On the move...

The last 14 days I have been reading Isaiah 58. Verse by verse. Reading. Meditating. Learning. Seeking. Listening. I haven't done that in a while. Actually study a verse out of a chapter from a book of the Bible. That was my fast. Giving up my words. The words of the world. The noise and the distractions of what was happening around me. And focusing on His Words.

And those Words were a feast for my soul. Filling me to overflowing. Humbling me. Teaching me. Exhorting me. Encouraging me. I learned more in these last few days than I could ever convey in my human efforts, but this is a small attempt at what I feel like I heard...(warning: this is long) 

Read Isaiah 58:1-10. The chapter begins with these words: "Shout it aloud; do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet." When I read this, I laughed. I felt so sure that He told me to fast from words and this is what His word says? Shout it and don't hold back? As I studied that first verse I realized that it was talking about hypocrisy. The kinds of hypocrisy that is seen as self-love. The kind that comes from those of timid faith. The kind of faith that speaks in judgement instead of humility. A faith that is fueled from the voices of the world instead of the still small voice. It was in the fasting from those words and images and influence that I got quiet enough to hear.

When life gets so busy and we feel so pulled in all directions, that is when we tend to shut down. To get overwhelmed and become stagnant. Usually it is because we begin to move and work and even minister to others out of our own strength. When that happens, it will slowly suck us dry. Emptying the very cup that is supposed to be overflowing with goodness and mercy. But the word is very clear that we should live our everyday lives out of His strength. His Spirit is where the power lies. My time, my counsel, my prayers, my money, my opinions and my guidance as a parent or a spouse or a friend should be offered freely when prompted by the Spirit. I cannot judge or expect anything in return. God does the work. I am simply an instrument. Pouring myself out;  fully expecting Him to fill me back up.

But how do we get to that place? That place that just loves and keeps moving. That offers what I am prompted to give and waits for the next thing. That place where I freely plant the seeds and wait for Him to produce the harvest. 

Then I got to verse 8. Any verse in the Bible that begins with a "Then" is proceeded with an "if". It says in verse 8 that "our light will break forth like the dawn and our healing will quickly appear." So, if we are living verses 1-7, then our lights will break forth. Not just appear, but dart forth like the rays of the sun through the clouds. Our light will shine through any difficulty as we live in His Light.

When we are:
Voicing articulately who we are in Christ (v.1)
Truly seeking God and listening for His answers and exhortations (v.2)
Taking time out daily and on occasion for an extended time (v.3)
Treating those around us fairly and with mercy (v.4)
Fasting for a change of heart not for just a blessing (v.5)
Allowing God to work in our past and break the fears that cripple us (v.6)
Living a life of hospitality and loving our community well (v.7)

THEN... Our lights will break forth and shine under any circumstance. Nothing will be able to block who we are in Christ. And He will have our back as we move forward in Him. When we continue to move forward is when we are truly able to seek Him. While we are working to do the things in these 7 verses then we are in a mobile state. It is in the moving forward that we learn to hear Him. It is in the idleness that the noise of the enemy gets a foothold. But as we actively persue His righteousness then He hears us and responds.

It is in the moving forward that we find rest. As we knock and seek, He hears and answers.  Verse 10 says: "and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." If we open up our souls as if we are opening a store full of all the things that would satisfy the needy and the hurting and we share what we know as well as feed and help them then our light will rise up out of our own dark places. In our own affliction Peace like a river will flow forth and there will be no doubt where it is coming from.

The darker our circumstances become the more we should serve and love out of what is buried in our souls. Moving forward is how we heal AND how we touch others. All at the same time. We don't stop and become idle in our lives. We rest at times to refocus and refuel. But we keep moving forward. Constantly moving away from the darkness and toward the light...

I am on the move today. Into a new season. Moving out of major change and walking toward the next thing. We must move toward healing and wholeness. It does not move towards us. Keep moving today, sweet friends! 

"if I open up my heart and soul so that I meet 

the needs around me out of what is inside of me 

then no matter what the problem or the situation

 or the affliction is, the Peace of Jesus will prevail 

and my life will shine forth in that strength. 

And in the process I will be able to love well 

those around me and make a difference."

 ~ my journal, 8/24/12

A Fasting Perspective

It has been 7 days. No social media. No Facebook. No Twitter. No seeing what's going on. No images to make me assume what is going on. And we all know what happens when we assume...

