July 3, 2008 from Guatemala... Hermano Pedro

More snap shots of JEsus for you to see.

Jesus has a way of appearing quite unexpectedly. When our eyes are open He meets us in those around us as they serve Him. As our mission team serves in Guatemala this summer Jesus came to me in many faces. One face I will never forget came through a man that serves sacrificially. Dick Rutgers is our missionary with a passion for the children of Guatemala. As he prepared us for our tour of Hermano Pedro Orphanage, he told us of the children and their stories. He named them by name and their suffering they know. As I stared at the wrinkles surrounding his eyes, I realized each of the indentions shined joy and compassion, as I have never seen. My breath caught because I felt I looked at Jesus as He said, Let the little children come to me as He called each of them by name. He then showed us his favorite people. Each of us walked the halls with the echoes of a sweet devotional Robbie gave focusing on the truth that GOD created each of them in the womb and it was very good. We met a young man that wrote with his toes. His toe writing is better than most doctors. Can you imagine the determination and perseverance it would take to learn how to write with your toes? Would you have that kind of determination? This young man does. Humility washed over me as I realized how easily I give up on tasks that honestly I should stick with.



A young child name Moises with an incredible mind locked in a body that cannot perform demonstrated that a great mind is not determined by the shape of ones body. We met Jesus as a teacher named Ninette. Daily she teaches skills sacrificially to people that most would not even give a second glance, much less believe they can learn. Yet, she teaches faithfully important skills to provide liberty that sets captives free! We spent the day playing and singing. We even took 9 of the children to Pollo Campero for chicken at lunch. Molly, Mikayla, Tiffany, and Carley brought laughter to the house. I watched Jesus play ball with a child that could not throw a ball. Jesus also ran crazy all around the courtyard through our beloved missionary Chris. As I watched the young man laugh when the ball touched his hand I was reminded of the wonder of the gift of simplicity. How often do we rob ourselves of the joy right at the tip of our fingers? This time it was through Molly, Mikayla, and Carley that I saw Jesus playing, he blew bubbles as squeals rang out through out the courtyard. At one point when the children needed changing the courtyard was empty of all but the team, the quiet seemed eerie. How many days and how many hours does this courtyard stay this quiet? How many days and nights do these little ones wait to have someone come to sing and play? Suddenly, it occurred to me that Jesus waits! Jesus waits with expectation for love, laughter and touch. Did He not say, what you do to the least of these so also you do to me?

July 2, 2008 from Guatemala,
As we awoke early to deliver food to families Robbie and I talked about the trip. She told me that she asked Jesus to let her see Him here in Guatemala. Today, I will Provide you with photos of Jesus as seen through my eyes in Guatemala.


We delivered meals to seven households. It will be impossible for me to share with you the powerful impact of what we have experienced. I can only pray that what I do share with capture your heart and enable you to see Jesus in a greater way.

As we pulled along a fence facing the most incredible mountain view of crop patterns splattered across the hillside we caught glimpse of the type of house we finish on Friday. The house is ten by sixteen with an equal size porch. The lady of the house greeted us with warmth as we delighted in the hand dug water well until we found out that a man had to climb all the way down to dig it with a shovel and climb back out. IT was deep. She informed us that her son will turn 13 on Wednesday and that she possessed no food. She ran out. Humility caused all of us to stop. Jesus appeared to me when we finished praying. As I walked out of the little covering of her porch, I heard someone bawling. I turned to see Robbie bent over as sobs rocked her body.
Pat comforted Robbie as she wept. Tears welled in my eyes, because Jesus wept. Shivers ran through me because I saw Jesus weep over the suffering this little family experienced through Robbie. Then as I glanced at Pat I remembered the scripture that GOd is the GOD of all comfort and compassion. HE patted his son on the back and comforted him, reminding him that HE has a plan. Jesus stood on that mountain side as His Father comforted Him. I know this will stretch many in their thoughts, but isnt this why we are here? To be His hands, feet, eyes and ears. You cant go if you cannot feel the heart of GOD. Please know I have permission to share these stories.}

Visualize the entire nineteen people on our team along with a family of five surrounding a diabetic man on his bed within this same type of home as we sang Amazing Grace. I could not help myself. I opened my eyes to peak at the people praying and then during the song. Jesus was in the house mightily. THe shivers are revisiting me as I remember. He sat as a man feeble and weak. Celebrating the health and liberty received through accepting JEsus as Savior just a while back and then receiving the powerful prayer of the saints that enabled him to rise out of a bed thought to be his death. Jesus rose His hands in praise through Gina as we sang Amazing Grace. HE peered around his mothers arms staring at the white gringos filling every moveable space in his small little home with eyes wide with wonder and awe.

As I journal I realize JEsus came. He preached, He healed, He prayed, HE blessed, HE received and HE gave.

