Then All of the Sudden by Dawn White

And Then All of the Sudden...

Scripture:  "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  2 Peter 3:8

We have a crabapple tree outside of our bedroom window.  Now, I've never found a use for the crabapples (I haven't tried real hard either), but this tree has the most beautiful blooms in the spring of each year.  They are a beautiful pink color and the tree is just covered with them.  Each spring, I look forward to the beauty of this tree.  However, these blooms never stay around long enough for me.  If it is a good year, we'll see them for a week.  However, if we experience very strong winds at all, the blooms are gone in no time.  I can enjoy the blooms one day, and then all of the sudden, within an afternoon, they will be gone. Nonetheless, I love that tree.

Isn't that the way it is with God.  Just as the wind sweeps through and takes all the blooms from the tree, the Spirit of God can move and change your circumstances.  And, all of the sudden, things will be completely different.  I've been studying some accounts of this in the Word.  I'd like to call out a few who experienced a move of God that radically changed their circumstances.

In Genesis 37-41, we can read the story of Joseph.  Please allow me to paraphrase the events of his life for the sake of space.  The Lord had given Joseph a couple of dreams in which his brothers would bow down to him.  Joseph shared these dreams with his brothers and father.  His brothers became jealous and angry, so they began a plot to ensure that this never happened.  Through their various plots, Joseph was thrown in a pit and left to die, rescued and sold into slavery, accused of a crime he didn't commit and thrown into prison.  Scholars vary on their interpretation of how long Joseph was in prison, but it appears to be somewhere between 15-20 years.  All of these disheartening circumstances seem to initially stem from Joseph having a couple of dreams that he shared with his family.  Seems like a harsh road for sharing a couple of dreams.  Regardless, as Joseph sat in prison one day, the Pharaoh had a dream and was unable to find anyone who could interpret it.  His cupbearer remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams.  So Joseph was summoned and interpreted the dream.  Pharaoh was so pleased that he put Joseph second in command in Egypt.  In the matter of a day, Joseph went from prisoner to second in command in Egypt.  All of the sudden, in one day, God moved and his life was radically different.

We can also look at Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9.  David had made a promise to Jonathan that when he became King, he would spare the killing of Jonathan's lineage. The custom of the day was that the new king would take the lives of any remaining family members of the old king.  Because Jonathan's dad, King Saul was reigning, Jonathan knew that when David became king, according to custom, all of Jonathan's family would die.  Since Jonathan and David were the best of friends, Jonathan asked David to promise to let his family live when he became king. David agreed.  However, Jonathan and Saul were both killed in battle.  Fear ran through the territory and Jonathan's servants picked up his young son, Mephibosheth, to try to escape.  In the chaos, the boy was dropped and both ankles broke and injured to the point that he was crippled and not able to walk from that day forward.  So, here is Mephibosheth a crippled orphan living in an orphanage.  As David assumed the throne and began his kingship, he one day (years later) remembered that he had made the promise to Jonathan.  He sent word asking if there was anyone remaining in Jonathan's lineage.  Mephibosheth was summoned to the palace.  Mephibosheth was scared to go, believing that David's intent was to kill him.  But rather, David moved Mephibosheth to the palace where he ate that the king's table every day.  All of the sudden, Mephibosheth was moved from an orphanage to the palace.  God moved, and the changes were radical.

Perhaps you've been standing for quite some time, believing that God is going to move and your circumstances are going to change.  My encouragement to you is to keep standing.  According to the scripture in 2 Peter 3:8, in God's timetable, 1 day is like a thousand years.  Although it may seem to be taking FOREVER on our end, but all of the sudden God will move and the landscape of your life will be totally different.  It was for Joseph, it was for Mephibosheth and countless others.  It will be the same for you too.

In Galatians 6:9 it says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." [emphasis mine]  As a friend of mine says, "I have the paperwork that it will be done."  This promise is your paperwork...it will be done.  Keep believing - your 'all of the sudden' is on its way!

Be Blessed!

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10 Things Only Women Understand by Trish Yanney

Top 10 Things Only Women Understand

10.  Cats facial expressions

  9.  The need for same style shoes in different colors

  8.  Why bean sprouts aren’t just weeds

  7.  Fat clothes

  6.  Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best        friend

  5.  The difference between beige, ecru, cream,                 offwhite and eggshell

  4.  Cutting your bangs to make them grow

  3.  Eyelash curlers

  2.  The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

  1.  And the #1 thing only women understand:

OTHER         WOMEN!

