Morning Tea!! ITS BACK!

I receive this from my dear friend Cheryl, who gets it from her sister in law. Whoever writes this is awesome. This always speaks to me.

Are you responding to pressures or priorities?

"He shall . . . wear out the saints." Daniel 7:25

One day a caterpillar met a friend at the psychiatrist's office and asked, "Are you coming or going?" His friend replied, "If I knew that, I wouldn't be here!"

Satan's goal is to wear you out until you don't know whether you're coming or going! He does it by weighing you down with things that aren't necessarily sinful, but drain you physically and emotionally. Daniel says in the last days the enemy will "wear out the saints." If you doubt it, look at the pressures you face every day - work, finances, church commitments, and family. No wonder you're frazzled!

Paul says, "Let us lay aside every weight . . . and . . . run . . . the race . . . set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). Knowing what to pick up and what to set down is your job - not God's.

Establish priorities, then discipline yourself to live by them. Nobody was more dedicated to God's work than Jesus, but even He needed time alone with His Father. One of the first priorities set by the New Testament church leaders was to dedicate themselves to God's Word and prayer. How? By assigning others to handle the administrative load. (See Acts 6).

Learn: (a) what to offload, (b) what to delegate, (c) what not to pick up in the first place. And saying, "I don't have time," doesn't cut it. Everybody gets the same 24 hours to respond to either pressures or priorities. Decide what to set aside for now, and what to unload for good. Don't get so involved with the work of God that you neglect the God of the work!

More Journal songs...

As I sit in my prayer time and bible study each day I have music on....as things bless me or are relavent to what I am studying, I write it down. Each time I hear this...I am convicted....by the words...."Did I point to you ENOUGH to make a mark on things...."

Nichole Nordeman (my hero - although I don't know her, I think I want to be her when I grow up)

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter.......much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world


I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

by Nichole Nordeman 2002 Ariose Music

If ever there were an anthem or a prayer for my life, this is it...

MISTAKEN By Warren Barfield

I shouldn’t have to tell you who I am
Cause who I am should be speaking for itself
Cause if I am who I want to be
Then who you see won’t even be me
Oh the more and more I disappear
The more and more He becomes clear

Chorus:
‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be mistaken

Do they only see who we are
But who we are should be pointing them to Christ
Cause we are who He chose to use
To spread the news
Of the way the truth and the life
Oh I want all I am to die
So all He is can come alive

‘ Til everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
‘ Til everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus
Oh I wanna be
Oh I need to be mistaken
For you
Oh I wanna be mistaken

BRIDGE:
May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life
I want Him to
I want Him to live

More journal songs...How Could I Ask For More?

I am always touched when I hear this song and I am thankful for simple blessings....the sun, the moon, the grass, the sand, the snow, nature around me....trials, heartache, the smile on my childrens face...

HOW COULD I ASK FOR MORE - Cindy Morgan From Real Life

There's nothing like the warmth of a summer afternoon
Walking to the sunlight, and being cradled my the moon
Catching fireflies at night
Building castles in the sand
Kissing Mam's face goodnight
And holding Daddy's hand
Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

Running barefoolt in the grass
A little hide and go seek
Being so in love, that you can hardly eat
Dancing in the dark, when there's no one else around
Being bundled 'neath the covers, watching snow
Fall to the ground
Thank you Lord, how could I ask for more

So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned
From this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going
Simple love will keep you strong

Cause there are questions without answers
Flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord How could I ask for more

Shane and Shane still ROCK!

Songs in my journal from August 16th

yearn by shane barnard
holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing


mercy reigns by shane barnard

she hides her face, it seems too good
for Your embrace to find her
and say, "my dove, your voice is sweets
how me your form... your form is lovely"

Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mecy falls
and rises with the sun
Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mecy falls
and rises with the sun
its new every morning
its new every morning
its good enough for me

no ear has heard a melody
as sweet as yours for her
it seems too good, so undeserved
my heart faints now, for we are her

Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mercy falls
and rises with the sun
Your mercy reigns
Your mercy comes
Your mercy falls
and rises with the sun

i will abide in Your love, Your love(song of solomon 2:14, lamentations 3:22-23)