In the home of a blind widow named Margarita Jesus saved! We all piled in into the home and talked for a while. Needs were expressed and prayers exalted the throne. Suddenly, Chris, our missionary looks at one of the visiting daughters and says, Do you want to be near GOD again? AS we stood there she recommitted her life to Christ. Please pray for her. She is broken over her past and needs to know the love of Christ. Jesus held her and hugged her through our sisters. JEsus touched and even kissed.

JEsus even disciplined while we were out today. A little boy found a horse roaming the village on a long rope. He brought him home to see if he might keep him or maybe he thought his mom would not notice. I do not know which, but he was told he must send the horse home! Okay,Greg, mom and dad... I never brought a horse home!

Jesus gave dulce... candy. Mikayla, Tiffany, and Molly walked the streets with dumdum lolipops, while Rick and Courtney handed out gum. Need I say they brought more laughter to the village. I do not remember who said it, but we were told that what they handed out may be more than what they might receive at Christmas.

I have so much more... how do you tell the intimate the divine the sacred. My words seem so inadequate for what we have seen and experienced. As we lay down our hearts are satisfied... I guess the snapshot I want you to see of JEsus is this last one.


A tiny toddler with coal black hair sprouting two piggy tails about two inches long walked around a corner to see our massive group of people roaming her street. I offered her a dumdum and she screamed and ran. I have that affect on little ones. Slowly, I peered around the corner to see her mother and asked permission. Her mom said yes. Slowly she walked up to me and Robbie as Robbie handed her a dulce. As she turned and ran to her momma she giggled. Robbie, turned and looked at me and said, Did you just hear JEsus giggle? Yes, Robbie I did! JEsus is giggling today.

I love you.

Okay, I am going to push the edge and see if I might capture todays moments in Guatemala. We traveled up GODs glorious mountains 6,000 something feet on a dirt road suffering the beating of heavy rains. As Chris gunned the van up the mountain we jerked all over laughing at the roller coaster ride we endure.

At one point I ask Chris about his ministry and while climbing the mountain he looks back, talks to me and keeps driving up as we begin to tease him to drive the van. He is an amazing man. The first snap shot I want you to see today is a man that serves with joy and celebration the people of Guatemala in Jesus Name. Chris leads Bethel ministries here. They build wheelchairs and houses. How about that. Listen up and get ready to find your place of service. There are needs here. BIG prayers needs. There are issues right now with deliveries because of new government. There is a stop on the shipments for the houses. Please pray for the shipments to begin again. They only have four houses left to build a home and then they will have to wait. The stop on shipments will also affect the wheel chair ministry. Please pray the Lord will open the doors swiftly.


We began our day in the wheelchair ministry offices. I have taken pictures of more wheelchairs and parts than we can count. STunned by the sheer numbers of people that will be given freedom as they are given life in a wheel chair. WIthout these some will never leave their ten by ten square home. Or never know the joy of riding to town to work. Powerful indeed. I saw a room filled with the tool the LORD uses to release captives from bondage.

Upon entering the village the sites overwhelm you. Gracious people welcoming us with buenos dias. The family smiled graciously as the crew of nineteen entered their small space. Their current home is built with cane poles or corn stalks with a tin roof to block out the nightly rains. The hands of Jesus went to work immediately. Rick and Courtney our father,daughter duo went to work on relocating the electrical pole. Chris just mentioned this must be done and they did it. No questions asked just faithful obedience to serve. There is something tremendous watching a father and daughter serve hand and hand in hard labor for the glory of the LORD.

Steve, Rhonda, and Carly move wiht gusto and laughter in all they do. Proving without a doubt that the joy of the LORD is our strength. I think we could play a game in Guatemala called WHEREs STEVE? One moment he was using an shovel and then I looked up and he was on the roof. Then the dirt with a trowel. The next thing I know I hear that he went down to the school. The children were lined up in two lines and he ran up took the ball and kicked in and out doing soccer drills. Much to the surprise of the children. I keep waiting for them to shout THERE ARE GIANTS IN THE LAND. We are so tall. They are so small.

Gina and Tiffany were not afraid to pick up the shovels and rake the dirt. I think the most amazing thing of all is that all were so willing. So hard working. When one got tired another swiftly picked up. I let you know the labor side, because MEN hear this... YOU NEED TO BE HERE TOO! The need more muscles.

At one point Pastor Juan and Saul were working tirelessly when the ladies brought out a bend for us to sit on. Crazy...WE had to sit. We could not sit, they brought it. So they worked and we sat for a few. Pastor laughed when I cracked a joke that we were resting while they slaved away. THat is when I realized he knew english.

The group is separating food right now for us to go deliver to the people.

This has been incredible. We have had the privilege of being Jesus hand and feet. We have worked and labored to give a strong foundation for a home. The mother and girls watched our every move. Can you imagine?

We also were able to hand out candy in the streets. Robbie celebrated this privilege.

I will sign off for now.

I love you and all is well on the mission field in Guatemala.

I will try to do this as much as possible.
in Jesus.

