Chicago

Just a brief hello for those of you that might be missing me and wondering where we are. Was I ever really a Chicago girl?

This now country girl is back in the city on holidays, thanking her Lord that He has so changed her life in the past eight years. (Hmmmmmmmm, 8, new beginnings again)

The pace of life here is absurdly fast for no good reason. I feel like I need to catch my breath.

We spent last night on Navy Pier. Ride on the giant ferris wheel where Rick was able to shoot these pictures, dinner, Cirque Shanghai then fireworks.

Yes, it's a very nice place to visit, but how did I ever live here?

Cafe Chat Week of August 23rd

This week Kim asked: What is one thing you were convicted about when you were younger, but now being older and wiser you have changed your mind on that belief? Why? Or on the other side, what is one thing you may have not held a conviction on that you now do? Why?

I knew my issue the moment I finished reading the question, for the change in me was so dramatic that it was a defining moment in my walk with the Lord.

I lived 43 years without knowing Jesus, and even though God had chosen me as His own, I walked in darkness. I will save my salvation story for another time, but you needed to know just how long the world had seeped into and ruled my life. Redemption and rebirth are astounding. His great love and grace beyond words. I was surely a new creation. My views on moral issues seemed to change in an instant. I suddenly saw right from wrong. Many shades of grey turned black and white.

And yet…

I struggled with the issue of abortion. It was a choice I believed I would never make for myself, but I still felt strongly that a woman had the right to choose that road if she felt it best. I spent much time feeling that I must not be a “good enough” Christian if I could still hold this belief. I remember telling someone that God Himself would have to change my mind.

How many of you know what happens if you give God a challenge?

One night, about five years ago, after crawling into bed, reading, praying, wishing my beloved goodnight, listening to the rhythm of his breathing as he drifted to sleep, I began to think of two women in our life that were pregnant. I knew I was to pray for them. As I began, I sensed I was to pray for all pregnancies. I sensed the Lord asking me “And what about those that are ended by abortion, almost before they begin?”

“Yes, that’s sad, Lord” I replied, “and I would never do that, but I still think the woman has the right to choose.”

There should have been thunder and lightening, for the Lord’s answer exploded in my spirit.

“You have no rights! I have ALL the rights.”

Something in me broke, and I began to weep without restraint. I repented for ever having held the belief that abortion was a valid option. I prayed for those women who had made that choice, that they would learn forgiveness and grace. I prayed for the children who were never born. I prayed for those who were missing siblings that had not been born, and wondered if their spirits could sense the lack. I cried and I prayed and I prayed and I cried. When morning dawned after this sleepless night of tears I knew my beliefs were forever altered.

If you think God doesn’t want to talk with you, or doesn’t answer prayers, just ask Him to change the parts of you that are misaligned. He is faithful to answer.

Join us this week at http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/2008/08/august-23rd-cafe-chat.html and share your answer to Kim’s question.

Tagged!!

I've been tagged by Allyson at Oury Family
I’m supposed to share an Alphabet story, the A to Z 's of me.

Attached or Single? I am totally attached to Rick, for now and forever.

Best Friend? My best friend is the Holy Spirit. He leads me, guides me, and comforts me. My next best friend is my beloved husband Rick. I also thank God for changing my heart about female friends. I now have wonderful women in my life.

Cake or Pie? Hard to choose, but as a surprise to me as well as anyone who knew me in the past, I would have to say Pie.

Day of Choice? Sunday. "I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalm 122:1

Essential Item? Watch. I seem to always need to know what time it is.

Flavour of Ice cream? Homemade Brown Sugar Ice Cream

Gummy Bears of Worms? Worms. Bears are too small and sticky

Hometown? Chicago suburbs

Indulgences? The Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings made with bananas instead of apples.

January or July? If you have ever survived a Manitoba winter you would say July, just like me. That's assuming you don't enjoy 40 below temps before the wind chill.

Kids? No kids, just pets. Though I've been told I will have many spiritual children.

