When You Want to Hear From God

I write this entirely to my family. If it happens to bless someone else, that's fine too. 

I pray that your faith is personal. When it comes to spiritual matters, I want you to know that you can't ride the fence or the back of someone's coat tail. Only Jesus can advocate for you before Yahweh, only Jesus can save you. 

God WANTS a personal relationship with you. He wants to hear your voice, and He wants to know that you obey Him because you love Him. And the only way to know how to love and obey God, and to know His will for your life is to listen when He speaks to you. 

Although I have never heard the audible voice of God, I know He communicates with me. God can speak to us in many different ways. Below I've described some of these ways that God speaks to His children. If you are yearning to hear the voice of God...start with these.    

God Speaks to Us Through His Written Word

On any random day and at any random place and time, if I need to hear the voice of God all I have to do is open the Bible. By reading scripture I have all the access that I could ever need this side of eternity to knowing His will for my life. 

People who are new to the Christian walk often ask, 'where do I start?' I have 2 great answers for this. 

1) First, start at the beginning of the book. When you start from the beginning, you will meet all the characters, hear about all the places, and get all the history and back stories. Best of all, the beginning of the book is where a lot of the super-cool miracles happened: The creation story, the great flood, the 10 plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, Jonah and the whale, love stories, war stories, stories of giants and family betrayal, and genealogies of people who lived hundreds of years. 

Also, reading the front of the book helps you to understand cultural context. There were some pretty shocking things that happened in the Old Testament, like slavery, plural marriage, arranged marriages, and even incest...it happened! Also, the importance of birth order; it's typically a non-issue in our modern culture. But birth order was really important in the Bible. Another example is that the family, marriage, and government dynamics were VERY differently. Understanding this will help you understand the remainder of the Bible.

An added bonus of starting at the beginning is that you get to read prophesy: prophesies about Jesus Christ and end-time events. It may not make sense at first, but once you get to the New Testament, you begin to see the connecting fibers.

But most importantly the commands of God are listed in detail in the front of the book and it's important to know and understand them. The commands are mentioned all through scripture. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fathers of our faith, both in the old and New Testament, kept and taught the commands, and continuously spoke about their importance. An end-time prophesy mentioned in Matthew 24:24 is this, "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." If we understand and apply what God expects of us, we are far less likely to be led astray. His expectations for His children are in the front of the book.

2) In tandem to the beginning of the Bible, the second place I recommend starting is Proverbs. Proverbs is full of practical, logical wisdom: money management, all manner of relationship advice, how to handle temptation, advice on effective communication, how to live in peace, how to choose a good spouse.  There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and conveniently there are 31 days in most months. One chapter a day corresponding with the day of the month is a perfect bite-sized nugget of daily wisdom. Enough to meditate on and apply to your life.  Reading Proverbs over and over every month opens new insights and lessons. Something that you grazed over last month now offers meaning and purpose to your current situation.  Hebrews 4:12 says this, "For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart." Scripture really is a living book! As we read it over and over throughout our lives, there is always something to learn, always something to apply to our life, always a new way to grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

Make no mistake, we have daily access to the voice of God through His written word. Don't miss this!

God Speaks to Us Through the Wisdom of Others

Many years ago, I was working as a waitress in a restaurant. I remember one particular day that was extremely busy, and the communication between the kitchen staff and the wait staff was tense. After hearing a few heated discussions and tempers flying all around the wait ally, I overheard my manager whisper to himself, "There is a nice way to say everything."  This has stuck with me all my life. 

An elder at church made this comment recently, "There is really no reason to be mean to anyone." As someone who has struggled with my temper all of my life, for someone who can be short-fused and sharp-tongued, who tries daily to displays self-control and often misses the mark...this was a profound statement. I thought about this for the remainder of the day and even doubled down on it: There is no scriptural basis for being unkind to anyone. 

And just like the comment that my manager said under his breath all those many years ago, that happened to land on my ears and penetrated my heart, so did this comment spoken by the gentleman at my church.   

Another way that God speaks into our individual lives is through the wise words of others. It doesn't always come from the pulpit, or a counselor with a college degree. Most often it's a friend or family member who God uses to speak into our lives. Often, it's someone who has been through the struggle that we are walking through and offers a word of encouragement and hope. Many times, it's an elderly person who is farther along on the journey than we are, and who stops for a moment to give us a lesson that was hard-earned so that we don't have to make the same mistake. Or sometimes it's just a passing comment, something that feels like it was meant just for you. Something profound in the mundane that causes you to pivot your paradigm.  And there you find yourself humbled and changed, all because you heard the Lord speak to you through the lips of another person. Remember, God used the words of a donkey to get Balaam's attention, and likely save his life! Numbers 22:21-39

"A wise man will hear and increase in learning. A man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5 Make no mistake; God speaks to us through the wise words of others. Make time to sit with people who want to pour into you. Give them all your attention, absorb every word that you can, be present in the moment, don't talk - just listen. God is speaking to you and teaching you something in those moments.

