Do you hear from God?

Perhaps you are wondering where in the world is June, why hasn't she been blogging? Well, I've decided to take my own advice.... I'm trying to do only what the Lord tells me to do.

I know popular polls tell us that we need to constantly stay connected to our audience, and my blog says weekly updates. But all of that is man's doing (except for the words..weekly updates posted on my blog, sigh....that was my stupid idea...note to self, take that off the blog site). What I'm trying to say is we need to stop listening to society and start listening to God. If we keep hearing the words of man we are going to live in fear, guilt, and confusion. God has convicted me of not listening to Him. Where is He directing me? What is He doing in my life? When we stop and listen to the voice and the ways of God, then we can we live with great peace, joy, and confidence.

What I'm about to tell you might make you mad, possibly make you stand and cheer, or it could simply make you want to run for a bathroom and throw up. But stay with me until the end because God has something to tell you.

A couple of weeks ago I sat upon a mountain top with my husband of 29 years, Jay. I had been trying to find the right romantic moment to tell him about his birthday surprise. Now personally I would have picked a fancy restaurant to receive my great news, but guys are different, and I wanted this to be about Jay.

We were nestled together in our camo outfits that were accessorized with bright orange hats and vests (you won't find this outfit at forever 21). Ahh, there we were, in a place that Jay loved. In the quiet, surreal, fresh air of the mountains. "This is it, this is a romantic place to Jay (for me...not so lovely)."

While sitting next to him on a cold mountain I spilled his 50th birthday surprise like a kid knocking over his grape juice at the dinner table. OK, maybe it didn't have the best delivery but I could see in his eyes that Jay was truly surprised, grateful, and excited. It was a priceless moment...I leaned toward him with my eyes closed anticipating his tenderhearted kiss. But I almost lost my balance and fell flat on my face as he pulled away from me and said, "There they are!"

"There who are?" I said with a little attitude.

"The elk!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, could this event get any better?" I thought to myself. Two missions accomplished for the price of one.

Slowly, I put my gun into position and zeroed in on my target. "I think I can do it." I said with the confidence of a mighty hunter.

"They are too far, not yet." Jay whispered.

Of course I knew that 300 yards was too far away but..."I'm sure I can do this. I have her in my sights."

"OK," Jay said, almost smiling, knowing this was a long shot for a rookie. "Gently squeeze the trigger." he whispered.

The sound of the gun seemed like a cannon. My right shoulder flinched from the recoil of the rifle. My heart raced. "What had I done, what was I thinking!" The cow (female elk) just stood there as if someone had slapped her across the face.

"Did I get her?"

I watched her slowly disappear into the forest.

"We have to go get her." My husband exclaimed. "You shot her!"

I'm not going to lie, I felt like Anne Oakley. Although a little sad at the same time. I love elk meat, but was it worth this?

As we entered the forest there was no blood to be seen. "How, could we track her?"

Jay saw a heard of elk head up the mountain but as I surveyed the trees I saw her disappear into the black timber.

We searched high and low but still no sign of her. "Maybe I missed" I thought to myself after we searched for about an hour. As darkness was setting in Jay said, "We have to split up and go through the black timber (the deepest, scariest part of the Forrest)."

First of all I had no idea where we were, and second, the darkness of the black timber scared me with Jay by my side, much less by myself.

"June, it's are only hope to find her." he assured me.

With no gun, flashlight, or sense of direction I headed into the black timber. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." My voice kept getting louder and louder as I recited the 23rd Psalms. I walked over fallen trees and heard noises that would make me jump. After what seamed like days I screamed for Jay but heard no answer. "Where are you?" I yelled with all of my might. I was half mad, half scared, and praying with all of my might that God wouldn't let this beautiful animal die in vain (that is if she was dead).

"I'm over here, you are to far right, start making your way left and I'll meet you at the top." he shouted. I took a deep breath, "Okay, at least I know Jay hasn't deserted me."

Psalms 23 kept comforting me, "He prepareth a banqueting table in the presence of mine enemies." I mumbled as I climbed up and over a fallen tree. As I began to take my next step I froze in my tracks, my heart began to race. "What is it?" I asked myself. "Was it a bear? Do I dare move? Should I scream?" "God help me!" was all that would come out of my mouth. I had stumbled onto a pile of fur but could not see any appendages.

I stood on my tippy toes to look over the log that hid the object. "It's her, it's her, I found her!" I screamed with all my might. I praised God that she didn't die in vain. I thanked God that I was still alive and not lost. But most of all I praised God that He had guided me and directed me through the darkest part of the Forrest.