Kodak moments from Guatemala. It always amazes me when I must sit down and write a few notes to let my people at home know all that God has accomplished in such a short time. It is impossible. In fact, I must begin with that it is a personal prayer goal of mine for me and Cultivating Hearts ministries to go on one international trip a year... Why? GOD radically meets you in the face and shows you what is most important.

Here are just a few faces I want you see that will forever be snapshots emblazoned in my heart and mind as I reflect upon Guatemala.

My first face is Mikaylas. (Forget punctuation and grammar I dont know how to use this computer.) Anyhow, in the airplane as we were about to lift off she was so excited she could have flown the plane just with the joy bubbling out of her. SHe knows the power of God working in her and the love she has for the people here. To live it one more time made her squeal with a delight that makes my nose burn. There is nothing like doing the will of GOD.

My second snap shot is off Pastor Jim in the Houston airport as we borded the shuttle. The doors shut on him. His hand lifted to stop the door and his face registered a look of complete shock. I lost my team already and we are only in Houston.

My third and now most precious is of Robbie. She has wanted to on a mission trip for as long as I have known her. At the airpórt Pastor Julio, Lily, Genesis, Denise, and Wanda came with Pat to welcome us with love from Guatemala. As I introduced Robbie to the family she prayed for as she packed the bags every prayer burst out in tears so full that the well proved to run deep. Only the God of deep could bring forth such love so intense. Robbie found release for a longing finally answered. I am weeping now as I write this. Father, I pray I am allowed the privilege to not only lead teams someday but to always bring along a first timer.

My fourth face is the face Leo. Mare and Leo opened their home the first day to feed us lunch in a ten minute notice. Their hosipitality shames us in America. We stayed with them in November. LEo has cancer and it has mastestisized. Forget the spelling. You get the idea. Anyhow Jim and Pat gathered us in their living room and Leo knelt on the floor as we prayed. The snap shot I want you to receive is Leo kneeling on the floor as we prayed over him. HIs head bowed and when Pastor Jim finished praying he said, to God be the glory. This is our first day!

A day to renew old friendships and begin new. O yeah we did go the mall with Chris the missionary and his son at night. We ate icecream. This is so important. You must try icecream in the new country. Tomorrow our ministry begins full swing and we will start building the house. I cant wait.

Hasta Luego mi amigos. A Dios Gloria!

“Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.” Hosea 7:8b

I came across this verse yesterday morning in my daily reading and laughed out-loud. What an odd verse! To my surprise, it is quite serious. In the days of Ephraim, the people flipped cakes to bake them fully. Think about it… Ephraim went down in history as a half-baked cake—a sad commentary on their state of affairs.

Going on mission trips keep me in a flipped mind-set. They flip me upside down so I can bake on the other side. There are many days I know without a doubt that I am half-baked! My heart longs for the flipping of the LORD! We all need a good flipping now in then to cook us through and through. I do not want to be a half-baked cake! Do you?

The above photo is of the family we will build a house for while in Guatemala.

About three years ago my little dog ripped an "L" shape in the left arm of my beautiful plaid love seat. We used to sit this couch by the window, but he has a fetish for the mail man and his little claws are too sharp. I have a fetish for this couch and the tear devastated me. I searched high and low for slip covers that might match and found some that work okay, but they do not make my heart sing like my plaid upholstery. I recently decided to repair the tear. I contacted a dear cousin that is known as gifted with the needle to ask her for advice on what to do. She informed me that if it is a simple tear it will be a simple solution. If it is frayed then it might be more complicated.

Excitement filled me up as I contemplated the pretty plaid upholstery displaying its secure attachment to the frame. My slip covers drive me nuts--they slip, hence, their name "SLIP". It is a never ending battle between me and them. They never seem satisfied with my personal arrangement of their fabric and I am not satisfied with their traveling skills. Yesterday, I lifted the slip cover up to begin my repair, what I saw grieved me. My simple "L" shape turned into a frayed torn mess. I quickly threw the slip cover over the tear and felt so defeated. The tear left to itself over time grew and affected a much larger area even while being covered.

As if the Holy needle of heaven pricked me, I instantly caught a truth. This is exactly what happens to my sin when I try to cover it. When I first act upon a sin it tears into the fabric of my walk and leaves a simple scar. If I confess it immediately then it is repaired without too much impact in other areas. However, if I wait and try to cover it up, over time it will continue to tear and rip into the fabric of my being leaving a frayed mess. Is it beyond repair? NO! But it might take more stitches to fix it up and maybe a patch or two. Either way, confessed sin can be removed. Unconfessed sin leaves scars.

My love seat is where I sit to do my daily Bible Study with the LORD. In fact, I am sitting on it to write this devotional. It will now and forever more be a visual reminder to me to confess my sins quickly and not try to cover them up. What about you? Can you relate? Have you had a time when you tried to cover up a sin in your life and it only left things torn and frayed? Remember, when we confess our sins HE (the Father in Heaven) is faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness! Not some... all! Now, I must find someone to patch my couch!

