The Face of God...

Have you ever seen the face of God?

I have several times. This time was different though. Let me give you the background information leading up to this face of God.

So as many of you know, the Hubby and I work the Walks to Emmaus. We love serving God in such as a way. Well, when saying yes to serving on these walks, you know that Satan hates them and will attack the team. Well, I have not been the recipient of attacks until this walk coming up this weekend, other team members have been. The hubby was serving on the conference room team for the men's walk this past weekend while Satan was attacking me.

So anyway, Saturday returning home from my final team meeting, I was traveling down Research park at 60 to 65 miles per hour. Anyway, someone came passed me on my left, then obviously realized they were about to miss their exit to head west. So this individual comes to a dead stop, and I mean dead stop in the right hand lane trying to get into the exit lane. I had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting this individual. Anyway, I didn't think much about it, other than they just weren't paying attention to what they were doing.

Then not ten to fifteen minutes later, I was traveling on a five lane road, two east, two west, one turn lane. Anyway, I was traveling east and to the north there was a road coming out up ahead. I see an individual on a bicycle coming up on that road. I see him slow down, so I assume he is stopping and not coming out into the road. Well, I assumed wrong. He proceeded to come on out crossing the westbound lanes of traffic, through the turn lane and about to come out in front of me, as I am traveling 40 to 45 miles per hour. I managed to miss hitting this guy by a matter of three feet or so. Not much.

At that point, I begin to pray, asking God, "What is going on? Why all the craziness today?" Then proceeded on to my final destination. Well, later that same night (Saturday) coming home from a Emmaus worship service with a van full, literally. I was traveling on the highway where the speed limit is 65, and I was traveling around 72, 73. Anyway, we get off the main highway to cut through to get back to my house. I was listening to one young person talking, and driving, and I guess just not paying attention or something. I have no clue what I was thinking. Anyway, not but a mile or so after getting off the main road, I got pulled over by a police officer. He came up to the van, and asked why I was traveling 68 in a 45. I apologized like you would not believe. I really didn't know what else to say. I don't travel that fast with all my kids in the van.

Anyway, he goes back to his car, comes back a few minutes later and says, "I'm going to let you off with a warning this time." In shock, and still apologizing because I deserved the ticket, I signed the warning ticket. As he was handing the warning to me, I looked up at him and knew I was looking at the face of God. I touched his hand and said, "thank you, thank you" All the while looking at his face knowing I was looking at one of the many faces of God and he had just saved us from something horrible. I don't know how to explain it, I just know. I don't know what God saved us from, and I will probably never know. I just know that God saved our lives that night. Whether I was traveling too fast or whether there was danger up ahead. Nobody knows other than God what he saved us from, I just know that God saved us that night. I so wish there was words to explain how you know it is God, but there are none. You just know, in the pit of your Spirit, you just know. You just know that God has spoken to you.

My God is so much bigger than Satan. Needless to say, I was a wreck, because I knew. I never know how to explain, other than I just knew that was God telling me to turn around an go back to the main highway. See, when that cop said, you've got to turn here then there and so on, it dawned on me about the detour. Remember, I said we were heading the back way home. Well, I forgot that you had to detour around, to literally in the middle of no where. No lights, no main roads, no towns, no nothing, just roads in not great parts of the county.

I knew to most this is just all coincidences, but it is not. And if you don't think it's a conincidence then you might not understand. That's okay too. But my quess is, if you are a child of God, you have similar experiences were you have seen God protecting, loving, caring, etc. for you. See Satan does not want me on this upcoming walk, but God does. Satan hates these walks, becuase God uses them to change peoples lives. God is bigger.

God is allowing me to be tested. I just have to stay focused on God and that he is bigger than the one that causes the trouble. Satan can only touch me if God allows him too. Praise God that I am His. That he is a Father that protects, provides, loves, but yet disciplines when we need it.

God is Amazing!!!!

So Broken...