Last Movie I saw in a Theater? Shrek 3 at Clear Lake Theater in Riding Mountain National Park with a huge group of friends after we spent Canada Day 2007 in the park

Middle Name? Fern. I used to hate this, but now the thought of being named after a growing thing is quite delightful.

Number of Siblings? 2 older brothers. I am the baby and the only girl. Did Daddy spoil me? You bet.

Oranges or Apples? Apples, crisp, hard, tart apples.

Phobia or Fear? Fear. I don't believe I have phobias about anything.

Quote? "He's not a tame lion" C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, speaking of Aslan

Reason to Smile? I'm a child of the King!

Season? Autumn harvest time. It's almost warmer here in October than it is mid-summer.

Tag four more: Karen at Archibalds Archives , Tania at Faith Prints , Kim at The Christ Saturated Life , Kathy at Blessed Builder

Unknown Fact About Me? I love the smell of clover

Vegeterian or Oppressor of Animals? Used to be vegetarian. I remember an old saying that vegetarians are just people who can't hear plants scream. Now I'm an omnivore. I eat everything.

Worst Habit? Diet Cola

Xrays or Ultrasounds? X-rays

Your favourie Food? Any variety of oriental food, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese. Sadly, it's hard to find anything but Chinese here, and most of that is Chinese/Canadian and nothing close to what I was able to find in Chicago. Actually, the variety of cuisine is really the only thing I miss about the city.

Zodiac? I feel very strongly that I should disregard this question.

So there you have it, a snapshot of me, written quickly, A to Z.

Flying pig???

Sunday morning, Rick and I were taking our time getting up and moving. After hitting the snooze alarm, as I was beginning to doze off, in my mind I saw a flying pig. Yes, a little pink pig with wings flapping like crazy. It's not unusual for me to see silly little things as I'm falling asleep, but I've learned that these pictures are quite often God's way of trying to tell me something. So I asked "Okay Lord, why a flying pig?" He brought to mind that when we think something is impossible and will never occur we use the expression "when pigs fly".

I believe He wanted me to know that things we are praying for, even those things that seem too far out of reach, are possible for Him if we only believe. We have been singing songs about standing in His glory and receiving His miracles and yet…. That little voice snickers in the background "when pigs fly".

I sensed that our Loving Father was saying, "Get ready. Position yourself to receive. For I tell you, now is the time. Expect your miracles. Open your eyes and see. The pigs are flying."

"Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'" Luke 18:27

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

My Ten Things for Tuesday August 19, 2008

1. Today I am thankful for writers bold enough to put their love for Jesus into words. My prayer is that I would always be counted among them.
2. Today I am thankful for a long stretch of time yesterday to almost finish lesson 5 in Naturally Supernatural, my current course at Christian Leadership University
3. Today I am thankful that God was, is and always will be. "And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!" Exodus 3:14 Amplified
4. Today I am thankful for brilliant sunshine that has been ripening the tomatoes in our garden. What a delight to the taste buds!
5. Today I am thankful for "The Shack" a book that cost me half a box of kleenex and more tears than I can count, and left me hungrier than ever to linger in the presence of our Lord. If you haven't read it yet, please consider doing so. For more info check The Shack Book I will soon write more about this, but still need time to process.
6. Today I am thankful for the love of a man who truly believes both halves of the Ephesians 5 equation "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." Ephesians 5:22-28 NIV
7. Today I am thankful for all of the small frogs hopping around in our yard. Not only are they cute, but they eat the grasshoppers that are also trying to make themselves a home on our land.
8. Today I am thankful that plans are coming together for a workshop I will be presenting on "Living With Alzheimer's Disease" in October. I pray that more people would open up and take advantage of the help that is available.
9. Today I am thankful that harvest time is almost upon us. The farmers are busy checking their fields each day, making things ready, waiting for just the perfect moment to reap what was sown last spring. It is a prophetic picture of the greater harvest yet to come. But it is coming.
10. Today I am thankful that I serve a God Who continues to teach me what it means to be thankful.

