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It's Rachel, here. Priscilla's photos yesterday were so darling!  I LOVE the one of Jude sleeping standing up! I could eat him up. 

It got me to thinking about all the photos of Priscilla and the boys in MY phone....and what a story they tell.

From fishing,

To speaking,

to hanging out with the boys,

....the thing I appreciate most about Priscilla is that she is the same person in any setting.  Her life is filled with the stuff of the regular world, and whether she gets up to speak to three people - or ten thousand people, her genuine-ness comes through.

May I just say how blessed we are to get to know her through this blog and through her ministry? Let's keep her and Jerry and the boys in our prayers. As Priscilla "goes beyond" what she ever imagined God would do through her, we are all inspired to do the same in our own lives. That's pretty huge!

Hope you all have a great weekend, and don't forget to consider fasting breakfast together on Tuesday.  This will be your time to "test the waters" of fasting, and simply step out in faith that God will meet you where you are.  I'm excited, because I believe he will.

Blessings, Rachel

Hey there!
Glad to chat with you today. I hope you're having a great one.

I've just been sitting here scrolling through pictures on my iphone. My intention has been to delete as many as I can but I just can't seem to find any I want to delete. I feel like I need them all.

But delete I MUST! So, before I get rid of some, I thought I'd share them with you. . . this way I'll feel better about canning them later. So, here's some random pics for your enjoyment. . . .

1. Here's Jude enjoy the festivities of our church picnic. He wouldn't take this balloon off of his head for days.

2. Jude looks like he's having fun now but as soon as this sucker started moving, he hollered at the top of his lungs. They had to stop of the ride so I could get him off. JC stayed on and enjoyed himself . . .

3. I took this picture of a pillow on a chair in my house so that I'd always have it handy just in case I run into any potential rugs for the room it's in. The room is pretty "tan" and needs some livening up BIG TIME! Any suggestions?

4. This is the snake Jerry found at our office and promptly beheaded.

5. Here's what I'm doing most days. Not standing on a platform speaking, but sweating profusely while I unhook poor fish from my son's poles. Only 1 thing to say, "Thank God for gloves!

6. This is my grandmother. . .my sons' great-grandmother. Why are they making faces and messing up the picture?

7. My son's not too big for this stroller. . . . is he?

8. When you refuse to obey and LAY DOWN IN YOUR CRIB. This is what happens . . .

9. Ok. . .I'll come clean. I took this photo while I was visiting someone's home (they probably thought I was sending a text, not taking photos). . .. because I'd love to have a kitchen like this in my home one day.

10. This is the street right outside my house. AHHHH. . .it makes me happy.

Bless you, today! Priscilla

Several of you have commented that you are right in there with me when it comes to fasting. We are convicted that it is a powerful spiritual action, but our fear of going hungry is keeping us from following through.  Maybe you (like me) have done it in the past but are trying to avoid it doing it again. You find reasons to leave the room when the subject comes up. I hear ya.

Here is what I'd like to do: without making a huge production out of it, I'll ask you if you'd like to join me next Tuesday morning - to simply fast breakfast. We'll take the time that would normally go into food preparation and eating, and replace it with focused prayer and scripture reading.  Is there something in particular you are seeking God about? This would be a perfect time to set aside part of a day to lay it before him.

On Monday, we will post some encouragement and instruction, and in the meantime, just ask the Lord if this is the time for you to grab ahold of this discipline.  Because we are doing it together, and since it is only for one meal, it is a great way to start.

Feel free to leave a comment, letting us know if you'd like to participate. We'll join with you in prayer, and will believe for breakthroughs in each of our lives.  That's what sisters (and brothers) in Christ are for.

You are in our prayers,  Rachel

Yesterday, we were talking about learning the "language" of God, or how to become accustomed to how he speaks. I wish I could say that I clearly hear him speak in an audible voice, but I must admit that I am still learning how to hear and understand him.  So much is still a mystery to me.

And there are things I've been praying about that seem to have no forthcoming answer whatsoever. I sure do wish I knew why. I mean, I feel like I've done all I can to get clear direction.

Or maybe not. On Saturday, I attended a wedding and found myself randomly sitting next to an old friend I had not seen in at least a year. We got to talking about praying for our kids, and she said something in passing that stopped me in my tracks.

She said, "I remember hearing Dr. Tony Evans say that if you haven't fasted about an issue, you really haven't done all you can to get God's attention." Now she may have been paraphrasing a sermon she heard long ago, but her simple sentence has gotten stuck in my head. Then Sheri left a comment about fasting on yesterday's post. Hmmm.

So last night I wondered if Dr. Evans had some resources online about fasting that I could find.

Uh, yeah. Just a few.

