Timing is Everything

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

When a wise woman speaks, she knows that timing is important. When things need to be said that are difficult for the hearer to receive, timing is everything. Certain words cannot be uttered with any success if the person listening is not open and ready to hear them. It's important to discern that, and the only way to know for certain when to speak and what to say is to pray about it in advance.

I've been praying for three people specifically this week who I want to speak to on a deeper level, but I don't feel the timing is right yet. I would ask that you pray for me to be able to discern when that time is...

When a wise woman speaks, she tells the truth.
When we don't speak the truth, we hurt others as well as ourselves. Do you know someone today that is living in a state of denial? Are you praying for that person? You may be the right person to guide them into a new way of living by speaking a word of truth into their life. I pray you are bold enough to speak into someone's life today. I challenge you to go to God's word and ask God to reveal the words He would have you speak.

Remember, we are here to serve others and to help others and I pray that you are where you need to be in right standing with God so you can bring some abundant life giving words to someone else...

Live free today from the burdens of your sins... Acknowledge that you are a sinner, Believe that Christ can save you and Commit your ways to serving Christ.
It's as easy as A...B...C.... You can live FREE today.

Just pray...
Lea Anne

Thursday Night Amplified

WORSHIP

BIBLE STUDY

FELLOWSHIP
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

The most important words we can speak are ones that explain our faith to anyone who asks or who will listen. We must be able to give a reason for the hope we have within us. We have to pray that God will help us become bold enough to clearly explain our faith in God.

Last night was a great time of Worship, Bible Study and Fellowship at Thursday Night Amplified. The College Department has started a group that meets on Thursday Nights at 7pm to give an alternate meeting time over the traditional Sunday Morning Bible Study at 9:15... For some reason, college kids don't like to get up early on Sunday mornings... I can't imagine why?

We are studying the book of Ecclesiastes and it is amazing how relevant that book is to today's situations. Last night we talked about corrupt court systems... Anybody???? And how God allows us to be TESTED in our faith by choosing the right way out of a temptation. God will test us, but do not be decieved because God DOES NOT TEMPT us... That is from Satan alone... I hope that when you find yourself in a test by God, that you will pray for the guidance that only He can give us and choose the right way... He is so proud of us when we choose to live right. Have you faced a temptation lately? Temptations are an opportunity to do the RIGHT thing... Go out and find what YOUR right thing is today... I hope you pass the test!!

I was touching base with you to see how everyone was doing today? I've had a good week and a lot is getting accomplished at the house. The tile was being put down yesterday in the kitchen and once that's done, it'll be smooth sailing to finish... We picked out the hardware for the cabinet doors and drawers and that was quite an undertaking... I don't know if you've been down the hardware aisle at Lowes lately, but there are a lot of choices...

I'll post pictures when I get a chance to go take them.
I hope you all have a great day...
Lea Anne

I'll Let You in on a Real Conversation between Me and God

I'm going to let you in on a Conversation...

To see how this plays out, you have to know a little of the background... Almost a year ago, when Dana and I were thinking and praying about whether to put the house up for sale, I was led to a verse in Amos... It said,

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3

This struck me as a word from God about how Dana and I had to agree completely on the next step we were to take together, or it would be in vain... then we decided as a couple to sell the Prien Lake Rd house and build the Woodside house...

So it's been about a year since that prayer and the other day, I was doing my Beth Moore study and I was led to a scripture in Amos... It immediately rang a bell in my head about the scripture from last September and I turned to the passage...
This is the passage that jumped out at me.

Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Amos 5:11b

Now this is where I have to chew this around a little... let's think about it for awhile... I'm letting you in on how I process a word from God...

As I am thinking back over the last year, I use my journal as a guide, to see how the Lord has talked to me throughout this whole process... Did he ever say to me that I would LIVE in the house he has allowed us to build? I remember in 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 he said this....

9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.
Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord
sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will
find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 So take this
seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”

He did say to be strong and do the work, and this...

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly. 21 The various divisions of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple of God. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the officials and the entire nation are at your command.”

So I feel like He definitely called us to go ahead and build the house.