The Fountain of Life
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,but folly brings punishment to fools. Proverbs 16:22

Have you ever tried to grasp a specific truth or situation and it just seemed to slip away? Your mind is not able to take hold of it, so comprehension just eludes you? Maybe you find yourself saying things like: “Focus!” “Listen!” “Think!” Or you try to ask questions, but the questions don’t make sense even to you. Visually, it makes me think of trying to pour water into a paper towel while it is cupped in your hand so you can get a drink, but the water absorbs into the towel and seeps out through your fingers. A paper towel just does not make a good cup. There may be a little water left, but not enough for you to drink and find filling because the majority of it ran through because the paper towel did not contain support to hold the water. The ability to understand can feel that way at times. It just seems to all seep out! Somehow the supply just eludes, and we can’t comprehend so that we can be successful with what we know and our understanding doesn’t allow us to find success. Yet, the Bible describes understanding as the fountain of life. What makes understanding like water to a thirsty throat? What enables the understanding to nourish or thoroughly absorb? What must we do in order to contain understanding? How is it that a person with understanding becomes a source of life to those that need it once they know how to contain it? How do we get it? I know I want it! Don’t you?

Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools. Proverbs 16:22

Excerpt from: The Golden Life, page 37. You can obtain your own copy at lulu.com by searching Tara Rye and then the book title.

The Fragrance of Life
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

Did you know that scientists have proven what dogs have known for years? Each human being has a distinct scent print! Apparently, humans have approximately 36 different distinctive odors that can give off nearly 100 different scents. Scientists believe that a person can be identified by their scent print. Just as our finger prints are unique so are our scent prints! Interestingly, scientists use words like “odor,” “distinct” and “print” to describe the impact of ones aroma. Have you ever noticed that when you are near a certain smell it cannot be contained? In fact, when you walk away you can still smell it? It is almost as if it has imprinted in your olfactory lobe the imprint of its distinctness. The mere hint of a scent can trigger strong memories. There is a sweet story told of a faithful preacher and songwriter of the late 1800’s named Charles Frederick Weigle. Upon arriving in California for an evangelistic conference he could not resist touring the rose gardens before joining the meetings. Slowly he walked through the gardens basking in the fragrant aroma of the glorious rose bushes. When he arrived at the conference a young man walked up to him and said, “Mr. Weigle, I know where you have been! You have visited our famous flower gardens I can smell their fragrant aroma on you. "My prayer is that I may walk so closely with the Lord that the fragrance of His grace will pervade my being. I want them to know by my words, actions, and songs that I have been with Jesus." This young man desired to leave a scent print that distinctively smelled of Jesus.

Have you ever thought of the fact that our words leave a scent print? Can someone tell by our counsel that we have been in the garden with Jesus? Honestly, we need to ask ourselves how people identify our distinct scent prints and I am not referring to those made by our deodorants’ and spray bottle perfumes! The Bible describes earnest counsel as a sweet perfume that brings joy to the heart.

You might find it interesting that the Hebrew word for perfume is “qetoreth” and some of the words used to describe it are fumigation, smoke or odor of a sacrifice; a burning.

Have you ever been blessed with the sweetness of wise counsel? Most likely that wise counsel is the fragrant aroma of the smoke from that person’s personal sacrifices or sufferings that have been laid upon the altar before the LORD! See, some of the sweetest perfumes are created from the most vile-smelling substances! A goat smelling substance called Capronic acid is transformed by chemists into an entrancing odor. Butyric acid is what gives rancid butter its putrid smell, yet scientists transform it into a flower-like fragrance. To put this is spiritual terms, the Father takes that which was meant for evil and turns it into good for those that love Him and seek His purpose in the situation (Romans 8:28.) Whether, we are seeking wise counsel or asked to give it, we must make sure that complete surrender to the Father’s purposes are sought—both by the one seeking and the one counseling.

It is important we solidify this from the start. See, some of us may be new to our walk with God and others of us might be long time believers. All of us have the capacity to be a sweet smelling perfume as we give wise counsel to our friends. When we lay something before the LORD and let go of it, this is when God can make that which is putrid fragrant! Earnest counsel will come out of the soul of a man when he allows his words from his mind, will, and emotions to be filtered through the spirit of God in him.

Resting in His Reality/Portions of Chapter Four/Copyright 2001 by Tara Rye

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:9

Maybe you might want to pray what that young man said that day to Mr. Weigle... "My prayer is that I may walk so closely with the Lord that the fragrance of His grace will pervade my being. I want them to know by my words, actions, and songs that I have been with Jesus."

May the fragrant aroma of Christ permeate our scent prints today! AMEN!

