Solo Day.

I (cory) got the opportunity to get away for the day to spend some much needed time receiving from the Lord.  I went up to my spot in Idyllwild... a certain rock on a certain hill where I've spent times with the Lord before. 

We've chosen to put a priority on having daddy go seek the Lord on behalf of the family about once a year.  Usually this would involve a couple of nights camping alone, but with only one car working, a day trip will have to suffice... for now. 

The Lord really seems to honor this time, as we set it aside to hear from Him and receive direction, He always speaks to us where we're at.  Guys, let me encourage you to set some time aside to seek the Lord, as an individual and as the head/priest of your home.  It could be the thing the Lord uses to change the direction you family is headed, it has for mine!

This time, the Lord revealed some deep down issues of my heart that needed to be healed, and gave some very practical insight into life right now... thank you Lord!

It was an awesome day.

Where do we go!

We felt like we needed to get away on a saturday road trip... if i haven't filled up my coffee thermos in a while, it's time.

So, it was time! 

We talked together at the dinner table, and decided to pray and see if the Lord would show us anything.  So we did.

Very Important Side Note: we had just read about how God spoke to Abraham and asked him leave his home town and go... somewhere. 

So we prayed and waited on the Lord for a couple minutes.  During that time i (cory) saw a river flowing over some rocks... so as we talked about what what the Lord could be saying, BJ suggested Whitewater River (about 45 mins away)... although that dive hardly justifies a thermos, i couldn't deny that it seemed that the Lord was in it.

Fast Forward... We're now in Whitewater, looking for a place to have lunch, instead of just using a picnic table like normal people, we decide to follow a path through some trees... all 6 of us, with the dog, and armfuls of stuff.  But after a few minutes things start to change. Trees shrink into bushes, cool shade turns into desert sun, and our expectant attitudes vanish, leaving six sweaty people and one thirsty dog!  We send out a couple of scouts, the report: more rocks, no shade!

Then all of a sudden i realize what's going on.  We had been wondering what Abraham felt when he was asked to go without knowing where he would end up and then asked the Lord to plan our Saturday trip.  The Lord took us on a field trip!  We were Abraham... told to go somewhere, the promise of a refreshing river, now that journey has brought us out in the desert sun looking for shade.  What a lesson for the kids (and the grown ups), trusting and following the Lord is right, but not always easy! 

We retreated to the shady picnic tables, and regrouped.  Then on our way out, we found the spot the Lord had shown us...the river flowing over the rocks!  We all played in the water for the rest of our afternoon.  It was so awesome... except when Adri went over the rapids on her backside... chasing a frog.  But even that couldn't spoil such a God given Adventure!  

teaching our kids to pray

So, i got home the other day, thinking, my kids... my family... we need to seek the Lord TOGETHER!  If we don't practice praying and hearing from the Lord as a family, how will our children learn what we mean when we say things like, "the Lord is put this on my heart for you...", "we need to pray against this..." or "i think the Lord would have us..." which are phrases we're using more these days.
I gathered everyone on the living room floor and read the Good Shepherd out of their kids Bible.  We talked about how His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him.  And with that, we thanked the Lord Jesus for being our Good Shepherd and asked Him to speak to us!  Cora Lee(6) buried her face in a couch pillow, Adri Ann(5) pretended to not be interested (which we later found out was discouragement because... she said, "she only hears her own mind"- i know the feeling well!), Katie Jo(3.5) flopped around on the floor like a three and a half year old, and Anna Mae(1.5) ran around like a one and a half year old.  
Seriously, in less than a minute, Katie Jo jumps up and runs over to Anna Mae (who usually just barley tolerates her)  and gives her a huge hug, and runs back and sits down and says, "God told me to hug Anna Mae!"  Then for maybe the first time ever, Anna Mae jumps up and gives Katie Jo one hug after another until all the girls are in one big pile on the floor, laughing as Katie Jo says excitedly, "I guess that WAS God's answer!"  Seems like the Lord wanted to establish/restore their little relationship... with a very contagious hug.
The Lord also gave some insight to me (Cory) regarding some spiritual attack going on in my life, so i talked through that with the kids and prayed against it with them! 

They are so ready and eager to be given permission to have this sort of relationship with the Lord... instead of all of our stuffy formality let's give them something real!

Sunday 9/5

So, I can't help but feel like every Sunday night now is like walking into the forest!  It's seemed like for a while we've been standing there at the edge, looking in and wondering.  Wondering if its safe, wondering if we're really allowed to go in.  When really its where we belong, its the way we were meant to  live! 

Now we get to start exploring the forest.  It's hard to imagine ever being satisfied again with being on the edge looking in.  We're starting to see how the Body of Christ functions, where every part does its share.  And how the Lord really does want to take His place as the Head. 

We met again for dinner this past Sunday, at our house, and fellowshiped for a while.  It seems like Biblical fellowship is being rediscovered totally by accident, as the Lord is working in our lives, it's just natural to open the Word and share what He's been doing or showing us.  Then after the kids went to bed, we spent time again worshiping, praying, and seeking the Lord.  This time has been so sweet the last few weeks, for many of us this is a new experience... freedom to enter in to intimacy with the Lord!  The Lord has been faithful to meet us each time, and do what only He can do...

So far this is what the Lord has been leading us to do as we gather together, and we're confident that He will continue to direct us into His will as we're seeking Him together. 

Exciting stuff!  Can't wait until next time.

P.s. we're probably going to have a time of worship with the kids this week too, we are excited to see what the Lord does with that.  

Last Sunday @ Home

We are so blessed. In trying to discern what the Lord would have us do as we enter this next season of our lives, we knew that He would direct us as we worshiped Him. So that's what we did this past Sunday! Sometimes we as people complicate even the most simple of things, things that are so obvious that there should really no question about, become bound up in all sorts of confusion! Let it not be so in the Body of Christ!... Please.
So that's how we approached our first "gathering". Simple, do what's obvious (Biblically speaking) for followers/disciples of Christ to do when they meet together (i.e. Share a meal, share our lives, encourage one another, pray and worship together, seek the Lord together) and as we worship He will direct us... He will show us what it means to be the "church"!
Funny, as obvious as that sounds, I don't think I've let that simplicity, or that purity, ever be enough... But it so is!... I'm learning.
Can't wait till this sunday evening!
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