Well, I sit down today to share something with you. Yes, it's been a while since i've written. I've actually tried several times to write, but things came up before the words got finished. Plus, it's been a bit of a 'season.' Between the small house fire, the gas line, the water heater, the air conditioner, the FENCE!, and now, my car........it's been a wild stretch! But today, I read some words that I really must share. and in light of my recent craziness, I do believe this is quite appropriate. The words come from Graham Cooke, and he is talking about learning to be still before God. I hope they bless you like they blessed me today! Love, Kristi
Graham's Monthly Teaching: Stillness
"Being still opens a channel of communication between us and Heaven. All of us have a background conversation going on in our minds. Head noise, as my friend, the British psychologist, Jim McNeish calls it, is an internal voice, a soundtrack for our lives. It's similar to a special feature on a DVD: an ongoing, one-way, stream of consciousness conversation, commenting on our life as it unfolds. Stillness is not about getting somewhere quiet, although that often helps, but about stilling that voice in your head. It takes discipline to quiet that voice, but you must do it. And you can do it, because God is with you.
It is this initial head noise that we convert into "prayers" when we rush too quickly into intercession. Because we have not stilled ourselves, we pray in our own strength, and we come to God's door under the weight and panic of the circumstances facing us. We speak often and are rarely still-in fact, we are the complete opposite of God.
God is always still and He rarely speaks. So there is a difference between the Lord speaking in us, and the Lord speaking to us. When we say, "Oh, God spoke to me," what has normally happened is that out of the storehouse of words, thoughts, meditations, conversations, and Scripture we carry in our spirit, God has selected something previously said to you and brought it back into your consciousness. Like a computer user loading a file, God pulls up the treasure He has already saved in us. "Oh yeah," we think. "That makes sense. That's the Lord speaking." God punctuates His silence with words, and when God speaks, it's an event. When He speaks to you, something is imparted. His presence is profound. He spoke once, and the whole earth was created. When God speaks, something happens, something is shaken, something is created and produced. When the Lord speaks to us, there is always a dynamic residue of His presence which remains with us-it is a signature moment!
In Psalm 46:10, God told David, "Be still, and know that I am God." It was a word that brought a profound sense of the presence of God to David in what were difficult circumstances. It's interesting that Psalm 46 began with an earthquake and finished with "Be still." Only God can talk about stillness in the midst of an earthquake. When the whole landscape of your life is shifting beneath your feet, only God can say, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Knowledge of God comes through peace and stillness. God wants to send us into battle, but if we don't find stillness beforehand, how will we ever find peace in the fight? Rest is our best weapon against the enemy, because rest allows us to hide in our secret place in God. The devil hates you with a malevolence and malignancy that is unimaginable, but he's not stupid: he won't chase you into the holy of holies-the very presence of God-because he knows who he's going to meet there. We need to learn how to use God as our refuge, as our fortress, as our high place, as our secret place where the enemy cannot touch us. If the enemy cannot find you, he cannot hurt you. God has provided a secret place in Him for you.
You have to lose your ability to panic if you're going to walk with God. You have to lose your ability to worry and be anxious if you're going to walk with God. There is a secret place set aside for each one of us. God is love and in His love He has set aside a place where you can live in Him no matter what. He loves to teach people where that place is, because when His children get into their secret place, they can fully enjoy life. It doesn't matter what comes against them--they rise to the challenge. Without stillness, our experience of God is limited. Stillness is the precursor to rest in the Lord; a spiritual discipline drawing us into a continual experience of His presence. It is this rest, this stillness, this secret place of God, which releases unbroken communion with Him; it releases what the Bible calls unceasing prayer."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday 2008
I do believe that Easter morning is more wonderful than any other morning I wake up. On Christmas morning, I am gleeful for the 'santa' stuff as well as Christ's birth....on my birthday, I am good.........but on Easter morning, when I wake up, my heart is flooded with emotion. Every year. Gratitude. Humility. For multiple reasons. On Easter morning, I am filled anew with an inexpressible joy for what Christ did on the cross over 2000 years ago. It's like I wake up with the tears just holding back....and within me is a "bubbling up"....emotions that want to just bust forth and dance around like a crazy woman! And this Easter morning was no different. I sat through the Sunday School lesson and awed over how the message of Christ's Ressurection was the central part of our salvation in the early church. Amen to that! Emotions still bubbling....we sat down in the pews of our little church. But the emotions overflowed when the choir began to sing. When I heard the praises being sung of Christ rising from the dead, that sin has lost it's grip on me....or when I think about what Christ endured so I could live - me, SINFUL, dirty, wretched.........There is emotion, vulnerability within me that I can't keep from bubbling over. The Spirit within me readily agrees! And I cannot keep contained the gratitude and joy I feel on Easter Sunday morning! Who cares that I cry during the worship songs!? I know, I know, I smear that mascara all over the place! But it is ALL in praise to our Father for the perfect gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!
