I've often been told by women that have retired before me that your time and days go so much faster when you are no longer working for a paycheck. As one that is now on the other side of the trail, they are RIGHT! One of the fun things that I am doing now is learning to knit. I've crocheted since I was 7 and still love to do so, but had worked at knitting the year after I got out of college. One year, and that my friends was many years ago!





If you are into needle work of any kind then I believe this will resonate within your hearts as it does mine.

1. To knit, one has tools. Needles, patterns, yarns, scissors, stitch keeper, charts/graphs, ruler or tape measure.

As God's children, He has given us tools as well. His word is what we are to pattern our very lives after or against. It can cut away the ugly that is in us, it can keep the good as well as being a plumb line to measure against. A great quote that I came across some time ago from Our Daily Bread: Keep your tools ready--God will find work for you. Now will you allow Him to find work for you?

2. There are no two projects alike. We generally will use a different tension each time depending upon the tension that we ourselves are holding on the inside of us. There are different colors of yarn as well as actual patterns.







As God's children there are no two of us alike. God uses a different pattern for each one of us clear down to our DNA. WE ARE DIFFERENT, God intended for us to be! That should cut you and I a lot of slack and allow us freedom to simply be...ME. YOU.



3. As we are knitting a particular project the article continues to grow until it is finished. This article can also be stretched and yet it bounces back to its original shape.



As God's children we continue to grow spiritually (mature spiritually) as well until our completion. That being WHEN Jesus comes to take us to our heavenly home. We too can be stretched but if we stay in obedience to God's word and the Holy Spirit we too will bounce back because His Word does just that. We believe Him and not the world we will bounce back to the "shape" He designed us to be.




4. Knitting is the process of moving the yarn from one needle to the other, the intention is for the process to have a gliding affect from one needle to the other. It is such a smooth craft once it has been mastered. I also have noticed this week that as I continue knitting it calms me. I've also used this opportunity to pray for those on my prayer listing. It is a sweet time for my Abba and I, together we are knitting not only in the physical but the spiritual.



As God's children when we allow Him to move us from one situation to another (trial or test), walking in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, it has a smooth gliding affect on us as well. When we allow Him to be our guide and to knit us during the situation we too can be calm and cause one another to be calm or softer as well.





What distinguishes being God's children? “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”- John 1:12-13 NIV



Psalm 139:13-14 NIV "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.".



Father God, thank You once again for speaking truths to my heart and showing me those truths through visuals. May I today, tomorrow and forever be found allowing You the workings of the threads that knit me together as You so desire. To accomplish Your purpose and Your will. Thank You for knitting me together in my mother's womb. For the gift of physical life and the gift of eternal life. Thank You for the promise that I am Your child. I love You Father like crazy and may my actions reflect just that. In Your Son's Saving Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly from Higher Grounds,

Yolanda

Today is a celebration in our home, a celebration ringing true of Genesis 50:20. From the NIV "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." as well as the Message "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people."

There words were spoken from Joshua's mouth about his brothers as they truly had meant to harm him. From Yolanda's mouth it represents my flesh and having allowed myself to be used by the enemy to bring about destruction. In my life and the lives of others. With that, others then in turn have meant to harm me, to keep me in my reproach. But TODAY...I'm still standing and I'm standing on God's truths that He redeemed me from a HUGE pit. That He has intended good for me from the beginning of time. That He knew all of this yet He formed me in my mother's womb and allowed His Son to die for me. That through my testimony others are coming to know Him, love Him, serve Him and obey Him. Not because of me, but because I've allowed God to have the reigns in my daily life choices. (Hint, I still make mistakes, but they aren't thought out, deliberate wrong choices as they were before Jesus Christ and I got personal!)

Father, thank You! Simply, thank You and I love you. Amen.

I want to encourage you to BELIEVE GOD, get into the Word of God, and come forth, still standing.

Lovingly on HIGHER GROUNDS,
Yolanda

When I looked at this picture once I removed it off of my camera card, I instantly thought of God's Binoculars. It is just what my mind saw, perhaps you see something totally different. Isn't that the way it is with God's word? He speaks to each of us differently from the very same exact set of scriptures. Often times He speaks to you and I differently from one day to the next as well.
This morning I received this thought in my in-box with no credit attached so therefore I'm assuming the author is unknown: Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God's plan for us.

