HAVE YOU CHOSEN A WINDOW SEAT?

Before I left for vacation last week I read a passage of scripture about a young man named Eutychus. In Acts ch 20 7-13 .

The Name Eutychus meant"very Lucky" and "Fortunate."

Well you tell me if you think he was very lucky........ The story of Him simply states he showed up for the first day of the week church service, chose a window seat and sank into a deep sleep and lost his balance and fell three stories. Paul the guest speaker that was bringing an amazing message from God, had stopped speaking for a moment went down and fell on Eutychus embraced him and restored him.

I see this as a very UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE WITH A FORTUNATE OUTCOME! I guess his name does mean LUCKY!

I really related to this story when I left on vacation. I was in the middle of a very unfortunate circumstance that God made Fortunate in the end!

The first day of our trip my son Ben woke up early and was suddenly very ILL. I knew deep in my mothering soul this was just not a flu or bad cold. He was crying in pain and vomiting uncontrollably. He could not even stand up, he had no balance. Within a few hours of trying everything a mom could do I called his Dr at home and they instructed me to go to ER immediately. Yes as a mom I was afraid, scared and hurt to see my son in agony. Remember we are on vacation and I had made plans for this day a long time ago! The plans for this Monday was to hit Lake Michigan and jump waves and possible hit some evening rides at Michigan Adventure! Now come on friends...... we all have plans when we go on vacation! I did not plan long trip to ER in the back seat of a car holding my son, praying he would not puke on me! LOL!

Hours later we returned home and he was diagnosed with VERTIGO. This is a type of dizziness where you feel that you and everything around you is moving or spinning. You have trouble balancing and it causes you to fall down and vomit. Strange, I know! But the good news is he was restored!

A great lesson came out of this for Ben and I. It related back to the young man Eutychus that fell out the window 3 stories! remember he lost his balance and fell.

What we learned was all our plans for tomorrows activities can be shattered by a thousand unknowns. Everyday we are all at RISK for things beyond our control. James 4:13-14 states "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say"If the Lord will, we will live and do this or that."

If we choose a window seat in our walk and relationship with God, we will loose our balance, doze off and then in the midnight hour fall. A window seat is the most comfortable seat sometimes. You can stare off and get distracted on the things going on outside. When you get bored and doze off you will fall asleep. I believe this is what happened to this young man "Eutychus" God never intends for us to get bored in our relationship with Him. He has great plans for you and your children. What we learn and KNOW about God prepares us for our tomorrows.

If we choose the window seats in our relationship with God, when the BIG unknown happens in our life we can get dizzy, loose balance and Fall! We will all have midnight hours!

Without KNOWING GOD we will never have an adequate perspective on situations. My son may have been very dizzy that day but I did not loose my balance. THANKYOU JESUS!

Ephesians 2:7 The immeasurable riches of His grace and kindness are toward us"

He blesses and makes himself known to you when you pick a better seat then the window seat!

He will walk you thru your darkest hour and pick you up when you do fall!

I pray this whole circumstance helped my son and reminded him that God has great plans for Him!

oh by the way.....

Ben refused to ride the TILT a WHIRL at Michigan adventure! LOL

God is So Good,

Heather!

We still have a month of summer left! ENJOY

MY TWO HORSES

Don't you like my homemade clip art!

The "WILL" of God is like a cart pulled by two horses. Their names are MIND and EMOTIONS. You must get both horses moving in the same direction to move the cart forward.

I have been pondering this little saying for the past month and sharing it with many women. It has really helped me in my walk and desire to understand and stay on the path of Gods plans for my life! But often my mind and emotions can begin to go in many other directions. Am I the only one?

I have friends ask all kinds of questions like..... What is Gods plans for me? How do I even get moving forward in them? I wonder who God has for me as a mate and when I will find him? What will I be when I get older? What is going to happen with our finances? My husband was just diagnosed with cancer what will the outcome be? I hope to find the perfect job? the list goes on and on.................................

