tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36745186180513382312024-03-13T23:52:17.184-07:00Laura HicksLaura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-32435633669751627352016-10-28T17:52:00.004-07:002016-10-28T17:52:41.479-07:00Moved to new location!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hi there! Thanks for stopping by here. I'm guessing an old link has led you this way. It's still under the same domain but some of the permalinks bring you back here. No worries, just come join me for all the fun at the new location. <a href="http://www.laurahicks.org/">www.laurahicks.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me know what you think of the new site!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Laura</span></div>
Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-20610736291426172992016-10-05T08:55:00.000-07:002016-10-08T14:33:48.979-07:005 Ways to Pray for a Loved Ones Salvation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Ka8XJuSDo/V_Q5GmI-KTI/AAAAAAAABIk/eB9h1RSyHMAUc3vWcRod5B6b-HNZDteEwCLcB/s1600/trust.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Ka8XJuSDo/V_Q5GmI-KTI/AAAAAAAABIk/eB9h1RSyHMAUc3vWcRod5B6b-HNZDteEwCLcB/s640/trust.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Have you been praying for a loved one’s salvation?</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I get it, it's hard to keep praying day after day when we don't see results. At least in our timing anyway. But, God is big enough to handle it! He loves our loved ones even more than we do. Of course He wants them to come to know Him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been known to badger, pester, maybe even harass a “little” the people I love and would like them to come to know the Lord in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> time. Just like so many other things with God, we learn it isn't about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> timing. I'm not gonna lie, I would still love it to be in my timing, but I've learned to trust Him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find the hardest part is to keep praying even when you don't know the outcome. Having faith and trusting that God will work it out for the best. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My grandma spent many years praying for my dad to come to know the Lord as his Savior. There were countless times when it would have been easy for her to give up. Yet she continued! Not only did my dad accept the Lord, he has shared the gospel of God’s saving grace to hundreds of others. I have clung to her example as I have prayed for those I love through the years.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what can we do when it comes to having a loved one or a friend that hasn't accepted the Lord as their Savior. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Never stop praying! Prayer is the most powerful tool we have. Use the authority given to us in Christ. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rejoice always, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pray continually</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(emphasis added)</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let our light shine. We need to live our lives in a way that points all the glory back to God. Our best sermon is our life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resist the urge to preach </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> them. I know this is hard for some of us to swallow but something we need to hear. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell God when we're frustrated. Don’t be afraid to share it with Him. He is a big God and can handle our frustrations. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust! We simply have to turn it over to God. It doesn’t make the choice easy but it’s also not complicated. It does us no good to try and manipulate so let go and let God! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The choice to persevere is simple but living it out isn’t easy. Each morning is full of God’s new mercies. Wake up, pray, shine, resist the enemy, share and trust. Now rinse and repeat each day!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>God is relentlessly pursuing those we love. </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>He’s not slow in keeping His promises. </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is there one of these steps that you find the most challenging? Let’s discuss it in the comments and hold each other up in prayer. </span></div>
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I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-34003843991723392332016-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:002016-09-28T15:02:16.396-07:00 Truths for transition + Announcement (Giveaway)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-26baef80-6de0-d2c3-4ab8-32b980a985b7"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the last two weeks we’ve dug into how moving into a new season of life can make us feel as well as ways to deal with it. Today I want to share some truth nuggets we can plant deep in our hearts as we move forward.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 15:13 (ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Direct your children onto the right path and when they are older, they will not leave it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-26baef80-6df9-9167-3b3c-d176f1eb91e0"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-26baef80-6df9-2ed7-3a17-4267f3f7dbf2"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (ESV)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Also, I have very exciting news!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm so blessed to be among the contributors of a new book out from </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">a community of writer's called </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"Five Minute Friday".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You can order a copy from Amazon or visit the following link for more info:</span></div>
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<a href="http://katemotaung.com/2016/09/26/five-minute-friday-book/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Five Minute Friday Book</span></a></div>
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I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-48479464019468831092016-09-19T16:30:00.000-07:002016-09-19T16:30:25.781-07:00Empty Nest Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my <a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/2016/09/empty-nest-part-1.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> we discussed how it can feel as enter into this new phase of life called empty nest. So, what can we do to make the this transition easier?</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f7600e48-3f76-8767-dcc4-571625d5b493" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, acknowledge your feelings. We’re often told to just move on, let go and be happy. So if we don’t feel that way immediately shame has a way of isolating us even more.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The enemy wants to go unnoticed. He gets you separated from where you’re supposed to be through subtle coincidences.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust God. I know this sounds like an oversimplified Christianize answer but hear me out. Every day wake up and be honest with God. Talk to Him. Don’t try to hide your feelings from Him. </span><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hint</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span></i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> He already knows anyway. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust Him to meet you wherever you are in the process and walk alongside you. You don’t have to clean up first. </span><i style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Come as you are</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 18.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">I pray that </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">God</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">trust</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> in him. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:13 (NLT)</span></span></i></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Invest in the new relationship. We’ll always be mama's to our kids but the relationship is going to change and that’s healthy. Ask God to show you what this entails now. I know it’s hard but we need to be there for our kids while encouraging them as they find their independence. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(sidenote – I’m still a work in progress on this part!)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, invest in your marriage! My husband and I are loving our time together since God is helping me work this out. As women we often put our husbands on the backburner as we feel our little’s need us more. The best thing my husband ever said to me as we dropped our first son off at college was, “It’s okay mom, you did your job well.” Make time to enjoy the quieter moments with your man now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Connect with friends. This may be new friends or rekindling old ones. Spend time reaching out and connecting. We’re created to be in community and fellowship. </span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re like me, your community has been through your kids sports and activities. You are now free to explore your own activities and the friendships and community that go with them.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seek out God’s plans. Follow His lead in whatever direction He is calling you now. There is a new found freedom you’ll experience in this season. It allows more time to settle into new pursuits.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syzHwp10YTk/V99KIhzDpaI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Ae1mc_IW8vIdQM3DbIuumIBLxh_liwcjQCLcB/s1600/listening.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syzHwp10YTk/V99KIhzDpaI/AAAAAAAABHQ/Ae1mc_IW8vIdQM3DbIuumIBLxh_liwcjQCLcB/s400/listening.png" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t feel bad for enjoying this new life! There is no shame in enjoying less expenses! Or cooking less, fewer loads of laundry or not having to scrub a toilet two boys were sure was for target practice!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, don’t run from the quiet. Silence equated to loneliness to me and I ran from it at breakneck speed. There was never a time last year I didn’t have some sort of music or the TV on when home.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Silence is a blessing not a curse. It’s in the quiet times we can hear from God the best. Lean in and listen, He’s always there!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m praying for all of you mama’s out there, in whatever stage you’re in now. Enjoy each moment but don’t be fearful. Each new day is a chance to trust God again.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-37702767175846241892016-09-13T15:53:00.000-07:002016-09-19T17:42:33.566-07:00Empty Nest Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That time God asked me to …</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put down the idol of motherhood.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNO_yuL9DWc/V9iC5H-nNpI/AAAAAAAABGw/Iz6crVqEUT0UHrtMnZrhtQjm9dRabhjzQCLcB/s1600/emptynest1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNO_yuL9DWc/V9iC5H-nNpI/AAAAAAAABGw/Iz6crVqEUT0UHrtMnZrhtQjm9dRabhjzQCLcB/s400/emptynest1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe I missed all the discussions about empty nest before I headed into this new territory. Or could it be we simply don’t discuss it very much?