On a bit of a different note....I have decided that there are numerous reasons I am (more) mushy on Easter. First b/c of Christ's death and ressurection. Second because my dearest friend Emily told me she was pregnant on Easter Sunday 2000 (I think that there's something really cool about finding out about a new life on the day the Lord gave all of us New Life!). And finally, and most wonderfully - I am reminded each year that on the evening of that same Easter Sunday 2000, my darling husband proposed to me. Just he and I in Buffalo Gap, TX, outside Nancy and Gene Henderson's barn. Well....8 years later, here we are....blessed in so many ways - the two greatest ones we hold so tenderly in our arms! Easter Sunday, 2008
Blessings to each of you this Easter Sunday!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Within me is a multitude of emotions today. There is joy, anguish, exhaustion and peace all within the same breath. I saw my grandmother for the first time in over 13 years yesterday. She is quite ill, in the hospital recovering from a heart attack - and at age 86, her body is beginning to give way to nature. The truth is, we had a falling out of sorts when I was a senior in high school. It's a long story, but suffice it to say, we were both at fault for not attempting to reconcile before now. Pride got in the way; immaturity, time and distance have a way of creating a divide that seems too large to fix.
But Monday, after a conversation with my brother, he encouraged me to seek out the truth of the matter. I had believed for years that she did not care - that there was total coldness with regard to me. I assumed. Lots of things, I assumed....but one of them being how she felt about me. And truthfully, I didn't want to see her, for fear of what she might say. Afterall, it had been 13 years. But later that afternoon, in a conversation with my dear hubby John, he confirmed what I felt the Lord asking of me - to go. Go to her, and make peace. Go to her and extend the olive branch. The Lord calls us to forgive - to live at peace with everyone as much as is possible within our ability. Now don't get me wrong- my flesh rose up within me immediately. You can't go. What will she say? What if she is ugly to you? The thoughts flooded my mind. Again the Lord confirmed within me to be faithful. Okay Lord, if you are asking this of me, make the path clear...arrange babysitting, etc. And he did. That's SO God - to take care of the details when He brings things like this to me.
So Tuesday morning, I walked into the ICU of The Medical Center of McKinney with my brother. He spoke first - and told her I was there with him. She had been on a respirator until earlier that day, so she was very weak and could not speak well. It was at that point I wanted to run - abort! ABORT! Run - save yourself the agony of rejection!!!!! But my feet were like concrete, and then my eyes met hers. And what happened next, I don't think I will ever forget. I think I said something corny like "Hey it's been a while". Or something like that. It didn't matter. Her eyes lit up. Her arms reached out - She didn't wait - she grabbed me and pulled me down to her. She began to hug me as tight as her arms could and rub my back. I could hear her trying to talk - she was saying over and over - "Forgive me, I'm so sorry. I love you. Forgive me, I'm so sorry. Remember that I love you." Over and over she said the same...Amazing. Grace. We sat for an hour or so, making small talk, mostly stuff she could nod yes or no at. It was unbelieveable how so much distance and time could be removed in an instant. I know that being there, at that moment in my life was exactly where I needed to be, and that really, at the end of the day, this is what life is all about. It's about letting go of our selfish pride and insecurities. It's about reaching out to people that have hurt us, and forgiving.
After our time with her was over, we said our goodbyes and left. It was bittersweet knowing that I may never see her on this earth again. But it was worth every mile I drove. It was a long drive home last night...6 hours in a car by yourself can give you a lot to chew on. In some ways, this healed old wounds, yet opened new ones. But I'll deal with them. One day at a time, as the Lord leads.
But Monday, after a conversation with my brother, he encouraged me to seek out the truth of the matter. I had believed for years that she did not care - that there was total coldness with regard to me. I assumed. Lots of things, I assumed....but one of them being how she felt about me. And truthfully, I didn't want to see her, for fear of what she might say. Afterall, it had been 13 years. But later that afternoon, in a conversation with my dear hubby John, he confirmed what I felt the Lord asking of me - to go. Go to her, and make peace. Go to her and extend the olive branch. The Lord calls us to forgive - to live at peace with everyone as much as is possible within our ability. Now don't get me wrong- my flesh rose up within me immediately. You can't go. What will she say? What if she is ugly to you? The thoughts flooded my mind. Again the Lord confirmed within me to be faithful. Okay Lord, if you are asking this of me, make the path clear...arrange babysitting, etc. And he did. That's SO God - to take care of the details when He brings things like this to me.