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5b



My dear sister Tanya led a lesson on sheep the other day and the LORD used her to remind me of a few truths I learned in seminary. Isn’t wonderful when the LORD reminds us! Did you know that sheep get tiny little bugs that love to crawl into their snouts and lay eggs? Yeah, I know it is graphic, but it is worth hearing. These little larvae hatch and worm their way into the sheep’s brain. This causes the sheep to go crazy. They will do anything to make it stop, including killing themselves by head banging.

Isn’t that the case with all of us when we allow sin to worm its way into our heads? Suddenly, we find ourselves not of sound mind. Yet, the Father intends us to live in His Spirit full of His power and love with a sound mind. As I pondered this thought it struck me… this is why I teach. I long to be the anointing oil that rubs the Word of God on the heads of people so they will be of sound mind. I personally cannot do this without HIS anointing on my head through His Word alive and active in me.

Do you struggle with an area in your life that you feel you are not of sound mind? Consider praying Psalm 23:5b over your life. Ask the Father to annoint your head with His oil to guard your mind against the bugs that pester you. Think about it, if a good shepherd will do this for his sheep how much more will the heavenly Father do it for His child.

Father, I ask You in the powerful Name of Jesus to annoint the head of those who read this blog with Your Word that too will become a cup that overflows with You because they are of sound mind in You. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

I just returned from Nashville from Writer’s conference on Wed. night and my new assignment with LIFEWAY is about DOUBT and the believer. I sat in a room with four other writers and one great editor. They are amazing. Each of us were required to share our testimonies and then about our various ministries and how we ended up at LIFEWAY. Well… my testimony is hard. Theirs were so simple and pure. Let’s suffice it to say, I just had to simply say there is a season that because I wasn’t discipled that I made poor choices and many were hurt because of it. And because of this time, I am now passionate about discipleship. These are things ya’ll will have never seen or experienced and so they are best left unsaid… Oooo, how the evil one loves to remind us of our past.

Anyhow… I left on Tuesday night beaten down mentally. Doubt began to fly within me. You can’t do this. Who are you to think you can write? Blah blah blah. As I walked into my hotel room I realized… I am doubting the very thing I will study and write about! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I began to confess my sins. The Father in HIS sweetness let me sleep peacefully. As I awoke the next morning my Bible study required that I read Acts 9:5-6: "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Clearly the Father kissed me. I realized that anytime I doubt I too am questioning the LORD by saying in my heart “Who are you LORD?” The Father’s answer is so simple: “I am the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do!” See, when I doubt, I persecute the Father! The Son! AND The Holy Spirit! What does HE want of me? To GET UP, GO and trust that HE will tell me what I must do!

So… what is your doubt? Jesus is interceding! The Father is listening! Do not worry over the details! Get up, Go and Listen! He will tell you what YOU must do!

Writing and teaching the Bible allows me the privilege of observing real needs and real pain. I am honored with prayer requests to pray for and I too give prayer requests for others to pray over. It seems that alot of the requests I am receiving of late deal with the mind. So many issues would be answered in our world if we would simply surrender our mind to Christ. This is why scripture tells us to take every thought captive. Recently, as someone I love shared the desire to flee from life I wrote this prayer for this precious one to pray from a sincere heart. As I thought about it I realized it was my prayer years ago as I dealt with major suffering and pain in my life. The Father answered my plea and as I observe so many in scripture and in Christiandom that willingly surrender all I see that HE alone answers any sincere heart that seek Him. In fact, the Bible tells us that HE searches for those that seek Him. I hope you read this prayer and just maybe it will give you the prompting that is needed to get your heart right with God and give Him even the hidden corners of your mind.

Father, There are deep recesses in my brain filled with things I do not know and do not understand. You however, know all things and understand all things. You know why I am the way I am and You say it is good because I am Your creation. Please take every unconscious thought that is hidden within me and every conscious thought that is known to me and cover them with faith in Christ Jesus to heal all completely. Heal my unbelief that I might believe and help me to trust YOU for YOU are trustworthy, honest, faithful and true. I am angry. I am hurt. I am scared. I am fearful and anxious. I want to run away, but You want me to stay. How do I do this LORD? I cannot do it alone! But with YOU I know I can do all things. I bow before YOU now seeking YOUR face and YOUR answers for all my inner deepest needs! COME and fill me up. I give YOU everything in me both the known and unknown. I am waiting for YOU to make YOURSELF known in me. Thank YOU for hearing immediately. Thank YOU for answering instantly. Thank YOU for loving me deeply. I surrender all. IN Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Writing allows me the privilege to hear from those that are impacted by the truths that we journey together in studying. A dear sister in Nebraska sent me a sweet testimony about the week two lesson on Hannah in Redeemed to Praise. I have asked her permission to share it. I know you will be blessed.

Tara, I wanted you to know that I have been especially blessed by Hannah's story this week. I have drawn so much closer to God through her story. She had a deep need that no one else understood. Year after year, she faced the embarrassement of not having a child. Finally, she took it before the Lord and left her burdens there. The Bible says that her countenance was no more sad. I struggled a bit with this because I have given everything over to God (I thought) and sometimes my countenance was sad. I was sad because I might have to go to jail. I learned that Hannah worshipped the Lord before she knew God's answer. She praised him because she knew God had heard her prayer and that He was faithfull. If any word I learned about more this week it is the word "faithful."

