A Detail God...

I'm a detail person. If you've been following my blog at all for any length of time, I know you're just schocked by that statement...ha! Actually, the perfectionistic and orderly ways of mine simply line me up to be detail oriented. However, when it comes to my prayer time I don't always remember to pray the details - I'm more big picture. Until recently...

My 12-year-old just started 7th grade this morning. Thankfully, this new school year didn't bring about the same level of butterflies for her (and me) as last year did with her transition to middle school. However, there were a couple of very specific things that I've been praying about over the summer regarding this school year. I wanted God to place her with a specific team of teachers (they have 3 teams of teachers in this grade). I also prayed that He would remove a group of bullies that shared most classes with her last year that caused some emotional pain. Guess what? Yep - you guessed it - He came through big time! She's with the exact team of teachers that I prayed for. And the bullies? One of them moved to Kansas, and the other 3 are on an entirely different team! Thank you God!

Don't tell me God isn't a God of details. He listens to every single, little prayer. He knows and cares about every small detail of our lives. Too often, we don't take time to share those details with Him or may not take time to pray about the details. Worse yet, we may lose heart while waiting on Him to answer those detail prayers. Friends, give it ALL to Him - big and small! Watch Him work, be amazed, and give Him the glory in the end!

List #8

Happy Friday friends!

This being Friday, it's time for another one of Leah's Lists. Can I just remind you all of how much I love to make lists? I know...I know...unless you're a listmaker like me, you won't understand. Just play along anyway...k?

Back in January, I undertook a challenge put forth by my favorite Bible teacher, Beth Moore, to commit to memorize 2 scriptures a month. I actually blogged about this back then, so if you'd like to read more about it...here you go:

http://panthersandpetals4him.blogspot.com/2009/01/scripture-memorization.html
(FYI: this was supposed to be a direct hyperlink, but I can't get it to work right now. So, just copy and past this link into another window. Sorry about that.)

So, for today's list, I thought I would share with you 10 of the 16 I have memorized so far. Why not all 16? Thought you'd never ask. Actually, all of my lists up to this point have consisted of 10 items. I can't seem to break that tradition just yet. So, for now, I will plan to give you the next 10 at the end of October.

God has been so very, very good to me through this habit creation! I've memorized scripture before (Psalms especially), but this time around it's been so different. He has absolutely honored my obedience with this! Without fail, He's given me an opportunity to directly use that scripture in my life or someone else's right after I've memorized it! His word is very powerful, living and active folks! I not only encourage you to hide His word in your heart through memorization, but I plead with you to do so. It will be life changing if you stick with it!

Be blessed today!

Ten scripture passages memorized in 2009:

1. 2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)
2. Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
3. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
4. Isaiah 26: 3-4 (NLT)
5. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
7. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
8. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)
9. James 1:27 (NIV)
10. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Now wait - before you go and think I've completely lost it, I do have a reason for the Happy New Year greeting! Each August, at the start of a new school year, I feel that same type of feeling I get on January 1...the birth of a new season - one full of hope, promise, excitement, and activity.

My little girl will be starting seventh grade next Tuesday! I'm still in shock that she's even in middle school, and to think that this year she'll become a teenager as well. Oh my! (All my praying peeps: please kick it up a knotch!) She loves being able to buy new school supplies and meet new teachers. I love being able to help her set new goals (i.e. read more books this year - hear me Anna? - ha! ha!), create new study habits, drive her to new activities.

Along with the beginning of a new school year, it seems that everything just falls more into a routine (usually dictated by work/school schedules). Summers, as wonderful as they can be, seem to be less structured, and those of you that know me or are figuring me out, know that I thrive on structure. :-)

This time of year also reminds me that fall is just around the corner - my favorite season. And...soon after fall - Christmas! I LOVE Christmas - everything about it. Now is also about the time that I start thinking about what new traditions I want to begin this Christmas season? I even start looking for specific gifts for people (bought a couple at the beach during vacation).

And, this year, we will be experiencing another big change - we'll be moving to another house in a little over a week. Although packing and moving may not be that exciting, getting to "set up house" in a new location is a fun thing for me. And...it almost feels like Christmas as I unpack those boxes and remember what I even had to begin with.

More importantly for me, this season has ushered in a new time of devotion with my sweet Savior. I can't begin to explain how special it has been lately, and I can see the changes manifesting themselves in my life and in me! It has been an intentional shift, as I've been hungering for greater depth of knowledge in God's word. As I seek Him, I find Him, and He continually reveals more of Himself to me!

So, I guess I should be saying "Happy New Season"! May you walk into this new time with full expectation of God doing big things for you, as you lay them before His throne! Be blessed!

Book Recommendation...

I'm so sorry that I haven't been blogging a whole lot lately. God has been doing some amazing things in me personally, and I honestly haven't been able to focus on much outside of that - blog included. I hope to share more later...

Anyway...I just had to take a quick moment to plug a little book that I absolutely adore. I'm reading through it now for the 3rd or 4th time. For you guys, this may not have as much impact, so please forgive me for focusing on women for just a moment. His Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd is perhaps one of the best devotionals for women that I have ever read! If you've never read it - please, please spend the few bucks and buy it and read it. Then, give away copies to your women friends. It's not one of those books that you can just sit down and read cover to cover. It's designed in such a way that you need to drink it in slowly and let the words permeate your spirit. Here's an excerpt of one of God's love letters written in the book:

"My Princess...Give Me Your Plans

I know you have an idea in your head on how everything should unfold in your life. Even today you have an agenda. Because I love you, I need you to give Me back all your plans for today and for all your tomorrows. If you let Me have your day, I can then intervene with something special. My intervention will give you more joy in your jouney than your good intentions. I know all that your heart longs for, and I want to do more for you than you could ever do for yourself. So give Me a chance to change your agenda from ordinary to extraordinary, because that 's the kind of life I've destined you to live, My beloved.

