, telling sickness to leave, and giving all glory to God. We didn't see immediate results - that's OK - because they would have to be medically examined anyway. But we also asked for the big things that were visible - after all, our God is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). And since the dad has 2 prosthetic legs, we asked God to create new legs. No, it didn't happen right then, but I believe it will. A year ago, I don't think we would have even wanted to pray for something that looks too huge in the natural. But our perspective is changing. We are aware of a Kingdom where no sickness, no disease, no prosthetic limbs exist. And we are in for the long haul - pressing in deeper until we see those new legs. Wouldn't that just blow the doors off every religious church in America?

Press in, friends. The Spirit of God is moving on this earth. Don't be content to stand on the sidelines and watch the game. Put on your jersey, tie your shoes, and start running. The victory is already won, and our Champion is Lord over all.