What are you thankful for today? Go to X-Box wife and join us!

Cafe Chat Week of August 16

This week Kim asked "Tell about one time in the past 5 years where you took a HUGE Step of Faith in your journey with the Lord. What was the outcome?"

God had spoken to me and my husband before we had even met that one day He would send us out. We shared those words as we were getting to know each other and agreed as a couple that we would listen for His voice and go where and when He sent us. That was simply a truth we received and pondered every now and then, but it sat on the shelf for God had not given us any vision of what He wanted us to do. We continued to grow in the Lord and in our desire to be obedient to whatever He might ask.

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda had just finished their second visit to our church, and we had billeted 2 of the girls and their chaperone “auntie”. We gave them our email address saying we were interested in more info, thinking that we would become prayer supporters, something we both do for a number of different ministries.

A few months later we received an email about the possibility of joining a global team to build a teacher’s home in Uganda for Watoto Childcare Ministries. Suddenly, there was the vision, working side by the side with others we had not yet met, for the benefit of the orphans who had come to know Jesus and trusted him and us for their support. We looked at each other, and even without words knew this was God calling.

We discussed it with our pastors who agreed that we should apply to go, so apply we did, thinking that perhaps we would not be accepted on the team. After all, we would have to raise a large amount of money, more than what seemed possible to us.

We received another email, within a few weeks, accepting and welcoming us to the Global Team. Included in that email was info about booking our flights, how much money we would need to raise, sample itinerary, etc.

We were excited, we were happy and we were scared. I don’t think we had a fear of going, but we had doubts about our ability to raise the funds necessary. In faith we pressed on, trusting God’s Word that He doesn’t call us to a task without equipping us. We had to trust that if indeed He wanted us to go, He would provide all that was needed.

I was releasing my faith, and releasing the love of Christ within me as we spoke to individuals and groups about our mission and our needs. More money came in than we ever could have dreamed and yet not enough to cover all of our expenses. Again, we needed to stand in faith that if we used our own funds, God would take care of us financially.

God is and was true to His Word. We journeyed to Uganda to be part of a team of 43 people from Canada, USA, England, Scotland, Ireland and Australia. It was the experience of a lifetime, but only the first. We are already praying, planning and believing God to lead and guide us as we put a team together to return in 2010.

To share your answer to this week's question, join us at http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/2008/08/august-16-2008-cafe-chat.html

It was an ordinary life.....

They were a happy couple, living a quiet and simple life.....
One day he walked in from the garden with a ice cream pail filled with cucumbers.
So begins the horrifying tale of

PICKLE MANIA!!

It is that time of year that except for my regular work schedule everything else gets put on hold to allow me to freeze, pickle or preserve the bounty from our garden. The canner is almost always aboil, sterilizing empty jars or waiting to process jars filled with relish or jelly or salsa.

Rick comes home from work each evening and heads out to the garden to pick whatever is ripe. He comes back to the house with pails full, bursting with pride. I "oooh". I "ahhhh". I moan and groan about the work ahead of me.

So this past week it's been cucumbers. Cucumbers of all sizes, with many more still ripening on the vines. Rick also grows garlic, delicious flavorful garlic with cloves bigger than I've ever seen. The other night I peeled a very large head that consisted of only two cloves that need to be cut at least in half before they could be used. If you were to look at our garden, you would get the idea that we were ranching dill. It grows wherever it pleases and fills every empty nook and cranny. These factors of course lead only to one conclusion - garlic dill pickles. There will be whole pickles, pickle spears, slices and chunks. Some will have more dill than others and some jars will receive the extra kick of a sprinkle of hot pepper flakes. Tonight I will take the smallest ones and add sugar, turmeric and celery seeds to the mix to create sweet garlic dills.

And on and on and.............

When the cukes get too large they will get chopped, minced, ground and otherwise mutilated before being transformed into various types of relish, but for now, it's pickles. The magic of pickles.

