This evening, I ran across a clever, cute quote for all the single ladies:
"Dance with God, and the perfect man will cut in."
My first reaction was "Aw, I love that!" It sounds romantic, right? It's the ultimate chick flick movie waiting to happen for us Christian women. But then I got to thinking....perfect man? Is there such a thing? I don't know one. But there's a man who's perfect for me, and I'm so glad God led us to each other! My husband and I go together like peanut butter and jelly. He's the yin to my yang. We've been married 8 years but we've been together for 12. We actually grew up together in church and our families vacationed together. I can count the number of New Years Eve's that we've been apart on one hand. Fun love story. Very romantic......but that doesn't mean we have the perfect marriage.
Perfect. A word that I, personally, struggle with. It's something I try to achieve in all areas of my life- including my marriage! Then I get to that breaking point when I realize that it's not possible to reach perfection.....or is it? (I went to the Word to see what God had to say about it, and I came across this helpful article if you're interested: http://www.centervilleroad.com/articles/perfect.html)
But let's get back to the issue at hand: the truth about marriage. It boils down to this: Keep God first. Love your Heavenly Father first. Spend time with Him first. Get to know Him first. Dance with Him first.
I've learned this truth the hard way, and I've had to learn it over and over again. You see, I tend to put my husband (and all earthly relationships) first. I put off my time with God. I have kids that need me 24/7/365. When they're sleeping, I keep myself plenty busy or I give myself a break and zone out. But what would happen if I got up 15 minutes earlier than my kids to read a Psalm and then start my day with a prayer? What would happen if I turned on Pandora Praise & Worship instead of Good Morning America? (For those of you with a daily commute- what would happen if you silenced your radio for 5 minutes to chat with God? What would happen if you open your Bible App to read the Verse of the Day BEFORE opening your FB or Pinterest?) Well, I've tried all those things. And I can tell you that it does WONDERS. What a Wonderful Counselor we have. How often do you seek Him?
So as this truth is something seemingly simple that can help you in all areas of life, it's also the truth about MARRIAGE. Before we can dance with each other, we must dance with God. If we rely on our spouse to "make us happy" then we're setting them up for failure. Just as they will never be the perfect spouse, neither will you. Learn to give each other grace.....by meditating on God's grace for us. Practice loving each other as God so loved this world....that He sacrificed His Son. When I searched the word "perfect" in the Bible, can you guess what I found? One theme: LOVE.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Col. 3:13-15 NIV)
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. (1 John 4:17-19 NLT)
I can't leave out this one from Song of Songs (aka Love Poems)
Sixty queens there may be,
and eighty concubines,
and virgins beyond number;
but my dove, my perfect one, is unique,
the only daughter of her mother,
the favorite of the one who bore her.
The young women saw her and called her blessed;
the queens and concubines praised her.
(Song of Songs 6:8-9)
So allow me to alter that clever, cute quote:
"Dance with God, and let His perfect love set you free to dance with your beloved."
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
TechniColor Dreaming
Last night, I had the craziest dream. It would take all day to recount it and you wouldn't be interested anyway, but I sure did lay in bed trying to interpret it. I usually ask myself why that person came to my mind or why that scenario happened...like it's a metaphor for some life lesson. Sometimes I wish I could call upon Daniel or Joseph, like the kings did, to interpret my dreams for me. I feel like God really does speak to me through them, like there's a hidden message.
After laying in bed for a little while driving myself crazy pondering every detail of that dream - I did come to a few conclusions. Maybe God was trying to get my attention after all. Maybe the only time that I sit still long enough to listen to Him is when I'm sleeping. Thank you, Lord, for creating the miracle of dreams. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through them.
Allow me to dish some personal stuff here. I'm curious if you can relate. I actually do sit still a little bit during my day. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a 2-year-old and 2-month-old. Getting out of the house is a chore in itself, so I don't plan too many playdates or lunchdates and we don't go shopping. Like - ever. I'm lucky if I make it to the grocery store once a week. I look forward to getting dressed and going to church on Sunday mornings. We find fun things to do at home - my son has lots of books. toys, movies, and our backyard offers him the most entertainment right now. (Love summertime!) I always have plenty of household chores to keep me busy, but most of the time I put them off because I'm tending to the kids' needs and wants. After all, my son can't play by himself all day! :) The most enjoyable part of my "job" is playing with my kids. And being a teacher, I've enjoyed finding fun ways to teach my son. Forget Pinterest, we just make things up as we go. But let me get back to the "I do sit still" thing. When my kids are napping and I have roughly 2 hours to myself - what do you think I do? I sit. I nap with them. Exhaustion overwhelms me, and I give in.