Love,
Your King and your Planner"

Again, please read this book ladies! Men...get this book for the women in your lives also! You will not be sorry!

Until next time...be blessed sweet friends!

List #7

This week's list focuses on some favorite hobbies or activities - in no particular order:

Hobbies:
1. Scrapbooking
2. Reading
3. Blogging
4. Collecting newspapers from state capitals
5. Crafting
6. Running - still have a heart for it even though my foot won’t allow it physically right now
7. Organizing things
8. Photography - just signed up to take a class starting in a little over a week
9. Anything with water (swimming, boating, fishing, etc.)
10. NFL!!!!

What about you? What are your favorities things to do? There are so many other things that I would love to do, but I honestly don't have time for all of the hobbies that I like to engage in now. If you only had time for 1 hobby - what would it be?

I Felt a Draft!

Sunday night services were always some of my favorites at the church I attended when living in Charlotte, NC several years back. You see, I went to a large church and sometimes got lost in the crowd – but never on Sunday nights. The congregation was smaller, and the dress was casual. So in my worn out khaki pants, I proudly marched up to one of the first five rows of the sanctuary and drank in the teaching of my pastor. I stood and sat and stood and sat and fully participated in the hour-long service. This particular Sunday evening, our service ended with us getting into circles and praying together. Going through a very difficult time in my life, I needed the circle prayer more than ever, so I eagerly hopped up from my seat and joined a loving group of people around me. At the conclusion of our prayer time, I began my journey to the other side of the church to pick up my daughter from children’s choir. Somehow along the way, I felt a draft behind me. It was a rather odd feeling, as it seemed to just center in the area right behind my rear. Curiosity struck, and I proceeded to locate a mirror to make sure it wasn’t something on me causing the draft. Locating the mirror, I turned and faced my horror – my worn out khaki plants were split from the top of the seam to the bottom. Oh my – how many people had seen me like that? Not only had I participated in the prayer circle with about 10 people, but I had also been sitting in the front part of the church in front of at least 75-80 other people. I was completely appalled and so embarrassed! I did the best I could to conceal the problem until I could safely get into the confines of my car. Once there, the tears poured. To this day, that has to be one of my most embarrassing moments (perhaps THE most embarrassing)!

Recently, I went on an overnight trip to Pigeon Forge, TN with some girlfriends from church. Somehow, we started sharing stories of our most embarrassing moments, and – you guessed it – I shared that one! As I was telling the story, I couldn’t stop laughing. I was laughing so hard, tears were pouring out of my eyes. Not the same kind of tears from that dreadful evening. The incident happened about 7 years ago, and I know I’ll never forget it. I love to tell that story now, because it brings me such joy – simply because I can’t help but laugh each time I tell it! So, why am I telling you the story now? I’m thinking there is someone out there – like me right now – that just needs a good laugh! There’s no moral to the story (other than don’t wear worn out pants to church)…I’m simply telling it in hopes of bringing a smile to your face this day! Enjoy the laugh – on me!

Job 8:21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

Beach Rest, Relaxation, and Refreshment

We just returned from our family vacation in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Vacationing at the beach is truly heaven on earth for me. I love the feel, smells, sounds, sights, and tastes of everything beachy.

From the night walks in the ocean waters that lap along the shoreline...


To the fun times playing in the water during the hottest times of the day...


From excitement over catching one little fish...



To silly family fun...


From sweet slumber...


To breathtaking sunrises...



I came back feeling rested, relaxed, and refreshed physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. This week gave me so many amazing opportunities...
-the opportunity for the true "Sabbath rest" that God commands us to take,
-the opportunity to reflect and repent of my sin of busy-ness and filling up my days with unnecessary time stealers,
-the opportunity to give my family quality time rather than the leftovers
-the opportunity to simply have a little "me time" doing simple things
-the opportunity to listen to God's still small voice giving me guidance and direction over possible future decisions

And...the opportunity to continue to be amazed at God's absolute Greatness!

List #6

As promised, here's a continuation of last week's Random Facts...

Random Facts About Me - Part 2:
1. I love to scrapbook (non-digital)!
2. I actually WATCH the NFL draft every April (at least most, if not all, of the first day). I know…I know…I AM an NFL junkie (see Random Facts Part 1)!
3. I’m the oldest of 2 siblings (one brother, one sister).
4. I’m a craft geek! I love making things…most anything!
5. I love photography…just wish I knew my camera better.
6. I watch very little TV, but when I do it’s usually The Food Network, HGTV, Seinfeld reruns, or The Biggest Loser.
7. I LOVE to organize things. I’m also a neat freak. Some say the two go hand-in-hand.
8. Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I mostly read Christian fiction and non-fiction, but I also love to read the classics, history, biographies, as well as “self-help” type books.
9. I’ve never broken a bone.
10. I love to fish, especially with my expert fisherman husband.

That's enough randomness about me for awhile. What about you? I'd love to get to know you better. Feel free to post some random facts about yourself - here as a comment or by email (check out my profile to link to my email). Thanks for stopping by for Friday List Day! Have a most blessed weekend!