Magic? Yes indeed. The cucumber goes into a brine solution as one type of vegetable and after spending time living in the brine, it comes out totally changed. That's what happens to us when we spend time soaking the presence of God. He transforms us. He takes away bitterness, blandness and adds flavour. He turns us into His own special creation, forever marked by His hand.

Take some time today to let Him pickle you. You will be changed, for His glory.

Thanks to Nancie!

Nancie at http://lifewithbipolardisorder.blogspot.com/ has blessed me with my first two blogging awards. What an exciting, encouraging and sweet email to receive last night!

I want to thank her here for being a living example of the command our Lord Jesus gave to His disciples:

"Freely you have received, freely give."

Sharing The Love Award
[Click on Memoirs of a Mommy to learn and read this special love story!]

Friendship Award

My Ten Things on August 12

1. Today I am thankful that I live in a nation where I can freely praise the name of my Lord without fear of persecution. I can only pray that I would be as bold even if the stakes were higher.
2. Today I am thankful that all of God's promises are true - "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20
3. Today I am thankful to be able to watch athletes stretch themselves to the limit to be all that God created them to be. Some of the Olympic performances have been incredible.
4. Today I am thankful for peas, cucumbers and beans still producing in our garden, with potatoes, corn, peppers and tomatoes on the way. I am thankful for a deep freeze to store the bounty in for the months ahead. I am thankful for the talent God gave me that enables me to can and preserve tasty and creative blends of salsas, relishes, pickles and jellies. I am thankful that our harvest is so abundant that we are able to give freely to those who are in need.
5. Today I am thankful for a husband who has been gifted by God to grow things without the use of chemicals.
6. Today I am thankful for the holidays with family we have planned for the end of the month, and a long awaited family wedding in October.
7. Today I am thankful for my canine companion Faith and all the lessons she teaches me about unconditional love.
8. Today I am thankful that God created me with the ability to feel, even when that hurts.
9. Today I am thankful that "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." Lamentations 3:22-23 New Living Translation
10. Today, as always, I am thankful for the simple and profound truth that Jesus loves me.

Now it's your turn to be thankful. Go to X-Box wife and join us!

Uganda - temporarily concluded

I haven't wanted to write the rest of the story because all that really remains is the final days, the packing, the goodbyes, the leaving. I don't like to think about it, because somewhere inside I wanted to believe we never had to leave.

What can I share from those last lingering hours?

We spent an afternoon driving to various slum areas in Kampala, where one of our team hosts Bonny had lived. Many got off the bus and walked about with him, meeting the children who lived in those streets. I wasn't afraid of the faces, I was afraid of tripping on the rough roads, gutters, etc. and so Rick and I and a few others remained on the bus, learning choice tidbits about life from our driver. Even through bus windows we could tell that the poverty here was the worst we had seen. I thanked God that so many of these knew Him, for I knew that faith would sustain them while riches would not.

Back at the guesthouse, more clean laundry had been laid out. As I went through the piles of clothing I still could not find my favorite black capris. They had been missing earlier, and I had run about in a panic until I saw them still hanging on the line. Now, not only were they not in the stacks, but they were also missing from the line. I asked everyone I saw if they had seen them, but they seemed to be lost forever. I was unreasonably upset by this and went to our room to lie on the bed and weep. So now I felt both sad and foolish, and guilty as well. I had spent the afternoon seeing people who had nothing at all, and I was crying over a silly pair of pants. They were comfort clothes at a time when I felt I needed comfort. My soul was disquieted by all I had seen, and by all the farewells. In the midst of all this, I never got to say goodbye to a couple we had grown quite close to. Rob and Jo were already gone by the time I came out of our room. Likely God knew too many tears would have been shed and saved my eyes and sinuses.