Well I believe our answers will come together when we focus on the saying above. We have to train our two horses, mind and emotions. Now as we all know horses are very, very strong animals yet very trainable. So in the same way is our minds. In 1 peter 1:13 it tells us to gird up our minds. We have to discipline our minds by taking all loosely flowing thoughts, speculations and opinions and train them to be in the same MIND which was in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 2:5

As I pondered a horse I was lead to Psalm 32:8-9"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like a HORSE or like a mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they come not near you.

In order to get a horse moving forward a bit and bridle is needed. It is used to put pressure points on specific areas of the horse so the direction of the horse can be controlled. The horse then moves in a forward direction as the rider pulls on the reigns!

I am so in need of the bit and bridle to train my mind! The pressure points in the mouth help the horse stay moving with control in a forward motion. The word of God to me is a huge pressure point to keep me moving forward. I feel the reigns tugging at my heart and adjusting me accordingly, so I stay moving forward with HIS thoughts and plans. The bridle on my head helps me stay focused. I am often lead in different directions from family, friends, old habits, attitudes, emotions and more. Just as a horse can get SPOOKED so can we! Things come in our pathway daily that make us question life sometimes, we can have that fight and flight mentality too! BUT GOD can pull on our reigns and regain control if we desire and allow Him the complete control! We need to trust the rider of our life. A horse learns to gain trust in their rider . Just as we need to trust in the plans God has for us. Some of us need to even begin to understand that God has a great plan for us!

If a horse cannot trust a rider it will never get to the point of pulling a cart! That really amazed me, if we cannot begin to trust and grow in a relationship with Jesus our rider and owner, we will never pull the cart of Gods DREAMS for our lives!

I hope you desire to move forward into Gods great purposes! So much adventure is on the path of this life! The questions on the pathway of life that we don't understand will not SPOOK us if we have trained our minds to trust our owner! Ephesians 4:23 "be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the NEW man which was created according to God."

Remember he will instruct and teach you in the way you should go! psalm 32:8

Blessings

Heather!

Let me know how the training is going!

My horse can get pretty wild at times! LOL!

READING A LITTLE OF THIS BOOK HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!

Hello friends!

The summer is ticking away day by day! Lots of great fun and many memories being made with my crazy family! We spent the night at my dads house last night. I woke up extremely early this morning, before a single person even rolled over to catch another few hours of sleep!

As I was making some coffee I spotted my dads Bible on a nearby table and noticed a piece of paper hanging out of it. I opened the bible to the piece of paper and was blessed to read a note I wrote to my dad a few years ago. It stated......

Dad,

Reading a little of this book each day has changed my life! As you read Exciting things will happen! Make time dad, 10 minutes a day and you will see! Do not miss out dad!

When God thinks of you dad, I bet He sees your compassion, devotion to others and your tenderness. But He is also looking for your eagerness to read His word!

I pray great things will be in store for you in 2005! I love you so much dad!

A great place to start is the Book of John or Psalms!
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
BUT fools despise wisdom and instruction"

Love, Heather

I then looked at the inside cover of the Bible and noticed a note from my son Ben. It said.......

Pa Pa,
This is the BEST book! Read a tiny each day and watch how Real God becomes in your life
Love, Ben


I was blessed this morning by these little notes and God reminded me of Psalm 1:1-3 It talks about how BLESSED the man is who delights in the law of the Lord! It explains to us that we will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. That brings forth its fruit in season. Whose leaf shall not wither; And whatever he does SHALL PROSPER!