God Speaks to Us in the Quiet Hours of the Night

I was listening to a podcast the other day and the host said something I knew but had never applied to my own life. She said that many times in scripture, the Lord would speak to people in the middle of the night. Either through dreams or by actually waking them and speaking to them. Either way there is scriptural evidence that God will wait till the mind is clear and there are no distractions to speak into the heart of His children, whom He loves. 

It has certainly been true in my own life. Some of my heaviest moments of conviction, some of my saddest tears of repentance, my heartfelt desire to seek forgiveness or reconcile relationships, some of my brightest moments of clarity...these have often been laid heavy on my heart in the stillness of the night.

We see scriptural evidence of this in the stories of Samuel, Jacob, Abraham, Joseph, Solomon, Christ earthly father - Joseph, and the Magi who followed the star. These and many more examples should give us pause to take more seriously the voice of God to speak to us in a personal way in the stillness of the night.

God Speaks to Us Through Our Worship of Him

To be clear, worship isn't reserved for a 30 minute service and a leader behind a microphone. It doesn't even need to be accompanied by music really...Worship can be so many things! It's a song you sing, it's a prayer of thanksgiving or surrender, it's walking out your trust in God in a moment of sacrifice, it's searching the scripture for attributes of God and speaking those back to Him, it's the way you speak and the way you treat others. It's the time you spend studying His word, it's dancing! 

Our whole lives should be gestures of worship to our Heavenly Father. And He speaks back to us through our worship because when we worship, we are changed. We are molded and shaped into the person that He wants us to be. Worship is a display of a life that is surrendered to and owned by Yahweh! Worship is an act of softening your heart and focusing your attention on God. Don't be afraid to worship! God has much to tell us in those moments of deep waters!  

God Speaks to Us Through the Helper, Who Lives In YOU!

Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.”

And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a still, small voice. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

My dad once said, "God didn't give you a gut feeling for no reason." This is the still small voice that speaks to you and says, "Don't say that" or "stay away from that person" or "check-in with your friend today" or "time to change jobs!" And 10,000 other things! Listen to that still small voice. 

This I assure you, if you listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, you will begin to recognize it, and it will be easier and easier to obey as you see the Holy Spirit leading you. But if you ignore that still small voice, then it will get quieter and quieter, until it is nearly silent. 

My sweet family, I pray that your relationship with God is rich and full and deep and personal! And mine as well! Don't limit yourself to just one way to hear from the Father! They are ALL available to you! 

Life Lately: Time

So much is changing in my life, both internally and externally. I'm having a difficult time processing it all.  There are so many areas that I feel like I'm losing ground, but I've always felt that way with certain areas like housework, laundry, activities.  But now I'm losing time...it has become obvious to me in the most painful of ways.



My Sweet-Summer graduates from high school in 3 short months.  She will start college in another city and move into another home and start a life of her own. She will pursue her dreams.  Maybe they will all come true.  Maybe they will change.  I look at her and know...



 I'm running out of time.



J.D., my mild-mannered, even-tempered son.  He begins high school in August.  He has changed so much this year. He's more like a man, less like a little boy. It all happened right before my eyes, and yet I feel like I've missed something important because it happened so fast. I look at him and know...



 I'm running out of time.



And although everyday is another episode in the Adventures of Colton, he is becoming more responsible everyday.  More self-controlled. He's beginning to think deep thoughts, selfless thoughts. Everything he does is with 100% passion.  Scooter-tricks, yo-yo tricks, card tricks. What will be next? I look at him and know...



I'm running out of time.



Sydney-Pooh, she still loves to sleep with me, but she's bigger now, turning into a young lady.  Her preferences, her words, her friendships, her self-doubt.  I can't keep up with her ever-changing thoughts.  Yesterday is was baby-dolls and ballet. Today I reminded her that she's too young to wear eye shadow and that soon enough she would have braces.  I look at her and know...



I'm running out of time.



And then there is me.  My dreams for my life.  A degree, a farm, a trip to Ireland, to Israel, to see the Northern Lights. I wanted to learn to quilt and to ski.  But not this year...maybe next year.  Then just one more year, then one more year, then one more year.  Now my hair and face are changing, and my age too.  My dreams get put on hold, but my birthday never does. I look in the mirror and know...



I'm running out of time.



I don't exactly know what to do about any of this.  I look at those younger than me, beginning their lives and starting families...just becoming mothers.  And I remember those sweet, exhausting, overwhelming, simple, sweet years.  I look at my calendar and think, what can I cancel so I can carve out a few hours, or just a few minutes with these little humans who I love so much...but aren't so little any more. I look at my calendar and know...