Check this out, I just found this! Good gracious, a whole catalog of messages on fasting!

And this...a whole book on it. And I remembered that Priscilla blogged about fasting back in January.

You know, it's been awhile since I've done a REAL fast. I've managed to skirt around doing it because I just love food so much. I really do. I don't like the thought of being hungry on purpose.  I don't even like the thought of being accidentally hungry! But I'm thinking maybe it's time to get serious about the things I "say" I'm serious about. I think I've got some business to attend to.

Today, I'll be fasting breakfast, and will use the time to pray instead. I know that's not much, but this is hard for me, people! Please pray that I'll be more concerned about seeking God than seeking out a McDonald's, would you?

Thank you! Rachel

Back when I first moved to the great state of Texas, I had no idea that the people here spoke a whole different language. On my first day in a new dorm room, a girl knocked on the door and asked, "Kin Ah borrah a paw-pan?"

"Excuse me, a what??" I leaned forward to understand.

"A paw-pan! Ah'd lahk ta make a paw." She saw my puzzled expression and continued. "Ya know, a cherry paw, with a crust and a fillin'."

"A PIE! You want to borrow a PIE PAN!" And that was my first introduction to speaking Texan.

I've since learned a colorful vocabulary, which includes:

• Lot: God made a bright lot to rule the day, and lesser one to rule the "not."

• Lot bub: The electricity-powered device used for illumination.

• Bob War: Wire fencing to keep them cows whar they b'long.

• Janes: Denim pants, worn everywhere, from baseball games to weddings.

• Tot Janes: Denim pants that have become snug from eating too much BBQ.

It took quite awhile for my ear to become accustomed to the cadence and inflections of the southern accent. I had to say "Pardon me?" often, and had to memorize which consonants were dropped regularly, and which words got stre-e-e-tched into more syllables than you could imagine.  But eventually, I caught on to the language, and have even been accused of speaking with a bit of a twang myself, after all these years of southern immersion.

It reminds me of learning to hear God's "language," or voice, when he speaks to you. When you are first introduced to him, you might not understand what he is saying...simply because you aren't accustomed to his cadence, his inflections and tone.

"Pardon me, Lord? Could you repeat that...only slower??"

It seems confusing, because your ear hasn't been used to spiritual things. But as you spend time with him, getting to know him in his word, and listening for his voice, his language starts to become familiar to you. The scriptures that were once so foreign begin making sense. You hear patterns and see gestures that communicate his message to you....through his word, through other believers, through events he's orchestrated, and through the leading of the Holy Spirit. And after awhile, you even pick up a bit of his twang, as your own speech becomes sprinkled with scripture and "amens!" Funny how that happens.

• John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me."

You know, spending time in his word is the place to start, to get your ear accustomed to hearing his voice. It familarizes you with his speech and cadence, so that you'll be able to recognize his leading when it happens.

Are you learning God's language? How is he leading you? How have you learned to recognize his voice?

Rachel - still in language school

I went to a funeral yesterday. 

The church was crowded with people who came to celebrate the life of a wonderful woman.. . .and it was indeed a celebration. Her name was Gloria, and I've known her since I was five years old. In recent years, our paths hadn't crossed as much. Her family had long since moved on to another church so we weren't as involved in each other's lives. But our hearts were always knitted. She was a sweet and wonderful woman who had a gregarious personality and a smile that had enough voltage to light a small village.

I would have never thought, when I ran into her at Chick-fil-A last month (which was the first time I'd seen her in a few years), that it would be our last conversation. I was on my cell phone when we caught each others eye across the restaurant. We waved frantically and enthusiastically. I held up one finger, indicating that I'd only be a couple more minutes.

I was on my phone talking with a store about drapes. 

You heard me. . . drapes for my living room.

The call dragged on and on: color, length, texture, hanging rod. There were so many decisions to be made so that the order could finally be placed. I'd been waiting on this phone call all day, and now with the vendor finally on the phone, I wanted to get all the details taken care of.

I was so engrossed in my phone call on drapery, that a half hour went by without me even realizing it. I'd had enough. Ms. Gloria, whom I hadn't seen for years was there and I needed to chat with her before she left. Business unfinished, I told the vendor I'd have to call him back later.

How glad I am that I did. For little did I know that I'd be at Ms. Gloria's funeral one measly month later.

I could've kicked myself as I peered down into her satin laced casket yesterday morning. Those moments of intense conversation over drapes could have been spent with her. I'm glad for the moments I'd gotten, but would give anything to get a few more.

Is there anybody you need to make time to connect with today? Drapes....or Deep relationship? Plants....or People? 

Take your opportunity. You'll be glad you did.

Priscilla

Here are some clips from Deeper Still, Denver. This one gives me chills...so beautiful.