God does want to reveal great things to us and He wants to prosper us in GREAT ways. We often MISS it and wither because we have not spent time in His word. I have been guilty of being to busy. But I have also experienced the withering seasons because of my business! I have discovered the stress of life is not worth it!
I have also heard many friends tell me "The Bible thing is not for me" well, the Lord tells us in His word that in this world we will all have troubles and tribulations. ALL of us will experience hard times. But He is waiting to be our sheild and hear our voice! Its all in psalms chapter one!
If you desire to turn to Him during your withering season I promise you will realize how personal God wants to be in your life and how he can take our withering times and prosper us in great ways! We will be less likely to say "Its not my thing" but you may be convinced He is "Your ALL in ALL"
I was so excited to let my Dad know how real my God is! I am that excited to share this note again with you in a personal way!
Enjoy the summer friends! I am off to the Plymouth Art in the Park!
Blessings,
HEATHER

The fall bible studies are being put together at all locations great stuff is coming!
Also Our Fall Ladies Large Event with great speakers the theme is "Wonder Women who are Wonderfully made" does anyone remember wonder women and or Linda carter???( I will keep you posted on more info VERY SOON, Its Gonna be a WONDERFUL weekend!

BECOMING A SUNFLOWER

Springtime is my favorite season. The sun in shining and birds are singing! I just planted my MAMMOTH SUNFLOWERS this past week. I love sowing them in the spring and watching them grow all the way till fall. These flowers simply amaze me. I realized a few years ago that God has a HUGE MESSAGE for us within the creation of a sunflower!

For all my gardening friends, I think you'll like this fact that I found out. I looked up the botanical name for this flower and discovered it's called "Helio anthas" But the best part is "HELIO" in greek means "SON" did ya catch that friends? SON not SUN.

Hebrews 12:2 states "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" A sunflower is known for following the sun day and night. By harvest time it resembles the golden glory of the SUN! It takes on all the details and shape of the sun. That truely amazes me!

I planted my sunflower seeds this week to remind me as they grow to KEEP MY EYES FIXED on the "SON" Jesus Christ! I desire to live the story he wrote for my life. After all He is the author and knows the ending better then I do! I desire to take on His Golden Glory.

Isaiah 61:11"For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes things that are "SOWN" in it to spring forth, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" A sunflower can never Bud forth unless the Seed is first sown. What seeds have we sown in the things of Christ so we can begin to grow, bud and spring forth?



Galations 6:7 " For whatever a man "woman" sows, that she will also reap"



Its never to late to sow! God will cause great things to bud forth in your family, personal life, job, children and so much more



Happy Growing

Heather

Where will your inner star take you???

This past week I went on a trip with the family to Chicago! What a great place to walk around, shop and explore! My girls have been extra excited to explore in the American Girl Doll store! I must say I was very curious to see this place myself! I wanted to check out the Doll hospital, The Doll hairsalon, the you and your Doll restaurant (although we did not eat there, I voted for the cheesecake factory instead!)My girls were amazed at all the clothes and dolls before their very eyes! Two floors full of adventure!

Both of my girls brought their favorite dolls to the store. Mia and Molly. We looked around for each of their dolls. Every doll is displayed with things that make up their story! I felt like I could tell you about each doll after looking at their showcase! We did find their favorites and bought the story books that match their dolls! The books tell a significant story about that spacific dolls inner star!

As we continued on this adventure in this large store, I felt like a little kid myself! I wanted a doll too! BUT something struck me as I was riding up the escalator....... One of those Heather moments! I saw a large writing on the wall that stated "WHERE WILL YOUR INNER STAR TAKE YOU?" That phrase struck me. I then walked a few more feet and noticed a large star with writting in it that stated "AMERICAN GIRL CELEBRATES A GIRLS "INNER STAR" THE WHISPER INSIDE HER ENCOURAGES HER TO STAND TALL, REACH HIGH AND DREAM BIG"........ Now this really got my attention! As I stood next to my two little girls I realized I had the two most beautiful American Girl dolls in the whole store!

As I walked around with them reading all about the inner stars in their favorite dolls. I began to remind them about their "Inner stars" I wanted them to know that God has written a story book for their life too! What an opportunity we have as moms to remind our kids of their "INNER STARS" not only was it a reminder to my girls but for me also! I want to live daily by listening to that little whispher inside me that encourages me to stand tall, reach high and dream big! The only person I know that can whisper such direction to me is God! I pray my girls find how to listen to that inner voice! I know that is what made my star begin to shine!