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since venturing into these new waters I’ve asked for advice but most people either just tell me to be happy about it or keep busy so I don’t have to deal with it.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-af431d6a-25b1-74ba-404b-6b51ac6edce6" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can I be real honest for a minute? I did NOT handle it real well in the beginning. My life had been filled with so many of my kids’ sports and events I felt completely isolated when it all came to end.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t get me wrong, I have an amazing husband who was always there for me but for several months I walked around in a bit of a fog. Not real sure of what my identity was anymore. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can you relate?</span></i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I’ll always be a mom but my job in that role had taken such a drastic turn I wasn’t sure what to do next.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how did I handle this new season of life? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I dove deep into writing and I do believe it helped me process a lot. But…writing can be very lonely. There is an amazing network of support out there in the cyber world but it’s different than face to face.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a BIG switch from having kids who need you.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trusting that God loves my sons even more than I do was a bit of lip service from me for years. I WANTED to believe it. I sure told myself I believed it. I’m sure I shared with others I believed it. It was just hard to completely believe it.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seriously God, can’t you see how much I love my kids down here?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How could anyone, including God, love them as much as I do? They’re my life.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh crud, there it was!! God revealed to me some hard truth that wasn’t fun to hear but needed light brought to it. I had placed my role as a mother above my identity as a child of God. My kids were truly my life. Everything, including God, took a back seat to them. Ouch!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t really remember when it happened but somehow it just slipped in quietly when I wasn’t looking. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The martyrdom of motherhood.</span></i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wasn’t one of those women who dreamed of being a mom growing up. There were no real plans to go down that road honestly. I had big plans for my life and men and children simply weren’t in those plans.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want to hear God laugh…tell Him your plans!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only did I end up marrying and having kids, I did it fairly young. Shortly after getting married I was told I wouldn’t be able to have kids. So, when my role in life did shift I dove in headfirst.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My whole world was my little family. As they grew older and the time grew closer for them to leave the nest I held on even tighter. Fear settled in big time! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Am I alone in this</i></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>?</i></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often we don’t recognize fear and anxiety when we’re in the middle of it. We can feel twinges of panic and try to dismiss them as just part of life. How often do we try to rationalize our fears and worries away? Or just go through life with emotional blinders on in a futile attempt at not dealing with yet again another scary change. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that we have discussed the feelings as empty nest approaches, join me in the <a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/2016/09/empty-nest-part-2.html" target="_blank">next post</a> as we explore the different ways to make this transition easier.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-76003913691668589112016-07-29T10:04:00.000-07:002016-07-29T10:08:05.836-07:00True Identity: Where are we finding ours?<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt;">Do not despise these small
beginnings, for the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14pt;">rejoices to see the work begin. </span></span><span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Zechariah 4:10a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The fan clicked softly as it swirled away the stifling heat
and humidity that had settled into little backwoods church. There was a strange
familiarity in this place I’d never set foot before. Strings pulling me back to
a time I’d never really known but yet my heart felt an instant connection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We moved around so much when I was kid I never really felt
like I had any roots. How can roots get a chance to go deep when they’re never
allowed time to get past the surface?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How strange it was to feel roots coming up from this little
rock walled church pulling me into a heritage I was still trying to figure out.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUFKPWHe838/V5uLoBYIaaI/AAAAAAAABGQ/U3XAhmk3JkchiVrT4UedW-L1rgNJEdgoQCLcB/s1600/dadschurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JUFKPWHe838/V5uLoBYIaaI/AAAAAAAABGQ/U3XAhmk3JkchiVrT4UedW-L1rgNJEdgoQCLcB/s400/dadschurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I sat trying not to move for fear of the pew creaking and
giving away my giddiness over something I couldn’t truly explain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The old familiar gospel music wafted me into a comfort I’d
been missing for a while. Hearing my father’s soft, familiar voice at the
pulpit of his childhood was the highlight of a trip to a home I’d never known.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I sat listening intently to the message about God, not man
or the world, defining our identity it hit me like a ton of bricks. Soft,
gentle bricks though!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Never despise small beginnings! </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My dad had spent so many of his formative years in this tiny
building that brimmed with larger than life people. What the building lacked in
sized it more than made up for in faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">These people threw a pebble of faith into my dad and God
multiplied the ripples more than anyone could have ever expected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How could they have known? Could they see the generations to
come that would be affected by their decision to arm my family with the knowledge
of the saving grace of Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No. The simple answer is no. But, nothing is small to our BIG
God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Those small beginnings don’t identify who I am as my identity
is IN Christ but I never want to despise or look past those beginnings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Your true identity is secure in your Heavenly Father, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>not your
earthly father.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We must keep our eyes on Jesus and not let the enemy fill us
with lies about our identity. We’re more than conquerors and already victorious
through Christ. Operate <b>from</b> that
victory, not towards it. Live out who and whose you are each day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m so grateful for the people who invested their time and
faith into my dad. They paved a way for generations to come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m reminded today of how our earthly roots are nice to know
but they will never define who you are as only God can do that! His Word tells
us all we need to know about our true identity. Our roots can run deep and
really settle in Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s dig deep into His word this week and really come to know
who God says we are and thank Him for that truth! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fW92BUJrARo/V5uLIx_5qxI/AAAAAAAABGM/wahxXo4XZW4-vLJ48n_tdeimnVImasefQCLcB/s1600/Let%2Byour%2Broots%2Bgrow%2Bdown%2Binto%2Bhim%252C%2Band%2Blet%2Byour%2Blives%2Bbe%2Bbuilt%2Bon%2BHim.%2BThen%2Byour%2Bfaith%2Bwill%2Bgrow%2Bstrong%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btruth%2Byou%2Bwere%2Btaught%252C%2Band%2Byou%2Bwill%2Boverflow%2Bwith%2Bthankfulness.%2BColossians%2B2-7%2B%2528NLT%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fW92BUJrARo/V5uLIx_5qxI/AAAAAAAABGM/wahxXo4XZW4-vLJ48n_tdeimnVImasefQCLcB/s1600/Let%2Byour%2Broots%2Bgrow%2Bdown%2Binto%2Bhim%252C%2Band%2Blet%2Byour%2Blives%2Bbe%2Bbuilt%2Bon%2BHim.%2BThen%2Byour%2Bfaith%2Bwill%2Bgrow%2Bstrong%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btruth%2Byou%2Bwere%2Btaught%252C%2Band%2Byou%2Bwill%2Boverflow%2Bwith%2Bthankfulness.%2BColossians%2B2-7%2B%2528NLT%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-66394716199710995342016-07-08T11:34:00.003-07:002016-07-08T11:44:53.299-07:00Do you need to bring your self-discipline out?<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been checked out and more than a bit out of it lately.</span><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f8e09dad-cb54-2c8c-07ef-b5d3cb025144" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took a scheduled break from writing in May and the first part of June as it’s our busiest time of the year on the ranch.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s amazing how quickly a discipline or habit we’ve had for quite a while can slip away when not exercised. I kept telling myself I was too busy to write and it would just have to wait.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The thing is though, the longer I waited to start back up the harder it became to start at all!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The excuses became easier and the discipline became harder. I kept telling myself I was too busy and it really didn’t matter that much anyway. To be honest, I was am struggling with the fear of failing.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What if it’s harder than I remembered? What if I was always fooling myself before and this wasn’t what God called me to do? Do I even have words left in me anymore?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yikes, even typing those words I realize how much the enemy was feeding me lies. I simply got out of a habit and lost the discipline and the devil took full advantage of my doubts I voiced.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YujlhsS2m2o/V3_xDbd7LPI/AAAAAAAABF0/dm1EwDuww-MvSEXG2ZIuhzwL7RCsf1yvgCLcB/s1600/For%2BGod%2Bhas%2Bnot%2Bgiven%2Bus%2Ba%2Bspirit%2Bof%2Bfear%2Band%2Btimidity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YujlhsS2m2o/V3_xDbd7LPI/AAAAAAAABF0/dm1EwDuww-MvSEXG2ZIuhzwL7RCsf1yvgCLcB/s640/For%2BGod%2Bhas%2Bnot%2Bgiven%2Bus%2Ba%2Bspirit%2Bof%2Bfear%2Band%2Btimidity.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speak against the lies of fear and timidity in the name of Jesus. Be brave in Him. Claim the spirit of power, love and self-discipline He freely gives.