God knows what is best for our lives and he is in total control. God knows exactly what I need whether it's jail or not. I now realize, I did not completly give it over to God. God's will and plan could be that I go to jail....BECAUSE IT IS WHATS BEST FOR ME. If staying out of jail is not what I need, then I hope I do go to jail. God is in control. So I will praise him if the judge tells me that I can go home or if the judge tells me I have to go to jail. I think I will be a little nervous, but it's what God wants and he has packed his bags and is going with me.

When Hannah took Samuel and gave him back to the temple I thought I would see tears running down her face and someone would have to rip her away. I mean she prayed and waited so long for this boy and at an early age she has to give him up. I knew she would do it because she promised God, but I couldn't believe her strength. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is called Hannah's song. She just let go of her precious child and she praises God with a heart that has truly seen the faithfulness of God. I pray that no matter the outcome of September 24, I can truly praise God for His faithfullness. Thank you for helping God to let me see this.

Love, A Nebraska Sister

There are certain people that when they come into your life your life changes forever. Some, we are blessed to be born into their family, others come and go through seasons and a select few, we chose to hold onto for as long as the grasp will hold. My Aunt Wilma is one that I can say my blessing came because I was born into a relationship with her. Do you have someone in your life that changed you? Well, Aunt Wilma’s presence made a difference in my life. I can honestly say my life changed because of her. Her laughter spilled through a house like a bird’s song in the trees. Her face always filled with a smile that lifted the eyes. It never mattered how busy her life may be if I came to town she made sure to come and see me. She reminded me of the value of presence and how powerfully it impacts the heart. Last night, she went home to be with our LORD Jesus. I can say that so easily because I know without a doubt where my Aunt Willy lives now.
My earliest memories of Jesus include my Aunt Willy. She made sure that every summer Tony, Nikki and I joined her and her kids for Vacation Bible School. I honestly do not remember the Bible Stories or the lessons I learned, but I do remember the songs. I still sing them today carrying on the heritage with my children. I remember the laughter and that church is a happy place. I remember the peace. I knew church was a place of freedom and release. I remember running the halls while Aunt Willy either set up or took down for the day. She had no problem letting us play. I remember loving Jesus simply because Aunt Willy did.
As a child, I did not know that this would play a tremendous role in my surrendering my life to Christ later on, but I know Aunt Willy did. She was purposeful and intentional in talking to me about Jesus all my life and even when I chose to make poor choices she always welcomed me with loving open arms. I never felt judged—only loved.
I guess the most important thing we can do in life is to leave a legacy—a heritage that withstands the hardships of life. Aunt Wilma left me a legacy. I am living it out right now to the fullest measure in ministry through Christ. Interestingly, her time in my life in the scheme of things was so short… a visit here, a captured moment there! Yet, those moments never fell empty to the ground with wasted conversations. As I said, she was purposeful. I had the privilege of seeing Aunt Willy at Easter. At one point, I chose to be purposeful with her as I held her hands and told her how much she has meant in my walk with Christ. How wonderful of GOD to allow me to tell her she made a difference in my life! I watched tears swell in her eyes and as I heard her say, “I did that?!” If you knew her you would know that her voice rose with a lilt. I can hear her now!
Isn’t it amazing how when people are serving so wholeheartedly in a holy task they are so unaware of what they have done in and through Christ! I am just one testimony of countless thousands I am sure, but now Aunt Wilma is looking into Jesus’ eyes as He unfolds before her a lifetime of holy moments that she had no clue about. I can hear her saying… “I did that?!” As Jesus answers, “Yes, my child, well done!”

Aunt Willy… I love you! Thank You so much for singing to me…

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong!
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!

Aunt Wilma told me. Who told You? Now, Who are you going to tell?
Tara Rye (Randy Branham’s daughter)
June 29, 2007

I once read that in Israel travelers kept a camel they called the committed camel that followed behind their caravan. They packed the saddles so uniquely that it stacked up high upon the camels back. Amazingly, they could literally roll the packed saddle off the camel if needed. Camels carrying heavy loads over long distances that got too tired to continue on were known to buckle at the knees and lay down. This stopped the entire caravan! Imagine leaving your supplies and precious camel behind! When this occurred they brought forward the committed camel and they rolled over the heavy load onto this fresh rested camel! Once the load was lifted the tired camel would rise up and begin walking again allowing the entire envoy to carry on in their journey!

Have you ever felt so loaded that you could not continue in carrying your load? Have you ever felt like the caravan surrounding you is leaving you behind because you are too tired to carry the load you bear? What would you say if I told you that you too have a committed camel in your life? King David understood this concept of rolling over onto God that which burdened him.