And if you ever wondered what it takes to set up the arena, here is a "behind the scenes" look. Amazing!

Hey Ya'll,

Just wanted to pop in to say Hello today and to thank you for being a part of this community. I hope that it's as fun for you as it is for me to chat and dialogue about everything from the mildly ridiculous (hair, snakes, etc) to the vastly practical (recipes, decorating, relationships, etc) and the monumentally spiritual (quiet time, surrender, etc). No matter what the topic, I'm energized each day by our conversation and look forward to reading your comments every chance I get. It's so neat to put names with "voices" and hear from those of you who've we've connected with along the way.

Today, while the boys were playing in one of the play areas at our local mall, one of my sons caught me checking in on you on my iphone. Totally distressed that he didn't have my undivided attention (aren't they always), he ran over and asked me what I was doing. Without one ounce of hesitation, I responded, "Just checking in on my friends".

Got me thinking later on in the day about you. About how you are, indeed, my friends. We are sisters in Christ along for a journey and for some reason the Lord has allowed our paths to cross and our hearts to be knitted over some conversations right here in cyber space. I hope you feel the sisterhood (and brotherhood for you few brave brothers who join us). . not just on the blog but from our ministry as a whole. From the weekly devotionals we post, to the Bible studies I write and messages I study to give, my hope is that you'll grow in the Lord and be encouraged in your walk with Him.

So thanks for joining me on the journey. Having friends like you makes it a bit easier!

Bless you today,
Priscilla

Are you on a journey?  I am.

My life has never taken the "easy roads."  Oh, there have been some grand views and great adventures along the way.  But there have also been deserts and thickets, some big boulders and steep mountains.  I've wondered sometimes if God was such a great leader why He'd take me on such a meandering, difficult path.

And yet I believe that He has always been there, helping me along.  Even in those times that seem so dark, there is something in my heart that tells me to keep on going, keep pressing on.  It's His voice, telling me that HE knows my destination.

I love Psalm 84, because it talks about a journey. It's an ancient song that tells of longing, even fainting to see and experience the courts of the Lord, which was His temple in Jerusalem.   And as the writer describes the beauty of God's sanctuary, he pauses to talk about the trip to get there.

The rest of the Psalm is beautiful (and I encourage you to read it), but it's this verse the captures my imagination.  It's not one of those bland scriptures on a greeting card.  It's one you can sink your teeth into, and really be motivated by.  It's one to chew on and I love it.

Here are a few "Travel Tips," taken from this little jewel of a verse:

Pack Lightly.  Nothing slows you down like unnecessary baggage.  Why struggle along with the burdens of guilt, anger, and bitterness over the past?  Let those things go. Right now, today.  God is fully able to handle anything you give Him.  You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to travel when you aren't lugging big old bags that don't have anything in them but garbage.

Pack Lightly, but Pack Some Heat.  The trip will take you through some dangerous territory, so you need to carry some self-protection.  God's word is our weapon of choice against the enemy's attacks.  Hidden in its pages are power and life. The more you know, the better you can fight off Satan, who would love nothing better than to leave you stripped and broken by the side of the road.  That ain't gonna happen when you're packing a serious weapon, and you aren't afraid to use it. Oh yeah.

Stay with your Group.  Find some good traveling companions, the kind that help you along, not bring you down.   It's important to have people in your group that are familiar with the way, because they've been there before.   I love what's happening on this blog, through Priscilla and Going Beyond...we're encouraging one another every day, cheering for our victories and offering a hand to those who need it.  Don't wander off!  We need each other.

Hang on to your Ticket.  That means: know where you're going. When you set your heart on something, it means you have decided on it.  You aren't changing your mind.  You aren't turning back around.  By golly, you're gonna make it!  No matter what happens or how discouraging the trip may be, you've set your sights on your destination and that's where you're going.  And you WILL succeed.

Finally, Know Where Your Strength Is.  Strength for the journey doesn't come from your gene pool.  Mercy, I was BORN a quitter!  Strength comes from the Lord Himself, and this verse tells me that there is blessing in that very fact.  Whooeee, I like that I don't have to manufacture all that muscle by myself.  When you are feeling weak, just remember that He has all the strength you need to keep going.

God has an incredible plan for each of us, but sometimes we don't see how or where is He is taking us.  We've got to just keep believing, just keep trusting.  Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Eventually, we'll get to a spot with a panoramic view that will blow our minds.

We'll say, "Look where He's brought us!  Look how far we've come!"

My friends, the trip will be worth the view.

Rachel

We shot a little video from Deeper Still in Denver this past weekend. Were you there? I love being able to get together with Christian women from every denomination and every corner of the world!  

Blessings, Priscilla