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That may look different for each of us and in each situation. Maybe it’s someone speaking truth into your life at the moment God has orchestrated. It could be the quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit reminding you of who and whose you really are! Maybe it’s simply making the next right choice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to get back in the habit of writing what God lays on my heart to share. It takes discipline. You know what, it’s not easy. But…God created us for hard things.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m literally just putting one word down and then the next. I’m asking God to help me be brave. I’m giving him the little bit of bold I have right now and trusting Him to handle the rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s more than capable of taking the little bit of </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">self-discipline hidden deep inside us and bring it to its fullest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdQgXRfwNAo/V3_w0lVmo_I/AAAAAAAABFw/CFNLw6juXUwX8eJyL2h8iX2We_4piTIPQCLcB/s1600/God%2Bcan%2Btake%2Bthe%2Blittle%2Bself-discipline%2BI%2Bhave%2Bhidden%2Binside%2Band%2Bbring%2Bit%2Bto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bdQgXRfwNAo/V3_w0lVmo_I/AAAAAAAABFw/CFNLw6juXUwX8eJyL2h8iX2We_4piTIPQCLcB/s640/God%2Bcan%2Btake%2Bthe%2Blittle%2Bself-discipline%2BI%2Bhave%2Bhidden%2Binside%2Band%2Bbring%2Bit%2Bto.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(A little grace from you with my stumbling words on this first one back would be much appreciated as well.)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What area(s) of your life do you need put some self-discipline into action? Let me know in the comments and I’d be happy to pray with you!</span></div>
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I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-57127199663065481842016-05-21T07:28:00.000-07:002016-05-21T07:28:07.007-07:00Busy time of Year!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m so sorry I’ve been absent for the last couple of weeks. I haven’t fallen off the globe or been sucked into some kind of black hole. Well, I guess maybe, the black hole of lambing.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-18911d3e-d3ad-6212-4b73-324f0bef04e9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May is our busiest month of the year, like by a LOT. We’re finishing up calving, going to brandings and then throw in lambing out about 500 head of sheep in 3 -4 weeks too. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I promise I’ll be back with more regular blog posts in June but I just wanted to touch base quick. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life is good. The weather has been outstanding for lambing. The ewes are in the best shape I’ve ever seen them in. Both of my sons are around to help and I couldn’t ask for better help.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every year I think I’ve seen it all when it comes to sheep. Every year I’m reminded that’s simply not true. I keep my little notes app handy as I’m driving through pasture’s to record the lessons God teaches me through this amazing season. As a side note my talk to text feature on that app makes it quite a game to figure out what I really said from what it recorded!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a few picture’s from lambing so far. To see more of them regularly follow me on Instagram (@LauraAHicks) where I share more frequently.</span></div>
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Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-31113082719219006242016-05-04T04:00:00.000-07:002016-05-04T13:43:05.004-07:00Represent Who's We Are<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air. New baby calves are running and bucking with excitement. Lambing season is knocking at my door.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m blessed to train and use Border Collie’s to help with ranch work. They’re born with the desire and instinct to work livestock. We also select for dogs that are eager to work as a team with a person. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s nothing quite like working with a dog to accomplish a task. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Communication is crucial. The more we work together the better we read each other.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheepdog trial season is just around the corner! It’s time for me to shake the cobwebs out of my dogs training. I want to be ready and have my dogs represent well.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In all honesty I really want them to be able to shine. I want our relationship and communication to be on point.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's the same with how we represent God. I personally want my relationship and communication with God to be evident to those around me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">The same goes in our relationship with the Lord. We have free will to make whatever choices. God does not call us to be robots, He wants us to come willingly. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we are in a right standing relationship with God we are in continual communication with Him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The closer we are to the heart of the Father the more our choices will reflect our relationship with Him. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1S5N8c8-_c/VyeI8JJxCwI/AAAAAAAABBs/gNxa9r7wz1oQK-VYPUO9KURT6SXD1CezACLcB/s1600/188582_1020013954893_9911_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1S5N8c8-_c/VyeI8JJxCwI/AAAAAAAABBs/gNxa9r7wz1oQK-VYPUO9KURT6SXD1CezACLcB/s400/188582_1020013954893_9911_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The analogy of my dogs and me is not perfect because I am not perfect and neither are they. Fortunately for us, God IS perfect so we can trust Him all the time. Whereas I make mistakes in my relationship with the dogs and so do they. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm blessed that my dogs really desire to hear my voice most of the time. They lean in to listen and want to please me. Sometimes they believe they're right and I’m wrong. At that moment a correction is necessary. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The same can be said for us and we will need a correction to steer us back in the right direction. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God corrects us with love and mercy to get us back on the right track. How we respond to that merciful correction speaks to our trust in our loving Father.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s lean in and keep our heart eager to hear to our Lord’s voice!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ready to respond to the slightest whisper from Him. Submitting quickly when we’ve made a mistake and head the right direction.</span></div>
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-66680134288353223732016-04-28T20:15:00.000-07:002016-04-28T20:15:05.740-07:00Whisper Yes to quiet time with Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkyzPsR7GRQ/VyLRNk7kjTI/AAAAAAAABBY/rP7ZOGI55DIFmbXlnmREsGiFTj4DfEObQCLcB/s1600/W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkyzPsR7GRQ/VyLRNk7kjTI/AAAAAAAABBY/rP7ZOGI55DIFmbXlnmREsGiFTj4DfEObQCLcB/s1600/W.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do we struggle to spend quiet, undistracted time alone with God in His word and in prayer? </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e7d4973a-5fff-3e60-4ad0-b0a715847a0f" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tell myself every evening that tomorrow will be different. Nothing else will happen in my day until I’ve had my time following Jesus into the word of God. Then the next day comes and the day comes flying at me.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I know people always say to just get up earlier before anyone else gets up in my house. There’s a bit of a problem with this though. My husband gets up between 4 and 4:30 every morning. I’m not going to to try to beat him out of bed in the morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So once I’m awake the day just starts to slip away. Distractions, even minor ones, creep in and try to steal my time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The enemy of our heart tries to destroy us with distractions.</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t know about you but then I’m trying to “squeeze” time for God in while I do other things. Maybe it’s just me but I often find myself reading from my Bible app while I’m walking dogs only to have my phone ring. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sometimes feel like I can’t focus for more than about a minute at a time most days. So I find myself praying while I shower, out feeding sheep or doing dishes.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I want to make it perfectly clear, I want to spend time talking to God while I do all those things. There isn’t anything wrong with listening to God’s word from a Bible app when I’m walking dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But...Jesus has been calling me away from the distractions. Asking me if I will whisper yes to following Him into the quiet.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As for me, this means when distractions want to run rampant in my life I will choose to put them on hold.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most important steps I’ve made is no social media before my quiet time with the Lord. I want my genesis thoughts each day to be centered on truth I can trust, not the chaos of the world.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another one is realizing silence has actually scared me. I’ve been known to fill my days with sound of some kind all day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Saying yes to hearing from God more clearly </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>means saying no to so much noise!</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This may sound a little simple but I also find when I first wake up, before I ever roll out of bed, I say “Good morning, Jesus.” Simply speaking His name first thing each day invites Him into my day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s be on guard for the distractions satan tries to throw at us to steal our time quiet time with our Heavenly Father. Stand firm against them!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I’m praying our daily whisper of YES to take Jesus’ hand will echo throughout our day.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Romans 12:2 (NLT)</i></span></div>
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-66158992217603562422016-04-14T16:45:00.000-07:002016-04-15T15:53:57.664-07:00Do you treasure people or things?<div style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-top: 1.1em;">
How do you want to be remembered? Is it for the things you’ve accomplished? Maybe the awards and “stuff” you’ve collected?</div>
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What about the people we’re blessed by along the journey?</div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">I’m a competitive person by nature. I like to set a goal and then go for it. I spent most of my youth competing in as many sports as possible.</span></div>
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One of my favorites was rodeo. I particularly liked to rope. Every free moment I had you’d find me roping a dummy in backyard or working with my horses.</div>