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Tips for Women by Trish Yanney

TIPS for Women:

1.  Single Tip: 

Seek to rest today.  Many singles can fill their schedules with activities and forget God calls us to rest not only physically but spiritually.  In Matt 11:29, Jesus says Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heat, and you will find rest for your souls.  If you find that you have a hard time saying “no” to activities then take out your calendar and schedule a day of rest.  Then when you are asked to attend a social gathering, you will already have plans for that night.  While resting, spend some time with the Lord, seek his voice and meditate on His presence.  You will find that taking time to do this will rejuvenate you physically and spiritually.

2. Romantic Wife Tip:  

As he heads out for work, give him a passionate kiss.  If he wants to know what it was for tell him it’s the appetizer for tonight’s menu.  Make it your passion to keep your husband heart for you!

3. Mothering Tip: 

Read the Bible at mealtime.  What a great way to serve your family spiritual food. 

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What's That Smell? by Dawn White

What's That Smell?

Scripture:  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!  1 John 1:9

This past fall, I was privileged to attend a retreat with some very special Godly women.  We all knew the coordinator of the event, but most of us did not know each other.  We were all staying in a bed and breakfast, but didn't know ahead of time what our room arrangements would be.  So, it wasn't clear if you'd be sharing a room with someone you didn't know or not.  Because of this, one of the ladies graciously bought us each a bottle of Poopourri.   Yes, I spelled it correctly.  This ingenious little bottle of spray is to be used when you have to, well... completely mask any lingering effects from the business at hand.  And, let me just say, it is amazing!

Now, some of you are wondering if I've checked out and what this could possibly have to do with a Spiritual devotion.  Let me just say, I am a person of analogies and the Lord often speaks to me through them.   So... I do have a message here.

In Colossians 1:14-16 it says, "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him."  These scripture make it clear that Jesus was around from the beginning of time.  The world was formed through Him and for Him.  Thus, Jesus wasn't just an idea later in time and then sent to earth.  He was around from the beginning. 

This is important because Jesus had spent hundreds and hundreds of years in heaven, where all is perfect.  No sin, no illness, no pain, no abuse, no suffering, no hurt....complete peace & joy.  Then at the time ordained by God the Father, He was sent to the earth to be born to the virgin Mary.  Talk about a culture shock.  I've often thought that coming to earth with all the sin and suffering must have been a stench in the nostrils of Jesus, yet He willingly came anyway.  He came in the flesh to redeem us from our own self destruction.  He is the gift that makes eternal life available to us, as well as victory in our earthly lives.

1 John 1:9 says that all we have to do is confess our sins and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.  It really is quite simple, surrender to Jesus and admit your wrong doing.  Then, by His blood that was poured out on Calvary, you are completely cleansed, as if you had never done anything wrong.  When God the Father looks at you, He no longer sees that sin.  It is washed away by the blood of Jesus.

Now back to the Poopourri.  This amazing potion completely masks any 'residue' of the business at hand.  No one knows of the dirty business that has taken place.  That's exactly the way it works with the blood of Jesus.  When the sin is confessed, Father God no longer remembers what took place.

But, there is a catch....I never would have known the cleansing power of Poorpourri if I hadn't opened the gift and used it.  Friends, it is the same with Jesus.  He is the most precious gift, but you'll never know the power of this gift if you don't open it.  He wants to cleanse you, He wants to help you, He wants to heal you, to comfort you, to counsel you, to give you peace.  All you have to do is open the gift.

Be Blessed!

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What's On Your Sash by Dawn White

What's on Your Sash?

Scripture:  Isaiah 61:3

"To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness."

I've recently come to a new level of understanding that I'd like to share with you.  It's something that I've known for a long time, but I believe it has just penetrated the depths of my heart a little more.   It is regarding the love that God has for us.  And the best part, it came to me through a children's book. 

You Are Special, written by Max Lucado, is a book I've read to my girls several times.  However, I pulled it off the shelf this week for me.  I participate on a team in our church that helps to walk people through emotional wounds and hurts and to receive healing.  The team recently had a meeting in which we discussed how imperative it is to know who we are in Christ.  If we have that understanding at the core of our being, our response to life would be much different.  Max Lucado's book drives this point so simply and so beautifully.

