911

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11, NKJV)

Yesterday, I had a lengthy conversation with my oldest child, Cortni. She was with her youngest child who was home from preschool because she had been sick the night before. We made Christmas plans and plans for an upcoming shower we are giving for our friend. 

During our conversation, my phone battery ran down so I plugged in my phone and turned it off to charge. While my phone charged, I gathered things together to take my youngest children for an afternoon on the beach. Suddenly, God dropped in my spirit, “Pray for your kids.” I immediately prayed for all my kids.

Once I turned my phone back on, Cortni told me after she and I had gotten off the phone, she heard someone attempt to open her door by rattling the door knob. Thankfully, the door was locked.

Cortni ran to the baby’s room. Not wanting to overreact, she called Ryan thinking it may be him coming home from school and maybe he forgot his house key. But it wasn’t him, he was at an appointment. He hung up and immediately dialed 911. Cortni heard the door rattle again.

Thank God for the police department!

Thankfully the police arrived very quickly. While she was waiting, she received two phone calls from dispatch insuring she was ok. The police interviewed the neighbors but wasn’t able to find the person who tried to enter Cortni’s home.

Cortni and I discussed what possibly turned the would be intruder away. I said, “I would not be surprised if the person was met by a huge warrior angel!”

She said, “Funny you say that. When I went to bed, I had to control my thoughts on a serious level. I fell asleep with a vision of angels surrounding my house with their arms linked together not allowing any space between them to let anything in.”

Praise God for providing us with our very own angelic security system!

On Guard

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23, AMP)

Yesterday, we took the morning off and had a leisurely family breakfast at a nearby favorite spot. A celebrity's family was on the property as well, filming a documentary. Out of respect for their privacy, I won't divulge their names and location. 

Security was heightened and the resort staff seemed a little less casual than usual. Body guards we were walking around the property using 2 way radios and ear pieces. I saw the camera crew and they had really great equipment!

All the "buzz" made me think, "This is an idea of what guarding our heart looks like!" We must guard our hearts as closely or closer than this family is being guarded!

We must stay alert and vigilant like heightened security and watch out for the enemy! (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)

We cannot become casual in the area of guarding our hearts. We do not copy the behavior and customs of this world.  (Romans 12:2, NLT)

We must secure all boundaries and act like body guards to insure our hearts are not infiltrated! 

Click this link for mood music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii1tc493bZM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Alrighty, I got caught up in the moment and was pulling on some comical theatrics! I majored in Criminal Justice in college, it just comes out! 

God hasn't given us a spirit of fear. He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind!  And He has given us really cool "equipment" like prayer, authority, and His living Word. 

The name is Fulton, Genice Fulton.

The Traylor Switch

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38, NLT)

This is another post written straight from my heart totally bypassing my head and the advice of some who say, "Keep it clean". 

When I started this blog, I made a commitment to be transparent (even though deep down and even at the surface, that still makes me cringe...it always has) and create a source for others to go to for true help and true encouragement. I've been attacked for that and accused of not bringing glory to God. 

I still hold to that which is my original goal for this blog independent of a few opinions in that I am real, life is real, and at times, we all need real help. Sometimes, we need our friends to jump down in the ditch, take our hand, and help us walk out as opposed to offering up a smile, a quick pat on the head and a, "I will pray for you." Sometimes, we need a friend to say, "What can I do to help?" And then follow up and actually do something. And then keep checking in until victory is accomplished...whether that takes a minute or months. It is my heart's desire to be such a friend and to love at all times. 

Let's just say the first part of this week has been in the ditch. Thats ok, I'm determined it is out of the ditch as of now. 

I will explain. Monday was full of little foxes. One of which, Macy's called security on me.  It's not as exciting as it sounds. If you really want to know, I added the incident at the very bottom of this post so those who wanted to skip it can due to time restraints. 

Tuesday night, we were cleaning up from dinner when my youngest ran in crying and buried her face in my shoulder. A man in the neighborhood told her and her three friends they can not play near his home...which is quite impossible because it is next door to our home. And all the neighborhood kids congregate at our house. And he added, "Do NOT tell your parents about this!"

Suffice it to say, my "Traylor switch" flipped.

Suffice it to say, there was a showdown at his doorstep (I grew up on the Texas state line) and now he totally understands he is to never approach my children again under any circumstances. 

I walked away (as a few of my senses began to return to me) and thought, yep...I've got great opportunity to repent now. But praise God I was reminded that nothing can separate me from the love of my almighty Father, not even me.

I told you all of that to tell you this. Even when we handle matters through mom filtered glasses, He still loves us because it is who He is. 

I'm not at all suggesting you handle matters by having a showdown. In hindsight, it would've been wiser for me to stay home and have Mike handle the situation. He is much better at these things than I am. And I have to say I am very well pleased at how he handled the incident in those rare and very brief moments where he was able to get a word in edgewise during those milliseconds when I inhaled. 

But in all honesty, I cannot say I regret defending my girls. I do not regret standing up for what is right. A man (or anyone else for that matter) has absolutely no right to tell children not to tell their parents anything. Some may view that as indignant. 

If so, please pray for me. I will be here, still wearing my mom filtered glasses, still walking life out. 

SECURITY!

About a month ago I went shopping on Oahu and bought a dress. I live on the Big Island. Sunday, I was going to wear my new dress; however, discovered the ink security tag had not been removed. Monday I took the dress to our local Macy's (praying for favor beforehand) and told them what happened. The cashier asked for the receipt. Now...why didn't I think of that? Please refer back to the Monday full of little foxes comment. She called security and asked them to check the cameras to insure I walked in the door with the dress. She asked me my exact route. I was thinking, now wouldn't this be a less than perfect ending to a less than perfect day? West Hawaii News headlines complete with "headshot", local business owner arrested at Macy's for stealing a $40 dress! I'm totally kidding, kinda. 

The security officer walked up, smiled at me, looked at the cashier, rolled his eyes and said, "Just take the tag off the dress." Thanked me and left. FAVOR!