A phone call. From a child. A quick accusation. Did you see what she said? No. Then she is gone. A friend sends a text. Did you see that cute picture on Facebook? No. Oh yea, I forgot you gave that up. Another phone message left. I sent you a message on Facebook but then I remembered you won't see it. So please call me as soon as possible.

It seems silly. But some of us are driven by social media. By what we see taking a toll over what we hear. By what we assume taking precedence over what we know. By believing a lie because it looks glossy and perfect in a picture.

Maybe no one else ever has these thoughts. But maybe someone is struggling because they are believing something that they see instead of holding on to the Something that they know. Maybe new perspective comes when we take a little break. When we seek first the Kingdom instead of the smart phone. When we hit our knees instead the send button.

Maybe we learn a little more about who we are and what we really believe when we have to wait a while to "see" the world around us. When we have to trust that He really has it all covered. When we have to be still and listen because we have no other choice.

Lately, I have been bombarded by people who have allowed the enemy to gain a foothold in their thinking. Because they believe what they see on a computer screen. They believe that their friends are made up of the number of names in a list instead of the hearts that they connect to. They think that typing their opinions or their thoughts or their anger somehow heals them. But I am not sure that those same words would be spoken face to face.

I even know of people who think that sharing a part of themselves through a computer somehow isn't crossing over the line. But there is an emotional line. An affair of the heart and thoughts is no different than a physical one. And I wonder if that line would be so easily crossed face to face.

I have been asked some questions that I don't have answers for. And I have heard some comments that I feel like I need to have an answer for. So that is why I am taking a little break. I am reading Isaiah 58. There are 14 verses in that chapter. One verse a day. Studying their meaning. Asking my own questions. Then waiting to hear the answers. Because He has them. I just need to take the time to hear. With no distractions. No opinions. No assumptions.

Another 7 days and I will be back in the swing of things. Honestly, I can't wait to catch up but for now I am being still. Listening. Learning. Being loved by the Creator of the Universe... because I am so thankful that I am on His friend list.

P.S. ~ these thoughts will post to Facebook and Twitter through networked blogs. So when you see it don't think I am cheating. It is an automatic post. Someone asked why I was doing this so these are my thoughts. I can't see your comments so take these words for what they are worth... just a few humble thoughts from someone looking for a few answers.

Something new...

Today is a day of new things for the Spinks girls. I have been praying for each of them specifically this morning as they each begin a new adventure. Something they have never done before. Something that has made each of them think. Think about who they are. And what that means for their new adventure. As their mom, it has made me think about each of their bent and how I pray so differently for each one. 

My oldest is starting a new job. She is thrilled for the opportunity but nervous at the same time. It is in a school. In education. In a middle school. All things she is trained for and has a degree in. But the job itself is not anything she has done before. I prayed this morning that she would just be herself. That He would go before her with favor and give her strength. She will do great. And everyone will love her. They always do. She just has to do the something new first...

My middle one is starting the first day of sorority rush. If you have never experienced rush at a large university, you might not understand her nerves. It is not for the faint of heart. She can't decide if it was harder last year going through as a freshman or this year being inside the house welcoming all the freshman. Both are exciting but hard. This time she has the inside view. And it is not always fun. I prayed this morning that she would just remember who she is in all of this. That as the world creeps in during this process that she would allow Him to guide her and to give her strength. I prayed that she would bring her thoughts captive and ask for His discernment in it all. And she will try. She is strong and she is tough. But this is something new...

My little one has begun her first week of 10th grade. She likes her classes. The school year is going great so far. She will go tonight for training at our church to be a student leader for the  middle school program. She was not able to be one last year because of schedules. So this is her first time. We have talked the last few days about what kind of leader she wants to be and what that will look like. I prayed this morning that she would be who she was made to be. Not try to copy her sisters or look like someone else. She has so much to offer but she is quieter than the other two and has sometimes gotten lost in their shadow. I prayed that He would give her confidence and that she would be placed right where He wants her to be. She knows most of the other leaders but for her it is still new...

What a privilege it is to pray for my sweet girls. I am the one that ends up being blessed as He reminds me of their strengths. Of their talent. Of how He made them just who He wanted them to be. They are all at a place in their lives that does not require my physical presence or my help. So I hold tight to my job as their prayer warrior. That, I can do. That, I will do. For me, being on my knees and in the gap for them is NOT something new...

She is clothed in strength and dignity,

 and she laughs without fear of the future. 

Proverbs 31:25

Tumbling into a new season...

