Kick that Day Planner to the Curb

Many of us live our lives according to a calendar. Personally, I had a moment in 2010, and a vacation to a country where they are much more easy going, that totally convinced me..."I DON'T have to live that way, even as a Christian." (and neither do you.)

Let's talk about being free spirited. What does this mean? Well, it might just mean kicking your day planner, wall or ipad calendar to the curb and breaking out sometimes.

It's hard to be free spirited. Not only have we trained ourselves to schedule, schedule, schedule but we are also very self conscious. Yet, it's our free spirited moments that make us embrace life and have joyful fun sometimes. My point, even though I'm about to give examples, is not necessarily to do these specific things but to be open to having something fun come to mind and acting on it.

Some illustrations:  

• Take a walk during a work break and don't plan your path...just walk.
• Great song come on the radio in the car? Sing out loud & dance around in the seat. (this is sure to make people smile)
• Take a morning drive on Saturday and stop at a random shop you've always seen but never been into.
• Try to mimick the call of the next bird you hear singing. Bobwhite quails are some of my favorites. (video of their call)
• When you stand up out of bed in the morning do a Snoopy dance.
• Create your own holiday.
• Adventurously pick out a new recipe and make it for dinner.
• Wave at people in the cars you meet while going down small roads.
• Give the kid'os a list of options for places to go one Saturday morning and let them pick. Then just go!
• Go spend time relaxing in a hammock. I knew a guy who had one in his bedroom just because it was relaxing.
• Wear a color of clothing unlike what you'd normally wear.
• Can one thing on your calendar for next week be removed? Do it and give yourself that open time to be a free spirit.
• Skip! Yeah, you read right. http://iskip.com/blog/ 
• Stop one morning before walking into work and appreciate the sunrise or stop for a moment while leaving work and take in the sunset.

Basically, to be free spirited you have to live in the present moment. We are often thinking of what's next on our calendar but as you live in the moment, the free spirit in you will walk out.

All Night Prayers

"...Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray,

and spent the night praying to God."

~ Luke 6:12

I remember being at church camp a few years ago when I really noticed this verse. I was challenged that Jesus spent all night praying to God. All night! My heart was moved and so I decided that I would stay up that night and pray too. The camp had a dining facility that stayed lit so at first I stayed in there and prayed. Next, I walked around outside and prayed looking up at the stars. Then I went inside and prayed through scriptures I found and wrote prayers in my journal. I prayed that night until the call for breakfast the next day. And I was exhausted but talk about still feeling great! It was as though Jesus had been with me all night, encouraging me...and I was inspired and changed because in some way I was walking as Jesus walked.

Another time, my small group at church decided we'd put together an all night prayer night at a local building. We set up different rooms for different 'ways' of praying. One was a room full of praise music, there was a section where you could take prayer walks, one room was just for silent meditation while in another you could go on stage and have loud prayers to God. By the morning, people gathered together and we had group prayers. It was a stirring night...and although again I was exhausted as I drove home, my heart felt light because of all the time I'd spent praying.

What about you? Have you ever prayed all night? Maybe it's time you stretched yourself a bit? You can pray alone all night or ask someone if they want to spend all night praying too. The motive isn't just to accomplish it though...the heart is out of a longing to connect with God in a way you might not have before. Jesus prayed all night then selected the twelve apostles. If you have a big decision to make then maybe it's time to spend the night praying with Jesus? Maybe so much is going on in your life right now that having a night full of prayer could be a great way to pour it all out! If, like me, your health doesn't allow you all night prayers right now...how about 3 hours? When was the last time you prayed for even 3 hours? I just picked a random number but you get the point.

...last Friday, I came home from work, had dinner, and went to my art/sun room to pray. It had been a hard, emotional week and I needed to share my heart with God deeply. The week had just been too crazy to provide me enough time. My prayers had seemed 'choppy.' So, I turned off the phone then wrote in my journal all the subjects I wanted to pray about and the people I wanted to pray for as well. Next, I just started praying...2 1/2 hours later I finished. What a great time I had with God! And what a special time that warms my heart when I think about it. My friend, as I encourage all the women around me in my personal ministry I want to encourage you, build memories with God now! Especially build a life full of deep prayers with your Lord. There is no substitute for that genuine relationship. Sometimes we just need to spur and awaken our heart, mind, and spirit with prayer...lots of it.

Subscribe by Email

A reader asked if there was a way to receive Silver Trumpet posts by email. I did some research and am able to add a ' Subscribe by email gadget' that allows that option. I've placed it on the side bar.