In the book, a crafter makes wooden people.  The wooden people then live in a village.  Each wooden person is given a box of yellow stars and a box of gray dots.  Their only job is to give other wooden people dots or stars.  The dots represent a negative word, and the stars represent a positive or encouraging word.  The wooden people receive the dots or stars based on their abilities to perform varying tasks or how they appear.  

One particular wooden boy has many gray dots and no stars.  He tries very hard to do well to obtain stars, but to no avail.  One day, he meets a girl who has no stars or dots.  She's joyful and doesn't care at all that she is different from all the rest.  The boy asks her why she doesn't have any.  She tells him that every day she goes to see their maker, Eli.  She encourages the boy to go as well.  The boy finally goes to see Eli.  The exchange between them is just beautiful:

"Every day I've been hoping you'd come," Eli explained.  

"I came because I met someone who had no marks," said Punchinello. 

"I know. She told me about you."  

"Why don't the stickers stay on her?" 

The maker spoke softly.  "Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think.  The stickers only stick if you let them." 

'What?" said Punchinello.  

"The stickers only stick if they matter to you.  The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers."  

"I'm not sure I understand." 

Eli smiled.  "You will, but it will take time.  You've got a lot of marks.  For now, just come to see me every day and let me remind you of how much I care."  "Remember," Eli said as the wooden person walked out the door, "you are special because I made you.  And I don't make mistakes."

Friends, the wooden people represent us and Eli is God.  As we go through life, we are going to receive praises and accolades, and we are going to receive hurts and wounds.  But the truth is, they all belong to God.  All of our success and our failures belong to Him. 

He wants to remove all of the hurts and wounds, but we first have to understand that what He thinks is most important.  If you are walking in the center of God's will, it doesn't matter what others say.  But, we are emotional beings.  Those same emotions that cause us to rejoice when others rejoice and mourn with others mourn, can also cause us to become angry or hurt at the persecution of others.  However, when we keep our eyes on our maker, when we visit him daily and let Him remind us of how precious we are, how much he loves us, we can let those persecuting words roll off our backs more easily.

Who you are and your time on this earth is not an accident.  You are special, just because God made you - it doesn't matter what your past is.  Many times I believe that people where a spiritual sash.  The title on the sash represents their circumstances - depressed, shame, guilt, divorced, abused, and the list goes on.  God wants to remove that sash and put a new one on you that says Child of the Most High God, Created by the King of  Kings, Seated with Christ, Holy and Dearly Loved.  

As I've served on the team that helps people work through these types of hurts/wounds, I've heard so many different heartaches.  Some have been consequences of choices, others have been beyond the individual's control.  It doesn't matter to God which it is.  His heart's desire is to see you free from that bondage and walking closely with Him.  

Spend time with Him, let Him heal your wounds.  He wants to turn your ashes to beauty; He wants to take off the cloak of heaviness and fill you with a spirit of joy.  He wants to heal your broken heart, He wants to help you forgive your abuser.  Trade your sash for the one He has for you.  He created you and His heart longs for you to walk in all that He has for you.  He's waiting with open arms; don't delay another day!

Be Free & Be Blessed!

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Planted Like A Tree by Trish Yanney

Fall has arrived here in Sioux City and the harvest of fall leaves fill the streets, yards and city.  As the seasons change, the trees are the first to declare the season by the changing of the leaves.  It is amazing to watch the summer green leaves change into reds, oranges, browns and yellows.  God wants us to be planted like a tree and blossom, grow and change with each new season of our life.  In order to do this He gives us a key in Psalms 92:12-14, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”  If we want to flourish and grow then we must plant ourselves in a strong local church.  

Did you know that the cedar tree is one of the strongest trees in the world?  Cedars need deep soil in order to grow and its roots need access to water.  God wants us to be planted in deep soil- a church where we receive deep teaching from the Word of God.  There are many places that have watered down the Word and are teaching straight from the latest Reader’s Digest.  God wants believers to find a strong local church where their spirit can be fed a healthy diet not just fast food.  But all Word without the Spirit will make you dry up.  The Spirit gives life and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.  Your root system not only needs the nutrition of the Word but it needs access to springs of water.  The presence of the Holy Spirit will bring the refreshing waters that will help your spirit man to grow and develop.  

