Home again and another confirmation...

So.. we're home again after a wonderful, relaxing week at a beautiful spot in Minnesota that has become a family favorite. We visited this place 4 years ago when my son, Josiah, received a gift from Make-A-Wish. We were granted the wish of a family vacation to any place he wanted to go. He chose a beautiful resort in northern Minnesota. It has cabins right off a large lake, complete with all the fish you could want to catch and the music of the loons to welcome you each morning. When we were discussing possible locations for our vacation this year (we haven't had one since that trip 4 years ago) we agreed on going back to this quiet and peaceful resort location.

The Lord blessed us with a lot of rest (for mom), a lot of book reading (for us girls), lots of sunshine and plenty of fish for our guys to catch. What an awesome thing to be able to wake up each morning and take my little dog on a walk along a tree-lined road where only a few cars traveled. What a wonder to be able to paddle boat out to the middle of the lake and just float and read. What an amazing, awe inspiring time to just feel the Lord's presence all around you in the stillness and quietness of nature. God is so good.

We came back to busy Omaha Saturday night. While it's good to be home... it was also strange to be around so many people this morning. Starbuck's coffee though.... is still wonderful! 

This morning I was again reading scriptures from my devotional and was spoken to by the Lord. You know how when you're reading along and all of a sudden a portion of scripture speaks to you? Like the scripture was written just for you? That happened to me this morning... and to top it all off, it was written in RED. The scripture is:

Acts 18:9-10:

"Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me."

I was once again... stilled before the Lord. I took a deep breath and just pondered on that. The remaining portion of the devotional went like this:

"You are His servant, tied to His work and His purposes because you believe in the calling placed on your life. You want to further His kingdom. Your heart's cry is to follow Him all the days of your life. You will fulfill his assignments and meet His divine appointments because you love Him. After all, it's the least you can do after what He did for you on the cross. But who are you? What are you? Have you done anything that could not have been done by 1,000 others?

God gave you a gift in inviting you to participate in His work, by including you in His plans to change the world, one soul at a time. Why did He ask you? Because He knew you'd say yes.  1 Samuel 16:7 says, 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, 'The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.'"

The Lord spoke to my heart once again that He is calling me... calling me to participate in His work. Calling me to share my story. Calling me to speak up and no longer be afraid or silent! He placed in my hands this week a couple of books that seemed to confirm this as well. 

My assignment... 

list out my fears and give them to Him. Take steps to conquer those fears - step out of the box! 

speak... tell others about all that He has done in my life.

When I went to church this morning there was a word from the Lord that was spoken and seemed like it was just for me. He reminded me that He will never leave me, He will never forsake me...

Guess I better get busy! Help me Lord to hear and obey!