Often I read over my posts again. If I find errors and correct them I have to 're-post' it. This is a seamless process for the average reader but I don't know if it will send you the same post in email again. I'm testing it out so if you receive the same blog twice because I made a correction/edit...opps. :)

As always, thanks for reading!

Kneeling Before My God

"Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;" ~ Psalm 95:6

In a play called "Slingshot" that tells the story of David and Goliath, there is a song that the character Samuel sings. Within its very moving lyrics, two specific lines often run through my mind. They are:

To stay near your God, you must stay near the ground. Never stand when you can kneel. Never sit when you can bow.

To stay near your God, you must stay near the fight. Never stop when you can charge. Never fear when you are right.

It's lyrics like these and certain scriptures I've read, like the one above, which move me to make sure there are times that I'm humbling myself before God with my body as well as my heart. Sometimes I find if my heart is slow to be humble that the position I'm praying in can help. I often take communion on my knees. I feel strongly that since I'm focusing on Jesus, his sacrifice for me, and his ultimate victory that it's very appropriate to humble myself in this way. It wasn't easy the first time I decided to get down on my knees when everyone else does not but I pushed past my pride because I knew God's Spirit was calling me to be humble. Now, this has become a very personal and public way to praise God. God's also blessed this into becoming a very private way for me to commune with him.

When I was a young girl, my dad use to come into my room each night and we would pray together. He'd always get beside the bed on his knees. How impacting that was and is now when I reflect back. This past New Years there was also a moment after worshiping God at the strike of midnight, where I literally fell to my knees to sing to God. I am convinced...I must kneel more before God in my times with him because I'm praying and worshiping the living God!

Here are some other verses I think of when I kneel or bow to God:

Phillippians 2:9-11

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 Isaiah 45: 22-24

²² “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. ²³ By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.²⁴ They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.’”

Deuteronomy:33-2-3

“He [Moses] said: The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.³ Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,"

Luke 22:41 "He [Jesus] withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,"

Celebrating Spring!

Passion flower in my garden



How do you celebrate Spring? The first day of Spring this year was on March 20th. "Springtime" refers to not only the season but broadly to ideas of renewal and growth. I've also heard some say that Spring is God's reminder of the resurrection of Christ. Just another way that God is continually drawing us back to Him. Have you ever considered that the coming of Spring could be a chance for you to get excited about something new?  God is amazing in His creativity...let's join Him!

• Have you ever taken an art class? Maybe you've want to create pottery or paint your own design on a plate? There are tons of places that give inexpensive classes for these projects. Low on funds? Come on, you know there is someone around you who is an artist. Ask them if they would give you a lesson or two! Not only could you learn a few tips but they will probably be encouraged that you've asked a 'starving artist' for help. :)

• What about music? Perhaps you can take some lessons on how to play a certain instrument or voice lessons? Sometimes there are local groups who simply enjoy getting together to sing a certain style of music. You can go support the local school band, high school play troupe, or see kinder garden musicals. Who says you have to have your own kids out there to do this?

• Now is the time when you can enjoy the little beauties life has to offer. One idea is to take a nature photography class. How about bird watching? With the Internet you don't even need to find a class...just go online and start looking in the park. Get out there and start noticing all the wonderful things God has created and how quickly he makes things grow. In the spring, many local schools and parks begin planting gardens so if bird watching sounds boring then find a community looking for volunteers and go get your hands dirty!

• If you want to 'bloom' at public speaking, then look for a group who encourages and inspires you to practice. This could help you to be more comfortable sharing your faith. Go to the local bookstore when they are having a poetry reading or get a book club together in your home, start reading, and sharing.

Basically, what inspires you?! Maybe you want to learn to whittle wood? Learn to shoot a bow & arrow? Rock climbing? Start training for a 5 or 10k race? Learn how to sail a boat or maybe some magic tricks, create a scrapbook, make kites to give to a lower income elementary school, become a mentor, take a new college class, learn to meditate, start an organic garden, play the harmonica, read a book series, or build a blog? :) The options are endless! May God inspire your heart through the Spring He's just sprung on you. *hug*


So, how am I going to celebrate Spring this year? Well, as a single woman who owns my own home, I'm bewildered to think that in the past women weren't allowed to own a home, go to college or vote (along with many other things). One reason I can live the life I have today is because there were women who fought for me. So, I've decided to study out the beginnings of the Women's Rights Movement. :) All thanks to School House Rock & Mary Poppins for beginning my passion as a little girl. Click these links to see what I'm talking about: Sufferin' till Suffrage & Sister Suffragette.