So this past weekend was a wonderful one. The hubby and I started our meetings for the upcoming fall Walks to Emmaus. At these meetings, you find yourself examining yourself. You can't serve others if you are not in the right spot with God. Anyway, Saturday sitting in the meeting, God was speaking to me, so clearly about how broken I am. I didn't not realize how broken until Saturday and then again on Sunday when the pastor preached on Dave and Nathan.

So here is part of my testimony taken straight from my journal, written 9-29-07, the middle of the night. I will not explain everything in this one post. It would be too long; however, I will explain and write all of it, to completely explain why I am so broken.

Sometime in the middle of the night, 9-29-07:

"Wow, what a night. First I knew about candlelight, but I did not know what would happen or what to expect. I knew Mom and dad would be here. I had no clue that Chris would come. I know I hoped he would but I did not expect it because of the kids.When I saw him that was a blessing. I began to cry as if I had not seen him in weeks. Just making eye contact with him and taking that rose from him was more than I could handle or imagine. It was almost like I was seeing him differently and he was seeing me differently. Then just knowing all those people came just for us to know they were praying for us. Wow! what an amazing experience. Then after everyone left we had our time of release again if we wanted too. Well last night I thought I laid it all down but I did not. This morning when we went back in for communion, they asked us to place a piece of bread in the basket as we lay the things down that we don't want to carry anymore. I felt led to place a piece in for each burden I was carrying and wanted to let go of. I did and my load was so much lighter. So tonight I had nothing else to lay down, but I was still crying uncontrollably. Pastor Phil asked why? I told him I was tired of being that verse in II Timothy where you are always studying but never coming to the truth of the knowledge. He asked if I had ever asked God to give me the full power of the Holy Spirit. I said, "no". I don't know what that means or what to think of that either. He placed his hands on me and began to pray over me. Me head began to feel light, my arms were beginning to go limp. I was aware of everything because I was trying to keep control I wanted to make sure they weren't doing anything to me. He wasn't other than praying over me. As all went limp, I just laid back on the floor, still aware of what was going on telling myself this was not real, but I did not do anything, they did nothing to me. I can not explain it. It is scary and surreal. I am scared to tell Chris. What if that was the one thing he did not agree with. What if he thinks Iam stupid and lost my mind. I still don't know what to think about that experience. I know in my heart if it was a true God give experience that He well grow it. If it was not from my Father I ask that you remove I from me. I only want to be honorable to you, no one else, and no one thing. Whether what I experienced tonight was real or not I know that I have freedom from the craziness that was in my mind before laying all that crap out on the cross. I am changed for the better. I just pray Father that I don't leave with more questions than I came with. I am trusting you to remove from me the verse in II timothy. I am trusting you to give me that teachable heart, the one that desires to know you, see you, talk to you , and hear you."

9-30-07 (morning)
"I am scared Father,I don't understand what happened and why. I know I am scared and I need and want to talk to my husband, to get his idea. I am afraid he will find the experience quite crazy and think I'm weird. I don't even come close to understanding so how do I explain it to anyone else."

9-30-07 (later that morning)
"Father, I think you for sending me to the chapel during breakfast this morning. I knew I needed some answers. I thank you for putting Randy where I could see him. Someone my father trusts. I talked to him and told him what happened and how I felt. He helped to explain, but left to get Donald. Pastor Donald gave me some scripture to back up what had happened because I don't want to do anything to displease you. Then you sent Cathy in. She told me how after you had filled here with the Spirit the Word just came alive. Well that is what I was asking for. I believe that your Words will jump off the page and become alive to me."

