Load Bearing Walls: Samson... my bday word 2011

My birthday word from January 2011, Usama Bin Laden, Priests of our Households, and marriages>>!!

FINALLY,,, posting my Birthday word from January 2011.

What do my word, UBL, Long-term marriages, and Priests have in common??

All deal with "load bearing walls"!!!

God knows the strategy of our enemy, and He will direct our path!

Samson was placed between "load bearing walls"!! and God's glory

was revealed... is it any surprise that the enemy would try the same tactic?

First a generic definition... and an apology for a more lengthy than normal posting... feel free to scroll to the next posting should the LORD not direct your reading this one.

 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A load-bearing wall (or bearing wall) is a wall that bears a load resting upon it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure. The materials most often used to construct load-bearing walls in large buildings are concrete, block, or brick.

By contrast, a curtain wall provides no significant structural support beyond what is necessary to bear its own materials or conduct such loads to a load-bearing wall.

History

Load-bearing walls are one of the earliest forms of construction.

The development of the flying buttress in Gothic architecture allowed structures to maintain an open interior space, transferring more weight to the buttresses instead of to central bearing walls. Notre Dame Cathedral, for example, has a load-bearing wall structure with flying buttresses.

The birth of the skyscraper era, the concurrent rise of steel as a more suitable framing system first designed by William Le Baron Jenney, and the limitations of load-bearing construction in large buildings led to a decline in the use of load-bearing walls in large-scale, commercial structures.

Application

Depending on the type of building and the number of stories, load-bearing walls are gauged to the appropriate thickness to carry the weight above them. Without doing so, it is possible that an outer wall could become unstable if the load exceeds the strength of the material used, potentially leading to the collapse of the structure.

OK... so there's the book definition... here's what I hear the LORD saying to my heart.. begun early this year, and being confirmed over and over.

"you who are at this season of your life (over 50 and in marriages that have been tested and  proven over 30 years)... you are to be:

SOLACE

SAFE PLACES and

PILLARS 

in the places I have put you. 

Know your identity as I, the LORD, have told you, and make sure you are fluid in your plans yet standing firm in your position according to the ONE WHO places you.

Understand that it will be the enemy's strategy to take out the "load bearing walls" so that the buildings standing on it's shoulders will also crumble. (his plan would take out households, congregations, families should he be able to shake and remove the pillars).

Understand that our enemy prowls looking for the opportune time or vulnerability unique to each of us so that he can move in and weaken the wall/pillar. Be on guard, more than you is at stake. But be assured... GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US than he that is of the world!! "

 The above picture is archeology from the temple where Samson stood... it was a true story of a hero who knew he was called, who left his calling, and yet returned to the ONE WHO made him... and became all he was meant to be.... a HERO in our LORD's hands... an example to those of us who come after.

Be blessed my friends as we all walk toward the LIGHT and the place to which we are called... 

I know that I have not made the connection to the first question of this post... I will assume that there is no need because to me, it is pretty clear:)

Happy 31st EKLD.... "open the floodgates of heaven"!!! Momma God made sparkles for your day!

 The day she turned 31 we'd just come out of the freeze of the season... 

her little ones said... "momma, look, God put sparkles all over the place for your birthday"

Indeed... the air and the ground were covered with the left over sparkles of the frosty arctic beast.

Perfect for my little one... Sparkles!!!

You make my heart smile precious one... always did... always have and always will!

and this year.... God said...

"OPEN THE FLOODGATES.... let the Spirit flow"...

you have... you do... you will!!! 

we love you EKLD.... forever!

New Years Day 2011

They ran in the door... dropped their shoes and helmets at the entrance.

(they'd ridden their bikes all the way here, and were now ready for blackeyed peas and cornbread... typical New Year's day fare)

We'd originally thought that we'd have the whole group here, but due to the sicknesses that ran rampant throughout the area from Mesquite, to Lubbock and everywhere in between, we kept our celebratory group to a minimum. (Although Wibbie and Moosey did finish the 44 Farms AIing just in time for lunch:)

Dance steps were learned easily and in turn....

and still our little Cochins are offering an egg a day. So fun to find the little treasures in the straw nests...

Troy and I stayed up till the midnight hour for the first time in years....

Troy was watching a movie that at first I thought... (OMGoodness... what horrible images to bring in the New Year) but then I remembered the one part I saw before making my way to bed.

It was a guy's movie... absolutely bloody and warrioresque... 300....

the part I remember was this...

Xerxes was brought up to Leonisis (was that his name??) in all the finery a great Persian king would be expected to have...

The encounter on the screen was stunning... huge spectacular beautiful king meets, scarred, muscled and confident Greek warrior.... The king tells the warrior that he should bow and then they could become partners since the Greeks were going to die anyway at the hand of the Persian army... L says... "don't think I'll bow...and btw... I have warriors who fight side by side with me... you, have SLAVES who are commanded to fight... THAT is why we are beating your 1000's with only 300."... not exactly that, but you get the idea.

Slave or Warrior... the difference is stunning when it comes to battle.

In a time when the BATTLES are begging for our involvement,

could this have been specifically placed at the front of our year?

That was what brought in the New Year here at might house....

Then that morning... on my porch right by my door...

many many many goldfinches right by the door! lovely

Cody had a new lamb

and I got a word about my plans...

"Don't be so set in your plans that they cannot be changed in an instant

at the impulse of the KING."

yes LORD... You alone make the plans...

may I always be flexible to Your touch and ready for Your move!