Is that bad? Sometimes I feel like I should be getting to the laundry or kitchen or smudged mirrors. Or shower. To bathe myself. Or the workout video. Or the Bible! (the list goes on) But I just don't have the energy. You may or may not fully "know" this kind of exhaustion.
Back to my TechniColored Dream that so vividly taught me some lessons....I woke up from it rejuvenated. I felt like I could conquer the world....or at least my day. And it was the best day I'd had in a long time! I had energy. I felt productive. I enjoyed my kids to the very last drop.
Thank you, Lord, for the rest and rejuvenation that only You can give us. You are my Strength when I am weak. When I am dry, You fill my cup. You are my All in All.
After laying in bed for a little while driving myself crazy pondering every detail of that dream - I did come to a few conclusions. Maybe God was trying to get my attention after all. Maybe the only time that I sit still long enough to listen to Him is when I'm sleeping. Thank you, Lord, for creating the miracle of dreams. Thank you, Lord, for speaking to me through them.
Allow me to dish some personal stuff here. I'm curious if you can relate. I actually do sit still a little bit during my day. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a 2-year-old and 2-month-old. Getting out of the house is a chore in itself, so I don't plan too many playdates or lunchdates and we don't go shopping. Like - ever. I'm lucky if I make it to the grocery store once a week. I look forward to getting dressed and going to church on Sunday mornings. We find fun things to do at home - my son has lots of books. toys, movies, and our backyard offers him the most entertainment right now. (Love summertime!) I always have plenty of household chores to keep me busy, but most of the time I put them off because I'm tending to the kids' needs and wants. After all, my son can't play by himself all day! :) The most enjoyable part of my "job" is playing with my kids. And being a teacher, I've enjoyed finding fun ways to teach my son. Forget Pinterest, we just make things up as we go. But let me get back to the "I do sit still" thing. When my kids are napping and I have roughly 2 hours to myself - what do you think I do? I sit. I nap with them. Exhaustion overwhelms me, and I give in.
Is that bad? Sometimes I feel like I should be getting to the laundry or kitchen or smudged mirrors. Or shower. To bathe myself. Or the workout video. Or the Bible! (the list goes on) But I just don't have the energy. You may or may not fully "know" this kind of exhaustion.
Back to my TechniColored Dream that so vividly taught me some lessons....I woke up from it rejuvenated. I felt like I could conquer the world....or at least my day. And it was the best day I'd had in a long time! I had energy. I felt productive. I enjoyed my kids to the very last drop.
Thank you, Lord, for the rest and rejuvenation that only You can give us. You are my Strength when I am weak. When I am dry, You fill my cup. You are my All in All.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Mission Statement
I started this blog before I knew I would be called into ministry. I was teaching middle school math and absolutely loving my job. Now I'm a stay-at-home mom and absolutely loving it. I was baptised when I was a child, I've been a Christ-follower all my life. Oh, and I'll turn 30 this year. Just had to throw that in the mix.
While I remain plenty busy raising my precious kids, I know that God wants to use my family to reach others. Life is not all about me. There's a bigger picture, a higher calling, a desire to be a woman after God's heart. And a very deep desire to teach and counsel others that want to experience a Spirit-filled life. After all, my talent is teaching. I hold two degrees in education, I feel comfortable in the role, and I have a crazy passion for it. I always thought I would just be in middle school math until I retired, but I only spent 7 years there. Sometimes I miss it, but my newest passion is teaching my 2-year-old son while his brain is like a sponge.
There's an old saying, "Knowledge is power." To some extent, I agree. However, I believe that Wisdom is much more powerful. There's a difference. Information is at our fingertips and knowledge can be easily gained if one studies something. But Wisdom....that comes from God. My mission, through this blog and other avenues, is to study God's word and share my insights. I've come up with a Mission Statement that more acutely defines what it's all about.
The word of God
Revealed by the Spirit, for
Understanding, wisdom, and personal growth.
Trusting in faith, and
Helping others come to know Him.