So these are words from my journal. Here is the filler information. The night that I hit the floor. I was at the alter, fighting God. I was telling Him, he was not going to make me hit the floor. I was not going to fall. Needless to say, God won, I lost. He laid me on that floor. My dear wonderful friend came over to me and asked me if was okay. I said yes. I wanted to get up, but I couldn't. All I could do was roll my head one way or the other, and tell my friend I was okay. I was laying there, still fighting God, telling him I was going to get up and He was telling me no. Holding me there until I had given up all fight that I had in me. Later that evening when I went to the restroom, I looked in mirror and I glowing, or so pale that I was glowing. I knew I was looking at myself, but there was no definition to my face. That Randy that I saw the next morning, that I knew I could trust because my dad knew him and had worked with him for many years. Well, it was the wrong Randy, God knew I needed someone, so He lined everything up for me to be able to talk to some one, some one I knew I could trust. My father thank Randy for talking to me later that week at a meeting. That's how we figured out it was not the same Randy. Then the hubby, believed every word and understood every word I was telling him. God had spoken to him, but he was not able to tell me until I came home from my walk. So He experienced the power and realness of God as well, just in a different way.

Okay. I think that is enough for now. I could type forever, but I know you all have more important things to do than read this. I will finish in one or two more posts. (This post will explain many posts from a year ago or so.)

Karios on the Inside

One of the several reasons we were on a week long trip around North and South Carolina was for my cousin Mark. I have not seen my cousin in 7 years. Mark is 2 years younger than me, I believe and has daughter two weeks younger than Kid-O.

Anyway, seven years ago, he made a horrible mistake. He helped a guy rob someone, put them in the car and relocated him to another location (ie. kidnapping). Of course this is the very short version of the story.

Within the first year in Kershaw, maxi mun level prison in South Carolina. My cousin was blessed with the opportunity to go through Kairos on the Inside, which is the Walk to Emmaus for prisoners. What a blessing that was in his life. I pray that God using his testimony over, and over again. Anyway, during that time in prison, he says, "God has really blessed me. Not a hair on my head was ever hurt. I was shown favor by the guards and prisoners alike." He has stayed in God's word for all these years, daily. I pray that God leads him to continue down that path and that God's keeps temptation from him. Mark told me, "I can only do this with God's strength." Praise God that he knows that now. I just ask that you all pray for him. This is going to be a difficult time in his life. Right now he is on 90 house arrest. He can not step out of the door of the house.

May God bless Tim and his wife, who have listen to God's call on their lives. Tim was Mark's table leader 6 years ago on Kairos and his wife worked the kitchen. Thank you and all glory be to God. Tim has continued to stay in touch with Mark over the years. The hubby and I believed as Christians we are to support those who need the support, whether they are family or not. I asked for extra special prayers for my cousin.

Emmaus Update...

Back in March, I believe, I believed God was telling me it was time for a dear friend to go on her Walk to Emmaus. I called her, talked to her about it, asked he to pray and see what God's leading for her was.

A few days later, I received her application in the mail. So the weekend of July 16 through July 19, she was on her walk. It is all her experience to tell, but I know the blessing from the hubby and I's end were amazing. God gets all the praise and glory for what He did in her life. What he taught her, showed her about herself, and the moving of the Holy Spirit.

It was an amazing weekend for her, the hubby and myself. I want to thank everyone that prayed for her over those three days.

Walk to Emmaus

The hubby and I have a pilgrim on the Walk to Emmaus that starts tonight. I ask that you pray for us as we travel this weekend and for her especialy, as God reveals Himself to her in a mighty way, and all those involved with this walk that they be humble servants of God. I will be back in a few days. Thank you for praying for her.

Busyness...

I love the busyness of the Walks to Emmaus, serving God in whatever you are called to do. It is tiresome, but wonderful, amazing. Everytime, we are surprised by God and his power. Why, I do not know, but yet we are. He never fails, Satan is always defeated, and the pilgrims lives are forever changed, by walking with Jesus for three days.

Just like the story of Cleopas and his friend walking and talking about the days events, and the resurrection of Christ, and Christ walks up and talks with them, but they don't realize it is Christ until he has left. That is the Walk to Emmaus. God the Holy Spirit comes up and walks with you, talks with you, and teaches you. Wow, God is amazing. I was blessed, the hubby was blessed and more importantly the pilgrims were blessed. Can't wait to do it all again in two weeks.

