THE CROSS IN PRAYER

Today for my post I am quoting the reading for August 6th from MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers

The Cross In Prayer

"At that day ye shall ask in My name."

John 16"26

"We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through, we get through it only in order to get into it. The Cross stands for one thing only for us - a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer.

"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God. If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayer, we are here to be living monuments of God's grace.

"I say not that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you." Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ's life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord's vicarious life become your vital life?" "At that day" you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.

When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to fix the blame on someone else. That is always a snare to Satan. You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else."

SHOW & TELL #13 - Names

Can you believe it's Friday again!! Well it is, and that means Show & Tell hosted by Kelli. Go here for all the details.

Jennifer, of Pen of Jen, put out the following challenge last week: My challenge to my blog friends is this: write 8 of your blog friends names in a unique way and post them. Then come back over and let me know. You must write the blogger's name that tagged you, then add 7 others. Be creative and if possible use the natural wonders of the world!

For my Show & Tell this week I wanted to show the various name that were done..

Here is the one Jen did of my name. I love it. Being a native New Mexican and loving the White Sands it was very special to me!

Here are the 4 of my 7 choices who have taken up the challenge so far

My very studious friend Pearlie, of Pearlie Gates, picked various books for her choices. How appropriate for her!! Here are her words:
Susan is the sweetest of all my blogger friends. I chose this for her because she both reminds me of Elisabeth Elliot and in her simplicity encourages me to keep a quiet heart and just marvel at the hugeness of God



Annie, of My Life As Annie, did hers on bunnies. Here is what she wrote: "She is such a sweetie & a mentor for me, truly. She also lives in the same state as me! " I didn't even know Annie had Bunnies. Is this the cutest idea?

Leigh Ann, of Living to Learn and Learning to Live our young mother of 3 youngsters under 5 years of age picked colorful letters.

Here are her words: "I didn't use the natural wonders of the world - but I did use the creative and educational talents of myself and my children as we created these together!"

Chris, of Frazzled Farm Wife, used the medium of corn. How appropriate!!!! Here is what Chris had to say: " I have got to tell you people....my husband came home while I was doing this and thought I was absolutely LOONEY! What we won't do for our blogger friends!"

Thank you Jennifer for this great idea. It was so fun and just shows how VERY original and creative our blog world is. I can't wait to see my remaining 3!!!

PROVERBS CHALLENGE

I'm taking the Proverbs Challenge. Go here to read and learn about it. Won't you join in?

DON'T QUIT

Today our youngest son, Marc, turns 38!!

We, our entire family, are SOO very proud of you and the wonderful man, father, son, brother, and uncle you are.

You are stable and dependable and this poem fits you well.

===============

When things go wrong as they sometimes will

when the road you're trudging seems all up hill.

When funds are low and the debts are high.

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit.

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns

As everyone of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow.

You may success with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out.

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are.

It may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the right when you're hardest hit

It's when things seem worst that you must not QUIT.

Author Unknown

CLEANING & NEW FURNITURE

Saturday, August 25th found Jacque, Mickey & I busy cleaning her newly purchased house and beginning the first feeble steps of turning it into a home.

On our way over we stopped and picked up doughnuts for all who would happen by, and us too of course!!

First things first-Mickey anointed all four entrance doors with oil and the three of us prayed that everyone who enters will be blessed and that God will rule and reign in this place.

Then began the cleaning and I mean it was real time cleaning because it needed it. Jacque tackled the master bath and I took on the main bathroom. Lots and lots of elbow grease in those areas. Mickey was busy cleaning out the outside gutters. As he said, "It bothers me to see tress's growing off the roof"! Now it wasn't quite that bad but weeds were growing out of them.

Then Mickey and I tackled washing some of the windows. The house was built in the 60's and I don't believe they had EVER had the storm windows removed and all four panes washed, We did the living room, front storm door, sliding den door, dining room, & kitchen windows.
In between the cleaning we had to stop as a few pieces of new furniture was delivered. The couch barely squeezed through the front door and took Mickey & Jacque's help to do so. Didn't help that it was super heavy.