When we don't have those little whispers you just begin to drift around in the current of todays world. Its only when you discover why God made you and what he wants you to do with your life. Thats when God makes sence. God is the one who shapes our dreams and our childrens dreams. When we step into the story he already wrote for us it allows our INNER STAR to shine!

I pray my girls grow up to be women who make a difference! Let us all try to move with tenacity toward the dreams God has for you! It is never to late! He is a whisper away! Nothing in this world is more important then to get Gods dream for your life. It is the very reason you exist and your purpose for living. Are you living the American Girl doll Dream according to "His" story?

My girls both left the store with a new doll that day. My youngest daughter Alivia bought a doll called "just like you doll" She told me that she is gonna let God write the story of this dolls life! I am glad I was able to INSPIRE her INNER STAR! I hope to see others looking into their showcase someday!

God Bless you friends,
Heather

p.s. remember God wrote every chapter in your book! Even the tough ones!

It is Finished! Good Friday

I have been pondering this past week why such a painful and heart wrenching day would be called "Good" friday. As I was reflecting and teaching from a passage in the bible all this week, it became more clear to me why it is truely a "Good" friday.John 19:28-30"After this, Jesus knowing all things were now ACCOMPLISHED, that scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full with sour wine was sitting there; they filled a sponge with sour wine. Put it on hyssop, and put ot to his mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said. "IT IS FINISHED!" and bowing his head, He gave up His spirit."

Have you ever came to a point in life when you said "I am Finished!"Finished with the headache of a marriage, loss of job or not finding a job, a never ending health problem, a family or friend relationship that is ended or the loss of a loved one. I know we will all experience sour and painful situations in our lives. These times really leave us feeling thirsty, empty, dried out and weak. It is true that on Good friday Jesus felt the same pain and hurts you and I do. Life can bring on some very challenging situations, that make us want to say "I am finished and I cannot go on any longer."

I looked up the word finished in my hebrew/greek dictionary to get the perspective of Jesus language. It was stunning to me that when Jesus said "It is FINISHED" he was saying IT is ACCOMPLISHED!". So in the middle of his painful, sour and thirsting situation He was saying something was Accomplished!

As I refelected on my past this week I was reminded of a very hrad time I had in my marriage in which I said, "I am FINISHED". I was not thinking at this time that something was being accomplished! It was over in my mind. I also met with many women in the past few months that are in various trials that make them say "I am Finished!"

What a great reminder today that God is taking or Bad situations and turning them into Good! That is why it is GOOD Friday! Jesus Stepped into our finished and desperate situations to bring us HOPE and Life abundant. Take a look at the first sentence in the passage above. It states that Jesus knows "ALL" things. This means that He understands our entire situation. He went to the cross to Work it out for us and make all things GOOD! He is the only one that can ACCOMPLISH something for us in our needy situations. When saten tries to FINISH us off with fear, anxiety, worry, doubt and shame. Jesus steps in and Accomplishes what Satan thiks He is finishing in our lives! It states in the bible that we do not need to be afraid or dismayed and to remember that the battle is not yours but Gods.

I am so thankful that God did a real work in my marriage. What was dead he brought back to life! He took my good friday and accomplished amazing things in my life. My sour and thirsting situation was given HOPE! I believe the Lord wants to accomplish so much for us all. They Key is to recoggnize what He did for all of us today. He wants to do exceedingly and abundantly more then you can ask or think in your life. (Ephesians 3:20).

Take a look at the cross today and realize that Jesue died for your Destiny! He has Direction and a Destination for you! Ask Him and he will lead and guide you in the most personal way! He is so Good!

Remember that when we think it is finished, He is stating "It is getting Accomplished" He works all things together for good!

I hope you have a blessed "GOOD" friday and that this inspried you to dream big with God! He has Big Dreams for you! May you have a Happy easter too!

He is TRUELY RISEN,

Heather Baxter

please check up the spring/summer updated WOW(women of the Word) website: www.hiswow.net

I also am starting a Blog. I will be writing a few times a week to encourage you as God encourages me. Please check it out and let me know you stopped by!

