Lately

Currently I am reading two books that are blowing. me. away.

First is "Radical" by David Platt. It is, to state the obvious, radically changing the way I see this world I live in. I am just trying to read, pray, listen, and repeat until it sinks in. Really, if I admit it, it can be scary. Where is He taking me, what does He want to do with me, am I ready, am I willing? Questions I have been asking myself, and questions I have been praying for God to give me the "yes" to.

Secondly, the book that has captured me like no other ever has: "One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. She is the writer of "A Holy Experience", one of 2 blogs that I follow. To say that she is gifted is quite the understatement. I would dare say that this book is an instant classic. Ann is a writer's writer, almost hard for my simple mind to follow at times. But I am just captivated by her writing, I can not stop reading this book. It is like you are in her brain, inside her thought process. The journey she is leading the reader on is her very own, very personal journey. And it is with the most fearless, raw vulnerability I have ever experienced that she leads the reader through her journey. I fully know I will be a different woman when the final pages of these books are turned. And I am sure the pages will be returned to again and again.

I wish like mad that I was in a place of being able to share the latter with a "book club" of close friends. For now I am just gratefull for the "Bloom" online book club that I'll be following. Can't wait until next Sunday, when the first video appears for "One Thousand Gifts" Come join me, and if you live close, come have a cup of coffee with me. I would love your company, and your thoughts!

From No to Yes

Two years of "No way, Lane" turned into a "Yes, God" this past fall. God had laid marriage ministry on my husband's heart. I am a women's ministry girl all the way, and I already had a few years of that under my "belt of comfortable places". Not to mention, I know my husband - and all of his faults, and well, lets just rest at I did NOT think he was ready to begin a ministry. Did I love him, you might ask. Of course, I loved him. I just knew him, and perfect...he is definitely not!

Well, eventually, the Holy Spirit started prompting me with feelings like some of you quicker learners may already be having. "Denise, just who do you even think you are", "Denise, he is your head" "Denise, I made it that way for a reason", and "Denise, will you obey Me". Of course, God, of course, I'll obey you. "Then submit to your husband".

Not exactly an easy task for a strong-willed and self-reliant person like me. But God made me realize that He doesn't work with "perfect" people. Not me, not my husband, not anyone. He works through people, people who are fully devoted and fully relying on Him and His will, done His way. My first big step in obedience to God, was submitting to my husband. Taking that leap of faith that said "Yes, Lane" was actually the same leap of faith that said "Yes, God".

Did Lane change overnight? No. Does he still have imperfections? Yes. BUT - ah yes, I love the "buts" - before my very eyes, my husband is becoming a man after God's own heart. He still struggles with a "thorn in the flesh", but he and God will eventually overcome that and I promise you it will be used to glorify God and benefit man in a strong, strong way someday. I know it is part of God's plan. I am convinced that I am seeing things in my man, that would have taken much, much longer for me to see. Strongholds being defeated that would have been defeated anyway, just later.

Do I think God could have done this with my husband anyway? You bet He could have. He didn't need me at all. He wanted me! He wanted this team of "two who had become one" to start the good fight alongside Him. He just wanted my obedience. And, in the order that He has set up - Christ, husband, wife. Like it or not, it is the way it is. He is God, and His ways are so worth following.

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you (us) will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you (us)." Philippians 1:6

Fireproof Your Marriage

You're Invited - Fireproof Your Marriage the Lifegroup will begin Monday nights at New Life Church. We will meet at 7 p.m. beginning February 9th with a showing of the movie Fireproof.
Fireproof Your Marriage will challenge couples in how to show, and ultimately achieve real love. Join us as we learn Biblical principles for strong, God-centered, lifelong marriages. Sign up at New Life Church on February 8th or send a note to Lane or Denise Keeter.

"Shadowfeet" by Brooke Fraser

Walking,stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home,a land that i've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Show me Your glory

So today I was looking for a passage about Moses reflecting God's glory. I came across the passage where Moses says to God, "show me Your glory". God replies "I will make all My goodness pass before you"...(he says other stuff here too). And then He said "you can not see My face", so as His glory passes by He puts Moses in the cleft of a rock and covers him with His hand. When He takes away His hand Moses sees His back. Later when Moses comes down from the mountain "his face shone and sent forth beams" (wow! Moses was reflecting God's glory).

Now, the way I see it, when you are in the cleft of a rock and are covered with the hand of God, it must be pretty dark there. I think often I miss that when it's the darkest, God is making all His goodness pass before me. And if I recognize that it is His hand in the darkness and cling to the Rock, when He removes His hand I will clearly see His glory, and it will be reflected in my life.

I guess what I'm saying is, hang on in the darkness! God's glory is passing by, and when His hand is removed and you see the other side of Him, oh my, how you'll glow with His glory!

Dare

"Dare to believe and even become excited that your story can bring hope and encouragement to others."
I love this one. It totally deflates Satan's scheme of making me feel worthless and ineffective. I really used to think that there was no way someone would benefit from my murky story, but the truth is, someone might be living in the murk trying to find a way out. We know the way out, and we are charged with leading others out and showing them there is hope, there is redemption.
Oh, I'm not saying that I don't have to shrug Satan off every now and then, cause I do. But, I do it much less often than I used to. Because I know who I am - I am a beautiful daughter of the King, created to reflect His glory. So are you! Dare to believe, sister, dare!

"I'll Have What She's Having" favorite quotes

"Every woman who declares that Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior should reflect - or be in the process of learning to reflect - a life of confidence, victory, blessing, fulfillment, and destiny."