What's In A Name?

As a kid it was very important to me that no one called me Deborah... especially my older sisters who loved to pronounce De Bra! My friends would call me Debbie but really great friends would call me Deb! When I went to Israel I was spoken to about my name... Deborah. The words were very awesome and I started to want to fill that huge name! Deborah was a brave bold woman who feared her Lord. She was motivated and humble. She was every bit submissive loving wife and yet also a mighty warrior for Christ. She was a prophetess and one of the only women if not the only woman judge in the Bible. Oh to really be Deborah! I'm not striving to be a judge or prophetess... though prohetess would be pretty cool... but to be a fearless bold warrior for my Jesus! We don't think much of names in this society, but I believe names really are important and I believe they were meant for us long before we were ever born. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever... names were hugely significant then and I believe they are now. In my own limited experience with names I can say it seems most people with the same name have many similarities... for example I've never met a mean Josh, I've never met an "ugly" Stephanie, I've never met a Tom who didn't have a great sense of humor! Okay so these may be little corny observations... but it's a lazy kind of day with time to ponder little oddities! Just one more thing on the subject... I do believe my name thing as true, because the Bible speaks of us getting a new name... I wonder what I'll be called... I love the name Savannah and the meaning too... Savannah Elizabeth perhaps :)... but for now I'll just strive to be the best at being Deborah Jean!

A Must Have CD

From HolyFire's newest CD Broken and Brave Two Amazing Songs

"Comfortable Day"

Is someone here?
Is someone home?
Does someone care?
Does someone know?
No one's weeping
And nobody wants to know
A nation is dying
Creation is crying
Will you lose your life?
Forget your plans, let them go

I'm leaving the comfortable day
And I believe that
This world's gonna change
My eyes can see
And I can't stay where I am

Do you feel the burden
To help heal the hurting?
We'll see miracles when
We take our eyes off ourselves

I'm reaching for that miracle place
And I don't care
What I lose on the way
I've lived the routine
And I can't stay where I am

"The Greater Things"

In a world that's running fast
Are you running too?
When the slow one comes in last
Have you been consumed?
With the things that you could own
Or tomorrow's schedule
With your hobbies or your home
All the things that held you back?

If you give the things you love
For something greater
If you risk the things you have
To live what you believe
If you look without your eyes
To see something greater
If you love beyond your means
You will find the greater things

When you rush home late at night
And forget to pray
'Cause the schedule was too tight
You always say
But they're dying all alone
And no one has told them
Of the love to lead them home
So we leave them broken

Hmmm Never Imagined This

Wow I just realized in a little over a month I'll be on my way to Guatemala... my first mission trip out of the U.S.A! I'm excited and terrified all in one! Excited because I know God is in it... His voice seemed almost audible when He told me I was to go. But now as the time is getting so close some nervousness is there too. I really have no idea what to expect when I get there... I just want to be where God wants me and I want to accomplish whatever it is He has for me. The funniest part of all this is less than 6 months ago I thought anyone who even considered a mission trip was nuts or playing the role of a martyr. But God has a really unique way of changing our minds! Right after the mission weekend I felt prompted to join the mission board at church (I was so sure it was because of my passion for Israel) so I joined. During that time I also joined a small group at church and the leader of it is someone whose been on a million mission trips and the amazing thing about him is he's not wierd, nuts or any of the things I figured missionaries were... he's cool, fun, funny, a great teacher, and his love for the Lord is contagious... that got me to be open to ponder this whole mission trip idea. Now here I am... getting my Hep A shot and Typhoid pills on Monday! Guatemala here I come... who knows where this will lead... but when I said with Isaiah "Here I am send me" in April of 2002... I meant it and God only knows where that will be! I just pray I'll remain obedient and no matter what I'll go. Even if it means the differnce of a place I never had really even heard of or the place that holds my heart... I'll lay down the place that holds my heart to be obedient to the one who holds my heart! Thank you Jesus for calling me and trusting me with this mission trip... I'm not sure why but I love being where you want me!

I love this place in the summer...

Yesterday I woke up feeling pretty lousy... I lasted the whole winter without a cold and now it got me! But what a great day it was! The sun was shining so brightly and the temperature was perfect! I took my newly purchased camping bed into the backyard and read for 2 hours! I've been so busy and always on the go lately, so my cold gave me the perfect excuse to relax! I finished the last seven chapters in a great book "I'm trying to sit at His feet but whose going to cook dinner" by Cathy Lechner. And started reading "come thirsty" by Max Lucado! Two of my favorite authors. It had been a long time since I just took the time to enjoy the beauty of the day and enjoy a good book! Summer here is just so beautiful... makes the long winters worth it... well almost worth it (those winters are rough).

Graduation Tree Hugging Family Fun and a Miracle

What a great day! Today was a very special young lady's graduation from High School! I am very proud of you Christy! The after graduation party was very fun! Tree hugging; tangoeing; foot pictures; butt pictures; memories; goofiness; and two great big answers to prayer! One is between me and Jesus but the other I'll share... tonight when I got home from the graduation events my Turtle Noah was splashing around and full of energy... and he ate! He ate for the first time in 2 weeks! God is so awesome... He showed me how much he cares about all that we care about! Big stuff and little stuff... thanks Lord for a really great day! CONGRATULATIONS Christy!!! Such a joy to be a part of your life!

Just Don't Try To Make Sense of It

I've been struggling lately with trying to make sense of the things that go on around me that seem so horrible and sad and yet still know that "All things work together for good..." (I blogged about this in my last blog). A man who was loved by everyone who knew him, a mighty prayer warrior, a funny person who could make you smile no matter what was going on, a friend to everyone, etc. was tragically killed this weekend in a car accident... the news was so impossible to make sense of, the phone call seemed to cause time to stand still for a moment of disbelief. What a test of all we believe at times. How can good possibly come of that??? I can honestly say God has used this tragedy in my life personally to be BOLD with His Word! In the blink of an eye a man was taken to be with Jesus forever... I cried for his wife, his child, his friends, our church family... but not for him. He is forever with Jesus Christ... however, what about our friends and family who if this were them would spend eternity with the last words they hear being "Depart from me I never knew you." I've shared Jesus with friends and loved ones... I've told my testimony, etc. but yesterday as I called a friend I hadn't seen in 4 years... I shared the Word, not my word, not fluff, not the God is Love sermon... but the real truth. I was scared to death to be honest... but that phone call ended with that friend asking me to come to New Hampshire to continue this conversation in person... to quote him directly "Deb, before you go on your Mission to Guatemala, can you come on a mission to New Hampshire." That boldness wasn't there until something welled up in my heart after the passing of Murle... An anger inside that said Enough is Enough... A mighty soldier was taken from this army, so we must be bold and "recruit new soldiers"....

My Journey from Fear to Faith

Two truths I long to totally believe: "All things work together for the good for those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose." and "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." I long to totally and completely believe those two scriptures.... too often I get so caught up in my circumstance I forget that God is the same on bad days as He is on good days... He doesn't vary by feelings or circumstances and His plans for me are good. I get so caught up in the circumstances and the way things look at times, it's hard to focus totally on my Faithful Savior... so here is a song that the Lord gave me today (Steven Curtis Chapman):

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know that he is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know that he is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that he will never change
Be still

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know that he is God
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know he is our father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still