The cedars grow from 40 to 50 feet tall and are the strongest wood.  Because of its strong wood,  it is singularly free from the attacks of insects and of fungal diseases.  Even the sawdust of the cedar tree puts snakes to flight, making the shade of the cedar one of the safest places to sleep when outside.  In these last days the people that are faithfully connected to a strong local church are going to be protected and have a strong defense system against all that is coming against the world.  Jesus said in Matt16:18-19, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  We have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven and as a church, with the corporate anointing, we can take authority over epidemics and sickness that would try to attack our community.  Being part of a strong local church will keep you protected under the shade of the blood of Jesus.  In Luke 10:19, Jesus said "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  

So today plant yourself in a strong local church, one built on the Word and the Spirit, and then you will reap the results of the Word.  “You will bring forth fruit in its season and your leaf will not wither and whatever you do shall prosper.”  Ps 1:3

Great fall activity to do with your kids!  “Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.”

After reading “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert have your children go out and collect fall leaves and other items from nature and have them make pictures out of the leaves.  Here are examples that Emily & Megan created with their leaves.  It is amazing to see their creativity!

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Go Ahead & Jump In by Dawn White

Go Ahead & Jump In!

  "For a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adversaries."  

1 Cor. 16:9

If you have children old enough to swim, you've probably engaged in the activity I'm about to describe.  Somewhere around the age of 2-3 years, you put them on the side of the pool and then coax them to jump into your arms.  There may be some apprehension initially, but they finally jump.  They may come up from that water coughing and sputtering, they may have gotten water in their nose and it burns, or they may be feeling the effects of chlorine in their eyes.  Nonetheless, now that they've braved that jump, they're ready to do it again and again and again.  

Friends, this scenario is what is described in the scripture above.  There is an open door (the jump into the pool)...it is an exciting door.  But with that door comes the enemy who will present obstacles and hurdles (coughing/sputtering) to try to prevent you from walking through that door.  As you move closer to that door, you can expect him to start trying to derail you.

My family are currently walking this journey.  God has presented the open door to us.  As we've taken the steps to move closer, we've received persecution and hindrances.  We've come up coughing and sputtering if you will.  But here's the bottom line - just as the parent is not going to let that child sink, God is not going to let us go down.  He will catch us.  And it is with that confidence that we keep moving forward.

Let's go back to the child in the pool.  As the child jumps and masters this activity, he/she learns many lessons.   One of the most important is that the parent will catch him/her and not let them sink.  Imagine if the parent only caught the child on occasion.  The confidence of the child would be diminished and fear/anxiety may keep them from jumping.  And so it is for us, our Heavenly Father is faithful; He will catch us.  He doesn't waiver.  Hebrews 13:8 says that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  In Psalm 145:13 He tells us that He is faithful to all His promises.  We do not have to waiver in fear/anxiety.  He who beckons us is faithful to catch us.

Another lesson that the child learns is that water in the nose/eyes, coughing & sputtering can only stop you if you let them.  Granted, they are not comfortable, but you can overcome them.  In fact, it is these very obstacles, that can develop great swimming techniques in the child.  You know where I'm going with this....the same obstacles that the enemy puts in your path will develop your faith.  They will stretch your faith, but God will be faithful and you will be even more sure of that as  you move closer to the door.  Then when the next obstacle comes, your faith is up for the challenge.

And finally, as the child conquers the water up the nose and all the coughing, they love the activity of jumping in.  They want to do it again and again, until your arms can't catch another jump.  Ahhhh...the same is true for us.  Once we get through that door, we'll be so thankful that we stuck it out and didn't give in to the fear and anxiety that comes with the obstacles and persecution presented by the enemy. The blessings and rewards are more than we can dream.

Friends, I don't know what door God has placed before you.  But here is what I do know....there will be obstacles.  It is in the Word of God; it is truth.  But it is also in scripture - "Praise be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus..." [emphasis mine] 2 Cor. 2:14.   Go ahead, jump in.  He who is faithful will catch you!  

Blessings!

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Would Ya Look At That Dirt Devil by Dawn White

 Would Ya Look At That Dirt Devil?