Dream, country kids, pumpkin decor Oct/Nov 2010

WE don't do Halloween, but we do decorated for Fall... I love the old wagon Pam found for me, and it looks great with my Fall pumpkin patch!

Things are still green around here and the cottages are hosting several families.

The kid's herd is a bunch of big old softies.... I remember when Mille was born.... on the Millenium year.... I remember Moosey and Wibby with Em in warm carhartts feeding that little red calf. Yes, Brahman cows like this one are red when they are born. She is KG's first cow, born the same year as she was.

This dream knocked my socks off.... and then to have TR dream about "angry eyes looking in the windows" not but a couple weeks later. I do believe the Lord still speaks to His people in dreams, and this one is very possibly one that I need to pray into for wisdom. The scary creatures in the last pen... the CIA men looking in the windows of our home that was filling with strange people and then the huge rocket ship with USA landing on our mountain and crumbling it beneath the weight.... yes, I need to know what You are telling us LORD... in dreams, through Your prophets, through Your people. Give us ears to hear!

And now the Pipe has a place to stay clean and out of the snakes out back. The lights will be quite a help too as the guys load and unload.

Thank You LORD for Your providence in so many ways in our life.

May we always be mindful of the fact that "the earth and everything in it" is Yours and we are the stewards of Your gifts. Help us know how to live and use these things wisely. Tell us how to prepare and how to rely on Your hand of providence. Help us to understand that in all things YOU are the GIVER of the good things and the ONE WHO filters all things through your fingers of love over our lives. Thank You LORD.

Earthquakes, Rain, and Recharged tanks... FLOW!!

January 30th, soooo much water!!! unexpected this time of year...
but the Heavens broke open and brought us record breaking rains
on the heels of the Haiti earthquake.
I listened as they spoke of the need for water and food, and I watched as here
the tanks that had been dry for years began to till to the brim.
Water came FALLING over the land and filled the tank by the prayer chapel.
Troy and I walked across the dam of the 2 almost dry yesterday tanks in the North pasture.
Today... in one morning... they were filled and overflowing.
Troy said...prophetically I believe,
"Carla, this is water for years!"
I receive this LORD... and I thank YOU for your providence not only to us, but to this whole little Valley in which You've placed us. We have water LORD... and seeing the world in need, makes us know the blessing of this incomparable gift!
My Christmas tank was dry yesterday, and today is full... maybe the flowers that our little ones planted and scattered will set deep roots and bring this place to flower with this rain.
This tank at the back was one of the first things I ever fell in love with on the property.
For years now, it has been barely holding on... ready to give the last drops to the animals
whose tracks we see everywhere... But today,
IT IS RECHARGED!!!
I believe this is evidence that there is REVIVAL coming, and this physical evidences what is coming in the spiritual.
THANK YOU LORD!

My birthday word 1/6/10

I'd been waiting... usually I get my "word" for my "new year" sometime around my birthday which happens to be close to the calendar New Year... but this year,
I waited, and I waited, and I waited on the LORD to bring it to my heart.
I got beautiful roses from Troy....
a fabulous BLUE pedicure (again from Troy!)
Olive Garden Lunch with the girls and the kids....
Books and a butterfly from a sister with a new IHOP haircut.... BUT!!!
I was still waiting!!!
I think I finally got it!!!
so many precious ones had written me birthday wishes and texts...
I searched the words from my family, my friends, and dear ones of my life.
I found my words in the hearts of these. It began to match up with other things I'd seen, and
VOILA
There it was!
1) God's Word: I awoke 4:44AM
Isaiah has been brought to me once before this morning, and here it is again!
Isaiah 44:4 (actually 1-5)

• 1.
• "But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.

• 2.
• This is what the LORD says-- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

• 3.
• For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

• 4.
• They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

• 5.
• One will say, 'I belong to the LORD'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and will take the name Israel.

OH LORD>>>> I RECEIVE this precious precious word that brings promise for me AND my dear ones! THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD!

2)As I told Troy about my heart and that I was still waiting on the LORD, I told him of several friends blessings on my day. As he listened, he said...
"maybe your word for this year is "FLOW"..... (little did we know at this time the importance of that very word!!!.....this January has brought more rain than we have had in years... ALL the tanks are full to overflowing... and again Troy brought a word as we stood on the tank's edge...
"Carla... this is water for years"....)
THANK YOU LORD for the FLOW that will be indicative throughout my year!

3) Nancy said in her wish for me...
"Carla, here is your word for this year.... "PALANDROME.. (reads the same both ways)" and then more directly "are we not drawn to a new era?"
THANK YOU LORD for speaking symmetry through my friend!

4) Another blessing comes from Amy... "may you always walk in the dust of the Rabbi"
Thank YOU LORD... for this blessing... I receive it and ask that YOU let me see those tracks clearly this year!

and finally,
5) Emily is my first call of the morning to wish me happy birthday and she says...
"Mom as I prayed for you this morning I believe God gave me Psalm 145:19"

• 19.
• He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

• 20.
• The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

• 21.
• My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever

YES LORD>>>> I praise YOU and I thank YOU for YOUR WORDs for me through the mouths and hearts of those who love me! SPEAK LORD for YOUR servant is listening!
Let YOUR words FLOW easily through my heart so that I walk closely behind YOU as YOU lead me in the path that You set for me before the foundations of the world! Thank YOU FATHER for each one of these who was used to tell me how YOU love me and that You see me!