While I remain plenty busy raising my precious kids, I know that God wants to use my family to reach others. Life is not all about me. There's a bigger picture, a higher calling, a desire to be a woman after God's heart. And a very deep desire to teach and counsel others that want to experience a Spirit-filled life. After all, my talent is teaching. I hold two degrees in education, I feel comfortable in the role, and I have a crazy passion for it. I always thought I would just be in middle school math until I retired, but I only spent 7 years there. Sometimes I miss it, but my newest passion is teaching my 2-year-old son while his brain is like a sponge.
There's an old saying, "Knowledge is power." To some extent, I agree. However, I believe that Wisdom is much more powerful. There's a difference. Information is at our fingertips and knowledge can be easily gained if one studies something. But Wisdom....that comes from God. My mission, through this blog and other avenues, is to study God's word and share my insights. I've come up with a Mission Statement that more acutely defines what it's all about.
The word of God
Revealed by the Spirit, for
Understanding, wisdom, and personal growth.
Trusting in faith, and
Helping others come to know Him.
The Great Counselor
I'm currently reading Francis Chan's Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. I love reading about the power of the Holy Spirit and learning more about Him. It's the one part of the Holy Trinity that is most confusing for us, I think. Maybe because it's not tangible and we have trouble picturing it. We picture God, the Father, on a throne. We picture Jesus, the Son, dying on a cross or preaching to a crowd. It's very interesting to me how Jesus prepared His disciples for receiving the Spirit before He ascended to Heaven to be with the Father. Even though the Spirit was always in existence (just as Jesus was) in Old Testament times, we are introduced to Him in the New Testament as something "new."
In chapter 3, Chan lists some great Bible verses that show us who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in our lives. "The Counselor teaches and reminds us of what we need to know and remember. He is our comforter, our advisor, our encourager, and our strength. He guides us in the way we should go." (Chan, p. 74) Below are the verses that support this truth, along with some of my own thoughts.
The last verse gives me hope that the worldly evils we face are defeated for us if we remain faithful. "Worldly evils" come in many shapes and sizes. The first thing that comes to mind is sickness and disease. It makes us weak and vulnerable; it can turn our outlook from positive to negative in an instant. But what about things such as STRESS? (Work stress, financial stress, relationship/family stress, etc.) What about WORRY? (Dwelling on the possibility of something going wrong.) What about PEER PRESSURE to dress, act, and speak a certain way around those we call our "friends"? (aka Keeping up with the Joneses) Comparing ourselves to others (and juding others) is part of Satan's plan of attack. I encourage you to keep God's commands so that you will achieve VICTORY over these evils through faith.
In chapter 3, Chan lists some great Bible verses that show us who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in our lives. "The Counselor teaches and reminds us of what we need to know and remember. He is our comforter, our advisor, our encourager, and our strength. He guides us in the way we should go." (Chan, p. 74) Below are the verses that support this truth, along with some of my own thoughts.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalms 143:8, 10 NLT)Placing your full trust in Him may be difficult at times, because we like to have control over our lives. However, trusting will lead to a firm footing as He guides you and teaches you. I'd much rather have a firm footing with His help than walk along a really rocky path on my own!
Jesus said, "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1, 2, 5 NLT)Are you experiencing a season of hardships? Do you feel like God is teaching you some tough lessons? Just remember that the pruning is necessary for us to produce more fruit! The process is never fun, but it leads to great reward. Just last Sunday, my pastor spoke of the battles we endure in life. They're inevitable. Using Kelly Clarkson's words, "what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger!"
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10 NLT)
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5 NLT)
The last verse gives me hope that the worldly evils we face are defeated for us if we remain faithful. "Worldly evils" come in many shapes and sizes. The first thing that comes to mind is sickness and disease. It makes us weak and vulnerable; it can turn our outlook from positive to negative in an instant. But what about things such as STRESS? (Work stress, financial stress, relationship/family stress, etc.) What about WORRY? (Dwelling on the possibility of something going wrong.) What about PEER PRESSURE to dress, act, and speak a certain way around those we call our "friends"? (aka Keeping up with the Joneses) Comparing ourselves to others (and juding others) is part of Satan's plan of attack. I encourage you to keep God's commands so that you will achieve VICTORY over these evils through faith.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Easter Promises
Jesus Christ. Lord. Friend. Comforter. Healer. Son of God. Son of Man.
Prince of Peace. Warrior. King of Kings. Lover of Souls. Lamb of God. Savior.
Redeemer.
The Cross. Anguish. Torture. What an amazing sacrifice of LOVE for us. It offers Grace. Mercy. Forgiveness. Freedom.