In fact, in Psalm 37:5, David suggests to us that if we commit our way to God—literally roll over onto God that heavy saddle we are carrying upon our backs that God will carry it. The hard part for me is that means I must give God my reputation, my journey, and my settled course in life.

Interestingly, this is not a one time event. Just as the camels pack on their back will change depending on the length of the journey or the purpose the burden will alter and the weight change. Committing to God and rolling over onto Him means that I must do this daily and sometimes moment by moment. We must ask ourselves daily, “Have I rolled it over to the committed camel?” Sometimes that is easier said than done!

Think about this for a moment… If I am committing my way to God and allowing Him to carry the load then He must be pleased to carry it. Check out what David later says in Psalm 37:23, “If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

We must ask ourselves, “Can I walk my journey without stumbling when I carry a heavy load?” I don’t know about you, but I sure can’t! God promises that when He delights in our way then He alone makes our steps firm! In fact, we might still stumble, but He will not let us fall!

I am going to ask you a personal question I ask myself often. Have you truly rolled over your load onto the committed camel? This is simply done through soul talk! Take a moment to visualize if you must you rolling it over onto the Father! Tell Him what is burdening you. Maybe today, you are overwhelmed like I was as I prepared this for a speaking engagement! You know what I had to do? I rolled over! It is so worth it!

Challenge: Our challenge is to not to carry the load!

I like how the Message Bible translation states it.

Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done.
Psalm 37:5/The Message

God is teaching me many things about praise and one is that it does not come so easily to my lips! Requests are so easy… praise requires work on my part. I am finding my prayer time is filling with more visual prayers as I praise GOD over situations. This is a new lesson for me all together. I must give you one that involved me. The last week of Ladies Bible Study I felt like I could not reach heaven with my prayers. Ever been there? The actual visual that I had was of a child holding a plastic cup over me like he would a bug to suffocate it! I just keep buzzing up and down hitting the clear plastic cover! Needless to say, I spent three days confessing, sitting, waiting, and trying to write… NOTHING! All I had was a scripture outline and handout for them to fill in the blanks, but none of the pretty stuff that pulls it all together. I kept beseeching GOD and again nothing. One day before I was to teach I had a visual come to me through a flower in my yard. We had placed a huge boulder beside our sidewalk along our flower bed last year. We completely forgot that we had tulip bulbs waiting to bloom lying dormant in the earth. As I set out to walk, hoping that spending time praising GOD out doors would lift this feeling, I saw my lesson! This tulip knew it needed the sun. So it grew up under the boulder to reach around it and then bend up higher until it rested on top of the boulder to catch the sun perfectly. It opened its bloom up to receive maximum rays from the sun. I thought “THAT IS ME!” No matter what boulder is placed on me I will do whatever it takes to get to the Son! I called a friend and asked her to pray for me for I knew now that I was dealing with oppression not sin. It was as if the evil one did not want the lesson taught! I taught the last lesson and release immediately came! What about you? Do you have any boulders in your life right now? Do you feel like you have a plastic cup on top of you preventing you from getting fresh air? Are you giving up? DON’T! Do whatever it takes to get to the SON! If you do… YOUR bloom will shine in HIS light for HIS Glory!

Upon returning from a family trip I walked into our family room to find Mikayla wrapped up in an old yellow quilt my Dad & Step Mom Kay gave us to protect Mikayla’s guitar while we drove home across several states. The look on Mikayla’s face said it all. Her eyes were closed tight shutting off tears beckoning to cascade down her face while her hands squeezed the edges of the quilt around her body tightly enclosing her in a blanket of remembrance.
“Honey, are you wrapped up in that old blanket because it reminds you of Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Mmhm!”
“Let me tell you a little more about this quilt. When I was a little girl and I visited Grandpa and Grandma. This was Aunt Nikki’s quilt. I have a great memories stored under this yellow and orange floral print quilt! Aunt Nikki and I used to talk and giggle all night or at least until Grandpa and Grandma would yell out, ‘GIRLS GO TO SLEEP!”
Mikayla and I sat for a moment basking in the gift of memory. Our capacity to remember is a gift. Anyone who has a loved one with Alzheimer’s will agree wholeheartedly with this truth. Remembrance plays a very important role in our walk with Christ. I have been reflecting upon the importance that I must weave a quilt threaded with the cord of remembrance in my life so that my worship may be complete.
What about you? How has remembering loved ones comforted you? How has remembering spiritual stepping stones strengthened you? Have you found remembering to be a gift to wrap up in like a warm quilt?
Excerpt: Embracing His Vision, Week 11

I love to learn a new truth! I especially love to learn a new truth that applies to the word of God and gives me new insight as I grow in Christ. This morning as I read through 1 Timothy Chapter 2, I stopped on verse 8. It says that men are to lift up their hands in worship without anger or dispute. Shortly, after this it gives a woman's mode of worship expected at that time as well. But as I thought about men and their need to lift up their hands without anger or dispute I wondered why? Why not women? Paul did not have to tell us (women) to lift our hands in worship. Why? Demonstrative behavior typically comes easily for the ladies... not as easily for men!? I wonder... our issue with worship centered upon our adornment-- how shallow is that! But how true for even today! Men still allow anger and dispute within their hearts to stop them from worshiping and women still focus upon their outward appearances more than we should. Then I stumbled across a thought in the Qwest Study Bible that said the reason the hands were lifted centered upon two words: Dependence and trust and then culiminated in one truth... expectancy. The lifting of the hands demonstrated physically to the Father that trust is in Him not the individual! I depend on You-- not me! I expect YOU to answer and my hands are lifted to receive! How powerful is that!