The Ten Crazies for Christ

Last night, we had our first reunion group meeting - Walk to Emmaus group. (Which by the way, I forgot to take a picture of my kids.) What a blessing, to listen to how God is working in our lives and growing us up in our faith. What an amazing time of spiritual renewal.

Hubby and myself
Blessed and Beyond
Mrs. Going Goofy
Missinator
Skippy
Mac Daddy
BB and The singer

Indyretreats.org

If indyretreats.org visits my site again, thank you for your comment. My husband and I are very involved in the Walk to Emmaus. We attended Emmaus of the Cumberlands, in Livingston, TN, Walks #61 & #62, and sat at the Tables of Luke and Rachel. We are involved with the New Covenant Community out of North East Alabama. Being involved and watching God work is amazing.

Overwhelmed with Joy

God is amazing. I went to bed last night singing; "Our God is an awesome God, He reigned from Heaven Above, Our God is an awesome God." I can't seem to get it out of my mind.

This weekend with the sponsoring a of friend for his walk to Emmaus and working the walk to Emmaus was a blessing beyond measure. I can't go into much detail yet, because the wife is going this weekend coming up and she reads daily. But I can tell you, to watch God work and seeing his work is beyond anything anyone could ever even begin to measure. Just try to measure and God will blow it out of the water again.

I am sure that over the next few weeks, I will be able to tell you all so much more about what God has and is doing in the lives of my hubby and I, and our dear friends of "Blessed and Beyond".

Part of the story is theirs to tell, and part is ours to tell. I am sure that when God is ready for us to tell everyone, he will tell us NOW.

Thank you for reading my babbling for the day. I am soooooo overjoyed with so many blessing, that I am and have been overwhelmed by God again. I thank God for loving me so much that he choose to use me and then to see the blessings.

Blessings...Men's Emmaus Walk #54

It is amzaing what God will teach you in times when you don't realize the learning is for you. What I would love to write right now, I can't because people will read that can't know these things right now. Confusing, but amazing. God is powerful, all-loving, all-caring, and in all things. Thank you to my Heavenly Father for the blessings of the day and the blessing to continue this weekend.

Busyness

This weekend was filled with busyness. The hubby and I normally led boring lives, not having much to do, a blessing by the way. Anyway, Friday evening we had World Thinking day for our little brownie (Kid-O), Saturday morning our final meeting for Emmaus, the afternoon a walk through at the camp for the walk to Emmaus, and Saturday evening and night a marriage seminar at church, Sunday morning, of course there is church, then a baby shower in the afternoon, then back to church for evening service. I got to thinking about how the weekend just blow right by, but then I got to thinking what a blessing the weekend was as well. It is amazing how God uses the busyness of life sometimes, to teach us different things, like what is the most important thing: having a relationship with God through the saving grace of His Son.

Beautiful Noise

What beautiful noise? The sound of many people praying to our Heavenly Father all at one time. The hubby and I have been blessed to serve on a Men's Walk to Emmaus. At our final meeting, before the walk, after communion; people were praying. Some in groups some as individuals. As I was praying, God said listen. I did. Wow, what a magnificent sound, all the utterance of people praying, not caring that others were around. I got a very small glimpse of what Heaven will be like. What a blessing.

Friends

So, I heard from an old (not age) friend yesterday. You know those friends that when you move away they become email friends then that beings to taper off. Well, I forgot that I had sent her my blog address; she has been reading it. Which by the way, I love because you might not get to talk to those friends much anymore, but they are still your friends, you still love them, and they are still learning about you and your life.

Which the Hubby mention something to me after his Walk to Emmaus, but before mine, if I remember correctly. He said, if you are talking to someone and you don't learn something about that person, something meaningful, not just about their silly hair dilemma, then you have basically wasted your time and theirs. I got that after my Walk. Which I think is part of why I enjoy doing this just about everyday, because people are learning about me and my family, the real me and my family.

Thank you to all who read, and I would enjoy to hear back for you.

More pictures of the kids to come later today. I have got to get ready to get my hair cut. We will see.