So I figured I would break my blog absence with some randomness.
1) Next Friday is the last day of school. Do you hear the angels singing? Just kidding, but don't be surprised if you hear us singing!
2) I have been on an online "JITM" sabbatical since the west coast conference... minus May 8th, of course! ;o)
3) My heart is so appreciative and aware of God's wisdom, grace, and strength that leads me through my days. He is my "forever Rock," and I love Him so much! Do you know Him? Really know Him??
4) I am really enjoying the fact that our home seems to have become the "hang out" place for our kids and their friends. Of course the fact that my kids have great friends makes it that much more enjoyable for both kids and parents alike! ;o)
5) It is a fine thing to have supper prepared and the kitchen already cleaned up! I see a very relaxing evening afoot.
I trust you have your own "randomness" that makes you smile too! Enjoy the shift of the season from spring to summer..... stay cool.. and we'll talk soon!
Blessings!
Deborah
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
My Mother
My mother is not a "regular" on the computer, so she will not see this unless I send it her way, but that does not negate my desire to honor her life today publicly.
I'll never be able to completely cover in words what she has meant to me through the years, but I sure know one thing:
I love her more and respect her more with each passing day, month, and year.
She has been an unmistakable mentor in my life. She and my dad deeply instilled in me the importance of God's Word, a real and active relationship with the God-head, and absolute obedience to Him. That to me is successful parenting! She poured everything she had into her children, and when the time came, she released us wholly to our life's journey with Him. I am so very grateful that God placed me with her, and her with me. I couldn't love her (or my dad) more!
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for teaching and instructing me in the way I should go! Nothing short of a life-saving inheritance!
I love you, Mom, far beyond words!
Your grateful daughter,
Deborah
I'll never be able to completely cover in words what she has meant to me through the years, but I sure know one thing:
I love her more and respect her more with each passing day, month, and year.
She has been an unmistakable mentor in my life. She and my dad deeply instilled in me the importance of God's Word, a real and active relationship with the God-head, and absolute obedience to Him. That to me is successful parenting! She poured everything she had into her children, and when the time came, she released us wholly to our life's journey with Him. I am so very grateful that God placed me with her, and her with me. I couldn't love her (or my dad) more!
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for teaching and instructing me in the way I should go! Nothing short of a life-saving inheritance!
I love you, Mom, far beyond words!
Happy Mother's Day!
May it be filled to overflowing!
May it be filled to overflowing!
Your grateful daughter,
Deborah
Mother's Day and Dear Daughter's 13th Birthday!
So today is not only Mother's Day in the "Kirby" household, but also my daughter's 13th birthday! To share the day with her is just so apropos.
I have been at the business of mothering for nearly sixteen years if you include the pregnancy of my eldest, which I absolutely do!
Once upon a time, I worked a corporate job, but nothing compares to pouring my whole self into three eternal souls every day I am gifted with them. Nothing.
Today, I am beyond thankful for the souls God placed in our family! I just stand amazed at the people my children are. Just yesterday, my children had gone to a neighbor's house with the intent to play, but upon seeing the homeowner trimming bushes, they immediately pitched in to help. My eldest quickly returned to the house in the early afternoon to get pruners, rakes, and such to aid in the neighbor's yard work. They spent the afternoon helping the homeowner trim shrubs and such, getting the yard just so for springtime. Once completed, they called for permission to return after supper, saying the homeowner wanted to invite them back for an ice cream party as a "thank you." When my husband and I walked up later in the evening to walk our children home, the homeowner remarked at what an awesome help they were, and how pleasant and "mannerly" they are to have around. I told him, "Let me know if they ever over-stay their welcome." His reply? "No, no, they are always welcome here!" (I'll still be on guard against lingering visits! ;o) )
I tell you there are few words that make a mama's heart sing more than to have other people in wanting of her children's company!
Today, as I celebrate the love of an incredible husband, the love of three amazing children, and the love of my Creator, I pray I always have eyes to see the blessings God wraps around me.
I pray you, too, are gifted with eyes to see the blessings in your life. If you don't have a good relationship with your natural parents, or if they are no longer here with you, I encourage you to take steps towards the best Parent who ever has been or ever will be! He created both male and female; He is more than able to fill your heart to overflowing. Recently I read the following from C.S. Lewis:
"The mould in which a key is made would be a strange thing, if you had never seen a key: and the key itself a strange thing if you had never seen a lock. Your soul has a curious shape because it is a hollow made to fit a particular swelling in the infinite contours of the divine substance..."
We are a creation created with a God-shaped hollow only He can fill. To know God is not to know Him intellectually. It is to let Him penetrate and fill the deepest places in your hollow. Won't you let Him fill it today? He is in wanting of your fellowship..... and whether you are currently aware of it or not.... you were created to be in wanting of His!
Substitutes of any kind will not satisfy.
Celebrating today with a heart bursting of thanksgiving!
Deborah
I have been at the business of mothering for nearly sixteen years if you include the pregnancy of my eldest, which I absolutely do!
Once upon a time, I worked a corporate job, but nothing compares to pouring my whole self into three eternal souls every day I am gifted with them. Nothing.