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Now I’m not what you’d call a hoarder. If you have something that means a lot to you it probably needs nailed down before I start cleaning. It could easily go out if no ones used in a certain amount of time.</div>
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Because of this I would have told you I always put people over stuff any day of the week.</div>
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But...when I won my first belt buckle as a kid rodeoing, I never looked back. It became my mission to win as many as possible. It was a bit of an addiction.</div>
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That same desire carried over into my adult years when I switched to training dogs instead of horses. Still working towards collecting as many prizes as I possibly could.</div>
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I was on a slippery slope of collecting stuff over people.</div>
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Along the way God quietly started working on my heart. He was showing me it wasn’t about how many prizes I could collect but how many people I could love.</div>
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Now I’m not saying goals are bad. I still set goals and work towards them. What I have learned is all the “stuff” I’ve collected over the years is basically collecting dust. It sure doesn’t give me any kind of love back!</div>
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<b>People - they're what’s worth collecting!</b></div>
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The time spent chasing my dreams wouldn’t mean much without the people who are on the adventure with me. I cherish the countless times we’ve laughed, loved and prayed together.</div>
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<b>Love is what makes life worth living.</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">We may have to dust off a relationship from time to time </span><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">but it’s an investment worth making.</span></div>
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The memories with people far outweigh any kind of award I’ve ever won.</div>
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When we’re willing to follow where God leads all the stuff in this world won’t matter. Our focus shifts. Hearts take the lead role.</div>
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When Jesus called the disciples and asked them to come with Him they left everything and followed. All the earthly treasures stored up couldn’t compare to the desire to follow where He lead. He asked them and he’s still asking us to put people over things.</div>
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When we’re following the heart of Jesus <span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">we’ll find the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">hearts of those He loves. (<a href="http://ctt.ec/u0EN9" target="_blank">Click to tweet</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii17CstI6m4/VxArNACy4lI/AAAAAAAABBE/SURB0dMiNtghmNsLvgRB_VYuP08M03J3wCLcB/s1600/For%2Bwhere%2Byour%2Btreasure%2Bis%252C%2Bthere%2Bwill%2Byour%2Bheart%2Bbe%2Balso.%2BLuke%2B12-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii17CstI6m4/VxArNACy4lI/AAAAAAAABBE/SURB0dMiNtghmNsLvgRB_VYuP08M03J3wCLcB/s400/For%2Bwhere%2Byour%2Btreasure%2Bis%252C%2Bthere%2Bwill%2Byour%2Bheart%2Bbe%2Balso.%2BLuke%2B12-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these </span><a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a><span style="font-size: 19.2px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 28.8px;">.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~</span></div>
Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-81793380157543275742016-04-05T04:00:00.000-07:002016-04-05T16:34:41.149-07:00But if You say so...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YON06FMd6FI/VwK-XwEpJNI/AAAAAAAABAY/PcgruzbMlJ4_g61wX9smnmGjzBG9FoFxA/s1600/but%2Bif%2BYou%2Bsay%2Bso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YON06FMd6FI/VwK-XwEpJNI/AAAAAAAABAY/PcgruzbMlJ4_g61wX9smnmGjzBG9FoFxA/s400/but%2Bif%2BYou%2Bsay%2Bso.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever known God is telling you to move but not sure what that means? Or even if you know where He’s calling you but it just doesn’t make any sense? I’ve been there a time or two as well.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-278e3e63-e2a9-ed81-c7af-3822012eb219" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’d had a special speaker at church and I’d been hearing God whispering to me during the whole service, “Come”. It didn't make sense. Come where? Do what? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lord, I NEED some details. Okay, maybe need isn’t the right word but I would LIKE some details.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No details were given. Simply a chance to follow Him.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we neared the end of the service I knew God was inviting me to be obedient and get baptized. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why would God ask me to do something that made no sense and honestly felt really strange?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, I’d been baptized when I was young. I wrestled with God about it in my heart for quite some time. I even left the service right after and sat in my car for a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I sat there I tried to explain to God how this didn’t make sense. Why would I need to do this again? I was 41 years old, the pastor’s daughter and led the youth ministry. What would my “kids” all think of me?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m not proud to say those thoughts went through my head but am so grateful God never stops loving me. Despite my weaknesses.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No big bolt of revelation came. No profound understanding. Only a choice to come with Him or not. As He had shown me time and time again, the choice was mine. Would I say yes?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A little side note here, we’re what you’d call a “cowboy church”. Our baptism’s most often happen in a livestock watering tank. We’re not talking heated and comfortable by any means. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I bet you’re praying this is where I walked back in with my head held high and said, “Whatever it may be, bring it on!”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nope. It was more of a quiet, “But if you say so God”. Not a resentful, apprehensive yes but a calm, expectant yes. A yes full of trust.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I let my need to see before I believed slip away as </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I followed God into the unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He’s faithful and I’ve met Him in the unknown many times before. Each time I’ve answered, “But if You say so” He’s been right there to meet me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Faith works when we use it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jesus asked Simon Peter to drop his nets again it didn’t make sense either. Peter’s day of fishing had already proven unsuccessful. He could have tried to reason with Jesus why it wasn’t the best idea. But I love his answer!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Luke 5:5</i></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I know we can read on after and see what a glorious night of fishing it ended up being. But...Simon Peter had NO idea what the outcome would be when he said YES.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love how we’re given such a great example to step out in faith even if we don’t understand. I find it so reassuring how Peter doesn’t come back with some lofty type of answer. He’s honest and real.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJQB8yKhb08/VwK-lix5b9I/AAAAAAAABAc/SwvdWC-BNdg6qmDNpT0_0z1hVU91pMEpg/s1600/You%2Bdon%25E2%2580%2599t%2Bneed%2Bbigger%2Bfaith%2Bto%2Bstep%2Bout%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bunknown%252C%2Byou%2Bneed%2Bto%2Bplant%2Bthe%2Bfaith%2Byou%2Bdo%2Bhave%2BIN%2BGod..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJQB8yKhb08/VwK-lix5b9I/AAAAAAAABAc/SwvdWC-BNdg6qmDNpT0_0z1hVU91pMEpg/s400/You%2Bdon%25E2%2580%2599t%2Bneed%2Bbigger%2Bfaith%2Bto%2Bstep%2Bout%2Binto%2Bthe%2Bunknown%252C%2Byou%2Bneed%2Bto%2Bplant%2Bthe%2Bfaith%2Byou%2Bdo%2Bhave%2BIN%2BGod..jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I broke the plane of the cold baptism water I still didn’t understand. I simply made the choice to follow. Coming up out of the iciness I felt a huge wave of blessing wash over me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, if you say so...</span></div>
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I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups.</a>
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-18700752611967128532016-03-29T15:47:00.001-07:002016-03-29T15:47:16.685-07:00Move Close to the Heart of Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ib9gglMonlY/Vvro5dqeZ9I/AAAAAAAABAE/J0RrISEAMVArp3aKmBmRaFHA8PiRKq25w/s1600/Move%2Binto%2Bwhatever%2Brow%2Bwill%2Bput%2Byou%2Bclosest%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bheart%2Bof%2BJesus..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ib9gglMonlY/Vvro5dqeZ9I/AAAAAAAABAE/J0RrISEAMVArp3aKmBmRaFHA8PiRKq25w/s400/Move%2Binto%2Bwhatever%2Brow%2Bwill%2Bput%2Byou%2Bclosest%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bheart%2Bof%2BJesus..jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you ever feel like you can identify with the Israelites?</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-2617ef85-c48d-2087-8584-f53677946aa0" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve read about the many miracles they witnessed first hand and wondered how their faith faltered so often. I mean come on, they saw the Red Sea part!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses reminds them in Deuteronomy how God loves them. Not because of how good they are, far from it actually, but because He’s chosen them.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the same breath he also calls them out for being a stubborn people.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh good grief, here I am, raising my hand. Yep, that’s me. Just go ahead and put the name tag on. “Hello, my name is Stubborn.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I come from a long line of stubborn people. We’re a strong willed bunch and it can take us longer to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting than I’d care to admit.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It goes back to our faulty self preservation mentality. Generations of abandonment and addictions led us to believe the only way to survive was to dig in our heels.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, let’s not forget an important part of Moses’ reminder. God chose them! Hand picked. Set apart. WANTED</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love this! My family may have been “back row people” before, to stubborn to come to the front row when called, but we are chosen!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chosen to rise up from our past and come forward </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">into a relationship with Jesus.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to step out and have a front row seat at the feet of Jesus unobstructed by distractions. Nothing to block my line of sight to the everyday, wonderful miracles God has for each of us through His grace!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We may never get to see the Red Sea part but we have seen addictions broken, lives saved and legacies changed.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of us have been more than happy to hang out in the “back row” out of fear to move to the front. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of being truly seen.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If God is calling us to come forward, He’ll make the path, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we just need to step out and follow it.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re reading this and not real sure you feel chosen, let me reassure you, Abba Father is calling you. The whisper you hear somewhere down deep, it’s from Him. He wants YOU!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It doesn’t matter who your name tag said you were before, God is calling you by your true name, “Chosen”.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever is holding us back from moving forward as God calls to us, let’s offer it up to Jesus. Take His hand, put one foot in front of the other and move into whatever row will put you closest to the heart of Jesus.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 22.08px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 1.38;">I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
