Right now I am sitting in the Denver Airport and so thankful for free wifi - otherwise I might just fall asleep. And if I fell asleep, I would miss my next flight, because it would be a deep sleep.

But let me back up a bit...

Mike and I had a wonderful time in Idaho - travelling just the two of us. The conference itself was not spectacular, but it was a good time for Mike and I. Refocused us and we made some big decisions.

We have had some financial changes in the last two weeks, that you would think would throw me into insanity, but they haven't.

First, our denomination miscalculated our funding. Instead of having support until December, we ran out two weeks ago - no end of September paycheck.

Second, the company that Mike went to work for as a "Quality Control Manager" (yeah - no clue either) has had some integrity issues. While on our trip, we decided that he can not go back to work there. Starting next Wed - no paycheck.

Now those two things alone - not even mentioning the loss of health insurance - would normally put me into panic mode. No, I don't know where the money will come from to pay the electric bill. But somehow I feel very peaceful about it - it is okay. God is faithful!

We after we got home, Mike talked to his old company in Indiana. They have agreed to hire him as a consultant 20 hours/week.

That sound doable for Mike - not as stressful trying to work as much and do church. And it is different work. It will also mean a few trips to Indiana. In the back of my mind and if finances cooperate, I may send a child or two on one of those trips - they have been begging to visit their friends!

So, a trip to Idaho...a schedule and financial picture turned up side down...and twelve hours later...on a flight to Dallas.

This morning I got to watch the sun come up at how many ever thousands of feet in the air - beautiful! Now I am drinking coffee and "relaxing" until the next fight (3 hours). Great people watching time. And I really do like the Denver airport. Free wifi and a second level that most people don't know about. I can sit in quiet and watch people from overhead.

I know this seems random, but people watching is something else that I have noticed has evolved in me over the past few years. I used to watch, look at clothes, and notice all the faults.

"That woman does not match!"
"Oh, my, did she really wear pjs to fly in?"
"Just use a comb, people"

Now I notice more...different.

I still notice clothes... "oo - cool shoes!" or "fun wrap" but now I notice other things. "She looks so tired - I wonder what is bothering her...Lord, give her strength...travelling with a baby is so difficult." or "wow, he's moving fast...I wonder if he ever stops to think about You...Lord, create and opportunity for him to stop - hopefully nothing tragic." Yet I know that God doesn't create the tragic - He uses it.

That brings me to another thing (told you random). Mike and I listened to "The Shack" on CD during our eight-hours-there-and-eight-hours-back trip to Idaho. Amazing story!!!! I need to get the book now so I can re-read it again. Excellent at explaining forgiveness, love, and why bad things happen to "good" people. Hmmmm...it may be your Christmas present! So in that case, never mind.

Alright, enough tired rambling - time to something productive, find some food, and board my plane to Dallas.

Yee'haw, Tx here I come!

Mike and I are at a conference in Post Falls, Idaho. In order to come sans children, I had to parcel my kids out to three unsuspecting crazy loving people. The younger two with one, the middle two with another, and the oldest two with yet another.

We had to leave early Monday morning, so we threw the children out of the house delivered the children on Sunday evening. That meant we had the house to ourselves. (I'll let you think whatever now)

I kept thinking that someday I would get teary eyed over how quiet the house was.

But for now, I didn't have to be quiet because children were sleeping. I could yell for Mike from one of the house when he was at the other end of the house.

I walked on a floor that had been mopped six hours earlier and no one had spilled anything on it yet.

I got up in the morning and didn't have to tip-toe around.

I was ready in record time because I didn't have to solve a crisis or do anyone's hair, get anyone dressed, or feed anyone but myself.

My kitchen was clean when I left and I only had to load one cereal bowl in the dishwasher.

We didn't even have the dog at home, so no one to care for but ourselves.

Yeah, someday it will bring tears to my eyes, but for now...hurray!

And to those watching my children...thank you...and we really won't be back until next week!

Every night I sing Morgan a song before the last kiss and goodnight. I used to sing "Jesus Loves Me" until she put her hand over my mouth and said, "No, I don't want that song."

I'm going with she wanted diversity rather than just not liking that song or my voice.

So Monday night as I was saying goodnight I asked what song she wanted mommy to sing.

You Are My Sunshine.

We sang together and it was a sweet mommy-daughter moment until the last line: "Please don't take my sunshine away."

At that moment, my sweet daughter reached up and made a motion like she was capturing something and said...

"I took your sunshine away...haha..nanny-nanny-boo-boo"

Oh, her teen years should be lots of fun!

Maybe you heard this on the news.

At first I thought it was just silly and I would ignore it.

Now I just want to know where I can buy this test.

I know - finally! All four of you were on the edge of your seats!

Text for the weekend: Isaiah 32:1-6,8


The last verse was our memory verse and it really has a rhythm that sticks in your head! Love it when that happens.

