Living Memorials

Psalm 92: 12-15
“The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].
Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.
[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].
[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Do you see it - the promise in those verses? The promise to flourish, to grow, to be fruitful, full of vitality, rich in contentment (how many want some of that). And the greatest promise in these verses...living memorials to show off GOD'S faithfulness. Simply amazing!

Are you going through a rough period? This is your time! “What do I do” is the question I am most often asked. My answer is “do” nothing, just “be”. Right here in verse 13, it beckons us to be “planted in the house of the Lord”. Plant means to “put or set in the ground for growth”. Growth, dear friends, growth. Plant yourself in the house of the Lord among His people who will love you and water you with His Word. Plant yourself in worship. Plant yourself in the Bible, digging up truth for yourself. This is your time! Your roots are growing deep and strong, and you “shall flourish in the courts of our God”!

Your legacy is beginning right now, even as you struggle. You are growing into a strong, majestic, and stately example for the next generation of followers, who will look at your life and see a “living memorial” that will testify to the faithfulness of our God. He is our Rock. He is faithful.

Believe!

Would you believe with me? Would you just dare to believe, and to take God at. His. very. Word.

1 John 5: 14-15 "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."

Pray today, and believe. And when you need a little help, pray this: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24.

The Healer

I heard God speak to me as I fell asleep last night that I have the gift of healing. Umm..ok, God, that could be a little strange and scary. Where do I go with that? Do I just lay hands on someone and claim their healing for them? What does this look like? What will my spiritual heads say when I tell them this? All of this going through my mind as I try to fall asleep. An hour or so later, I am well into the land of dreams, when I am awakened by my husband. “Katy* is at the door, she is crying and needs to talk to us.” Good grief, I admit, was my first thought. But as soon as I rounded the corner from the bedroom to the living room, and saw the broken mama sitting crying on my couch cradling her toddler, while Lane cradled her baby, the grief I felt was not “good”. And it was all very familiar. We dug with her, got in the trenches with her, and we are not about to get out until there is complete healing, complete victory – and there WILL be. I have tasted victory over the wiles of Satan, I have lived it. My God has fought for me, and now He asks me to stand and fight with others. I will. I count it a privilege. I read today in John 13, about Jesus putting on the towel and washing the feet of His disciples. Done not really to cleanse them, but to give them an example of how He wants them to live. I will, Lord, I say. I will. As I finish reading, I bow my head and ask God to expound on His gift of healing He gives me. It is not a Benny Hinn type of healing, it is a washing kind of healing. A washing of love, of prayer, of digging deep in the trenches, a washing of His Word over the hurting while He fights for them, while He binds up the broken hearted and releases prisoners from darkness! Yes, indeed a privilege. I will, Lord. I will, because You have been my perfect example. Because You have tenderly and gently led me, so I will lead others to be washed by the Healer. *you know that's not the real name, right? :)


She Speaks Conference is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God. My heart is to serve Him and His daughters, as He leads. Learn about a scholarship opportunity here.

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