</span><a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" style="line-height: 1.38;" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a><span style="line-height: 1.38;">.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~</span></div>
Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-31658766307303340812016-03-25T10:37:00.001-07:002016-03-25T11:35:13.583-07:00Fully Alive!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five Minute Friday is so much fun for me. No pressure! Simply a word prompt on twitter (#fmfparty) on Thursday night and then write. No over thinking or editing. There is a linkup on Friday at </span><a href="http://katemotaung.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: #7c93a1; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate Motaung</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where we can read other's five minute free write.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week's prompt is: Alive</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus’ death. Heart wrenching and devastating, yes. Yet...because of His death we now have life. Not just any ordinary life either. Abundant life!</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m so grateful the story doesn’t end with Jesus’ death. He is alive!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We serve not only an amazing God but the only living God. This is huge. I’m not worshipping an inanimate object or idol. I’m in a relationship with the God of the universe who is ALIVE!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It makes me giddy with excitement. I want to live my life grabbing a hold of this abundant life. Not settling for anything less than God’s best for me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob_8PAgawko/VvWEagGMAmI/AAAAAAAAA_s/z6Alecoxh94jO8WhGNvUtScXita-3jHww/s1600/Death%2Bcan%2527t%2Bhold%2BHim%2Band%2Bit%2Bdoesn%2527t%2Bwin%2Bwith%2Bus%2Beither%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob_8PAgawko/VvWEagGMAmI/AAAAAAAAA_s/z6Alecoxh94jO8WhGNvUtScXita-3jHww/s400/Death%2Bcan%2527t%2Bhold%2BHim%2Band%2Bit%2Bdoesn%2527t%2Bwin%2Bwith%2Bus%2Beither%2521.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The best way I know how to live this out is to die to myself. Not easy but necessary. </b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)</span></i></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to be fully alive. How about you? Are you ready to throw off the grip of death that tries to hold us down? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Death can’t hold Him and it doesn’t win with us either!</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s go out today and live fully aware of the life we’ve been given through God’s grace. Living fully alive!</span></div>
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If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.<br />
~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-26760190757969179822016-03-22T18:54:00.000-07:002016-03-23T08:46:35.746-07:00Into the Deep End of Faith<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1WJIRYXBeo/VvH0zhqQbUI/AAAAAAAAA-4/sO99CNdingoliIWVyHxH1m_xoEAbIq9MA/s1600/IMG_3762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1WJIRYXBeo/VvH0zhqQbUI/AAAAAAAAA-4/sO99CNdingoliIWVyHxH1m_xoEAbIq9MA/s400/IMG_3762.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.3333px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it just me or does life feel messy sometimes?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel like I can be going along and life feels kind of simple for a while and then wham, hit with something else!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not too long ago my youngest brother was living life pretty fast and hard. Some choices he made were not in alignment with God's will for him.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was in a pick up accident which almost took his life.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SO many broken bones along with serious head trauma! Just to name a few were his back, neck, face, ribs, sternum and one leg. The only thing not broken were his arms and they were full of glass. His lung was punctured and full of glass as well.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The phone call you get after an accident like that is kind of burned into your memory.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My dad was the first person to get the call. Before he called anyone else, he prayed the following verse for my brother.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.3333px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The doctors were giving our family the worst case scenario. They said there wasn't much hope of him surviving let alone being restored to full health.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was time to step out into the deep end of faith. As a family we could have crumbled and given in to the fear but we cried out for God's mercy and stood firm on His word. We spent quite a bit of time in prayer reminding God of his promises.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We let the doctors do their job and we did ours as a family, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">standing in the gap for my brother.</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I won't lie and say it was easy. There were tears shed and frustrations vented. Many days of hearing the worst case scenarios could have threatened to steal our faith. The thief came to steal, kill and destroy. We were holding onto the promise that Jesus came to give us life abundant. (John 10:10)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We already knew God was in control and would never leave us. We also knew God is sovereign and His ways are higher than our ways.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many times, well meaning friends would comment how nice it was to see us “hoping” he would be fully restored. It wasn’t just hope like we normally think of it. Not the wishful kind of hope anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.3333px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words...<i>it was faith</i>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.3333px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are no shortcuts to faith. We must spend time in God’s word so we’re ready to do battle when the tough days come. Arm yourself with God’s promises so you too can cut down any attack from the enemy!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God makes impossible things possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 19.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My brother is a living, breathing, fully restored, walking testament of God’s miracles. He will always have some scars to remind us of the battle God won!</span></div>
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I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.
~Laura~</div>
Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-45195337602458761382016-03-16T20:51:00.000-07:002016-03-17T06:51:02.808-07:00The Adventure of a Lifetime!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">People warned us not to do it! There were so many logical reasons not to go down this path but I will be the first to admit, at 18 years old, logic and I weren’t on a first name basis yet.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-86d123c2-8494-3bc6-5d69-828d3f466560"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I should have known the adventure I was in for on one of our first dates. We went to move cows together. My horse just missed stepping on a rattlesnake. Mike pulled his rope down and in one whack hit that rattlesnake over the head, killing it! He then cut off the rattles and gave them to me. I still have those rattles.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adventure isn’t always easy and there are certainly moments of discomfort.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">We got married young. I felt like he was my savior as he rescued me from a <a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-heart-song-lauras-story.html" target="_blank">bad situation</a>. Six months into the marriage I realized it was way tougher than I thought it would be and wasn't real sure I wanted to be there anymore but felt obligated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will never forget exactly where I was when all of a sudden I realized I didn't HAVE to be here out of obligation. I really, truly loved this man and it was worth the effort and I WANTED to be in this marriage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My walk with the Lord still wasn't really in line yet but the Holy Spirit had never left me and was working in me even when I didn't realize it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I told Mike about how I had felt I was shocked to find he was struggling with the similar thoughts. Wow! Thank the Lord He was always watching out for us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had come into the relationship with a pretty big chip on my shoulder as I was mad at the world still. He was a little rough around the edges as well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 27:17 tells us “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During those early years there were quite a few sharp edges being rounded off of each of us. Truthfully, we’re still sharpening each others character.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the things I love most about my husband is I feel completely safe with him. Yet he does not treat me like I'm fragile. He encourages me to dream big dreams and doesn't ask me to hold back anything. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's truly only by God's grace we have celebrated 23 years of marriage together. We did everything wrong and according to every statistic we shouldn't still be together. I’m not saying this in any way to brag because it is not because of us. Despite all of our brokenness God has been intertwined with us throughout our marriage and we are honored and blessed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these
<a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>.
I encourage you to check them out.