"By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible."   Hebrews 11:3

I grew up amongst corn and soybean fields, so there was a lot of open field around me.  On occasion,  when the wind started blowing, a dirt devil would form.  I have no idea where the name came from, but this swirling funnel of dirt and debris would move across the ground for a bit, then stop, dropping all the dirt and debris that was within it. 

I want to use this image to parallel the power of God.  Hebrews 11:3 tells us that things that are seen were made from things that are not seen.  And so it is with the dirt devil.  Whatever force in the wind that caused the dirt devil to form, cannot be seen.  However, once the force has been at work, then the dirt devil becomes visible.  The dirt devil is visible as it is moving and when it stops, there has been a change.  Dirt and debris have been moved; there was an earth-moving change, small albeit, but a change in the earth nonetheless.

Likewise, with the power of God.  We don't see the power of God at work, but once we see the result of the power at work, we realize God has moved and there is a change.  Sounds so easy doesn't it?  We pray, the power is released, and the change becomes visible.  Hmmm - then why is faith a challenge sometimes?  I recently got new revelation on this that I want to share.  Perhaps this will be a help for you as well. 

In Mark 11:24, we are told that if we ask in prayer and believe that we have received, we will receive what we have asked.  What is it that we are supposed to believe in?  The power of God should be our focus.  It is the power that brings about the change.  My tendency was to stay focused on the change.  I would pray and then look for the change.  That's focusing on the natural.  It is the supernatural power that brings the change and our faith must be in that power.  

Our daughter was recently in a difficult situation.  There was a lot of darkness and immorality in the group she was working with.  She endured persecution for her beliefs.  We prayed and prayed.  The change didn't happen immediately, but as I continued to thank God for His power that was at work in this situation, we saw a shift.  Change became visible as the result of the power that was at work.  The power had been working all along, spurred on by our faith and thanksgiving for it, and we saw the result of the power at work.

As I was meditating on this, I began reading Hebrews 3.  There are a couple of scripture in this chapter that portray this message so well.  The 1st verse says this, "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus....".  There it is, keep your thoughts fixed on Jesus - that's where the power lies.  The next verse is 6, "But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.  And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast."  The essence is, Christ is faithful if we do not lose our courage and our hope.  So we have to keep our thoughts fixed on Jesus (power) and do not lose our courage and hope.  If we got off track and start focusing on the change, it tends to stir doubt, sometimes worry or fear, and overall unbelief, and we lose our courage and hope.

Have faith in the power.  With the dirt devil, the force is at work before we actually see the dirt devil.  Before you see a change in the end result, God's power has to be at work. Keep your faith in the power of God, stay focused on Jesus.  Do not lose courage or hope.  And ahhhhh, that peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind.  God will bring visible results from His invisible power.  Give it a 'whirl'.

Be Blessed!

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A Heritage of Honor by Trish Yanney

A Heritage Of Honor

A woman invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," the little girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the mother said. The little girl bowed her head and said, "Dear Lord, why on Earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Our children will imitate everything we do and say.  At times I catch myself saying and doing things my mother said and did when I was a child.  One quality I am trying to imitate of my parents is to instill honor for authority in my children.  Disrespect was not tolerated by my father.  It was very clear that if we showed disrespect to our mother or our teachers we were going to be disciplined.  The honor heritage that was passed on to me is a Godly trait that must continue to be passed on to the future generation.

Our society reeks of dishonor.  Dishonor to parents in the sitcoms of television.  Dishonor to the marriage covenant in all the pornography on the internet.  Dishonor to moral values with all the PG-13 rated movies that condone sexual promiscuity.  It is all around us and creeping into the church world.  Even ministers dropping like flies to adultery and homosexuality. 

Honor was established back in the Old Testament when the people of God needed laws in order to protect themselves from sin and to live on the earth.  God called Moses to go to the mountain to receive the 10 commandments in order for the people to have a way to walk with God.  Isn’t it interesting that through one of the 10 commandments the people learned that if they would honor their parents they would be granted long life.  In Exodus 20:12, it says "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”  Long life is the result of showing honor to parents.  

I believe in children showing honor to their parents and elders.  In the Yanney house the biggest infraction would have to be showing disrespect and dishonor.  My children know that dishonor equals a spanking.   If we ran our households like the Old Testament homes, many a child this day would not even think about mouthing off to his mother or giving a mocking eye to his father.  