Our numbers kept shrinking and we took less tables in the dining room that night for dinner. There wasn't a person there who didn't know about my missing clothing. It was decided we would have one last evening meeting under the gazebo that night. After dark, the insects can be ferocious, so I returned to our room to change into long sleeves and bug repellant. The missing capris were hanging on the doorknob. Oh, what unspeakable joy came over me as well as a sense of silliness! My pants and I were reunited and all was well with the world again. Rick was indeed quite relieved as well, for he hadn't known what to do with me.

The night was thick and the meeting was bittersweet. We worshipped our Lord singing both in English and Luganda. Our team host Andrew in a rare serious mood, suggested we share our prayer requests and pray for each other. Most were requests for direction from God about what the next step in our journies should and would be. In a gentle, and loving rebuke that showed wisdom beyond his years, our other host Kenneth said we all were too impatient, expecting instant answers from God. We needed to have faith that He would lead and guide us, in His time and in His way. There seemed to be concensus that none of us was anxious to return to the life we knew before we arrived. Kenneth reminded us that we had been called to those lives too.

All that remained was some shopping, more goodbyes, long hours of travelling and way, way too many tears. I left my heart on African soil and walked away changed in ways I don't yet comprehend. We left yearning to return.

We will return. We are now in the process of recruiting and planning to be the leaders of a team that will build in Gulu in January 2010. Is it too much money to raise? Is it too hard to build a cohesive team? For man, yes. For our mighty God, no!

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 NIV

Cafe Chat Week of August 9

The question Kim asked this week is:

“What is one thing or cause that you are passionate about? (More specifically, something you feel that the Lord has burdened your heart with)”

Okay, that’s not fair! This is another one of those questions where it’s quite difficult for me to pick only one. As you get to know me, you’ll learn that I approach almost everything with passion. It’s who I am. It’s how God made me.

I do find myself wanting to understand God’s love for all of His children, His church, a bride for His Son. He doesn’t see Baptists, Mennonites, Anglicans, Catholics or Pentecostals. He doesn’t see those who sing from an old hymnal versus those who worship in a more charismatic fashion, those who sit silently or those who dance. What He sees is His kids and He grieves over our lack of love and compassion for each other.

In a recent time of journaling, Jesus said to me:

You, little one, have asked to feel what I feel. How that touches Me, for I do desire our hearts to beat as one. Not just you and I, but each of those who have been called, chosen and set apart as My bride. That we would have one synchronized heartbeat. Can you feel the power in that? One heart. One love. The wedding will come. Its glory will surpass anything ever imagined for My Father will attend to every detail. There has never been a perfect marriage, not yet. But there shall be. There shall be.

As we pray for revival in all corners of the earth, and ache for the world to know the love of our Savior, we must learn how to walk out the words that Jesus spoke to His beloved disciples:

"This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you." John 15:12 Amplified

“By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].” John 13:35 Amplified

Lord God, we humble ourselves before You, and confess that we don't quite understand how to love each other in the way that You have loved us. We are sorry Lord for the ways in which we judge and hurt each other, for that is not Your desire. Teach us Lord how to honour each other, appreciate each other and truly love each other so that the world indeed may know that we belong to You.

Join us this week at http://www.internetcafedevotions.com/2008/08/august-9th-cafe-chat.html

Beginnings

Eight is a number that signifies new beginnings. Take a closer look at today’s date for a moment.

08-08-08

There is NO coincidence here. We are also still in the Jewish Year 5768 which according to Chuck Pierce translates to: "The Year of Samekh Chet...The Year of the Full Circle of Life...A New Beginning Is Yours."

Since I first began planning and praying and organizing a worship and prayer gathering for tonight, the scripture God keeps placing in my heart again and again is:

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

Something new is indeed just around the corner. God has been in the process of stripping from us what has been familiar and comfortable, preparing us for all that He is about to do, in us, around us and through us.

One day recently I woke up singing “No eye has seen, no ear has heard. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what I your Lord now have in store, for you.”