The Resurrection. Conquering Death. Victory. New Life. Rising to proclaim the Glory of His Kingdom. Sending the Holy Spirit to abide with us.
Sometimes it is impossible to truly describe the greatness, awe, and wonder of our Almighty God and His promises. This Easter, I encourage you to reflect upon the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection. Just as the season of Spring brings new life and a renewed sense of warmth, the Cross brings the very same for your soul. Surrender to Jesus today. Take up your cross. Lay down your sin and weaknesses. Choose to follow Him. Choose to fight for Him. Choose Life with Him. He is the only One who will never let you down. He offers "beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair." (Crystal Lewis; also see Isaiah 61:3.)
As you watch your children search for Easter eggs, think about your life’s journey and your search for purpose. As you watch the JOY on their faces when they look at their basket full of treasures, think about the JOY of the Lord and His love.
There are tons of great songs that portray the beauty of Easter. Below is one of my newest favorites. May God bless you and your family this season.
The Cross. Anguish. Torture. What an amazing sacrifice of LOVE for us. It offers Grace. Mercy. Forgiveness. Freedom.
The Resurrection. Conquering Death. Victory. New Life. Rising to proclaim the Glory of His Kingdom. Sending the Holy Spirit to abide with us.
Sometimes it is impossible to truly describe the greatness, awe, and wonder of our Almighty God and His promises. This Easter, I encourage you to reflect upon the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection. Just as the season of Spring brings new life and a renewed sense of warmth, the Cross brings the very same for your soul. Surrender to Jesus today. Take up your cross. Lay down your sin and weaknesses. Choose to follow Him. Choose to fight for Him. Choose Life with Him. He is the only One who will never let you down. He offers "beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, and peace for despair." (Crystal Lewis; also see Isaiah 61:3.)
As you watch your children search for Easter eggs, think about your life’s journey and your search for purpose. As you watch the JOY on their faces when they look at their basket full of treasures, think about the JOY of the Lord and His love.
There are tons of great songs that portray the beauty of Easter. Below is one of my newest favorites. May God bless you and your family this season.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Peace that Passes Understanding
Food for thought. Excerpts are taken from God's Holy Word, Joyce Meyer's Everyday Life Bible, and my personal journal.
“And he will be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
PEACE. Of the increase of his government
and PEACE there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
“The government that is upon Jesus’ shoulders is not a
political government; no, this verse refers to the governing of our lives. We are not supposed to be running our own
lives. In fact, we are not even capable
or qualified to do so. None of us are intelligent
enough to know what is best, and that is why we need to be so thankful for
God’s intervention and His willingness to lovingly guide our lives. The more God’s government increases in my
life (the more He directs my thoughts, conversations, decisions, and actions),
the more my PEACE will increase. Peace
does not come from success, professional position or promotions, social status,
educational achievements, money, or an engaging personality. No, we find peace as we live according to the
kingdom of God, which is defined as righteousness, peace, and the joy of the
Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17). Being
right with God, knowing we are right with God, and doing right things out of
knowing who we are in Christ is a process, but it leads to peace, and peace
leads us to joy.” (from Joyce Meyer’s Everyday Life Bible)
Naturally, I turned next to Romans 14. It’s a great chapter- I encourage you to read
it. Don’t stop until you get to 15:13,
which says:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and PEACE as you
trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.”
From my journal on Jan. 26:
“As I sit in a remote cabin in Bowie, Texas- I’m feeling an
overwhelming sense of rest, relaxation, and peace. Stepping away from the hustle and bustle of
life in the city- as a mommy and housewife- I was able to sit and watch the
sunset last night alone. I turned on my
worship music (thankful for iPhones and Pandora) and sat in God’s presence,
enjoying His beautiful creation, praising His name, and taking long, deep
breaths. Don’t get me wrong- I’m missing
my boys back home like crazy. It took
some courage for me to sign up for this Retreat and be away from them 2 nights
in a row. But I know they’ll enjoy
bonding, and I need rejuvenation before little miss Reese arrives.”
Another quote I found in my journal (from J. Meyer) says “We
must choose to love on purpose, give on purpose, and stay at peace on
purpose. If we want to have peace, we
must purpose to have it, because the devil will try to steal it.”