So Tuesday morning, I walked into the ICU of The Medical Center of McKinney with my brother. He spoke first - and told her I was there with him. She had been on a respirator until earlier that day, so she was very weak and could not speak well. It was at that point I wanted to run - abort! ABORT! Run - save yourself the agony of rejection!!!!! But my feet were like concrete, and then my eyes met hers. And what happened next, I don't think I will ever forget. I think I said something corny like "Hey it's been a while". Or something like that. It didn't matter. Her eyes lit up. Her arms reached out - She didn't wait - she grabbed me and pulled me down to her. She began to hug me as tight as her arms could and rub my back. I could hear her trying to talk - she was saying over and over - "Forgive me, I'm so sorry. I love you. Forgive me, I'm so sorry. Remember that I love you." Over and over she said the same...Amazing. Grace. We sat for an hour or so, making small talk, mostly stuff she could nod yes or no at. It was unbelieveable how so much distance and time could be removed in an instant. I know that being there, at that moment in my life was exactly where I needed to be, and that really, at the end of the day, this is what life is all about. It's about letting go of our selfish pride and insecurities. It's about reaching out to people that have hurt us, and forgiving.
After our time with her was over, we said our goodbyes and left. It was bittersweet knowing that I may never see her on this earth again. But it was worth every mile I drove. It was a long drive home last night...6 hours in a car by yourself can give you a lot to chew on. In some ways, this healed old wounds, yet opened new ones. But I'll deal with them. One day at a time, as the Lord leads.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Happy Times
Happy Times at the Lowe House tonight! We had a little fun with orange goggles and sunglasses...and not to mention Silky the Cape and other random toys that doubled as hats! Enjoy the smiles - oh how blessed i am to have those beautiful smiles each day in our home. We are so richly blessed.
Super Girl! Flying with her 'Cape' (hey Lemons Gap Crew...notice the 'cape' - it sure is a special part of this Super Girl's life!)
Photo op with the Little Brother!
Cameron working on his Summer 2008 look :)
Time out for a quick call to Uncle Brenn - Happy 28th Birthday!
Super Girl! Flying with her 'Cape' (hey Lemons Gap Crew...notice the 'cape' - it sure is a special part of this Super Girl's life!)
Photo op with the Little Brother!
Cameron working on his Summer 2008 look :)
Time out for a quick call to Uncle Brenn - Happy 28th Birthday!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Newsflash!
okay, for all of you who have the same HAIR dilemma that i do...nasty flat hair on Second Day Hair (see previous post...). Thanks go out to my precious dear friend Jennifer....she told me that our hairdresser has the solution to the problem!
Nicole (our hairdresser) said that most hair products are 'water activated'...meaning that they work - or reactivate - when they get wet. SO...say you put hair gel on your hair after you wash it....it's still on your hair the next morning. All you have to do is lightly spray the crown (the top) part of your hair, and then reblowdry. Here's the key though - when you re-dry it, you brush it in the opposite direction that it lays (if you brush your hair down while drying, you make it even flatter b/c of the natural oil in your hair...So you dry it from the underside to create the First Day Body you had the day before!). Waaa-la! First day hair again!
On a different note, Meredith is sitting her with me, and she would like to write her name on the computer.....here she goes!: meredith lowe Good job Meredith!!! She is now requesting to write my name. Nothing like a learning opportunity on the computer! Here she goes!....
kristi lowe
well, i will close, Mere is telling me stories about cherry trees and george washington!
Nicole (our hairdresser) said that most hair products are 'water activated'...meaning that they work - or reactivate - when they get wet. SO...say you put hair gel on your hair after you wash it....it's still on your hair the next morning. All you have to do is lightly spray the crown (the top) part of your hair, and then reblowdry. Here's the key though - when you re-dry it, you brush it in the opposite direction that it lays (if you brush your hair down while drying, you make it even flatter b/c of the natural oil in your hair...So you dry it from the underside to create the First Day Body you had the day before!). Waaa-la! First day hair again!
On a different note, Meredith is sitting her with me, and she would like to write her name on the computer.....here she goes!: meredith lowe Good job Meredith!!! She is now requesting to write my name. Nothing like a learning opportunity on the computer! Here she goes!....
kristi lowe
well, i will close, Mere is telling me stories about cherry trees and george washington!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Hair....
