Abba's Girl

This weekend I will meet Annette of Annie’s Eyes Blog in person. We are having lunch at Ciro’s. I am very much looking forward to our meeting. Sunday I am taking my father to lunch at Goode Company Seafood at his request. He wants to eat an oyster poboy. I don’t care for seafood. I see a beautiful, green salad for lunch. This post is bittersweet because I am thrilled about meeting Annette in person and sad because my father has been told he probably has congestive heart failure. I am so thankful we serve a Big BIG God. I not only believe in Him, I believe Him. To believe Him, I must know His word. Here are but a few verses on which I stand: who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will c...

A funny thing happened in San Antonio on Saturday. As Norma Dearing was preparing to speak, she was having difficulty with the microphone. I asked her if she was discombobulated. She said yes. Father Jack Sheffield walked up to see if she needed assistance and heard what I said to her. His eyes grew large and he practically shouted Annette, what did you say to her? I repeated the question, he looked skeptical, I asked what he thought I said, he said never mind. I tried running words through my head which might rhyme with discombobulated: biscombobulated , fiscombobulated ...I determined in short time there are no words which rhyme with discombobulated. Later that night as we walked into dinner, I asked him what DID you think I said? He thought I asked Norma if she was ovulating. Norma and I laughed all night. Aren't you thankful the Lord never misunderstands us! We may try sugar talk with Him and pretend we are not mad and it's all sweetness and light, but He knows. It's fo...

We all (Well those of us well into our 40's and beyond) remember the song Turn Turn Turn made famous by The Byrds: To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to build up,a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to...

I am off to San Antonio for a healing conference this weekend. I am posting Billy Graham's prayer for our nation. Have a good weekend and blessed Sabbath. I'll post something on Monday. xxoo Annette 'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ri...

Today is the 1st day it was cool enough to wear fall clothes. I think we may be able to use a winter blanket tonight. I am trying to decide if it would be a stretch to build a fire tonight, though the wood may be too wet from the soaking it took last night. I am having dreams of pansies and alyssum in my flower beds along with lettuce, broccoli , and spinach. I may even plant potatoes this fall. I plant the vegetables in big pots with a few flowers tucked around them. I am looking forward to buying lobelia , snapdragons, petunias, violas, and delphinium too. Time to scatter larkspur seeds. Too bad I am not always as excited about planting God's Word in my heart as I am about planting in my flower beds. I love how fresh His Word is each time we read it. But I have lazy periods in which I do not spend time in the Word and with Him. Lazy periods always coincide with fatigue. I am worn out for no reason. I think I will blame it on hormone depletion. So I think tonight, I will wrap up ...

I thought we might like a commercial which is not political.

I am sure many of you are like me, you do not want to see another ad in print, a commercial on TV, or hear another endorsement for years to come. In 2 weeks we vote...and it should all be over. I ask you to join me in praying for: Voter's Registration Fraud to Be Exposed Now Only Citizens of the USA Vote Traditional Marriage Preservation of Life from Beginning to Natural End We Continue to Be an Ally of Israel I am conservative, God issues matter to me more than financial issues. I don't really care about the US on the global stage...we all know what the Bible says about the coming one world govt and religion. We know what happened when people in the Old Testament tried to build the Tower of Babel. A few years ago, I would have been very concerned about global issues. Please do not misunderstand me, I help in charity endeavors in Africa and across the world as well as the USA. I just don't look to the US govt to save the world. The Bible tells us Jesus is the way, the truth...

I thought I would share something that may aid you in your Christian walk...how not to break a fast. A few years ago I broke a fast with Mexican food. Not a good idea. I almost passed out from the carb rush. I thought I had balanced the carbs in the chips with the queso I put on them. Friday night I broke a fast around 9pm at the church in La Porte . They had a little buffet for us. I thought 4 bite size quiches will be OK, followed by 3 miniature cheese cubes - you know - the more protein thing that failed a few years ago. And after the protein , I am sure eating 2 bite size cheesecake cubes is fine...surely we can put the cheesecake into the protein column. I then drink a Diet Coke for the 1st time in a week, you know - need caffeine for my 50 plus mile drive home. (Can I justify or what!) On the way home, I thought wow, I think I should have broken the fast with a piece of toast and maybe chicken broth. I know many people are fasting in various degrees the next 2 weeks. Take my...

Last night the meeting was short, most people attending are back at work, but still repairing their homes. Jack preached on God being with us in the storm. Jack then had people pray for one another. (1 couple left, I think it scared them.) Today Jack and Anna Marie both taught about healing. They were so anointed. God really poured out His message through them. We broke up into prayer teams at the end of the day and prayed with people. So many were in their late 60's up into their 80's. They had been carrying around deep hurts since they were young. The storm brought emotions up to the surface that needed healing. You can only squash it down so long. Backs were healed. One lady received emotional healing from a trauma she endured as a young lady, she then realized she didn't need her cane or her walker. She let out a shout and ran up and down the center aisle to double check what she felt. No pain. Her legs and back were strong. We asked her if she was going dancing tonigh...