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJ

Not only do I believe there is a new beginning for the corporate church, but also there is a call for each of us as individuals to step away from the old and into the new. As we begin to cross bridges I know that our God is with us, and speaks to us as He spoke to Joshua:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV

Fast Track Day 7

I have to confess that I feel a bit uncomfortable talking about my fast, for I believe and try to live out the words of Jesus:

"And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face." Matthew 6:16-17 New Living Translation

In our quest to be obedient to our Lord, my husband and I have a lifestyle that includes various times and types of fasting. Usually we only share this with the few people who have chosen to stand with us in prayer, knowing that our sacrifice is for the Lord's eyes, not meant to impress the world. However, the National Fast Track is a widespread and corporate time of prayer and fasting, and because I have been called to coordinate things in this part of the province I have gone public with my own journey. My prayer is that in sharing I can support, encourage and inspire others along the way.

Many of you have asked in what way we are fasting. We have chosen to partake of only liquids for breakfast and lunch, and because the bounty of our garden is ripening, we are eating simple vegetables and fruits for our evening meal.

I can sense the Father's hand upon us and continue to look forward to all He will teach us in the days ahead. Your prayers, of course, are cherished and well appreciated.

Misplaced Focus

We are 5 days into Manitoba’s run through 40 days of fasting and prayer. I had been commenting on Saturday night about how so much of what we do centers around food.

I was finding it difficult to imagine what to do on my birthday, or how to celebrate the holiday today (a holiday that honours nothing in particular but simply gives us another long weekend) without planning special meals.

Yes, there is nothing like a period of fasting to show us where our hearts really are.

The yesterday morning, God spoke through scripture as our daily reading was John 3-4

In the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples were concerned about whether or not Jesus had eaten. He told them He had food they knew nothing of:

"Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work." John 4:34 Amplified Bible

Our food is to do His will! I found that a great encouragement and a word to share with others who are participating in Fast Track 40.

I shall press on in prayer, and in obedience I shall set my eyes upon Him Who has called me. May all that we are, and all that we do, be centered and focused on our Lord and our God, for His Kingdom and His glory.

Cafe Chat - Friendship

Kim's question this week is:

“What is one thing that you absolutely love about friendships? Why? On the other side, what is one thing that you find absolutely difficult when it comes to friendships? Why?”

I believe one of the strongest cries of the human heart is to be truly known by another. That knowing is both the best and the most challenging part of friendship.

A friend is someone who takes the time to look beneath the surface to see who is inside.

When a friend asks “How are you?” they actually want to know. No “I’m fine, thank you” will satisfy, for a true friend likely already knows the answer.

You might as well put away all of the masks you wear out in the world when you’re with such a friend, for they’ve seen them before. They can recognize when you’re hiding behind one of those masks and will call you on it and urge you to “be real”.

A friend will not let you run away from issues even when flight is your strongest impulse.

Often a friend can see us much more clearly than we see ourselves and will call us to account for our distorted vision.

A friend loves us when we find ourselves unlovable and requires us to love in return even when we feel most unloving.

Our earthly friendships sustain us and expand us, but they are only shadows of the love affair we can have with the Lord, the One who truly knows us beyond knowing and loves us without condition or restraint.

“Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.” Psalm 51:6 Amplified Bible

Read more of today's Cafe Chat at Internet Cafe Devotions

National Fast Track

God is calling for a national, coordinated wave of fasting and prayer to release a mighty ingathering of souls and outpouring of FIRE in Canada. Yesterday Manitoba took the baton from the eastern time zone and began it's 40 days of prayer and fasting to cover the period from July 31st through September 8th. To learn more about this exciting prayer initiative please look here http://www.fastrack40.ca/index.html

This is a time to draw closer to You, my Lord, allowing You to do the work in me that only You can do. I ask that You prune me, mold me, inspire and ignite me Lord God. Craft me into the woman You desire me to be. Help me to yield to Your hand as I learn what it means to live for Your glory. When temptation comes, for surely it will come, I pray that I will lean on Your strength as You cleanse me with Your love.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me" Psalm 51:10 Amplified Bible