Friends, guard your hearts. Don't let the devil steal your peace! Purpose to find it today. Find something that will help you find a little piece of Heaven every day. Maybe that means taking 5 minutes to sit and listen to your favorite song. Maybe it means allowing yourself to have that bowl of ice cream after dinner. Whatever makes you "happy" - do more of that. Live for today.
Friends, guard your hearts. Don't let the devil steal your peace! Purpose to find it today. Find something that will help you find a little piece of Heaven every day. Maybe that means taking 5 minutes to sit and listen to your favorite song. Maybe it means allowing yourself to have that bowl of ice cream after dinner. Whatever makes you "happy" - do more of that. Live for today.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Secret Agent Work
Jesus tells us:
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." (Matthew 5:13)
Joyce Meyer comments:
"Love represents the salt; it is the energy and the flavor of our lives. Every day can be exciting if we see ourselves as God's secret agents, waiting in the shadows to sprinkle some salt on the tasteless lives of the people we encounter."
Jesus also says:
"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16)
Loving others (even showing kindness and love to complete strangers) takes effort. It takes consciously slowing yourself down and thinking before you speak. It takes humility; You must take the light off of yourself- because your life is not really all about you- and shine some light on those around you.
I encourage you to make an effort to live as God's secret agent.
When you stop at the grocery store, complement a stranger and give them a smile.
When you run into a co-worker who looks like death-warmed-over, give them a pat on the back and a word of encouragement.
Small gestures, such as these, could make a huge difference in someone else's day. It could give them HOPE that they were unable to find elsewhere.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless." (Matthew 5:13)
Joyce Meyer comments:
"Love represents the salt; it is the energy and the flavor of our lives. Every day can be exciting if we see ourselves as God's secret agents, waiting in the shadows to sprinkle some salt on the tasteless lives of the people we encounter."
Jesus also says:
"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:14-16)
Loving others (even showing kindness and love to complete strangers) takes effort. It takes consciously slowing yourself down and thinking before you speak. It takes humility; You must take the light off of yourself- because your life is not really all about you- and shine some light on those around you.
I encourage you to make an effort to live as God's secret agent.
When you stop at the grocery store, complement a stranger and give them a smile.
When you run into a co-worker who looks like death-warmed-over, give them a pat on the back and a word of encouragement.
Small gestures, such as these, could make a huge difference in someone else's day. It could give them HOPE that they were unable to find elsewhere.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
24 days and counting....
I've made it (almost) all the way through January upholding my resolutions! Granted, often times breakfast is accompanied by cartoons instead of Praise & Worship...but we definitely turn on the radio at some point in our day...and that station is always first on my list. But, friends, let me tell you about that other resolution I had (opening my Bible every single day) .... WOW.
Words cannot express the amazing things God has already taught me in 24 short days. Of course there are days that I open to the next reading passage on my list and grumble a little bit under my breath. "Isaiah? Really? What in the world is all this prophesy stuff? How does it apply to me? I'm not a history buff....this doesn't make sense. It's repetitive, too." Then at the next opportunity I have, I'll open my Idiot's Guide to the Bible or Joyce Meyer Everyday Life Bible to see what the experts have to say about Isaiah. Boom! All of a sudden, I'm overwhelmed with clarification and encouragement. It's pretty darn cool.
The funny thing is that I had my mind set on completing each daily passage and moving on to the next day's passage from this Reading Guide I found (which I love!!) in order to read the entire Bible in a year. Well.....God had other plans for me. I soon realized that if I wanted to fully understand, dig deep, and STUDY God's word- because reading and studying are totally different things- then I would need to slow down a bit. The awesome thing about this reading plan is that it breaks the Bible down into 7 different genres, and you read from a different genre each day (or every 2 to 3 days if you're like me.) To check it out, click here: Genres Bible Reading Plan
I'm also trying to journal daily "takeaway" thoughts from my reading- and this journal is a great place to list prayer requests too. I love being able to look back and see what God was teaching me a week ago and how He has been at work in my life- answering prayers or just being present in the situations I've called upon His help.
Words cannot express the amazing things God has already taught me in 24 short days. Of course there are days that I open to the next reading passage on my list and grumble a little bit under my breath. "Isaiah? Really? What in the world is all this prophesy stuff? How does it apply to me? I'm not a history buff....this doesn't make sense. It's repetitive, too." Then at the next opportunity I have, I'll open my Idiot's Guide to the Bible or Joyce Meyer Everyday Life Bible to see what the experts have to say about Isaiah. Boom! All of a sudden, I'm overwhelmed with clarification and encouragement. It's pretty darn cool.