I'm running out of time.



I reflect on this today as a painful reminder to make every moment count.  Time is my enemy.  I can't stop it, it just keeps devouring the years, the days, the moments.  So today I will take what I have been given. Time at home with my kids, time eating meals together, time talking in the car as we run to and fro.  Today time will not escape me, I will treasure what I have and be thankful for the now.

An Intentional Year

My little sister, Toni, recently started blogging again and it has inspired me to do the same. My blog needs some serious work, but right now I am simply inspired to write.  I started this blog for my children, not necessarily an audience of strangers.

I think I will continue to write...for them.


To my children:

On this first day of January 2014, I want you all to know how much I love you.  "With everything in me. With all my heart.  I more than love you, I'm crazy about you."

Life is about to change for our family.  Nothing serious, but change is certainly coming.  It will be difficult at first, but everything is moving in a good direction. I want you to know that I'm nervous and a little scared, and I know you are as well, and that's okay.  But even more than that, I am excited and hopeful for our future! Our dreams that we once only talked about are finally within reach...I just know it!

We have a busy month ahead of us!  It will be stressful and hard at times.  February will likely be the same. But I am confident that March, and spring, have good things in store for us.

Here is a list of things that will certainly change:
-our address
-our schedule
-our personal space will be smaller
-$ (good change!)
-our yard and animals

Here is a list of things that will NOT change:
-home is where we are all together, no matter the address
-we are committed and determined to finding a home in the country
-we will ALWAYS have everything we need, and some of what we want
-life is hard and wonderful all at the same time
-everything Dad and I do, we do for you

I have 2 final thoughts for you as I close out this post.  First, our family verse for the year will be Proverbs 31:25.  "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."  We are an amazingly strong family with amazingly strong individuals. We are people of great strength... physically, mentally, and spiritually.  On our hardest, saddest, most aggravating days, we will draw from our strengths! Also, we will hold our heads high knowing we always do our best!  Sometimes our best won't be good enough, and in those moments there are things to be learned and improved upon...and learn, we shall!  Lastly, regarding our verse for 2014, remember to laugh, not worry.  Remember to laugh, not grumble.  Remember to laugh at the future!  Remember what Nanny always said, "It is what it is."

Secondly, our word for 2014 is INTENTIONAL!  We will not float through this year, or life for that matter. We will be intentional with our time, our money, our attention, our love, our family, our faith, our bodies, our education, our hobbies, our relationships.  We will intentionally give to others and each other.  My hope is that each day, each moment, we are intentional.  A life unintentionally spent is a life full of wasted time and lots of regrets.

We will be strong, we will hold our heads up, we will laugh, and we will be intentional!

I love you all.

An Odd-sized Mattress

Several years ago my dad and step-mom gave us a twin-sized mattress that someone had given to them .  It was in great shape and we had high hopes that it could replace one of the twin mattresses in our home that had seen one too many middle-of-the-night accidents.

However, our newly-used twin mattress must have been specially made because it was oddly large, and we just couldn't make it fit. So we put it in our spare, catch-all room (affectionately called the yellow room) while we pondered what to do with this odd-sized, perfectly good, very comfortable mattress.

I'm glad that we decided to keep it.

Over the years we have used this mattress many, many times. Often on weekend nights, summer vacation, and Christmas break we'll pull our mattress out of the yellow room, down the hall and into the living room.  And there, some or all of my children will pile up on the couches and beloved mattress.  This mattress has served us well and been a big part of our ability to make sweet memories with our kiddos.

Just this past summer, we pulled the mattress into our tent in the backyard and had a camp out.  The mattress has been known to stay in the living room the entire week of spring break.  And of course, it's what we use on rainy or snowy movie-marathon days.

As I write this at some unholy hour of the morning, I hear the heavy breathing of Jeff and the boys sleeping in the living room in front of the fire...Colton and Shellby snuggled up together on the mattress.  They must have had a great 'boys night' together after we girls went to bed because strewn around the room are Battleship game pieces, Nerf guns, Wii remotes, a shot-gun instruction manual (JD got a new gun today, from my dad) and various snack wrappers.  Memories made.

I know when my kids are grown they will remember these simple, happy childhood memories.  And if they happen to read this post, maybe they will remember the oddly-sized mattress that helped make it possible.

Remembering

Today Jeff and I decided that we should take the kids on a little trip.  With no final destination in mind, we knew that we wanted to visit the grave sites of our grandparents.  First, we drove to Bourbon County and visited my grandmother and grandfather's grave.

Forrest and Virginia Davis's tombstone.  Gina's dad's parents.

Then off we went to Harrison County to see the grave site of Jeff's grandmother.



Lily DeBruler's tombstone. Jeff's father's mother.