I know this story seems a little odd for most of my readers but two days later one of my daughters dogs dissappeared while I was watching him. Jolene and her family had just moved to Grand Junction from Texas. I knew that this was terrible as the dog didn't know the neighborhood and it was night time. I jumped in my car to go looking for him. I prayed, "Lord you know where this dog is, please tell me." "Go back to Jolene's house and wait." was the voice in my soul.

As I stood at Jolene's back yard with a flashlight I could hear a faint bark that seemed to be blocks away. Sure enough, the dog had been guided back home.

As I was headed back home the Lord gently spoke to me, "I've shown you twice in the last two days that I will guide you. In these dark confusing times I will lead you, listen for my voice."

What peace to know that we don't have to do things the way the world would. And even when life seams dark or confusing we just have to listen for our Shepard's voice. "His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Ps. 119:105).

What was Jay's birthday surprise...to be continued

"Just Do It"

"Do Whatever He Tells You To Do" (John 2:5)



Have you ever wanted something to be so perfect that you stressed over it, lost sleep over it, got cranky, or even worse, you let fear over take you?


I'm guilty! In fact right now it is 4:44 am and here I am blogging. Why? Because there is so much on my plate right now. i.e. The Wake Up Sleeping Beauty kick-off, Labor Day with family at the cabin, quarterly taxes, canning pickles, tomatoes, peaches, and whatever else comes out of a garden, and the list goes on. The problem is that they all have deadlines. People are counting on me and I can't wait until November to can peaches. It all seems a little over whelming.


I think Mary may have felt my stress when she was helping out at the wedding in Cana. They were having an amazing celebration and then the wine ran out... "Who ordered the wine? How could we be short? Why are we out?" I can imagine her saying as the last wine bottle was being poured.


But then she remembers, "Jesus, my Son, He's God, He can do anything!" "Ask Him to perform a miracle" She thinks to herself. But when she presents the wine problem He replies, "It's not My time."


"Yikes!" I think to myself. Is this what Jesus is going to say when I ask for help?


Only if we quit. You see, it was Mary's next move that proved her faith. "Do what ever He ask you to do" she told the servants. She knew her Son, her Savior, her Protector, her Deliverer, her Lord, was not about to let her down, and He didn't. He saved the best for last as He turned the water to wine.


I need a miracle right now... so I will "do what ever He ask me to do" and trust that He will come through with more than I expected.

Sex Sells

Sex sells. Which might explain Miley Cyrus, all of 16, jumping aboard an ice cream cart for a couple of suggestive dance moves and thrusts alongside a silver pole.

According to NewsDay.com Miley Cyrus is now pole dancing her way into the spot light with the help of her dad! I don't know about you but I'm sick of this kind of behavior and everybody just turning their heads and acting like it's no big deal.

Check out this article from NewsDay.com.

Who wears short shorts? Miley Cyrus does - and black leather boots, too.The 16-year-old Disney star, who sold out Nassau Coliseum in 2007 and is in line to do the same for her November show here, took another step along the Britney Spears career track this weekend with a pole-dancing performance at the Teen Choice Awards that some say sent the wrong message to her tween-age fans.Cyrus, who has been piping up about broadening her appeal, busted out the provocative get-up to sing her song "Party in the USA" for a segment of the teen awards fest taped Sunday and broadcast Monday night on Fox. Halfway through the song, Cyrus climbed atop an ice cream cart and shimmied alongside a pole protruding from its top. But if you were surprised, offended or shocked by the move, you really shouldn't be, say Miley-watchers - this has been coming for some time."She already has this risque image, so it really wasn't much of a stretch," says Us magazine senior editor Ian Drew. "That's how Britney took off. She was the good girl gone bad, and it looks to be working for Miley as well."

The article goes on to say, "Miley the Minor didn't do anything illegal, or against her will. According to an interview she gave MTV, Miley and her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, planned the not-so-slyly sexualized performance as part of an homage to the family's small-town, trailer-park, country roots. One minute, she's Hannah Montana, role model to legions of little girls. The next, it's Miley - a year after her father caught flak for sexually charged photographs of the kid in a magazine - dancing one more step toward goodness knows what."

Moms, please help me in fighting this. We have to teach our girls. If you haven't signed up to be a leader for this years Wake Up Sleeping Beauty kick-off please do it now. You can influence not only your daughter but her friends. Go now to http://www.wakeupsleepingbeauty.com/ and click on events and register as a leader.

We can be appalled at Billy Ray Cyrus for exposing his daughter to such scandalous behavior but we are no better if we don't become proactive with our own daughters.