I will be in La Porte this weekend as a prayer minister. Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield, Deep River Ministries are preaching and teaching on healing this weekend. Everyone attending was impacted by Hurricane Ike. At the very least their homes had 5 feet of water inside, at the worst their homes were ripped apart. I pray Jack and Anna Marie are anointed and gifted as they minister. I pray all the prayer ministers are gifted by the Holy Spirit as we pray for people. I know the Lord will rock the house. I'll be back Monday with a recap of the weekend. Ya'll have a great weekend and a blessed Sabbath.

Maybe I have missed it, but life and family don't seem to be mentioned much during the campaign speeches. Last night during the debate pro-life and pro-choice issues were discussed. It was the first time I heard the issues mentioned. The last debate touched on each candidates views pertaining to Israel. I personally believe the Lord cannot bless us as a nation if we put the economy ahead of life, family, and Israel. (That's my opinion.) I received this video via e-mail, I tried to post it from YouTube, but it would not post if I added a comment. At some time in the future I will probably sign in to post something and all the attempts will be displayed as posts. I found this video to be profound in it's message. Please watch the pro-family, pro-life video. Be warned you made need a Kleenex, it brought tears to my eyes. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law...

Heavenly Father, I lift up my blogging sisters to You. I thank You for their lives and their service to You. I ask You to bless them this day in such a way, there is no doubt it's from You. Please give them a deeper revelation of You in Your Word. I ask You to refresh them mentally, spiritually, and physically. So many have special concerns. I pray for husband's to be healed. I pray for properties to sell. I thank You Connie's house sold. I ask You to pour out Your wisdom on parents who need it as they deal with issues concerning their children. I pray we do not become so caught up in the business of life and opportunities to serve that we miss You. I pray we stand in in faith on the Covenant promises You made to us when Your Son died and was resurrected from the grave. In Jesus' Name I pray.

I took this picture facing to the Northwest at 9pm, September 12, 2008. Looking across my neighbor's yard. It was already dark when suddenly there was burst of sunset in the night sky. A glimpse of beauty a couple of hours before we began to feel the effects of Ike. I read many angry comments in the Houston Chronicle blogs after the storm such as: If there is a God, why did this happen? Christians are so intolerant and stupid to believe miracles happened when so many houses were flattened and washed away. I can only answer for myself. God is God! He is the Creator of the universe, I know He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save me and all people. He loves each and every one of us. As a chaplain, I ministered to Katrina victims at the Houston Astrodrome, so many told me Katrina was the best thing that ever happened to them. Many said they were so far from God, had not called on Him in years. Jesus was not their Lord and Savior, His name was their favorite curse word. As they waited to ...

One thing I hate and love during the election cycle are the yard signs. Some are plane jane, mundane campaign signs, some are witty, and others are plain tacky! Sadly one such tacky sign will make it into our yard, my husband blew 18.00 plus shipping yesterday on a campaign sign he ordered online. This is monumental, he has never ordered anything online and in the past has asked me to stop by the campaign office and pick up a sign for the yard. We won't even discuss the number of bumper stickers he ordered. The Bible is filled with signs: sings concerning the state of our heart signs of the future - told to us prophetically signs concerning Jesus' return We Christians are walking campaign signs for Jesus. Are we loving people in public and at home? Or are we more like Crabs for Christ because we are so rude at the store or condescending to the cashiers? Are we the person who zooms into a parking place as someone else was waiting patiently to pull in? As we take the place everyo...

Last night I created a blog for my friend Jane. I have known Jane via e-mail for years due to her work for Norma Dearing . I met in her person in San Antonio a couple of years ago at the North American Order of St. Luke Conference. Her grandson Benjamin needs prayer. I will add more to the blog later today, you can check out Benjamin's story if you would like to pray for him. The blogging world is amazing. A group of women from all over the United States and Canada have shared their lives and as a result becoming a loving, caring community. I am very thankful you are in my life and thankful we live in a time in which we can "meet" electronically. I know one day we will meet in heaven. In Revelation 21, we find these words: 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be...