The funny thing is that I had my mind set on completing each daily passage and moving on to the next day's passage from this Reading Guide I found (which I love!!) in order to read the entire Bible in a year. Well.....God had other plans for me. I soon realized that if I wanted to fully understand, dig deep, and STUDY God's word- because reading and studying are totally different things- then I would need to slow down a bit. The awesome thing about this reading plan is that it breaks the Bible down into 7 different genres, and you read from a different genre each day (or every 2 to 3 days if you're like me.) To check it out, click here: Genres Bible Reading Plan
I'm also trying to journal daily "takeaway" thoughts from my reading- and this journal is a great place to list prayer requests too. I love being able to look back and see what God was teaching me a week ago and how He has been at work in my life- answering prayers or just being present in the situations I've called upon His help.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Top 2 New Years Resolutions
Well, my Christmas Countdown didn't make it all the way through December. I'm not quite sure what happened. Oh yeah- life. But today I have a spare moment to sit and reflect, and make some new year's resolutions.
2013 started with a great morning! My son slept in, which allowed me to sleep in. I woke rested and ready to take on my little world. As I tooled around the kitchen making breakfast with Robbie in his high chair, I turned on some Praise & Worship music and sang till my heart was full. I raised my hands in praise at one point and Robbie mimicked me. I then vowed to do that every morning. (Resolution #1) What better way to start our day and instill in my son the importance of, and desire to, worship?
One song that came across my Pandora station was Word of God Speak, by Mercy Me. And Resolution #2 struck me. I must make time to sit and read God's Word daily. There is no better way to find peace than sitting in God's presence, talking to Him and waiting patiently for Him to guide me and pour out His love, mercy, & strength on me. "My soul and flesh cry out for You, the Living God. Your Spirit's water for my soul..."
After finding a weekly Bible reading plan and getting started, I'm so motivated to see this through! I look forward to seeing what amazing things God has in store for me on this journey.
I have more resolutions on my list (eating healthy, getting more exercise, etc) that are very common and cliche. But these two are my TOP priority. They go hand in hand. Making time to be in God's Presence is not always easy or popular. We make excuses that we're just too busy...but then we turn on the tv instead of opening our Bible or bowing our heads in prayer. My husband and I made a bold move a few months ago- we cancelled our cable. We now only have network channels (with no DVR) coming from a digital antenna. And we only have one tv in our house. We have enjoyed playing with our son, chatting and catching up with each other once he's in bed, and picking up a book when all is finally quiet. Like the good old days.
My point is this:
I vow to stop making excuses, and I will make my relationship with God top priority. Relationships cannot be developed if we don't have two-way communication, and God communicates to us through His word.
2013 started with a great morning! My son slept in, which allowed me to sleep in. I woke rested and ready to take on my little world. As I tooled around the kitchen making breakfast with Robbie in his high chair, I turned on some Praise & Worship music and sang till my heart was full. I raised my hands in praise at one point and Robbie mimicked me. I then vowed to do that every morning. (Resolution #1) What better way to start our day and instill in my son the importance of, and desire to, worship?
One song that came across my Pandora station was Word of God Speak, by Mercy Me. And Resolution #2 struck me. I must make time to sit and read God's Word daily. There is no better way to find peace than sitting in God's presence, talking to Him and waiting patiently for Him to guide me and pour out His love, mercy, & strength on me. "My soul and flesh cry out for You, the Living God. Your Spirit's water for my soul..."
After finding a weekly Bible reading plan and getting started, I'm so motivated to see this through! I look forward to seeing what amazing things God has in store for me on this journey.
I have more resolutions on my list (eating healthy, getting more exercise, etc) that are very common and cliche. But these two are my TOP priority. They go hand in hand. Making time to be in God's Presence is not always easy or popular. We make excuses that we're just too busy...but then we turn on the tv instead of opening our Bible or bowing our heads in prayer. My husband and I made a bold move a few months ago- we cancelled our cable. We now only have network channels (with no DVR) coming from a digital antenna. And we only have one tv in our house. We have enjoyed playing with our son, chatting and catching up with each other once he's in bed, and picking up a book when all is finally quiet. Like the good old days.
My point is this:
I vow to stop making excuses, and I will make my relationship with God top priority. Relationships cannot be developed if we don't have two-way communication, and God communicates to us through His word.
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