Day 24-28 "Your Children Will Return"

"Your children will return" Jeremiah 31: 16-17



I apologize for not posting a blog every day this week. I want you to know that Jordan and I have been shredding and spending our time in the Word.


This past week I had the honor of going to Aspen, Colorado to do a Wake Up Sleeping Beauty kick-off. The moms and daughters captured my heart. I can't wait to see what God is up to in Aspen. Please be praying for them as they start their groups next week.


I also had the joy of preparing for all of our daughters and their spouses to come home. We are all getting ready to escape to Lake Powell. I can't remember the last time we were all together. Thank you Lord.


There was also break through this week. Jordan was anxious to get her ACT scores back because she wants to fast track into Mesa College her senior year. Now Jordan is a very smart girl but she struggles with test taking. While I was in Aspen she called, "Mom, I did it, I not only passed, I exceeded their standards!" Now that was amazing but her next words blew me out of the water. "Mom, I'm going to take the test again. I know that I can do better and get the scholarship that CCU offers." For a girl who stresses and cries on test days this was like the Red Sea parting and she was walking through. Like Jillian says, "If you want results you have to work hard, don't phone this one in."


Jordan and I have been continuing in our study of Jeremiah. Israel is engaged to God but she keeps finding other lovers. Jeremiah weeps over her unfaithfulness and keeps warning her that she is trading in God's glory for things that won't profit her.


There are many times in my ministry that I feel like the weeping prophet as I try to tell girls that their choices are going to lead to curses and not blessings. Time and time again I see girls fall into sexual impurity. They trade the Glory of God for things that won't profit them.



Last night I had the privilege of witnessing one of the most beautiful love stories of all times. A former Wake Up Sleeping Beauty student and her groom went to the marriage alter pure! Their wedding was a testimony to the glory of God. They shared their love for Christ with the guests as they wrote their own vows and washed each others feet. Tears stream down my face as I thought about Christ coming for a bride without blemish. The angles in heaven must have been rejoicing last night as two people came to the wedding chamber undefiled, and Holy unto God. Thank you, Wade and Chelsea for witnessing to so many last night!


This will be my final "Shred" blog as the next two days Jordan and I will be shredding in a remote spot. I feel like Jordan and I have made huge progress both mentally and physically. Jordan ran her three miles this week and I know that I will succeed soon. Spiritually I desire to look good for my Groom. I want to become the Bride that He longs for. I know that my job as His fiance is to learn and know all I can about Him while He's gone to the Father to prepare a place for me.



I want to encourage you to keep exercising your bodies and minds with your daughters this summer. Keep breaking thought barriers that have stopped you from succeeding in the past and get rid of things that steal God's glory and keep you from profiting.


I want to encourage you with a verse that God gave me when I started Wake Up Ministries, "Stop crying, stop weeping, your work shall be rewarded. Your children will return from the land of the enemy and into their own territory." Jeremiah 31: 16-17 Moms never give up. Girls never give in. When it comes to trading God's glory with the things that the world has to offer, it will never profit you.

Day 23 "Little Profit"

"But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit." (Jer. 2:11)

The Apostle, Paul, tells us that it doesn't really profit us that much to buff up our bodies. There are some health benefits, but it's not ever lasting. If we start admiring ourselves too much or long for the "Idol" body we will exchange our glory (being His temple) for that which does not profit.

Jordan and I spent quite a bit of time in the second chapter of Jeremiah today. God compliments Israel as He tells them, "I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothals, your following after me in the wilderness."

We compared this scene with our first loves in High School. How cool it was to take new adventures in unknown territories with the man of our dreams. "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley deep enough to keep us from them." but then they dumped us.

They changed the glory that we had for drinking, parties, and even other women. Oh, the hurt of our first love letting us down. We gave so much of ourselves. We had a right to be angry, bitter, mean, and vengeful. Yep, we were going to drink poison and hope that someone else (our boyfriends) would get sick and die.

How God must feel when we stop depending upon Him, stop trusting, loving, or spending our time with Him in order to please the world, how much it sickens Him knowing that it will not bring us profit.

God has the right to be bitter, mad, mean, and even hateful to us as we've all dumped Him in some sore of fashion. But when we come back He forgets, forgives, and adorns us with His glory and oh, how it profits us.

Day 22 "Workout Three, The Last Frontier"

"Before I formed you I knew you, before you were born I consecrated you." (Jer. 1:5).



We are on the last leg of the 30 day shred. Jordan and I are committed to doing workout 3 for the rest of the duration (that would be eight days for those of you just joining us).