Thanks and love ya all!

O R E O

Hi Friends!

I want to say that I am so very excited about this New opportunity to communicate with many friends! I hope to hear from you as you leave comments with me and share your thoughts back! I love being inspired by all your thoughts!

I was so excited to speak last friday march 21st at the first Mother/Daughter Lock-In! I shared my O R E O devotion with the many moms and daughters!
I handed everyone an OREO and asked them what was the Best part of an OREO? Most all agreed it was the yummy cream filled center. I think its fun to carefully scrape it out with your teeth without breaking the wafer while watching a good flick.

Think about the yummy center part of an OREO representing the Plans and purposes God has for each of us! Jeremiah 29:11 states "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This is the center of the OREO! Now to get to the center you have to peel past two wafers! What do these wafers represent? Lets look at the word O R E O................

OPPORTUNITY God is always working around us desiring to draw us to himself. He positions many opportunities around us so we can join Him.

RESPOND Everyday we make choices. We respond to opportunities good and bad. The devil is ALWAYS distracting you from God given direction with "his" dazzling opportunities. Pay close attention to your surroundings, the Lord is always at work around us and so is that sneaky devil.

EXPERIENCE God wants us to Experience Him personally in our lives. God wants you to have excitement, adventure, thrill and more. remember, this is the yummy part of the oreo that we referred to as the purposes and plans of God! Have you personally tasted and seen that the Lord is so good? This is relationship and not a religion.

OBEDIENCE This is key. We need to choose Christ Daily and then he begins to bring us into the blueprint he has already written for us! That is the best place to be. Any other place equals STRESS! so remember this great verse...... Deuteronomy 30:19 "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses, therefore CHOOSE life, that both you and your family may LIVE!

Now may you always remember how God is at work around you when you eat an OREO! He wants us to experience the yummiest stuff in our life. God bless you and don't eat to many oreo's!

Blessings,
Heather Baxter

hbaxter@hiswow.net

Set Free

As SPRING gets closer and closer each day I find myself working outside cleaning up from the LONG winter months. I love the beginning days of spring. As I was raking yesterday in the great 64 degree weather I could see the new GREEN grass under the dead. The winter season seemed much longer this year with much colder temperatures and the many obstacles laid before us with our economy. I know for some friends and family it has been so very tough and trying.

As I finished raking I began to clean out and refill all my bird feeders! I always look forward to the lovely songs the birds bring to my home on spring mornings. As I looked inside our LARGE bird feeder I noticed one of my feather friends had got his head STUCK up inside the feeder and suffocated and died. I could only imagine how he was struggling to get out, I wish I could have set him free. But this little bird reminded me of how the things in our winter seasons can really suffocate us unto death. We can really get our minds stuck on the problems and struggle so much in the pain, hurts, fear, worry and anxiety. In one of my small groups this week a women stated "It is so hard to keep moving when the day seems so COLD and LIFES issues seem to suffocate me" ...... So when I saw that little bird STUCK and all LIFE TAKEN FROM HIM it reminded me again of how can get trapped like this bird.

But as I continued to observe the spring and little bit of NEW growth behind the dead of the cold winter months I was reminded of a favorite bible verse of mine. Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I WILL do a new thing: NOW it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness." This promise from God reminds us that know matter how cold and suffocating your winter months may be, nothing is impossible with God. He wants to make a "NEW" way in your cold times. He would never want us to suffocate in the pain and confusion of life. He will SPRING FORTH something new. John 8:32 states " and ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free!"

I am so glad that I desired to get to know truth. Truth has set me free from sin and lifes pain. We cannot break free by our own strength. Thats is why he is called SAVIOR! Do you know him? Because he wants to bring SPRING TIME to your winter months! I challenge you to get to know Him more this spring and watch what he is desiring to spring forth in your life! God bless you friends and family and may the coming of spring remind you of the LIFE you find in Jesus Christ!

Blessings
Heather Baxter
email me my friends any time if I can be a blessing I will try
hbaxter@hiswow.net