Today, I am beyond thankful for the souls God placed in our family! I just stand amazed at the people my children are. Just yesterday, my children had gone to a neighbor's house with the intent to play, but upon seeing the homeowner trimming bushes, they immediately pitched in to help. My eldest quickly returned to the house in the early afternoon to get pruners, rakes, and such to aid in the neighbor's yard work. They spent the afternoon helping the homeowner trim shrubs and such, getting the yard just so for springtime. Once completed, they called for permission to return after supper, saying the homeowner wanted to invite them back for an ice cream party as a "thank you." When my husband and I walked up later in the evening to walk our children home, the homeowner remarked at what an awesome help they were, and how pleasant and "mannerly" they are to have around. I told him, "Let me know if they ever over-stay their welcome." His reply? "No, no, they are always welcome here!" (I'll still be on guard against lingering visits! ;o) )
I tell you there are few words that make a mama's heart sing more than to have other people in wanting of her children's company!
Today, as I celebrate the love of an incredible husband, the love of three amazing children, and the love of my Creator, I pray I always have eyes to see the blessings God wraps around me.
I pray you, too, are gifted with eyes to see the blessings in your life. If you don't have a good relationship with your natural parents, or if they are no longer here with you, I encourage you to take steps towards the best Parent who ever has been or ever will be! He created both male and female; He is more than able to fill your heart to overflowing. Recently I read the following from C.S. Lewis:
"The mould in which a key is made would be a strange thing, if you had never seen a key: and the key itself a strange thing if you had never seen a lock. Your soul has a curious shape because it is a hollow made to fit a particular swelling in the infinite contours of the divine substance..."
We are a creation created with a God-shaped hollow only He can fill. To know God is not to know Him intellectually. It is to let Him penetrate and fill the deepest places in your hollow. Won't you let Him fill it today? He is in wanting of your fellowship..... and whether you are currently aware of it or not.... you were created to be in wanting of His!
Substitutes of any kind will not satisfy.
Celebrating today with a heart bursting of thanksgiving!
Deborah
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Settling in!
First, let me just say the conference out west was just such a huge blessing to me and reportedly to those who attended! All glory to God!
Second, I am just thrilled to hear that God is already opening the door for the next conference. Just thrilled to see the Lord open the doors I am to walk through. For anyone who has followed this "birth" of JITM, you know none of this is my doing. Is a matter of fact, I have often contended with God over His requests of me. But if you have contended with God about anything, you too know it is futile.... He wins every time. I love that about Him, for His ways are always right!
Third, I have had a full plate settling back in this week.... thus my online absence from here and the JITM's website. But thankfully, I am almost settled.... and it is a fine thing indeed. So, no, I haven't gone anywhere.... I'm still very much here. ;o)
I pray you all have a most blessed weekend. I can hardly believe it is already Thursday! Wow.
For those interested, I'll keep you up to date on our next conference. May those who attend come hungry and thirsty, for surely the Lord will fill their hunger and quench their thirst! Rejoicing that He is more than able! Amen!
Blessings!
Deborah
Second, I am just thrilled to hear that God is already opening the door for the next conference. Just thrilled to see the Lord open the doors I am to walk through. For anyone who has followed this "birth" of JITM, you know none of this is my doing. Is a matter of fact, I have often contended with God over His requests of me. But if you have contended with God about anything, you too know it is futile.... He wins every time. I love that about Him, for His ways are always right!
Third, I have had a full plate settling back in this week.... thus my online absence from here and the JITM's website. But thankfully, I am almost settled.... and it is a fine thing indeed. So, no, I haven't gone anywhere.... I'm still very much here. ;o)
I pray you all have a most blessed weekend. I can hardly believe it is already Thursday! Wow.
For those interested, I'll keep you up to date on our next conference. May those who attend come hungry and thirsty, for surely the Lord will fill their hunger and quench their thirst! Rejoicing that He is more than able! Amen!
Blessings!
Deborah
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
"West Coast" Part Three
The conference was just an amazing gift to me from Abba. The organizer said women came up to him afterward asking when the next one will be. Praise God! The bond of His family is a most incredible thing; complete "strangers" meshed together by Him, in Him, and for Him. Precious.
So very precious!
There was laughter.... there were tears.... there was realness.... but most importantly, we all took steps with Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for gifting to me precious time with my siblings. I'll remember their sweet faces... I'll remember their deliberate surrender..... I'll remember their honest confessions... I'll remember their precious hearts... I'll remember. And I'll rejoice; oh, how I rejoice!
Press on, my sweet sisters, here on the west coast -- press on. May you be blessed with patience, a hunger for His Word, proper exercise of faith, and assurance your Shepherd is ever mindful of you, His precious sheep! And whatever you do, don't take your seed to heaven with you! Sow it -- and sow it well!
Now I am off to enjoy rich fellowship with some siblings this morning.... and whatever else Abba has on the docket!
All my love,
Deborah
So very precious!
There was laughter.... there were tears.... there was realness.... but most importantly, we all took steps with Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for gifting to me precious time with my siblings. I'll remember their sweet faces... I'll remember their deliberate surrender..... I'll remember their honest confessions... I'll remember their precious hearts... I'll remember. And I'll rejoice; oh, how I rejoice!
Press on, my sweet sisters, here on the west coast -- press on. May you be blessed with patience, a hunger for His Word, proper exercise of faith, and assurance your Shepherd is ever mindful of you, His precious sheep! And whatever you do, don't take your seed to heaven with you! Sow it -- and sow it well!
Now I am off to enjoy rich fellowship with some siblings this morning.... and whatever else Abba has on the docket!
All my love,
Deborah