If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~Laura~</span>Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-25996786711542553052016-03-14T07:13:00.000-07:002016-03-14T17:12:45.479-07:00Take a Leap of Faith!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several years ago I felt a stirring.</h3>
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It was simply a quiet beckoning but it persisted. I knew it was from God but it didn’t make any sense whatsoever so I tried to brush it aside.</div>
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Have you ever been there? You know God is calling you but it’s so far out of your comfort zone that it seems impossible...</div>
I'm so excited to be sharing my leap of faith story at <a href="http://tsuzanneeller.com/2016/03/14/take-a-leap/" target="_blank">Suzie Eller's blog</a>. Come on over to hear how God has not only redeemed my past and the shame, He's using it for His glory!Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-75132372174683417662016-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:002016-03-23T10:58:14.328-07:00Real Dedication <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This may seem a little off topic for me but please humor me. This dog taught me so much about unconditional love and as such opened my heart to a deeper relationship with our Lord.</div>
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I've been training and competing with Border Collies in sheep and cattle trials since the summer of 2000. Zac was a gift from God right at the beginning of my career in the stockdog world.</div>
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I recently wrote a short story about him and shared it with </div>
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<a href="http://www.chickensoup.com/" target="_blank">Chicken Soup for the Soul</a>. It was selected for their new book </div>
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Dog. </div>
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I'd like to share it with you as well as giveaway a free copy of the book. See below on how to enter!</div>
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Zac was a working
Border Collie. He was also my teacher and partner. Some people would say his
life revolved around working livestock, but he loved working with me even
more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had just started
training dogs to work livestock when Zac was born. The minute I looked into his
big, brown eyes, I knew he was put on the earth to be mine. The connection was
immediate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was one of the
smaller pups in the litter and not the most athletic of the bunch but he could
be downright bossy with livestock. He’d politely “ask” once, maybe even twice,
but the third time there were going to be consequences for any animal that
didn’t obey him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One day in the
prime of Zac’s life, a massive fire raged in the buffalo pasture next to one of
our summer pastures. My husband was on the fire line and called over the CB
radio to ask me to move our cows and sheep out of the way of the fire. I quickly
saddled a horse, grabbed Zac and my other dog Kat, and loped out across the
hills to hustle the livestock to safety.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Several hundred
disoriented sheep were pressed up against the fence in the middle of a huge
cloud of smoke. There wasn’t any time for subtleties. “Get ’em up!” I hollered
to the dogs. They knew from past experience and the urgency in my voice that it
was time to push, and push hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sheep resisted
at first and tried to beat the dogs back. The dogs and I won out, however, and
over the hill we went with the whole bunch at a high lope. They raced on until
we came to a water tank.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The sheep had been
standing in the smoke for quite some time, and they hit the tank hard. The lambs
were still quite small at the time, and many got shoved right in. They couldn’t
reach the bottom and were already exhausted, so it didn’t take long before
several of them were in real trouble. I jumped off my horse and started grabbing
the lambs nearest the edge to drag them out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The tank was both
deep and wide, and many lambs were out too far for me to reach them from the
edge. I started pulling off my boots and was headed in to pull them out before
they drowned. Zac had been watching me the whole time, and before I could even
put a foot into the tank myself, he jumped in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He swam out and
grabbed a lamb by the tail, and like any good lifeguard, dragged them one at
time to the edge where I could pull them out. He didn’t quit until the last one
was rescued. I didn’t say one word to him during the process. He just knew what
needed to be done and shot into action.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we both stood
there trying to catch our breath afterwards, I reached down and stroked his
head, reminding him once again how much I thought of him. He gently wagged his
tail and looked deep into my soul like he always did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There wasn’t much
time for affection or to kick back as we still had cows to move away from the
approaching blaze. We hustled off in the direction my husband said he thought
they were last seen. As we topped the last hill, they were already crossing a
fence that had been cut to let firefighters into the buffalo pasture. The dogs
and I worked quickly to herd the cows back to safety.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we were moving
them down the first hill, Kat heeled one cow to hurry her as Zac crossed behind
her. A heavy kick from the cow landed squarely on Zac, and he went flying
through the air. After what seemed like forever, he landed hard. I raced down to
check on him, but before I could get there, he was already up and headed back to
work. I figured he was okay, and we continued moving cows for another
hour.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When all the
livestock was safely out of the way of the oncoming fire, the dogs and I headed
for home. We took a much-needed break and lounged around for a bit. An hour or
so later, I walked out to feed the dogs, and Zac couldn’t stand up. He tried
several times, but despite no yelps of pain, it was evident he was hurting. I
quickly set out with him on the hour-long drive to the nearest veterinary
clinic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My vet checked him
over and discovered through an X-ray that Zac’s hip had been broken. My heart
ached for the lousy job I’d done of looking out for my best friend. He never
whimpered or cried when the cow kicked him. Not once did he try to quit in the
hour of pushing cows after it happened. There never was a growl toward the vet
or me as we poked and prodded to fix what must have hurt so
badly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I fought back
tears of regret, Zac lay on the steel table and licked my face, reassuring me
everything would be all right. He was right, as usual. He healed, and we had
many more years of partnership. Despite some arthritis in his old age, he lived
a long, wonderful life, always by my side. I will forever be grateful for the
gift of Zac’s faithful heart and his dedication to our work
together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-40018125852699907412016-03-03T13:22:00.003-08:002016-03-14T08:02:05.447-07:00Step out of the Comfort Zone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJ94O-ZCCXs/Vtjme2saMOI/AAAAAAAAA8A/i_9jbqqPMOY/s1600/Blackbird%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJ94O-ZCCXs/Vtjme2saMOI/AAAAAAAAA8A/i_9jbqqPMOY/s400/Blackbird%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheep need sheep. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9fafe158-3e56-33da-d1de-6af794684342" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They’re designed as a herd animal. Isolation literally causes them to panic and eventually shut down.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe I've been spending a little too much time with sheep, but there is a ton of information we can learn about ourselves and our walk with the Lord by observing sheep. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheep are a prey animal and as such are wired to be quite fearful. It's self-preservation.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It can also make it downright challenging to get them to come out of their comfort zone. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it any wonder in scripture we are so often referred to as sheep?</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.3333px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Know that the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.3333px; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.3333px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, He is God! It is he who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (ESV)</span></i></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We love our comfort zone. We want to be right in the middle of our own “flock” where it feels safe and people already know and love us. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was recently invited to a Writer’s Retreat only a couple of hours away from where I live. There wasn’t going to be a soul there who I’d met in person yet.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It would have been easy for me to go and keep myself isolated. I have close friends at home, my family and my church. This could just be a quiet, solitary weekend away to write, right?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God had other plans. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only were there amazing women of God there but they pulled me right in. We jumped right out of that comfort zone and headed for the deep water. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was no chance to feel panic or shut down due to fear. God was showing me how quickly He can orchestrate deep bonds between fellow believers.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It might not feel safe outside the tight knit group of those we already know but if God is calling you to go, He will go before you. When we follow God out of our comfort zone and invest in relationships we discover another level of fellowship. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following Jesus into the deep is where our faith becomes stronger.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be brave. Step out into the deep end of relationships.</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.3333px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.3333px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV)</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 17.6px; line-height: 24.64px;">_____________________</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 17.6px; line-height: 24.64px;"><br /></span>
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~Laura~Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-16840155535524450292016-02-25T21:02:00.001-08:002016-03-14T08:02:18.952-07:00In the Morning When I Rise<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Five Minute Friday is so much fun for me. No pressure! Simply a word prompt on twitter (#fmfparty) on Thursday night and then write. No over thinking or editing. There is a linkup on Friday at</span><a href="http://katemotaung.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #7c93a1; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> http://katemotaung.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where we can read other's five minute free write. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week's prompt is: Morning</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">_________________________________________________</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-bb2d18bd-1bec-f890-b550-2e9e92a4f803" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "dancing script"; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.Psalm 90:14 (NLT)</i></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you among the early morning risers club? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What time is early for you?</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hear all the time to wake up early so we can get quiet time alone with the Lord in the morning before anyone else wakes up.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not to be too flippant but HA! I really am a morning person but there is no way I’m ever going to get time alone in the morning unless I wake up at the border between one day and the next.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, my hubby is a VERY early morning riser. As in 4:30 am is sleeping in for him. </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sorry but I just can’t make myself get up that early in the morning. I’m out of bed and going not long after him but it’s also his favorite time of the day to visit with me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what’s a girl do? I long for quiet time digging into God’s word. But, I also know I’m not a night person </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at all.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve learned to compromise. I crawl out of bed saying “Good morning” to Jesus. Then, I enjoy as much time as possible with my hubby before he heads out of the house to start chores.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After he leaves I snuggle in with my Heavenly Father, ready to hear from Him. Coming before Him with open arms and empty hands ready to receive and respond.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2o5Tacgsoeo/Vs_a0lrYDNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/iS1FFqkbqi8/s1600/SHINING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2o5Tacgsoeo/Vs_a0lrYDNI/AAAAAAAAA7E/iS1FFqkbqi8/s400/SHINING.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love the first verse in the song “Give Me Jesus”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, when I rise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, when I rise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the morning, when I rise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give me Jesus</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give me Jesus, give me Jesus</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can have all this world</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But give me Jesus</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So no matter how your morning starts out, remember God is ready to meet with you!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "dancing script"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~</span></div>