First of all...I absolutely love the days when i have just washed my hair. Usually this occurs every other day. So say, Sunday, I wash my hair....and it looks great! Lots of body, no kinks or odd twists, everything in the right spot......good stuff. And it never fails...folks make comments....'oh your hair looks good today' or 'I love that haircut on you.' Things like that....and I think, yeah! The problem occcurs on Monday..........I call it...Second Day Hair. It's that day when you don't need to wash again (too much shampoo dries out your hair!)....but it's just not quite right. No matter how i poof and tease...spray or hair wax, it just won't do what it should!! I can straight iron, re-tease the top, even get the blow drier out and 'fluff'....nope. Still looks funky. Oh it drives me nuts. And I'll admit, I'm a wild woman at night. (no, not like that).......I toss and turn and mess the everlovin' fire outta my hair. I remember my Nana's hair....she had 'beauty shop' hair. She'd go to bed at night with beautiful hair, and it looked the exact same the next day. Amazing. How'd she do that?! Not me. It looks like rats have taken up residence in my hair overnight. Seriously.
Second Day Hair stinks. So....just know that if you see me, and you think, 'what went wrong with her hair today?!'...now you know . It's my Second Day Hair. I think I should invent hair products that are specifically for Second Day Hair. I think i'll call them Repoofers. Or Day2Fix. Maybe this one - 2DayHair - or Poof Fixer........or............Funky Fixer! Yeah, Funky Fixer.
Second Day Hair stinks. So....just know that if you see me, and you think, 'what went wrong with her hair today?!'...now you know . It's my Second Day Hair. I think I should invent hair products that are specifically for Second Day Hair. I think i'll call them Repoofers. Or Day2Fix. Maybe this one - 2DayHair - or Poof Fixer........or............Funky Fixer! Yeah, Funky Fixer.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Super Tuesday!!
Well, all I can say is praise the Lord for Tamiflu and Z-packs. It's been a rough week! I have NEVER had the flu in my whole life! Then, to have the flu and a nasty sinus infection all at the same time..........well let's just say I'm glad to be better!
Of course, it didn't help that me, John, Meredith and Cameron all had the flu also.....all at the same time! We were like an MASH unit....dosing out Tylenol all over the place, snuggled in our respective blankets on couches, recliners, kleenex boxes close at hand.......it was nuts! All is better now...YEAH!
As for me, today is a good day - it's SUPER TUESDAY! Yes, I am a political junkie...and even though my guy, Mike Huckabee, isn't gonna wrap up the nomination today on the Republican ticket, there is something cool about the election process. All over our nation (well, at least in 24 states) folks are casting their ballot for their 'guy' (or gal for you Hillary fans. Is anyone I know a Hillary fan?!).....WHat a cool country we live in that we have the freedom to vote. And I think by the end of the day today, we will be looking at John McCain as the next Republican nominee (joined possibly by Mike Huckabee as his VP running mate)........but those Democrats......I have a feeling it's gonna get interesting for those guys - poor Hillary, she's losing ground to Obama...it's so close in the national polls that it's considered a dead heat! What once looked like a slam-dunk for her is now ominous........especially with most of the Kennedy family stepping up their support of Obama......
okay.....I'm sure none of you give a rip about my political opinions....but hey, there you go...that's the beauty of blogging! So when you turn on the news tonight and Tim Russert and Chris Matthews are breaking it all down....just know that I'm happy as a clam watching all of it!
So..........Who are you excited about? Which one of these guys is your "Agent of Change?" - I'd love to know your views...that's the beauty of this country - we have the freedom to CHOOSE! Let me hear from ya!
Of course, it didn't help that me, John, Meredith and Cameron all had the flu also.....all at the same time! We were like an MASH unit....dosing out Tylenol all over the place, snuggled in our respective blankets on couches, recliners, kleenex boxes close at hand.......it was nuts! All is better now...YEAH!
As for me, today is a good day - it's SUPER TUESDAY! Yes, I am a political junkie...and even though my guy, Mike Huckabee, isn't gonna wrap up the nomination today on the Republican ticket, there is something cool about the election process. All over our nation (well, at least in 24 states) folks are casting their ballot for their 'guy' (or gal for you Hillary fans. Is anyone I know a Hillary fan?!).....WHat a cool country we live in that we have the freedom to vote. And I think by the end of the day today, we will be looking at John McCain as the next Republican nominee (joined possibly by Mike Huckabee as his VP running mate)........but those Democrats......I have a feeling it's gonna get interesting for those guys - poor Hillary, she's losing ground to Obama...it's so close in the national polls that it's considered a dead heat! What once looked like a slam-dunk for her is now ominous........especially with most of the Kennedy family stepping up their support of Obama......
okay.....I'm sure none of you give a rip about my political opinions....but hey, there you go...that's the beauty of blogging! So when you turn on the news tonight and Tim Russert and Chris Matthews are breaking it all down....just know that I'm happy as a clam watching all of it!
So..........Who are you excited about? Which one of these guys is your "Agent of Change?" - I'd love to know your views...that's the beauty of this country - we have the freedom to CHOOSE! Let me hear from ya!
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