II Ki 2:23-25 gives an account of some youth who showed dishonor to their elder, Elisha.  II Kings 2:23-25 reads,  “Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!  So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.”  Dishonor was not tolerated with the man of God.  Or what about the rebellious look or the rolling of eyes when a child doesn’t want to comply with obedience?  Prov 30:17 says “the eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.”  Many times I have used this passage to let my children know the severity of dishonor to authority.  Thank God for our covenant of grace under which we live, but we need to take a strong stand against the infectious disease of dishonor.

  

We as Proverbs 31 women must instill honor into our household.  Prov 31:25 says “Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.”  If we as mothers discipline dishonor we will rejoice in time to come because our children will be children who honor the Lord.  So how do we instill honor? 

Some practical ways to teach honor that we have used in our house is to speak to an adult with a tone of voice that shows honor.  Many times it is the tone of voice we use that shows the attitude of the heart.  Children need to learn to speak with a reverent attitude instead of a sarcastic tone.  If my child is speaking to me with a sarcastic tone of voice, I correct it and always make them ask again with a different tone of voice.  Dishonor will try to creep in but if you take care of the little foxes they will never become a big problem.  

Another way we show honor in our house is to call an adult by their last name or give a title to an adult like “Miss Trish” or “Mrs. Yanney.”  This keeps a healthy distance between the child and the adult and it reminds the children that they are speaking with a person in authority.  It is important that children refer to their parents as mom and dad and not by their first names.  Children have been given to the parents and they are to honor their place of authority. 

No matter what part of the country you are from, helping children use phrases like “Yes Ma'am” and “No Ma'am” or “Yes Sir” and “No Sir,” “Please” and “Thank You” are all ways to teach honor.  Helping them to be polite when they speak will remind them not to be selfish and demand their own way. 

Reminding your children of these scriptures such as Eph 6:2-4 which says, "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:  that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth," will instill honor in their hearts.    They need to know that honor brings long life and as they are obedient to God they will reap the results and the benefits of a long and prosperous life. 

So give your children the heritage of honor so that they may live a long and prosperous life and they will learn to honor God as a result of honoring you!  

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Waiting by Alexandra Fleege

Waiting

Wait,aniticipate

Eat, eat again

Sleep, and so sleepy still

Grow,  grow, and grow

Think, showing, wondering

Daydreaming, hoping, waiting

I cannot move so fast

What happened to me?

Where is my energy?

Why so much food, 

So much water

I wait and wait

WalkingI, hoping, growing and growing

I have a hundred names

One favorite to me

I cannot wait any longer

Screams

Pain

Trevail, trevail,trevail

Relief

I hold new life, so thankfully.

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Know More by Alexandra Fleege

Know More

I am free to be and to play, to laugh and to run 

I am free to sing and dance and say what I feel and see.  

I am free to fly with birds or swim with fish 

A world of endless possibility

I know no bounds

I know no rules I play all day, but soon I will know more

I sit and read, wishing to be outside

I sit and listen, wondering why am I here in this place

I sit, and obey

I sit and try to obey

I am free know more

I go to school all day, and then I still don’t play

I study and study wants to make a way

I try to laugh I try to sing

Somehow   everything is different now 

I now care what people say

I don’t want to care but I do

I work all day

Hoping to make a comfortable way

They look to me

And what do I say?

Have fun be free

Play and play

I sit once more tired and alone

And now I feel like I have done not much

And soon I too will be, know more

I wish I didn’t know so much

Like lemonade on a summer’s day

I am ready to once again play all day.

Do I see what I can?

Or am I completely blinded by what I know?

Where once I saw I can see , know more

Where once I went , I do not visit

Strange is the day I fade away

Glad once again I am free to play

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The Governor by Alexandra Fleege

The Governor

I go and never stop

Everyone looks to me to see

However I cannot see I can only tell

What is it that I tell? 

All day long, all night long

I tell, with a bird, with a bell, with a song

I tell all day long

I move people, I move things,  

They all revolve around me

From the day they arrive until the day they are gone

They will all look to me

Everyday some will look to me all day long

Some wish they could push me back

Oh, how they long to push me back

However I can never go back- just forward

That’s the only direction I know- forward

Some would like to push me faster others slower

And indeed to some I go fast and to some turtle speed

The most famous one of me resides in a city made for kings

And people look up to see, yes almost everyone knows Ben

I am a clock and I tell time,

So I will now let Time speak:

Sailors made my home in Greenwich long ago they say

And clocks the world over my orders obey

Some people are right on me

Others always behind me

I seemingly govern the realm you know 

Will I be gone one day?