I feel like I am getting ready to say goodbye to an old friend. Today feels like the end of a season. Actually, I guess for me it is. The last three months have been packed full of memories. Full of changes. Full of laughter, tears and heart tugs. I haven't really stopped long enough to process the fullness of it all yet. I think that may come next week. When the house is quiet. And the chaos begins to calm a bit. But for now, I am going to spend the weekend saying goodbye properly. Unplugging. Renewing. Refueling with my family. Burying the memories deep....

There are only 2 Spinks girls under our roof now but sisters are connected at the heart!

She said goodbye to her college season. Well done sweet girl. You finished strong!

They said goodbye to their beloved Athens. They loved that town well. You both left an impact there.

We celebrated one grandmother turning 70! We love you Maw-Maw!!

And the other grandmother turned 75!! Love you too Nana!

We moved them to a new house!

We moved her to a new house!

We are moving her to a new room!

She moved into a new place in his heart!

And we are learning to be parents to new son. Parents to newlyweds. Parents to a college student and parents to an almost 16 year old all at the same time!!

There is a time for everything under heaven. A season for it all. As I head into yet another season of being a mom, my heart is mourning the season I am leaving behind. But He is Faithful to move with me. Taking the next step. Allowing Him to lift my chin and look up so that He can show me the way... 

Praying for you, sweet friends, as you prepare to begin a new season. His plans are perfect. Trust Him!

When in Rome...

Yesterday I headed off to Rome to visit with my daughter and son-in-law. We took Nana and Walt along with us. They were so excited to visit the newlyweds and see their new home. It was a great day of exploring, food, fellowship and lots of laughter. We shared a birthday meal. We took the tour of their new city. We drove through the Berry College Campus. It is one of the most beautiful college campuses I have ever seen. We had a great time talking and laughing and enjoying each other. I love family days like this one!

Nana and Walt loved spending the day with their grandchildren. The newlyweds love and honor their grandparents well!

They love her so well! It makes my heart smile to watch them interact.

Mr. Walt loves my mom well. She deserves it!

They all love me well. Counting my blessings!

So today, sweet friends, count your blessings too! Name them one by one. Love well. Laugh often. Live fully. Learn something new everyday. And let it all be done to the glory of the One who gave us this day. Rejoice in it!!

This is the day the Lord has made. 

We will be glad and rejoice in it. 

Psalm 118:24

The Blessings of a boy...

Unless you live in a girl house, you have no idea how crazy it can be. Emotions. Hormones. Craziness. Tears. Giggles. Everyone talking at once. It can put a poor boy over the edge. But our sweet son-in-law has handled it like a champ. At least in front of us. : )


Katie and Trey first met in middle school. It was a love/hate relationship. The friendship had its ups and downs. It actually stayed down for most of middle school and high school. There was even a time period when the "T" word could not be used in this house. But then things changed.


Trey asked Katie to go to their senior prom. The relationship blossomed from there. Even though we had known Trey for many years at that point, he was such a gentleman from the start. I am not sure if it was because he knew that Danny knew everything about him or if he just thought he would start off on the right foot. Either way, we were impressed.


We have always talked to the girls about marriage. About ours. About how we met. About our first date and our relationship. We also told them the story of their daddy asking my daddy for his blessing  before he proposed to me. The expectation that the boy that they wanted to marry would do the same was set at an early age. There was never a question that daddy would be asked first.


So when the phone call came from Trey asking Danny to go fishing, we had our suspicions. It took most of the day to work up the question, but when they returned the discussion had taken place. The blessing was granted. Katie was out of the country at the time so she had no idea what was happening. Trey came back over to the house the next night and had dinner with all of us. The sisters got their turn to ask questions and talk to him. It was a precious time of a family of five preparing to add another. The night ended with us praying over our future son and future brother. The thought of that night still makes my heart smile.


Soon after that the proposal took place. But as the summer came to an end, there was an opportunity for Danny and Trey to go on a trip to Israel together. It was an amazing time of bonding and growing in their relationship. They got to see each other without the girls. Without the distractions. Just two men sharing their stories and their lives and their thoughts. A gift from the Father for a father.


Today I am heading to Rome to celebrate our new son's birthday a day early. Tomorrow we will celebrate his life. The way he loves our daughter. The way he leads his new family. The way he shows our other two girls what a Godly husband should look like. Thank you for the way you love us. For your character and your integrity. For your acceptance of this girl family. For your respect for us that makes it so easy for us to respect you. For the man that you have become and for the husband that you are. We love you and are thankful you were born. You are a true blessing to so many. What a joy and privilege to call you our son!

I have no greater joy than to hear 

that my children are walking in the truth. 

3 John 1:4