Gift Ideas: decorative boxes

Here are two more ideas of gifts you can make with decorative boxes.

Memory Box: This is a great gift that allows someone to know all the special memories you have with them.

• Find a box that will hold an estimated 30-50 strips of paper and has a matching lid.
• Decorate this box to reflect the personality of your special person
• In some way, label the container as “Memory Box.”
• On a sheet of paper, write or type fond memories you have of your special person 
• Cut the memories in strips of paper. You can use either straight cuts or using scrapbook scissors.
• Fold each strip in half and place them in the box.

      ** Variation: jars and bowls make great containers as well.

Trust Box: We all need reminders to trust God. This little box can be just the reminder for a friend's desk or home office.

• Find a box that is at least the length of a pen and decorate it. For a nice touch, stencil the box to read one of the following declarations or a variation that suits your purpose:
• Trust Box
• Let Go and Let God
• I surrender…
• Take nice pieces of stationary paper and cut them into strips.
• Place a pen inside and give your special person one note card explaining that they are to write worries, prayer requests, and troubling situations on the pieces of paper whenever they are feeling stressed and place them in the box. Usually, I suggest that once they place something in this box they are to remember to let go of it in their hearts and minds. Whenever they are tempted to 'think and worry' about it they should remember, "Nope! It's in the box." 

Currently, I'm searching for a box to use as my trust box. :) For additional ideas see the previous post: Gift Ideas: little boxes

Mount St. Helens - Conquering your Volcano

Mount St. Helens

I decided last minute to take a detour on my journey back to Seattle and visit Mount St. Helens. I didn't realize when I was planning the trip that it would be so close! After praying and doing some research I decided, "Why not?" So I set off early from Camas and an hour later I had ventured off onto the roads to lead me there.

Unfortunately, a sign on the way said the observatory I wanted to see 45 minutes away was closed. I missed that on the website. So I turned into the original observatory and saw it...the picture above doesn't do it justice really. I was in awe. I said to myself, "Just because the observatory center is closed doesn't mean you can't go up there and look!" Inspired, I continued driving. I drove about twenty more minutes down the two lane, no shoulder road. The only other souls I saw where logging truckers. Then the roads got a bit icy, then I noticed signs saying I was passing the last place for auto help, and then I lost my cell phone signal. I pulled over to pray about whether I should continue at a little place by the river.

Then something happened that my family describes as meeting Jacques. As a child visiting Six Flags, there was a ride where the guide 'warned' us about the adventure ahead. They had an animated guy off to the side and the guide would say, "There's Jacques, shaking his head no!" And sure enough the animated robot, Jacque would be shaking his head not to go further. HA - of course in the kiddy ride at Six Flags you always continued but in my heart it was almost like I had met Jacque again and he was shaking his head - no.

At that point, I decided to turn around. The interesting thing was that my inner voice began accusing me for the next 10 miles! "It would have probably been fine. I can't believe you are missing Mount St. Helens." and "Don't be a chicken." I had to pray alot for God to secure in my heart the difference between being a scaredy cat and wisdom. Honestly, it was the wisest thing for me to turn around! I was traveling solo, on slick roads, with few people around to help me and no cell phone signal. But I think it's interesting that my mind was so willing to belittle wisdom. I came to a section of the road while going back toward the highway (a different way than I came) that read, "Warning Motor Vehicles - Slide Zone Ahead"

"Oh gee, great! How are you ever going to do this?" I thought as I held the steering wheel tightly and went over a snowy road that dropped off on both sides. Right after I passed over the warning area to safe road, I realized that the volcano I really needed to conquer was my inner thought attack! We can be TOO hard on ourselves. How is your thought life? Are you kind to yourself or harsh? Often we have placed expectations on ourselves and if we don't happen to meet them instead of encouraging ourselves about our willingness to try we end up erupting in thought, pouring lava, ash and negativity all over, destroying beautiful things...like our spirit and peace.

I read a great quote that reminds me to be daring...and yet that it's okay to turn around and go the other direction. I hope it encourages you as well.

"Take a daring leap. Begin to pave your own trail. Listen to the whispers within your heart. Take micro-actions. Commit to change. Take responsibility for how you live your life. Embrace joy & release sorrow. Accept that within this moment, you can rewrite you story by taking one step in a different direction, followed by another step...one action at a time." Carolyn Rubenstein

For another short post with scriptures on this topic click here: "Your Thought Life"

The original observatory

To protect cars from falling rocks! :/

Right before I turned the corner and saw the 'Slide Zone'