So in an effort to not be long winded, I'm just going to transfer my notes. (With a few parenthetical comments. Sorry, Seth, it's not going to be grammatically pretty, but are my posts ever?)

We can't plan our circumstances, but we can plan our faithfulness.

1. Every life needs a plan
We can plan our stand (stand means to rise up from sitting, kneeling or reclining - says we have to be active).
Are we going to continue reacting and living a train-wreck of a life or are we going to get a plan?
Job 17:11 - Job's plans were shattered
Prov 19:21 - our plan needs to be to fulfill the Lord's purpose.
(side note - there is a difference between Christ as Saviour - denotes one time commitment - and Christ as Lord - denotes continual commitment.)

2. The noble plan is to show God to your fellow man.
When we allow God to reign in us we become Isaiah 32:2&3

all refer to God - we will be evidence of God in our own circle.

No matter where you are, you are here to be a benefit to the lost!

The point is not to be good, but to do good!

We've all had a lot of stuff happen and none of it is wasted - makes us a shelter, refuge, etc.

Do we live with regret over dumb decisions? A refuge is sanctified regret - it ways I understand (U2ME2) let me tell you how Jesus transformed me.

Without that failure we would think we are the great rock.

Word of caution: don't force shelter on people who want to stay in the storm!

(I love how Beth pulls the Greek and Hebrew out - reminds me of Greek in college - only Beth is so much more interesting to listen to)

Noble: "ndb" or "nadab" - to be willing - free - to be a willing volunteer - uncompelled free movement of the will for divine service or sacrifice.

Therefore...

3. All it takes to be noble is to be a willing volunteer.

Nothing paralyzes us like perfectionism. God uses us as we are. (Judges 5:1-9)

Humility - don't wait to be great to do what God wants us to do.

We can only make our outer body behave for so long - then we go back to what we want to - that is why we need to want to want Him.

4. The opposite of a noble is a nable.

Fool - "nbl" - "nabal" - stupid

Isaiah 32:5 - paraphrase - no longer will fools become celebrities.

Sometimes we need a hand over the mouth.

5. Any nabal can become a noble.

Eyes that see - develop God eyes

A nabal just doesn't get it - still living in a messed up mindset.

Abuser - even if told what they have done wrong - just doesn't get it. Sometimes we don't even get ourselves.

Thankfully, God looks beyond and sees our need - He "gets it" even when we don't. He knows everything & heals.

I don't have to understand - I just need to know He heals and gets it.

When He becomes King in our lives, then we can have ears that really listen. The most important part of counselling is the listening. (look people in the eye and give them your full attention).

The mind of the rash will understand - a nabal is always rash or reacts with impulse.

Understand - "bin" - to discern, to perceive, to observe - how to use the information you get wisely.

6. Any noble can become a nabal.

You are never too spiritual to blow it. (2 cor 11:2&3)

When you are a willing volunteer, you become a threat - be warned - be aware.

Satan wants to take a pure motive (being a shelter) and turn it into darkness. (Gal 6:1)

Don't become a refuge for sin - people need the knowledge that they can be different. We need to repent and have real authenticity.

If God put you in a position to lead - LEAD!!!!

7. The power of a noble trumps a nabal.

1 Sam 25 - heading, David, Nabal, & Abigail. Abigail was noble.

Abigail helped David avoid vengeance. Result: Nabal had heart attack (left alive for 10 days - was God giving him an opportunity to repent?) Abigail was still respectful to Nabal, but followed God's wisdom.

Hosea 14:4 - God voluntarily loves us - no one makes him - he is a willing volunteer - he is noble.

OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! PROCLAIM HIS GREATNESS!

and in true Southern eloquence...

"scare the dogs under the bed!"

** So much for not being long-winded and please forgive any nabal errors in my grammar or typing abilities.

I'm still planning on recapping, but here is the video.

The photographer is a very nice man, named Rich, whom I'm sure thinks I am some crazy girl.

When I told my girlfriend, Mandy, that I was going to Beth Moore last weekend, she told me that her friend, Jill's cousin, Gretchen, was marrying Rich next weekend. I know, sounds like some bad country song.

The bad part is that Rich was standing near me several times that weekend and finally, I told him that my friend's friend's cousin was marrying him next weekend and I just wanted to say congratulations.

He said thank you, gracious man that he is, but I'm pretty sure he had security watching me for the rest of the conference.

Living Proof Live Billings Montana from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

I just spent the evening with Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell.

Okay, not like a personal visit, but they are here in Billings with the Living Proof Team and they are awesome. I am just so thankful that they are willing servants for God. I am definitely the receipiant of blessing because of it.

I will recap the weekend when it is over and I have digested it.

For now, let's just say that God is awesome...In Christ Alone still brings me to tears...and Beth allows God to speak through her in such a way that every woman's hearts are touched!