It so ministered to me. See... I am in the process of rewriting one of my Bible Studies titled Redeemed to Praise. I have made a commitment to GOD to fast from requests for a season. So... everytime I begin a natural flow of requests to God I will pause and say a praise instead! Try it! I have done this for a day at a time on different days that I felt that my praise wained, but I have never done it for an undetermined amount of time. I will do this until the rewrite is complete so that my every thought is focused on praise. I am lifting my hands up to GOD trusting HIM! I am dependent upon HIM! I wait with expectancy for HIM to bring about the right answers! His answer is always better anyways! How about you? Are you willing to take my praise challenge? It isn't as easy as you think. Especially, if you prayed and talked to God for years. You will be amazed at how many requests you make in a day. If you decide to do this let me know. I want to keep up with how you are doing too! My husband said, "You need to pray for Him to help you write and teach." I said, "I have done this for years! He knows my heart in this and has heard my prayers. Now I will spend time praising HIM for all the answers HE is sending my way." We lift our Holy hands up! We learn to trust YOU! AMEN!

Every Monday morning I make the drive across town to the Open Door Mission to teach Bible Study to the ladies in the program. This morning as I entered the secured room that I teach in at the Lydia House my name was called over the loud speaker because I had a guest. Everyone’s ears perked up because volunteers very seldom have guests. I went out wondering who would come to find me here! To my delight a lady waited at the desk to enter the secured room. She did not live at the ODM, but heard about the program and one of the staff told her I was the teacher. She had me paged so she could get in the class. We greeted each other and shared simple pleasantries as I worked hard to remember her name. As we entered our area two ladies were having an animated discussion that was not pleasant for any of us in the room. My morning did not start off with women coming delighted to hear the word, but with struggles among women of God. As I knelt to pray I knew God had something special for us this day.

As I taught, I observed my new friend listening intently to the lesson about the costs of following Jesus. As I shared there are two ways to follow: the path or the person and how we cannot choose one. We must know the person to walk the path and we can’t walk the path without the person. I felt conviction move across the room. A “stillness” covered us. I knew someone needed the LORD, so as I ended my lesson I gave opportunity for anyone to come forward that might need to talk to me further about Jesus. I saw her waiting until all the others left and then slowly she approached me and said, “You know I have seen Him! Most don’t believe me when I say it, but I have seen Him!” I asked her to tell me about it. Slowly, she shared with me that He came to her house on the day her 11 year old daughter died in her arms. My heart stopped. I am begging God for compassion this year. His compassion welled up in me and I fell in love with my new friend.

As I listened to her talk I realized that she knew of HIM, but did not know HIM! So I asked, “If you were to die today, do you know you if you would go to heaven?”

“I don’t know!” she said.

“Would you like to have confidence of this?”

As tears slipped from her eyes she cried, “Yes!” A sweet sister handed me a tract to read through with her. We never finished the tract she knew what she needed, so we prayed.

Some moments are so Holy… this was a Holy moment. They are hard to explain or describe. I watched a sister go from living in the temporal to walking in the freedom of the Spiritual with Jesus Christ. As she bowed her head and prayed to receive Christ as her Savior I paused to reflect upon the marvelous ways God moves!

By the way… I will never forget her name! Please pray for my new sister in Christ! Out of respect to her I have withheld her name!

Pause... What does the word pause mean to you? Do you pause often or not at all? What might you pause for traffic, emails, text messaging or less stressful things like laughter, tears, children playing, flowers, snow, bees buzzing...? I love a good pause especially when it makes me feel deeply about someone or something. A friend sent me a great verse this week telling me she prayed this verse over my ministry. I paused...

5 God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.

I inhaled and exhaled the wonder of God's voice. He is marvelous. Truly something worthy of pausing for. I read it over and over and then my eyes glanced to the next few verses.

6 He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,'
and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'
7 So that all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor. Job 37-5-7

This time I laughed! Why? I sit in a city that is snowed in by a blizzard. God said, "Snow!" And it fell on the earth! My children awoke rejoicing, my animals celebrated by sleeping, I paused and spent long hours in the word of God. We stopped! GOD in His marvelous ways knew we needed to pause to notice Him! As I said, I love a good pause! Do you?