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If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share.<br />
Easy to share buttons below.Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-30994071395330562902016-02-23T12:56:00.002-08:002016-02-25T06:03:12.374-08:00How I Learned to Love my Scars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBmoED1RakU/VsynrfLWI6I/AAAAAAAAA5A/1ChnAsaXZ5E/s1600/IMG_3489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBmoED1RakU/VsynrfLWI6I/AAAAAAAAA5A/1ChnAsaXZ5E/s400/IMG_3489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Argh, these darn stretch marks itch so bad I'm going to scratch right through my belly!" I hollered across the bed to my husband. He tried to reassure me, "I really don't think that's a possibility."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I came up with a grand plan...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found the container of Bag Balm I had in my cupboard of animal medicine. It's kind of like Vaseline for udders on cows that are getting dry and chapped while nursing calves.</span><br />
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hustled into the kitchen and dug out a roll of saran wrap and hurriedly put my plan into action. Quickly, I smeared this wonderful cow product all over my 7 month pregnant belly. A deep sigh slipped out of me as the itching eased a little.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, if I would have just stopped there, I think the outcome would have been different. But, I’ve never been one to say whoa in a horse race! I decided to hold as much moisture in as possible by wrapping my whole midsection in saran wrap before crawling back into bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, the horror the next morning! </span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ripped the saran wrap off my belly as fast as possible as it burned with a thousand hot needles. Every inch of my not so little baby bump was covered in a heat rash. Sweet Jesus come now!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still have all those wonderful tiger stripes to this day. The scars left from a belly that literally grew overnight.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish I could tell you that I always loved these scars left behind but there were many days I struggled with them. But…they are a constant reminder of God’s goodness and mercy towards me.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, I was told early on in my marriage by a specialist the chance of me ever <a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/2015/08/are-we-afraid-of-power.html" target="_blank">having a child</a> of my own was slim to none. Unfortunately my insides were so full of scar tissue from <a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/2015/09/my-heart-song-lauras-story.html" target="_blank">prior abuse</a> that it would take a lot of medical help and even then there was no guarantee.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what do you do with that information as a young wife? I cried. I hollered at God. When would it be enough? Was life just going to be one big heartache after another?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is faithful however and sent strong women of faith to stand in the gap for me when I couldn’t face it alone. They laid hands on me and prayed over me.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I flopped on my bed that night and cried tears of release. I died to my plans right there. I’ll never forget crying out to God, “I give up, whatever your plans are for me I will trust you. If it’s your will that I have a child Lord I trust You alone to do it. Either way, I will praise you.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does that mean it was easy every morning to wake up and trust Him? Maybe for others it is but it hasn’t ever come naturally to me. Every time my own will tried to creep in and take over I had to to call out to Jesus to help me bring it back in line with Him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now every time I look at the scars left on my stomach I’m reminded of God’s miracles in my life. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "pacifico"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His mercy and grace are beyond compare!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZbuZzliMBw/Vsy5P5WpuSI/AAAAAAAAA5U/38AZhUpBAUE/s1600/486039_4903119670109_1732912278_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZbuZzliMBw/Vsy5P5WpuSI/AAAAAAAAA5U/38AZhUpBAUE/s400/486039_4903119670109_1732912278_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two wonderful sons from their younger days<br />
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</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm sharing this post with several other blogger's at these</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://lauraannhicks.blogspot.com/p/blog-linkups.html" target="_blank">Faith Linkups</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I encourage you to check them out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If this post resonates with you and feel it would help others please feel free to share. Easy to share buttons below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~</span><span style="font-family: "dancing script"; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura</span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~</span>Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-31167440127922505112016-02-20T10:55:00.001-08:002016-02-22T16:04:33.515-08:00Faithful Through the Generations<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I'm really excited to be sharing over at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sweet.To.The.Soul.Ministries/?fref=nf">Sweet to the Soul - Facebook page</a> today. It is a great community of women who love the Lord and encourage one another with Biblical words of inspiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Come on over and check them out!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VfSNAazm-Y/Vsi2Sft8CHI/AAAAAAAAA4s/aHLoklwi_h4/s1600/sweettosoul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VfSNAazm-Y/Vsi2Sft8CHI/AAAAAAAAA4s/aHLoklwi_h4/s400/sweettosoul.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 20px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5 ESV</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is good. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is love. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is faithful. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5e46d9e3-0000-ffec-4824-62b3021d2763" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take a deep breath and let that soak in for a minute. I think we rush past these amazing characteristics about God all too often. They can become so familiar to us we take them for granted. Or maybe such a foreign idea, we can’t really wrap our minds around them.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a time in my life when I couldn’t see God’s goodness, love and faithfulness anymore. The hurt and pain I was going through blinded me to all the times God had shown me who He was in the past. I have a feeling there are many who can relate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pain has a way of causing us to go numb as a means of self preservation. </span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully I have generations before me who have seen firsthand God’s faithfulness. My loved ones reached out and reminded me of God’s countless times of goodness and love in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We truly can take God at His word. His faithfulness is the same yesterday, today and forever. (see Hebrews 13:8)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do we do when God’s goodness, love and faithfulness feels like a distant memory at best and nonexistent at worst?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can cry out to our Heavenly Father and let Him reminisce with us over the times He’s shown His goodness, love and faithfulness throughout our lives. Remembering them in the generations before us as well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can write those memories down on index cards, memo pads, or even a rock as a way to remember. Put them on a mirror, car dash or in our pockets to help remind us the next time we forget.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, dig into His word. God has shown His goodness and love throughout countless generations right there in print. Ask Him to open our eyes to His faithfulness as we turn each page.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His words never grow stale and antiquated. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then shout His praises and give Him glory for all the goodness He has shown throughout the generations. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A grateful heart is revealed in a grateful life. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God has shown the ultimate love for us by sending His son, Jesus, to set us free from the grip of sin on our lives. It doesn’t get much more faithful than that!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How has the Lord shown His goodness, love and faithfulness to you? In what specific ways will you respond to it?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<br />Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-63788283244455320002016-02-17T07:19:00.001-08:002016-03-14T08:02:48.626-07:00Have You Done All You Can Do?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ka3PRDbXvB0/VsSFc7bLFVI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/eQRtQDjqLNs/s1600/Therefore%252C%2Bput%2Bon%2Bevery%2Bpiece%2Bof%2BGod%25E2%2580%2599s%2Barmor%2Bso%2Byou%2Bwill%2Bbe%2Bable%2Bto%2Bresist%2Bthe%2Benemy%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btime%2Bof%2Bevil.%2BThen%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bbattle%2Byou%2Bwill%2Bstill%2Bbe%2Bstanding%2Bfirm..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ka3PRDbXvB0/VsSFc7bLFVI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/eQRtQDjqLNs/s400/Therefore%252C%2Bput%2Bon%2Bevery%2Bpiece%2Bof%2BGod%25E2%2580%2599s%2Barmor%2Bso%2Byou%2Bwill%2Bbe%2Bable%2Bto%2Bresist%2Bthe%2Benemy%2Bin%2Bthe%2Btime%2Bof%2Bevil.%2BThen%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bbattle%2Byou%2Bwill%2Bstill%2Bbe%2Bstanding%2Bfirm..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love this passage from Ephesians! So alive and active here. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-96828cb2-efbc-ca28-646e-1335c614d099" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Standing” may sound passive but it’s not. We put on God’s armor, resist and brace ourselves to withstand the punches from the enemy. Gloriously, we are not expected or ever instructed to do this in our own power. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t know how you feel about that but it’s a HUGE relief to me. I’ve realized over my life that I’m not nearly as strong as I would like to think. I’m so grateful for that revelation now. Knowing I can simply fall into the strong arms of Jesus and trust His strength, not mine.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are called to be strong and immovable. But, how can we be strong and immovable when we just acknowledged we’re really not as strong as we first thought?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 10:25 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we’re told that WHEN the storms of life come the wicked will be whirled away but the godly have a lasting foundation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s our answer. We need to have a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lasting foundation</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in order to stand firm against the fiery arrows of the enemy.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So when we’ve done all we can do in a situation in our life and it doesn’t turn out the way we planned, we really need a strong foundation to help us stand firm. Otherwise we’ll be swept away in the current of doubt and lies from the enemy.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do we get that solid foundation? Connection.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe that sounds a little simple but hear me out. When you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of troubles it can be a real struggle to pull out a fiber of truth if we’ve never planted any in the first place.