 Then the kids were turning into little beasts so we decided to feed them before something really terrible happened.  We were lucky to find a Mexican restaurant where Sydney and Colton could eat there favorite Mexican meal; chips and salsa followed by chicken strips and french fries.



Summer and JD, B.A.F..... Best Amigos Forever


Then we went to visit Jeff's papaw, Joby DeBruler, Lily's widowed husband.  Joby is now remarried to Jean, the sweetest little lady, whom Jeff's family just loves!  Then on the way home we stopped for some cold drinks.  Those who were allowed to purchase caffinated drinks were chatty and playful...

 
Those were not allowed to purchase caffinated drinks are now well-rested and will, no doubt, be up till midnight...

And this is the man who made it all happen...

My Baby-Daddy



 

Leftovers...The Ultimate Convenience Food!

Here at the Taylor-DeBruler home we eat a lot of leftovers! 

I *believe* in leftovers. I believe in "waste not, want not."  I believe in "use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without".  I believe there are still starving children around the world who would graciously eat any and all leftovers that my family may lament about.

I believe if you do not eat what I put on the table, you may go fix yourself a PB and J sandwich and a glass of milk.

I also believe that I have better things to do with my time than stand in the kitchen 28 times a week (breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for 7 days) and cook up new and exciting meals.

So I cook in bulk, freeze some, refrigerator some for later, and cook up some for the next meal. Here is an example:

I find chicken breast on sale so I buy a bunch.  I mean a BUNCH, shamelessly emptying out the chicken breast freezer display while other people stand behind me waiting their turn to choose their package of chicken breast, only to find that the lady in front of them (that would be me) with the brood of kids (those would be mine) has taken every last package.

Then I take my chicken breast home and put the majority of it in the freezer.  In celebration of finding a great deal, I decide we should have Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper (my husband has convinced me it is called supper, not dinner.  He is currently trying to convince me that what I call lunch is actually called dinner.  I have explained to him that his brainwashing is not working, I have compromised on the whole dinner-supper issue and a girl has to draw a line in the sand eventually...I digress.)

I fix enough Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper that night, lunch the next day and supper the following night.  See how this works?  I cook one HUGE meal and it lasts for 2 days!  And I still have a ton of chicken in the freezer. 

Let's say whole chickens were on sale, about twice a year I can find them for $.49/lb.  That's cheap, people.  I load my cart up with whole chickens as I listen to all the whispers around me regarding my shopping habits.  I often turn to the gathering crowd and explain that we have a 10 foot pet alligator and it's either whole chickens or the kids.  At this point, people start putting their whole chickens in my cart because they feel such pity for the dangerous situation my children are living in.  This is my goal.  Whole chicken may not be this cheap for a while so I gotta do whatever I can to stock up!  Don't judge me!

That night I fix a whole chicken in the oven and serve it with a couple of side dishes.  If there is enough left over, I'll fix chicken casserole the next night.  But if there isn't much meat left, I'll throw together a pot of Tortilla Soup and we'll eat on that for a couple of days. Essentially, I've make 2 meals and fed my family for 4-5 days.  That Rocks! 

Ya can't do that with laundry!  Boy that would be wonderful...to make two outfits last five days.  My laundry room would look a lot better than it does right now.  Here, I'll include a picture... nevermind.

Leftovers are a mom's best friend!  Think ahead and make good use of them!

Amen.

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a hit with my family...even Colton, my picky eater, loves it as long as I omit the "spicy stuff".  Hope you and yours love it too!

Ingredients

2-3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 packet of McCormick's fajita seasoning
1 cup of taco sauce
1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies, mild (juice included)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cans of corn, drained
2 cans of seasoned black beans, drained
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. each: cumin, chili powder, salt, onion powder, cilantro, paprika, and garlic powder
1 bay leaf

Optional Ingredients (aka: things I would like to included but my family will not eat!)

1/4 cup each (diced and sauteed):  red and green bell peppers,  and onion
1 can of diced tomatoes (juice included)

Toppings

4 soft flour tortillas
Mexican blend shredded cheese

Instructions

Boil your chicken until cooked through, drain then shred.
Combine all ingredients listed above, including cooked chicken.
Make sure everything is mixed well.
Heat until right before boiling, then turn down heat and let it simmer for at least an hour.

While your soup is simmering, cut the flour tortillas into strips and fry over medium heat with a little butter until barely brown and crisp around the edges.

Top each bowl with a few tortilla strips and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese. Enjoy!


Options

*You can make this soup as hearty as you would like by adding more chicken, corn, and/or black beans.

*You can make this soup as spicy as you would like by replacing the fajita seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, and/or taco sauce with "hot" instead of "mild" ingredients.

*The seasonings listed are the minimum measurements, feel free to add as much as your taste buds crave!