Then in my Journal I wrote on 9/3/08... Someone called about buying the house today... Could this be your will Lord. To sell it before we ever live in it?

I write things that I don't remember praying sometimes in my journal, and that's what I wrote about not living in the house. I wrote this BEFORE I read the scripture this past week from Amos 5:11b...

Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them...

So did God ever say we would live there?..

So what do I do now?...

I wait....

I wait on the Lord....

I keep doing what I know the Lord told me to do until he tells me to do something different... I keep building until it's finished, (which according to Dana, will be about 6 weeks) and I wait to see where the Lord will lead us next... Do you want to wait with me? I'll keep you posted on my conversation with God and when I hear a new word...

This verse could have been preparing my heart to receive a new word from the Lord, or it could have been a test to see if I cared more about the house than I did about the Lord who gave me the house to build... It's all about priorities...
Will I be able to sacrifice this house before I ever live there if that is what the Lord was asking me to do?

I don't even have to think about it.... YES!!! I know that if the Lord doesn't give me THIS HOUSE, it's because He has something better... You may be thinking, what's better than a new house? I can think of many things... A house that is free and clear of a mortgage... or a house that is in a new country... or a house that is in the heavenlies...

Our lives are like dust... here today and gone tomorrow... so if we don't take everyday as a gift from the Lord, we miss out on our purpose in life... To know God better... That's what I want more than a house...

I'm not saying this is set in stone(no pun intended)... we may very well be allowed to live here, which would be wonderful in my mind... I'm just putting my thoughts out there for you to see how God and I communicate... I'm letting you in on a little of my journaling...

If you don't journal, maybe you could start... It's a great way to remember what you think on and to see answered prayer...

Until the next post...
Go in peace, Lea Anne

Introducing.... The Media Room!

The reason we haven't had any pictures of the upstairs media room, is because we've had to use this rickety "Home-Made" ladder as a means to get up there... I haven't really wanted to climb it, so I haven't taken any pictures.... However, they installed the railing on the baluster yesterday and I had to show you how pretty it was... So here is the adventure of braving the ladder....

The approach is cautious...
I'm half-way up and it's hasn't fallen yet....

I've made it to the top and isn't the slate blue color beautiful?...

I actually have to put the camera down and hold on with both hands in order to get from the top rung onto the landing... All this while balancing the rickety ladder underneath me... It was quite entertaining... However no one was there to see me... AH!!! the media room at last.... We have a full shower, wet bar and will have a 103 inch projection screen television placed over the window at the end... Surround sound and booster upstairs.... I know my most used phrase after we move in will be "Turn that DOWN!!!"
Up close shot of the baluster.... The wrought iron will match the iron on the spiral staircase that will be installed after the flooring goes down in the kitchen... I can't wait to have a real staircase leading up there...
The beverage center.... Dana freaked out when he found out how much ice makers were. Needless to say, we don't have an ice maker upstairs...But we will have a mini-fridge, microwave and coffee pot!!! What more can a MAN ROOM need than that.... (oh and don't forget the bathroom!)
For an afterthought, this media room turned out pretty good... We thought we would utilize the empty space above the garage and I'm so glad that Dana will have a room all to himself...

I'll post more later....

Take care.

Lea Anne

Lordy, Lordy Look who's 40!

Today is Dana's 40th Birthday. I hope to inspire you with a bit of wisdom or fun. Dana is the funniest guy to be around... He is always laughing or giggling about something and to hear him watch television, you would think it was a comedy club. He brings a ton of joy to my life and I couldn't imagine life without him.

When the girls and I are on a trip and Dana isn't with us, they are always saying... "If Dad were here, he would say..." this, or that, or "it isn't as fun when Dad isn't with us."

He truly is a joy to have around... So I just wanted to send a shout out to all in blog land to say "Happy Birthday, Dana!"

Enjoy your day.

I love you,

Lea Anne

And...You Decorate My Life...

Keelea, Big, Bold and BLUE

Chateau de la Barre

(House of Witness)

Ooooh, la la (my spa bath)

Ashton is bright and Orange