• How do you and I stay within the boundaries that God has for us? By being in His word. If you have spent any time here at Higher Grounds or received them via e-mail, then you already realize how important being in God's word is to me. And how important walking in love is as well. God's Word is how God feeds me, reveals to me His plan, lavishes His love on me, and corrects me.
• One of the very things that God requires of SOLID true believers is to love as He loves. We have been given that ability the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He poured His spirit into us and with that pouring came His love. We simply have to tap into it, apply it, choose to love, and see the truth of His word.
• 1 John 4:7-12 NIV: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. "
• "Jesus did not come to make God's love possible, but to make God's love visible." Unknown
• I'm wondering, IS GOD'S LOVE EVIDENT AND VISIBLE IN ME? As you've spent time in God's word this morning, what is it that you see? What is He asking and showing you? I'm so thankful that when He looks at you and I, He sees the Blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You Holy Spirit.

Lovingly as I reach for His Higher Grounds that He has intended for me all along,
Yolanda

This morning at the breakfast table we prayed for God to show us favor over our day. Specifically with His creation as we had plans to travel to the top of Trinchera peak in South Eastern Colorado. The only way to this peak that sits at 13,517 feet is by foot or 4-wheeler. It was an awesome 4 1/2 hours on our 4-wheelers. We saw so much beauty surrounding us it was simply amazing.









God showed off big time! We saw several does, a prairie chicken, a partridge, an abundance of wild flowers and at the very top....I heard a sound. I thought perhaps wolves, I even stated it sounded like that instead of dogs. Lo and behold in about 10 minutes down below us, out of the trees came at least 150 elk in a herd if not 200. It was the most amazing sight! I do have pictures but I didn't bring my card reader. Perhaps you are returning to get a glimpse of His majestic creation, as these animals truly are majestic! This is just one part of the meadow & elk, so you can imagine how many there were. AWESOME!



I do have a picture to share with you as I'm literally on HIGHER GROUNDS.







God is faithful, I truly desire to give Him thanks and honor for a magnificent day today. Not only today but each and every day. I close with my last scripture reading as it speaks loud and clear. I pray that it blesses you as well.




Micah 7:18-20 NLT "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago."

Father, thank You for delighting in showing me your unfailing love. Your favor, Your faithfulness, Your compassion. For pardoning my guilt and including me as the remnant. Thank You Abba. Amen.

Lovingly from Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

I was very happy to have found this small piece of snake skin that had been shed in our yard. This is visual of what God had already been showing me in my mind to educate me with what He was wanting to accomplish in my heart.

The more time I spend in God's word, with God in prayer and with like-minded Believer's the more I become aware of my own convictions. A conviction is between God and me, not what some one tries to put on me. A conviction is what God and I still need to work on to accomplish in me to become more like Him. To become Holy and Blameless which today I see as a beautiful sanctification process. It is beautiful to my heart because when I cross over to the other side from that conviction with Him, I am so incredibly filled with joy. This will continue until the day He comes for me to spend eternity with Him away from this world as we know it.

The visual is that I can bristle up and have a hard heart (calloused) to His word and the promptings the Holy Spirit is giving me or I can SHED what it is that God is asking of me. Totally a choice, nothing is forced upon me. When I choose to allow the shedding process, it becomes a beautiful act of obedience.

I will admit that I am NOT a snake lover but before a snake sheds it's skin it is dull and often times very hard to see them. They almost become camouflaged. When they shed their skin they become vibrant and much more prominent in their coloring. Isn't that how we are? When we don't loose the negative stuff that isn't pleasing to God aren't we dull and isn't He hidden? But when we submit and surrender to our convictions the more vibrant HE is through us.

Matthew 13:14-16 NIV "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Other-wise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."

Lord, keep me teachable! Proverbs 14:6 AMP "A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands."

Lovingly from the one that is walking through a shedding,

Yolanda @ Higher Grounds

I looked up "attitude" in my Merriam-Webster's Pocket Thesaurus after I had already typed that for my title and got tickled. Tickled because two of the synonyms for attitude are the perfect words that I was looking for to explain what I saw last night: Posture and Position.

I've been pondering what kind of a position or posture am I in? Do I stand for God and His Word? Or do I compromise and blend in with the rest of the world? My posture speaks volumes as well as yours to those that are watching but more importantly to JESUS CHRIST.