Here's the new sofa. Not in place but in the room
During this time Marc, Oksana & Aric came by to see the house for the first time.

This is the new entertainment center. It is unfinished but will be stained to match the wood on the sofa & love seat.

Here is the matching love seat.

This was a VERY welcome sight!! Suzette brought over boxed lunches for the 4 of us from Jason's Deli. Yummy!! Ham or Turkey sandwich, potato chips, dill pickle, mayonnaise, mustard, chocolate chip cookie and mint.

This hard working, very hungry crew greatly appreciate these as the four of us sat down in the middle of the den floor to eat.

After our very brief lunch rest Jacque & I began lining the kitchen cupboards with shelf paper.

We worked for 6 1/2 hours and were all worn out and decided to call it a day.

Mickey & I had been invited out to a 6 o'clock dinner for 12 at some dear friends.

We rushed home, I checked my e-mails (a must do!!), jumped into the tub, got dressed and rushed out the door for dinner.

I must admit we were so tired and worn out we certainly were not the life of the party but as always had a great meal and wonderful fellowship.

OUR HEARTS ARE FULL OF HIS BLESSINGS FOR THIS FAMILY.

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!!!!

THE WINNER IS......

Thanks to the 25 of you who left comments during the past 24 hours to help me celebrate my 6th month Blogiversary.

My wonderful hubby did the honor of drawing the winning name

Mighty Mom of My Wonderful Life.

Please contact me by e-mail Mighty Mom so I can mail you the book

My Utmost For His Highest

I prayed that God would bless the winner of this wonderful book and I know He hears our prayers and will. Be blessed Mighty Mom :o)

6 MONTH BLOGIVERSARY

I began my blog on January 31, in the dead of winter and here it is July 31st, in the dead of summer. This blogging experience has been such an exciting adventure. It has surpassed any and all expectations I might have had when I very timidly posted that first little blog. I have met so many wonderful people from literally all over the world. I have made some dear friends. Some I trust will last my life time.



So in honor of my 6th month I wanted to give away one of the most important books in my life. It has been such an aid, that God has used, in molding and making me who I am today.



For my history of this book, Mickey gave me a copy of it for my 60th birthday on December 25, 1997. I set it aside for 6 days and began reading it daily on January 1, 1998. For the past 9 years and 7 months I have read the daily reading, in addition to my Bible reading and study. I find the devotionals speak to my heart over & over.

It is "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers

The copyright is 1935

This is the Classic Edition

Below is today's reading

TILL YOU ARE ENTIRELY HIS

July 31st

"Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect." James 1:4 Moffatt

"Many of us are all right in the main, but there are some domains in which we are slovenly. It is not a question of sin, but of the remnants of the carnal life which are apt to make us slovenly. Slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Ghost. There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God.

Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right. Ultimately God will let nothing escape, every detail is under His scrutiny. In numberless ways God will bring us back to the same point over and over again. He never tires of bringing us to the one point until we learn the lesson, because He is producing the finished product. It may be a question of impulse, and again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to the one particular point, or it may be mental wool-gathering, or independent individuality. God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right.

We have been having a wonderful time this Session over the revelation of God's Redemption, our hearts are perfect towards Him: His wonderful work in us makes us know that in the main we are right with Him. "Now, " says the Spirit, through St. James, "let your endurance be a finished product." Watch the slipshod bits - "Oh, that will have to do for now." Whatever it is, God will point it out with persistence until we are entirely His. "

Everyone who leaves a comment during the next 24 hours will be in the drawing for this Classic Devotional Book.

It is now 7:05 a.m. so I will have the drawing in the morning at 7:30 a.m. and post the winner. If this is something you would like to receive please leave me a comment and let me know.