Me Time

So last week I got sick.--Really sick.
When it hit me I was down for the count... 12 hours solid in bed. I literally can't remember the last time I spent that much time in bed.

I was in pain. Horrible stomach and back pain that kept me mostly awake those 12 hours.

I had the chills and couldn't get warm for hours.

I couldn't walk upright for the pain in my stomach and back

I was exhausted and would sleep for brief periods in between the stomach cramps and back pain.

I was sick.

And do you know what I did for the whole 12 hours?

I thanked God over and over and over for it. 

I prayed "Oh Lord, Thank you for this time you've given me to be alone and with you... This time that I can spend worshiping and talking to you."  I felt blessed! Like I had finally gotten a long drink of cold water after working outside in the heat and dust.

Seriously. I didn't pray, "let this stop"... or "heal me". Not because I wanted it to go on, but because I was truly thankful for time when I didn't have to be anywhere, cook anything, help anyone, solve a problem, clean a mess, or be needed. It was all me time. And I savored it! Every Last Second.


Ok, you might be thinking I'm crazy, but I really just need that time. I don't have any time when I'm not needed. Someone always needs mom/ wife/ CEO.... I am never off the clock. I know I need to make ME-Time a regular habit for my own sanity, but who do I take it from? My children who need me? My husband who I love and who I don't spend enough time with as it is? My business that feeds us?

I just don't have it. 

And neither do so many of us women who are juggling so many things. But that isn't what God would have for  us. We need to set that time aside. To have quiet uninterrupted time. But it's so much harder to get than it is to say.

But now I'm inspired. God allowed this sickness to come over me to show me that it really is something I need. Even if I push it down and pretend I'm ok, I really do need time that is just me. Moments when I'm not disturbed. Time where no one needs me, and no one will come knocking at the door just to ask me where the tape is.... {grin - same place as it's always been!!}

So here it the thing. I know I need it. God has made it apparent that I really do need it. And now I am making it official... I need Guilt-Free Alone time. So I am going to be consistently praying that God would provide it for me. That he would show me where I can have it, how I can have it, and what I should do with it once I get it.... and I will let you know what I find.

So my question to you is How do you find quiet (guilt-free) uninterrupted  me time? And what would you suggest I do to get mine? I love all suggestions!


Blessings,

Faith and Blessings.

I was challenged by the reading in my devotional this morning. It was about what it takes to be a pillar of the faith.
Faith and blessings are usually what we want.

We pray for them.
We hope for them.
We seek them.

But much of the time we shun their forever companions of 'trials and testing, sorrow and suffering'. No one likes those companions, but they are necessary to grow the type of pillars of the faith that we long to be. The question is are we really willing to walk the path necessary to be a giant of the faith. What if we stopped looking at the companions as something to be feared, and instead looked at them as helpers along the way, perhaps we would yield to their training and be changed by them. What if we looked at them like we would look at a doctor or a surgeon. Who is willing to hurt us in the short term, to cause us to be healed in the long term?

Have you ever read Hinds feet on high places? It is a wonderful allegorical story of that walk up the steep mountain and that path we must take to be pillars of the faith.


"Faith grows amid storms" Here is an excerpt from today's reading in my favorite devotional... the one I read everyday, "Streams in the Desert" ( you can find a copy of it to the right of this post)

..."When you see a giant (of the faith), remember the road you must take to come up to his side is not along the sunny lane where wild flowers ever bloom; but a steep, rocky,narrow pathway where the blasts of hell will almost low you off your feet; where the sharp rocks cut the flesh, where the projecting thorns scratch the brow,a nd the venomous beasts hiss on every side."


I have a new favorite song, Blessings by Laura Story. The one line that catches my attention is  "What IF your blessings come through raindrops and your healing comes through tears??" Gives me something to think about today for sure.


Be blessed today!

Devoted or Devotions?

I was only going to the store. I would be in the car only about 5 minutes. But God used that 5 minutes to speak to my heart. I love that about the Lord, don't you? That he can take the most normal of moments and turn it into his moment.

I turned on the radio, changed the channel to my favorite station and started listening to the beginnings of a sermon that immediately struck a cord with me. He started talking about devotions... truthfully, one of my hardest things to master. Don't get me wrong, I talk to the Lord all day long and I LOVE studying the bible, but I've never been very good at having a set time that I use everyday as a quiet time. Since I am always looking for a good tip for devotions I listened closely. And his first question struck a nerve with me.

He asked,  "are you more devoted to having your devotions, or devoted to the one worthy of your devotion?"

How many times have I beaten myself up about not "making it" to my pre-set quiet time. When what is really important is re-devoting myself to my savior everyday. Entering into his presence with awe, thankfulness, and complete submission.

I know that God only cares about our relationship, not how regimented I am in my quiet time. There is nothing wrong with having a set time, but in that time are we just going through our routine so we can feel accomplished at the end? Or are we falling on our knees before a holy God and surrendering all. I think Psalm 63 expresses what we need to do everyday before God best.

" O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:1-8

If the Lord can use the few moments I had to speak clearly to me. How much more can he use me if I can come before him each day fully devoted, rather than just performing my devotions.

I love this Francis Chan video. If you haven't seen it yet, it goes right along with what I'm talking about today. It's very worth your time. 
 






Blessings Friends,

What are You Living For?

