April 12, 2013

Good morning all-

Ever have a night you were sleeping really great and boom, you were wide awake and couldn't slow your mind down?  That was me last night or maybe I should say early this morning.  I fell asleep fast and hard but was woken by my husband telling me our son made it at 1:30 AM.  Well, at least I passed one test, I gave Hunter to the Lord but failed miserably in the other, getting back to a peaceful sleep.

I am a sleeper by nature.  If I could take a nap every day I would.  Unfortunately, that just doesn't happen.  So when I lay awake it's for two reasons:  God woke me up to pray for someone or I've had a nightmare.  Nightmares have been a common theme for me.  They are vivid, nasty and almost always have an evil connotation.  I found that praying Psalm 91 helps and trying to ask God for protection, especially when I'm closest to Him.  Anyway, when I woke up all I could think about was leading or being lead.  Funny.  The thought was random and as I looked at the clock for the fifteenth time; I thought I should do a Bible search on lead.  News flash!  There are lots of scripture versus on the subject and one became so clear from the rest, it's going on the blog today.  I'm sure that's no surprise to those that read it faithfully.  But, it was amazing how true this verse is, especially now that I find myself leading with no one to follow but Jesus.



Judges 5:2 NKJV:

     "When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the Lord!

This was part of a song Deborah and Barak sang that day but it got me to thinking that when we lead and do it well, the Lord has blessed us and our leadership.  I think we often think we are the ones leading but it's exactly the opposite.  He's blessing us with wisdom, integrity, and the fortitude to lead courageously and strong.  How often have we watched leaders fall from glory?  How many Pastors or Priests have fallen?  How many parents have forgotten to lead? It won't take you long to have a whole list of leaders that have fallen but the Bible shows you that those that sought the Lord were blessed.  That doesn't mean that they were successful in every situation, we know they weren't, but for those that persevered; their names are revered today.

Take a moment to really read the whole passage starting in 1 of chapter 5.  Just a glimpse never gives us the whole.  Take care my sisters and pray for women all over the world.  They need your prayers.

My prayer today:

O, Lord, I am proud to be counted as one of Your sheep.  Just like all sheep, I need You to lead me, guide me and feed me.  I'm so grateful that I can wake up and find a passage just like this one to remind me that every blessing is from You.  Help me lead women all over the world to You and continue to grow me into the leader you want me to be.  Take care of our families Lord and provide us with the wisdom to lead our spouses and children to You.  We are a generation of strong, independent women but for our spiritual sense we need to be submissive, humble and rely on You to bless us!  In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...