I have some tough questions floating and perhaps you may have as well. Do I love others where they are at, loving them into the kingdom instead of brow beating them? Am I coming along side another that is perhaps making a poor choice yet showing them gently God's way? Do I walk away copping an attitude that says I knew you would do that not even showing them Jesus at all?

My bible study this week has had me re-learning about shame and guilt. The word that was used is "REPROACH". I'll be honest with you, that is a tough word for me, I just didn't get it until I went to my Thesaurus. Words can be hard for me and synonyms help me so much in grasping what a word means. Reproach: rebuke, reprimand, abuse, condemn, disgrace. When we are being forced to stay in our reproach we can get a 'tude to the max. Or we can get low so low that our chin hits the floor. We don't want to be seen because of a c.o.m.p.r.o.m.i.s.e. that we allowed to happen. **I snapped this in my own back-yard**

For the sake of this writing, I'm not wanting us to think of ATTITUDE in the negative sense. I want to take a look at the posture or position we perhaps have been in lately. Today I want you and I to be found taking a position, posture or stand in and for the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ. When we come with our filthy rags and allow the Blood of Jesus Christ to make us white as snow, when we turn from our wicked ways 180 degrees to walk in His Righteousness, when we are *"on our way" to Holy & Blameless....then our posture will align with what God had intended for us all along. I also ask that you and I would become more aware of our Brothers & Sisters in Christ to then allow them to take a correct posture as well. We hurt so many that are right where we HAVE BEEN when we strive to keep them slinking around. His blood covers them!!! **This picture I was able to get when we were out in Colorado last week, do you think I need a new camera? :-) **

2 Peter 3:16-18 NIV is awesome....."He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." I high-lighted for you and I to be on our guard, that we have a secure position and to grow in grace!!!

Phillipians 2:4-6 NIV: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,"

Father God, I thank You for giving us visuals to help educate us in Your Word. That we can be on our way to Holy & Blameless and that we no longer need to shrink back and not be seen. But that we can take our RIGHT standing with You and let our position be known that we love and serve the One True God. That no one is left even wondering what we are about, they simply know. Lord, I love You so much. Amen.

Seeking Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Have any of you spent time in the book of Daniel lately? I'm thinking perhaps so because Daniel is full of prophecy about the end times. My cause was simply because that is where I am in my reading through the bible in a year. Please do not feel any condemnation from me or think that I am super spiritual....I'm doing so only out of obedience for what God has convicted me of for 2009.

I became tickled, almost giddy last week with God's word. It was a fresh word for me and it was a NOW word. Daniel 6 is about the Lions' Den. If you aren't aware or simply needing a refresher, stop and read from your own bible Daniel 6.

Because Daniel had proved himself to the king by his actions and ability, he was placed over all the other administrators & princes. The others then began to search for a fault in Daniel and they set him up to fail because they knew of his faithfulness towards the living GOD. As you know, Daniel did not bow to king Darius as the law had been written by these men but he continued to bow to his God three times a day. He chose and was found faithful in worshipping GOD not man. This caused Daniel to be thrown into the Lions' Den and upset king Darius because that was not his intention when he signed this decree. These men had purposely set out to have Daniel destroyed because of their jealousy.

The king said in verse 16b NLT: "May your God, whom you worship continually rescue you." And another pivot verse is 18a: "Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting." This is a Mede, in Babylon following pagan gods, Friends. Yet he knew that God was the rescuer and he chose to fast. A custom found with the Israelites.

We also know that Daniel came out of the Lions' den without one single mark on his body. Why? God protected him because of Daniel's obedience, because of God's sovereignty and perhaps because of king Darius' actions as well. Daniel was not harmed.

But my joy kicked into gear when I read verse 24, oh God's revenge is sweet. My revenge is filthy, causes such a stink, does so much damage, but GOD'S brings HEALING. "Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den." The king then went on to give praise to God, the God of Daniel, the living God.

Father, I would imagine many of us have people in our lives that purposely set out to bring us harm. To trip us up because they are seeing first hand our obedience to You. Even the evil one is out to destroy us. I'm thankful that when I am thrown into a lions' den that You keep me protected and from harm. Thank You for giving me another reason to walk in obedience to YOU not man and to allow YOUR revenge not mine. Your word brings life and healing to my day. I am no longer in a pit, and I thank You Abba for bringing me to Higher Ground. Amen.

