This morning in my devotions the Holy Spirit brought a word to my mind.

OASIS
o·a·sis (-ss) NOUN: pl. o·a·ses (-sz)

1. A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water.
2. A situation or place preserved from surrounding unpleasantness; a refuge: an oasis of serenity amid chaos.

I awoke about 5 a.m. this morning and literally had to FIGHT my flesh to drag my self out of bed. I knew that I was awakened to pray and spend time with the Lord, since I had this very issue on my mind the previous day. Knowing I had fallen asleep sometime after midnight, I was convinced that I needed more sleep, although truthfully, I felt rested and wide awake! It was a struggle for a few moments as today is a day off work for me, and on top of that, the Maine rain was falling very softly on the trees outside my open window. It was the kind of morning when you want to linger in bed, snug under the covers, for just a while longer! However, I pressed through and, in an effort to honor and obey my Father, I got out of bed.

During my time with the Lord this morning, I was praying about my life and this day that lies before me. Knowing that TODAY or even this very moment is really all that I have to give the Lord, I was seeking the Lord's wisdom regarding "making my life count". I have learned that while it is God who leads and controls my life, it is ultimately ME who makes the choice to obey and follow or to turn aside and serve my own agenda for the day and each moment. Seeking the Lord's direction on a deeper level, is when the word OASIS came to my mind. As I listened, the Holy Spirit spoke to me saying that my life, particularly this summer, is to be an OASIS where HE can abide and dwell so that others may find His refreshment, rest and peace. The Holy Spirit reminded me that all I really need to do is remain connected to The Vine (Christ) and to be pure and holy and USABLE for His glory. It is GOD who will be doing the refreshing and nurturing in the lives of others. My role is to point others to Him and to be His temple where He may dwell!

Just thought I'd share this instruction with any readers who happen onto this blog. Feel free to keep me accountable and 'check up' on this new mission that the Lord gave me for the summer! I will definitely be doing more praying and studying about this new purpose and direction and it will be exciting to see just what God does during the next months! May HE be praised and glorified in all things!

What a thrill to be back in Maine for the summer! I'm thanking God for His gracious protection and guidance today!

Here I am at the Maine Welcome Center! It feels like I never left for the winter!

Another photo of beautiful Pleasant Lake in Casco, ME. I am SO blessed to be able to bask in the beauty of God's creation all summer long!

Happy Lord's Day!

Periodically I 'clean out' the many notebooks and journals that I keep...this morning I did just that. Mixed in with my notes and thoughts I found this poem that I wrote on April 30, 2009.

That day, in my devotions I read Numbers 20:1-13. This is the account of Moses's disobedience to God's command to "bring water out of the rock", which was God's answer to the complaining nation of Israel to provide for their own thirst and for the needs of their livestock. In this account we read of the great sin of Moses. Read and study closely this passage and you will find that even in his effort to serve the Lord, Moses took his eyes off God and became arrogant and prideful. Moses dishonored God in his actions, as scripture (verse 12) records God's response, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." This was a sad passage of scripture for me to read. Not only had Moses (just previously) lost his sister, Miriam in death, but he had also lost his cherished companion, helper and brother, Aaron, in death as well. As God brought down punishment upon Moses for his disobedience, I could feel a small portion of the great sorrow and remorse that Moses must have experienced. The greatest desire of Moses's heart was to enter the promised land and yet his own rebellion and disobedience incurred God's judgement and punishment. (As you know, Moses was only permitted to view the Promised Land from afar).

With those fore thoughts, I share this poem with any readers who stumble across this blog.








FORGIVENESS



Eyes and heart sting with sorrow
Tears well up in pain
How my sin and waywardness
Must break God's heart again.

Repentance brings me to a halt
Upon my knees I fall
Confessing, crying and sorrow filled
To my Lord I call.

God knows my pain and sees my tears
He hears my deepest cries
His mercy flows, His grace pours out
With love, my tears He dries.

Renewed, refreshed, yet humbly taught
And to my Lord I cling
It's only through the blood of Christ
I now rest, serve and sing!

Today, in my daily Bible reading, I began the book of Deuteronomy. In Halley's Bible Handbook, Henry Halley describes the writing of Deuteronomy to be unsurpassed in genuine eloquence in any of the greatest literature!

The word Deuteronomy means "Second Law" or "Repetition of the Law". As the law had been given and recorded throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, now, in the book of Deuteronomy, the laws were "rehearsed and expounded" (as Halley notes), in anticipation of and with application to the entrance and settlement of life in the Promised Land of Canaan.

As I read, the passage that jumped out at me today was in Deuteronomy 4:35.

"To you it [God's greatness and power] was shown, that you might know the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him." NKJV

This passage caused me to stop and review my life and the MANY MANY occasions when God has revealed His power and greatness to me, personally, as He led, directed and controlled my life.

What an awesome review that was and what great HOPE this verse provides for my every "NEXT" moment of living!

Interesting statistic I found when reading the New York Post yesterday...

The Post reported, as per a May 15, 2009 Gallup Poll, that "a greater percent of Americans now call themselves PRO-LIFE rather than PRO-CHOICE on the issue of abortion".

Also noted was the fact that this is the first occasion that a major poll has produced such results in the 15 years that Gallop has been asking this question!

Last year the results of this opinion poll on the abortion issue were 50% pro-choice, while 44% called themselves pro-life. In this 2009 poll, the same question resulted in 51% of Americans calling themselves pro-life, while 42% labeled themselves pro-choice. (there was no mention in the brief article about the remaining percentage of Americans)

I found those statistics to be eye opening. I think the main stream media (to which I seldom listen) portrays American opinions on this issue differently. If asked, I would be listed among those who consider themselves PRO-LIFE. I am PRO-LIFE not only as it relates to the abortion issue, but as it relates to other areas of life's sanctity as well.

I place a high value on EVERY LIFE because that is how God views EVERY life He creates! To assume control over another life, (regardless of the situation) places God under OUR OWN control and that is a dangerous position in which to live. May everything we do bring honor to God!