worshiping God in the cracker aisle…

It is true that God speaks when we LEAST expect it...

Today, I was in Wal-Mart – I had been in there about 45 minutes or so - wandering, looking, shopping. I was in the cracker/snacks aisle when I heard singing. There was young guy stocking the shelves (isn’t there always?), and he was singing “Blessed Be Your Name”. (You know it…the one by Matt Redman.)

As I progressed further down the aisle, I realized I had joined him (silently - well, almost!). I began to sing quietly - and not just to sing along but to purposely worship. I was worshiping God in the cracker aisle! I realized that I had been so intent on my shopping and things that I “needed” to do that I had not thought of God or His nearness to me all through the store. I realized that the simple singing of that young man had not only sounded sweet, but had literally brought me to a place of worship - forgetting my earthly distractions and focusing on God. And THAT was what I truly “needed” to do. (There goes that "Mary" vs. "Martha" thing again!)

I stayed on that aisle a little longer than necessary listening to the young man’s polite conversation with other shoppers. He eventually made it down to where I was standing, commented on my full cart and we talked for a moment. Then I shared with him how his singing had caused me to stop and actually worship God, too, and that it was exactly what I needed. He said “thank you”, and we went on doing what we needed to do.

But even as I continued on through the rest of my shopping, my spirit kept worshiping and being taught by the Holy Spirit Himself. (He can work anywhere – even in Wal-Mart!) Who would have thought that the mere singing of a worship song while working in Wal-Mart would help a passer-by to get her mind off herself and to kneel before the throne of God in worship? At first, I thought that it was a “sweet” thing that he was singing while he worked. Then I realized that it was a “mighty” thing! Mighty because spiritual battle had taken place and God had been worshiped – not only by him but by someone who witnessed him worshiping and was led to worship God as well. Mighty because worship unleashes the power of God. Mighty because worship takes us before the throne of the Almighty One, the Creator of all things, MY Savior and MY God.

I love that God spoke to me in a real and unexpected way today - and in Wal-Mart no less! It may sound like a trivial thing, but it was a very personal reminder of the unknown and uneplanned influence we have on everyone we come in contact with, and that small things in the hand of God are never small.

But I'm not the first to realize this. Someone far more wise than I said it this way, "If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." (Do you know who said that? Fred Rogers. I just love "Mr. Rogers"!)

I must never forget that someone is being influenced by my actions ALL the time... (Have I been a good steward of my influence today?)

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Worship now. Here are the words…

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Wyatt vs. PETA

Wyatt was watching the news with me the other day and we saw a story about PETA being upset about the "chicken dance". He just couldn't understand why anyone would have anything against the"chicken dance", so I tried to explain that PETA was a group that wanted people to treat animals well and that sometimes they go overboard with the things they get upset about.

So, Wyatt speaks up and says, "Well! If I knew where one of those PETA people lived, I would just go on their front porch and eat some pig!"

Gotta love that boy!

Mattea's 9th Birthday

Today (Easter) is Mattea's 9th birthday!

She's becoming such a beautiful young lady. I am so proud of her. She's cute, funny, a diligent worker, and I can't wait to see how God is planning to use her. I am thankful He has let me have her for this time...

She made her own cake this year, which is an ice cream cake. She saw it on "18 Kids and Counting" and wanted to make it for her birthday.

Here's the recipe:

24 ice cream sandwiches (2 boxes - we use the Wal-Mart brand)

1 large tub of whipped cream

chocolate syrup

caramel syrup

Heath toffe bits (find near chocolate chips)

Directions: Line bottom of 9x13 casserole dish with ice cream sanwiches. Cover with whipped cream. Swirl on chocolate syrup and caramel syrup (however much you like). Sprinkle on toffee bits. Add another layer of ice cream sandwiches, and everything else. Then add any decorations you like on top.

I love you, Ladybug!!

notes from margins of books

I recently pulled out a couple of books that I really like just to look through them and find a little encouragement. I kept finding notes that I had written in the margins as I had read the books. Just things that I had jotted down as God spoke to me as I read the books. It was good to read these insights again....

“Discipline places us before God- the transformation is God’s work.” (I didn't give credit to any other source, so I don't really know where it came from. I don’t know-but it sounds too deep and wise to be from me…)

"CHOICES- 1) learn to recognize that I have a choice (many times I don’t even think about the fact that I have a choice. I just “react” with my standard reaction rather than thinking and responding.)
2) make the RIGHT choice (take action- the right action)"

"When I am running on empty, barely making it through – the fuel light is on, staring at me with warning – I am not able to make it through even the minor struggles and challenges of the day with grace toward others. My supply is depleted so quickly because there is no abundance. I am operating on only fumes. This is when I am easily annoyed, have no patience toward others, and have no wisdom.”

"I find that I often pray for wisdom but seldom for joy… my family needs both!"

"Be prepared! Not only the motto of the Boy Scouts, but the theme of the "Bridesmaids" story in Matt 25:1-10. I have often prayed that God would do something great but I do not always stay “ready”. I find that often I am not prepared for the work I have prayed for God to do through me."

"I don’t want to merely be a "member" of the team- I want to be a "contributor". I don’t want to just wear the uniform and stand on the field – I want t make plays that bring victory to the team. I want to play my position to the best of my ability. I don’t have to receive the “Most Valuable Player” award. I really want the “Consistently Valuable Player” award. I want to be dependable- the one that can be counted on to come through every time."

a couple of things God taught me this week...

If you continually think, talk, and bemoan the negative things in your life, the easier it is for Satan to tempt you and convince you that things other than God are what you need to make you happy. When you think of God's blessings, you will put your trust in Him and all the joy you need will come from Him...

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:4-8

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The more I trust God, the more obedient I will be. My level of obedience reveals my level of trust. I must obey first and trust God for the outcome.

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 36:4-6