Lovingly.....Yolanda

Bill, Yolanda, Beth, Melissa & Jimbo.

Did you know that we have a Forever Friend? One that truly does last the test of time? His name is Jesus. John 15:14-16 NIV "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."


I want to share one more thing with you about Beth. In January we both began the Scripture Memorization that was being encouraged on the LPM Blog. Then in March Beth Moore announced that she would be having a get together in January for those that have participated. Right away I knew I wanted to go as God has used Beth Moore mightily in my life, always pointing me to Jesus Christ for my healing. With-in just a few days of that invitation Beth Herring and I made a commitment to one another to room and be a team to recite our scriptures at this gathering. SO GOD! Investing, being real, encouraging, emitting the fragrance of Christ.


Lord, thank You for blessing me with a Forever Friend. One that loves You, is faithful in prayer, and truly invests. Thank You Lord for the gift of LIFE that You have given to Beth and myself. For the Living Water that You have poured into her and she so lovingly pours back out. Thank You Lord for splashing us with Your Love. Amen.

This summer I am doing two bible studies that are in-depth with lots of home work. Why? Because I know who and what I can become if I don't get my mind soaked with God's truths. I refuse to go back to the bondage that had a tight grip on me. Therefor I have to press on with God and I just knew these were the two studies He had for me this summer. He has set me free and I have a deep desire for you to be free as well.

Interestingly enough, both studies are currently convicting me that the inside of my cup has scum attached to it and is in need of some major cleaning. Believing God by Beth Moore and Me Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild are timely because I have believed what others have said about me to be true. This week I've heard some bizarre things come out of my mouth about myself. That is the scum clinging to the inside of my beautiful cup making it be dirty. Those words and my thinking simply does NOT align with the Word of God about me.

This morning I came across a scripture that will become my next memory verse. I know that I know PREVENTION IS KEY to the attacks of the enemy or one being used by the enemy. What is the prevention Yolanda is writing about you might be asking yourself?

Knowing, believing and stowing the Word of God in YOUR heart and MY heart. Believing God over words that have literally been spoken to you, about you and/or even behind your back.

The cleaning of my cup goes forth in the direction of words that I have spoken of another as well. Prevention is key, and therefor this is my next memory verse:

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19:13 NIV

Lovingly moving forward to Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Lovingly,
Yolanda

PS: My t-shirt this morning is: Blessed Nation, Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Psalm 33:12a and my verse of the day on my laptop just happens to be: Psalm 33:12 NIV "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." How cool is that?

1 John 4:15-17 NIV: "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him."

As I read "A Woman's Worth" by Heather a few days back, something she wrote really touched the deepness of my heart. I want to expel upon and incorporate it into Higher Grounds this morning because as I read her heart I thought she was writing about me. I quote Heather: "I want to be soaked in the Word, and to have it not just spill off my lips, but to pour from my life. I want it to change me, until I no longer resemble the woman I once was, but instead look more like Christ each day."

That is exactly what I want to be known for and as by my Lord and Savior. Drenched in the Word of God that it splashes onto others, filling their cup as mine is over flowing. Then I will no longer resemble the woman that I once was and the woman that others try to hold me to, but instead to look and be more like Christ each and every day.


I was able to be a "Grace Dispenser" recently. Did I intend to be? OH NO WAY!! Would I have been on my own? OH NO WAY!! Was it hard? Honestly, if I would have not been prayed up and seeking God's way, then YES. But at this particular time not really because I know that I know when God places something on my heart it is much sweeter to follow through and walk in obedience then to act like I didn't hear Him or sense Him. I chose to rely upon the love of God that has been shed abroad in my heart.

What did I do? Not sure that it merit's speaking....but rest assured that it wasn't lost, I believe whole-heartily that God was smiling and I did it for Him, the AUDIENCE OF ONE!

Father God, I am thankful and returning like the 1 leper that was healed, because I know that You did this for me. That You showed Yourself powerful in my situation because I chose to rely upon you. To respond like Jesus, not like Yolanda. To serve not be served. I don't always get it right and when I don't, I beat myself up. I ask that I would become more and more like You knowing that You alone deserve the GLORY. Relying upon You, allowing a change to no longer be who I used to be. Praise You Father. Amen.


Splashing while reaching for Higher Grounds,
Yolanda