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stand firm by staying connected to the author of truth!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be perfectly honest I can’t always remember where a verse is found or even the exact words when I’m treading to stay above water. But...I know the truth of God’s word and even if it’s one word I can grasp onto and cling to for dear life to stay afloat, it’s there. Planted through connection with my Heavenly Father.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Way to many times in my life I haven’t had eloquent words to pray in the middle of a situation. Sometimes the best we can squeak out in the moment is “Jesus help”. I’m so grateful that He hears that cry and knows the heart behind it without fancy words to explain it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s be real honest, it doesn’t always mean things are going to turn out like we’ve planned even as we stand firm. God is still there though - standing in the gap for us. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our plans are fickle little beasts with short term vision. God’s plans are far reaching and see the whole picture. Not always easy to remember in the eye of the storm. We must be rooted deep!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week as we move through life’s storms lets stand firm in God’s grace. The battle we fight is spiritual, personal and intense. It takes courage, determination and prayer but take heart...through Christ we are victorious. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I encourage you to let the words from Laura Daigle's song </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K42bvpgimTg" style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 33.12px;" target="_blank">O'Lord</a><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 33.12px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">to lift you up and give you hope! </span></div>
Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-4809557799174325872016-02-09T12:28:00.000-08:002016-03-14T08:03:47.075-07:00Give Up, Give In and Submit<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A lot of times we identify with something we think we are or have been told we are, good or bad. Most of my life I was told that I'm stubborn and I lived up to what people called out in me. I took it as a compliment growing up and still believe in some ways it can be. I'm tenacious and I will keep fighting for whatever the Lord puts in front of me. I've also been know to be stubborn to a fault.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-289161a0-c73e-62c0-7c49-5acfb472bef6" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of us try to hide certain aspects of ourselves that we don't want other people to see. Mine was the internal battle with old wounds. I didn’t want anyone to think they could hurt me again so I was super tough. That's how I identified myself. I wasn't allowing anyone to get through the wall I had placed around myself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It can seem easier not to allow access to our hearts than run the risk of any pain. Unfortunately that includes shutting out a lot of other feelings that come along with opening ourselves up.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been reading out of the Old Testament lately, which I love. I used to overlook most of the Old Testament as I just thought they were just stories and not really relevant to modern day life. Oh how wrong I was! There's so much good to be had from looking back on the lives of these men and women who went through similar things just in a different time.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you think of Samson how do you identify him? Most often it's either because of his hair or because of the strength tied in with his hair. There was more to Sampson than first meets the eye however. He had been set aside as a man of God at birth. He made numerous mistakes, as well as one huge one laying his head in the lap of trouble. (see Judges 16)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's easy to look back now and see what a huge mistake his decision was but how many of us have made similar mistakes. How often do we take for granted the strength the Lord gives us and over time start thinking that we're capable of managing life in our own strength. Thinking we can be strong enough to deal with the crap that gets thrown at us and we can do it on our own - we don't need God. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was there for so long! I was strong enough. I was tough enough. I didn't need anyone and this included God, but I finally came to a place where I just had to give up. I wasn't as strong as I thought. Life got hard and the harder I tried to stand up against it the harder it knocked me down.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giving up to me had always been a sign of weakness. It went against everything I identified myself as - strong, stubborn, tenacious - there was no way giving up could mean anything good. I learned that it is not surrendering but submitting. I leaned into the Lord and said, “Here it is, I can't do this without you.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Samson laid his head in Delilah's lap he learned the hard way that his power truly only came from the Lord. It wasn't him!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDbzLZiT6hQ/VrpLO0hc3yI/AAAAAAAAA2A/2zMdD-3_fGs/s1600/Sometimes%2Bwe%2Bhave%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbrought%2Bdown%2Bto%2Bher%2Bknees%2Bto%2Bfigure%2Bout%2Bthat%2Bour%2Bown%2Bstrength%2Bis%2Bnot%2Benough.%2BOnly%2Bthen%2Bcan%2Bwe%2Btruly%2Bgive%2Bup%252C%2Bgive%2Bin%2Band%2Bsubmit%2Bto%2Bwhat%2Bthe%2BLord%2Bwants%2Bus%2Bto%2Bdo..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDbzLZiT6hQ/VrpLO0hc3yI/AAAAAAAAA2A/2zMdD-3_fGs/s400/Sometimes%2Bwe%2Bhave%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bbrought%2Bdown%2Bto%2Bher%2Bknees%2Bto%2Bfigure%2Bout%2Bthat%2Bour%2Bown%2Bstrength%2Bis%2Bnot%2Benough.%2BOnly%2Bthen%2Bcan%2Bwe%2Btruly%2Bgive%2Bup%252C%2Bgive%2Bin%2Band%2Bsubmit%2Bto%2Bwhat%2Bthe%2BLord%2Bwants%2Bus%2Bto%2Bdo..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we have to be brought down to our knees to figure out that our own strength is not enough. Only then can we truly give up, give in and submit to what the Lord wants us to do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me assure you there is freedom in submitting!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am learning that we are stronger and braver than we think we are,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> in the Lord. </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We simply need to give up all the preconceived notions about strength and bravery and trust the Lord with His strength.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today let's dare to move out behind the walls and just dance in the freedom that only God can give.</span></div>
<br />Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3674518618051338231.post-87894357985451426942016-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:002016-02-17T14:09:38.940-08:00Walking Through the Fire: Immanuel - God with Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOdxR57SnOI/Vquh6my7o6I/AAAAAAAAA1s/p1xFoocqqa0/s1600/Immanuel-drip.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WOdxR57SnOI/Vquh6my7o6I/AAAAAAAAA1s/p1xFoocqqa0/s400/Immanuel-drip.png" width="396" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you pass through the waters,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I will be with you;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and when you pass through the rivers,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> they will not sweep over you.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you walk through the fire,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you will not be burned;</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the flames will not set you ablaze.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For I am the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> your God,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give Egypt for your ransom,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cush and Seba in your stead. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 43:2-3 (NIV)</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f31eb3ef-8f01-23eb-b060-0ce6639f5ae0" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever been so overtaken by the Holy Spirit you felt completely swept away? Smack in the middle of a crowd of women, a long ways from my safe, little home, the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of me in a powerful way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While at She Speaks 2015, I sat listening intently as Wendy Blight shared her message of the paralyzing fear that gripped her for years after being sexually assaulted. My mind swirled with memories of my own encounter that I had stuffed down for so long. Everything in me wanted to get up and run. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Run from the past.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Run from the shame.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Run from the pain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why would God put me here for this specific message? He knows the dark spaces within my heart. I know He loves me so why in the world would He bring me to such a hard place. I had the secret scars neatly tucked into the deep recesses of my heart. I just wanted to leave them there.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Holy Spirit wasn’t willing to let me stay in that stagnant pool of shame anymore. He walked me through those hard places. There wasn’t anything pleasant about it in the moment. I physically shook as He dug deep to redeem what had been taken from me.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet the Lord reminds us in Isaiah, “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” The flames sure felt hot in that place but God walked through it with me and I wasn’t burned. The chains were being loosened and I was set free from the captivity of trying to hide my shame.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free from the past.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free from the shame.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free from the pain.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being present in the hard places leads to redemption.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All the stuffing down, covering up and pretending it never happened can ever come close to the freedom found in Christ’s redeeming power. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only through Him can we put down our heavy burdens.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God wants to remove the chains we desperately try to loosen on our own. Some try to get rid of them in their own strength while others try to pretend they aren’t really there anymore. Some of us try both in a futile attempt at freedom.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chains can ONLY be removed by the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honestly, looking back I see how God had been orchestrating my life for just a moment as this. I am redeemed and I want to share the good news that God can set you free too!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "corsiva"; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those He redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:2 (NIV)</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have some hard places in your heart you try to hide from the world, as well as from yourself? Call out to the One who redeems. His unfailing love will help you rise up and walk through those hard places to the redemption waiting for YOU.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to know God, I invite you to check out Wendy Blight's new bible study</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Know His Name</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Know His Name</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a Bible study for any woman who wants to move beyond simply knowing </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">about</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> God to really knowing God in a very personal way.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.6666666666666665; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this five-chapter Bible study book, Wendy implements her practical and approachable style to equip readers to study the Word of God and then apply it to their own lives in practical ways.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m so blessed to be a part of the launch team for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Know His Name</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3a1900; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! For More information please visit Wendy’s page:</span></div>
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<a href="http://wendyblight.com/i-know-his-name/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wendy Blight - I Know His Name</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkW9VyiCH6s" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I Know His Name Video Trailer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<br />Laura Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866132056713089594noreply@blogger.com14