I want you to know that I'm a full supporter of this Jillian (that is until she comes out with some outrageous hidden secret). I think she's changed my life and a few others along the way. I'm telling everyone about "The Shred." I also show them, "just feel my abs." It's sick and wrong but I'm every impressed that our bodies can change so much with a little effort. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. I'm pretty sure that before long Jillian's going to have to start paying me a commission for selling so many DVDs.


Jordan and I have have gone from Isaiah (the doom prophet) to Jeremiah (the weeping prophet). Now that's progress.


I've read Jeremiah a thousand times but this morning something hit me. God said, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." The word knew in Hebrew is "yada", it means to be one or intimate, it can go as far as sexual intimacy.

God is giving us a clue about His love for Jeremiah. As He knitted Jeremiah together He was putting all the right parts, pieces, temperments, looks, and love into him to do the job which he had created him to do.

"Before you were born I set you apart" He made Him unique and then gave Jeremiah his purpose..."prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah questioned the Lord. "I am a youth."

I often question my purpose, or better yet can I do it? I often think: I'm too old, not smart enough, not rich enough, or some other excuse but the fact is... God knitted me together with everything I need to do His good works. He knew me! He's crazy in love with me.


Jordan and I said maybe we weren't sent here to change nations (or maybe we were) but we are definetly created and equipped to do all that God asks us to do.

Day 21 "Father's Day Shred"

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3


My husband, Jay, dreamed about going to our cabin and fishing Father's Day weekend. It was the perfect weekend. The boat ran great, we caught our fishing limit in about an hour (my dream come true) and Saturday evening was quiet and peaceful as God painted us a beautiful picture in the mountain sky.


Jordan and Jay will tell you that all was calm until 8:00 am on Sunday morning. Yep, that's when the "Shred" Nazi began to shout, "Get up we're wasting daylight"

Jordan moaned, "Mom, we had a deal...we don't shred until 8:30." She wrapped the pillow securely over her head hoping that I would not bothered her again.

However, I'm smarter than the average bear so I waited a few moments and then set the only clock in the cabin up 20 minutes. "Jordan, it's 8:30!" I giggled.


"Mom, you're ridiculous." At least that's what I think she said under that muffled pillow.


While drinking his coffee, Jay, laughed as he's gotten quite use to "The Shred" routine. I took one look at him and said, "Soldier, down your coffee, you're "Shredding" too."


It was Father's day and since we have no TV at the cabin we needed Jay's stop watch. Yep, we were going to do three minutes of strength moves, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of abs (three times) while hiking straight up a mountain.


I have to say that it was one of the best times ever in the mountains. Jordan began to give her dad heck. "Dad, these are lunges, get your rear end down."


"I'm about to pull a hamstring" was his reply.


"Oh yea, your not either, you're just out of shape, I hear you breathing" She laughed.


I must tell you that at the end of our 20 minutes we were all dirty, sweating, and breathing like ninety year-old smokers. We were laughing at how crazy this all was. I can't think of a better Father's day. However, I'm not sure Jay sees it in the same way. He's walking with a limp. It must be that pulled hamstring!


While at the cabin I came across Proverbs 15:3. I smiled as it brought back memories of picking up Olivia from her Christian preschool. Olivia was a very quiet four year-old, an only child in a single parent home. I was trying to make her feel comfortable so I asked her, "Olivia what's your favorite song at school?" Before she could answer I said, "Jesus, loves me? The B-I-B-L-E? Zack, the wee little man?


"No, no, and no" was her answer. "I like...The Eyes of the Lord Go To and Fro."


"What!" I said. "I've never heard of that." Maybe it was the way she said, "Lord" rolling all the consonants together, but it was the cutest thing I'd ever heard.


In her cute little voice she said, "June, you know it, it's Problems 15:3!"


Trying to keep a straight face I said, "Olivia, do you mean Proverbs 15:3?"


"Yep, He's watching everything, His eyes go to and fro." melodically she sang.


The crackling of the fire brought me back to the present. "Oh, the eyes of the Lord watch it all. The good and the evil." I believe He smiles as He watches his children loving each other and having a good time. I believe He loves families more than anything in the world and desires for us to stay away from the evil and live the abundant life He came to give us. In the 15th chapter of "Problems" He shows us how to stay away from evil and live good.


Olivia had been through some really rough times but for her there was great comfort knowing that God sees it all, the evil and the good. My prayer for Olivia is , "God, show her how to live good, and keep Your eyes upon her." It's written in the Problems.