Oh, I think so

One day I will be no more

I will marry eternity and it will not just be me

So make every decision wisely, you see if you waste me

You cannot replace me, nor buy me; some borrow me for a while

I can be on your side or I can be against you

I can be your friend or an enemy

It is all how you see me

You cannot live in my past as some would like

You cannot live in my future as some would dream

What you have is now

So enjoy what you have

Every opportunity freely take  and please do not waste

Neglected opportunities bring regret

Do not neglect ,you will have no regret

Time out.

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You Wait For Me by Alexandra Fleege

You Wait For Me

In hopeless and helpless despair you watch

Knowing, feeling, understanding, holding

You watch, you see, you wait, you hear

I am not alone, you are here

I know you wait and wait and wait

In darkness of the mind , in joy of the heart you wait

You see and you know me

In every way you know me

You feel me

You see me

You understand me

Can I see you?

Do I feel you?

Do I understand you?

I want to

Please help me to see

Without you there is nothing for me

I will hold onto you

I will hold on to you

I will know you again

I will hold onto you 

I will see you 

I will yet see you move for me

I will see

You are who I long for- without you I cannot be

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Help Me by Alexandra Fleege

Help Me

Can you help me?

No, I  choose not to

Can you help me?

No, I don’t want to

Can you help me, please

I would , but policy says I cannot

Is there anyone out there that can?

Please help me?

I cannot, but you could try another

And another

And yet another

Please someone help me

I would, but it’s not my problem

Can you help me, let’ see

I cannot, but maybe he could

I cannot, but maybe they could

They cannot, but maybe she could

I can’t but I would if I chose to, but I choose not to

Why won’t anyone help me?

Why cannot they see?

Why, I cannot see them, they can’t see me

What if they saw me, would they choose to help me?

No, it’s not our issue

It’s not our problem

So I will go on, there is someone that will help me

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God's Global Team by Alexandra Fleege

God's Global Team 

(written days after the Haiti earthquake)

Jan 15, 2010

As the past few days have unfolded, amidst the human tragedy we have witnessed in Haiti, it became evident that a rescue task of this size was going to take as many people as possible. The window of time is so short, a few days, before countless more lives would be lost underneath piles of debris in a shattered city. Side by side some of the most horrific images I have ever seen of human suffering and agony was one of the most beautiful, teams from all over the world working towards the same cause with the same purpose, vision and end, to save as many people as could be saved before the window was shut. 

I have no idea outside of what I have seen on the internet how many miracles have transpired over the last few days. The Lord knows, but as I was watching this take place-with prayers and tears- it seemed as though I could see the Lord’s global army, from every nation under heaven.  Everyone was needed for the window of time was short in which people could be rescued and this day was coming to an end. This is how we as the Lord’s army needed to be working side by side with each other, to have the greatest potential possible. To see an Icelandic team of rescue workers pull a woman out of a fallen building, or the French pull a woman who had all but lost hope as she lay under a hotel in ruins. A Brazilian team digging frantically because someone had heard a sign of life (which later turned out to be a nurse underneath a hospital- who was rescued in good condition). The American team taking control of the airport so that the supplies all could come safely or the Chinese who were the first to arrive. No one cared who was from where the world had come together to rescue as many as possible. Of course none of this would even happen without the greatest number of people in this army, those that gave toward the help, people from all over the world. 

Spiritually no one knows how much space is left to repent. How short is the window of time for God’s army??? How many people are in the throes of eternal death and how many of us are working frantically to get them out beneath structures of a lost and dying world. One focus, one vision, one end. As the army of Jesus we are called to rescue as many as possible before its too late. Compassion is a trait of a believer, its in our spiritual DNA because this is how our Father is. Compassion moves you. As we stand underneath the banner of Jesus Christ borders of doctrine, denomination, and pride try to divide us , let His vision unite us with this common purpose, “for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” Everyone is needed. We are so much stronger together than we are alone-we desperately need each other, it was at the time of the Lord’s greatest need the garden of Gethsemane- He longed for the disciples to tarry with him. Are we again at the time of the Lord’s greatest need?

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