Even though Ike made landfall 3 1/2 weeks ago, I have not been far from home since. As I was driving around yesterday while on errands, I noticed the explosion of political bumper stickers. I have to say my favorite is a take off on the Got Milk ad campaign, the sticker read: Got Moose. My husband wants one. I think my husband fell in love with Sarah Palin when he saw a picture of her holding some kind of gun. My husband loves to hunt and fish, he eats what he catches/kills. I used to fish all the time, I no longer enjoy it. I hate to hunt. I do not eat what my husband catches/kills. However, if he would take up hunting chocolate, I would eat it. I listen to McCain and Obama make promises to the American public. I don't want to be cynical, but on some level I think to myself Mr. Obama if anyone could deliver everything you say you want to deliver, they would have done it already. I never did understand his answer concerning Israel last night. Unless I missed it, he never said he...

We have another debate tonight between Senators Obama and McCain. I doubt it will be as cordial as the debate between Gov Palin & Senator Biden. I am not sure I am up to watching it tonight. No matter who says what, whether I agree with the opinions or not, I become tense watching the debates. I pray the following over the debate: For truth to be told All lies to be uncovered Any hidden agenda to come to light For the moderator to be fair and remain neutral I pray if American people are deceived about their candidate, the blinding scales of deception come off their eyes. If you plan on watching or do watch it, post your comments.

In I Peter 4 beginning in verse 8 we find these words: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. I was sitting at lunch with my parents yesterday thinking I want to go home. Mom was having an odd day. It happens every once in a while, it's due to Parkinson's disease, it has affected her more like Alzheimer's than what we think of when we think Parkinson's. She was just not herself. I could feel resentment building inside. I kept a smile on my face and outwardly appeared to be a loving daughter, b...

I received this blog award from Karen and Nancy. Answer these questions with 1 word. (yeah...right....) Where is your cell phone? Purse Where is your significant other? Bow hunting Your hair color? Who knows Your mother? At home Your father? At home Your favorite thing? Hot coffee while reading my Bible Your dream/goal? To once again have all closets and cabinets organized The room you are in? My husband's office Your hobby? Gardening Your fear? Not fulfilling God's plan for me Where do you want to be in 6 years? Retired from work in some sort of ministry full time Where were you last night? Making a Lifeway run. (Even found Christmas cards on sale!) What your not? An introvert One of your wish items? Fountain for back yard The last thing you did? Make coffee What are you wearing? PJ's Your TV? Old and small Your pet? They are old and medium sized queens of the house Your computer? Dell Your mood? OK for someone who has not had coffee yet Missing someone? My godson Alaric Y...

Today is my friend Valerie's birthday, she is finally 47 too. We met in 5 th grade. I know if we each had a dime for the trouble we got in together at school we would be rich ladies, though I don't think she had to go to the headmaster's office as often as I did. (I never got into trouble until my parents sent me to St. Thomas' Episcopal Church & School...I guess it was the Christian environment that did it... JK ) Valerie and I have been through the ups and downs of life together from problems in our teens, defending each other to the hilt just because we were friends, it really didn't matter if the outside party was right. We have been through weddings, baptisms, births, deaths and the need for reading glasses together. She has 4 wonderful children, I am so proud to be godmother to her sons. We have gone from gossiping together, meeting at the book store to buy trashy romance novels, & bar hopping together to praying together and sharing insights we gain ...

My friend Anna Marie was talking to a friend who lives in Washington D.C. Anna Marie mentioned the Lord had really impressed me concerning Esther and the USA. The Lord gave Terrie the same word of knowledge concerning Esther. I have prayed verses and incidents in the book of Esther over President Bush, Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain as well as their running mates. For example, I prayed all their advisers to be men and women of integrity and for the candidates as well as the President not to act on wicked advice. There was so much political intrigue in Esther. Plots to assassinate King Xerxes and wipe out the Jews. Think of those as spiritual assassination if you will. Ultimately a man was hung in the gallows he built to hang Mordecai, in the natural that could be someone tripping up on their own words. If the Lord has given you anything along these lines please leave a comment or e-mail me. I think back to the background Beth Moore used while filming the Esther study, I break out in H...

Yesterday I woke up with Esther on my mind, the evil people who surrounded the king, & Mordecai, and felt very impressed by the Lord I was supposed to pray Scripture directly from Esther over the USA (I love praying Scripture over people and situations, IE Lord, I ask You to renew the youth of ____________'s lungs and crown ______ with loving kindness and compassion). Then I wondered if I was not hearing Him correctly. That morning I received an e-mail from a friend which mentioned Esther. Later, I received an e-mail from Lifeway and guess what, it was an advertisement with a trailer about Beth Moore's Esther study. I attended the study last year in Houston. Don't be surprised when you receive confirmation from the Lord when you are unsure if you heard Him correctly. Many times I ask for confirmation. I have gone off 1/2 cocked enough times in my life to last the rest of my lifetime as well as several of your lifetimes. I don't want to do it anymore. I want to ope...