"They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." 2 Peter 2:19

Just the other day we celebrated the anniversary of our countries freedom from oppression and the birth of our independence as a nation. It would be interesting to hear what our founding fathers would have to say about the condition of our country today. Would they call it a tyranny? Would they say we need a revolution? That taxes are too high, and that politicians rather than the people are running the country? I can hear them now.

"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety."  Benjamin Franklin 

How quickly we move away from our foundations. A little compromise here and there and before we know it we hardly recognize ourselves.

You know when I first became a Christian I was on fire. I knew exactly what my purpose was and I didn't care who knew, or what ridicule I would get. And believe me I got ridiculed a lot.

Sometimes I wonder if the church would be recognizable to the founding patriarchs. What would Paul, Peter, or John say to us? Would they say that we are asleep? Or that we have become lazy? Would they say we are out of our minds wasting our time in our daily struggle, when our real purpose is that of Christ? 

I don't know what they would say, but I do know what Jesus says

"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:25-26

 I think this video from Francis Chan says it perfectly. 




Blessings my friends!

 

In Full Confidence - A Proverbs 31 Study

There is so much that can be said  (and already has been said) about this chapter of Proverbs. Women from all walks of life have their thoughts and opinions on it and still it can seem elusive, challenging, and even offensive to some. So I wanted to take a real close look at it for my self... and thought I'd take you with me.
My purpose in this series of blog posts is going to be to take a literal scriptural look at this passage by researching the original Hebrew text to deepen my understanding. And then extract principles that I can apply as a woman seeking to be more like this wife of noble character.
I have a lot of work to do, a lot of opinions and preconceived ideas to unravel. I am going to try to look at the scripture with fresh eyes and a heart wide open to the Holy Spirit. I hope you will too. I can't wait to discover what God wants to teach me in this. 

Our Text ( I always like to look at several versions)

Proverbs 31:10-12, NIV 

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."

Proverbs 31:10-12, KJV

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

A Closer Look

Noble character or a virtuous woman - The word translated to noble character or Virtuous woman is "chayil" and it means strength, might, ability, efficiency, wealth, force, or army.

It honestly seems to mean A wife who has shown herself strong, displayed valor, and might as in being victorious in battle. This word is used 243 times in the bible and most typically is used when describing men of valor who have proven themselves worthy in war, the spoils of war, or can even mean the evidence of being victorious.

"The heart of her husband" - The word for the heart in the original Hebrew is "leb"  and it means the very inner man, his mind, will, heart, and understanding.

"She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."The word for brings him is "gamal" and it means to deal fully with, or recompense. And finally, the word good is "towb" and it means good, pleasant, agreeable, benefit, welfare, prosperity.

Insights

If I put all the ideas behind the original Hebrew text together, my initial picture of this woman dramatically changes. Many would automatically interpret virtuous as being meek, mild, and pure sexually. While those are all biblical characteristics, it is not part of the original words meaning at all. The actual words used are ones that describe her more as an overcoming warrior.

I get excited by this. You see, I believe women are called just as much as men to the spiritual battlefield. We are to fight against powers of darkness, to be over comers, to be bold and strong in the Lord. This woman has  stood in the test of battle, overcome, and now her character has the riches of the spoil. This evidence is what her husband sees and finds great worth in.

She is someone who has proven herself by her actions. Her husbands inner man is Secure about her character because she has shown herself trustworthy. And she continues to prove it by dedicating herself to bringing him only good all the days of her life. He is then satisfied and has no need to find riches elsewhere.

My question in this is How have I been proving to my husband that I am worthy of this trust?  What have I done today? Have I done what it takes to gain his "Full Confidence?"  Have I brought him good today and not harm?

If we proved our trustworthiness to our husbands daily, how would that change our relationship? Are we overspending? Secretly hiding purchases? Are we telling our girlfriends things about our husband that should be left untold? Does he feel he can trust us with his heart? Or will we discuss it with a friend?

Our Challenge this week is to find tangible ways we can prove ourselves trustworthy to our husbands, and to stop actions we know are eroding that trust.


Thank you so much for coming along side of me and diving into the first part of this great rich text. I so appreciate you!

P.S. If you love bible study like I do, check out a few of my favorites...

Bounty and Blessings

Good Morning Friends! I love this time of year don't you? The weather warms and the flowers bloom and, my favorite part...the STRAWBERRIES ripen!

I love eating them plain right out of my garden, slicing them on strawberry shortcake, and dipping them in sour cream and brown sugar... I know that last one sounds a bit strange, but trust me it is amazingly delish!

Last night I picked the days harvest. Look at the bounty that came out of my garden just yesterday!

Strawberries from my Garden! Yum!

 What a blessing! Having this blessing gives me such joy. There is nothing like reaping what you've sown! In years past I haven't planted anything, and didn't get that joy of having a good harvest. 

That got me thinking about my relationship with the Lord. What am I sowing now? Right now? What harvest will I see in heaven? What will last and be enjoyed? What (or who) will I bring to the banquet table? That is what is ultimately important. My life, my work, needs to be rooted in that goal.

Today as I go through my day, I want to think about those strawberries, how much I enjoy them, and how much the Lord enjoys the sowing I do for him. I so want to please him. He is the core of my purpose, and I want to live my life with a Harvest mindset. There is much work to be done, and the time is short. Who are you (and who am I) sowing our love for the Lord in today?

Girl Lost

Girl Lost

Girl Broken

Stories Told

Words Spoken

Spirit Crushed

Dreams Shattered

Life Abandoned

Nothing Mattered

Self Abused

Conscience Slept

Girl Lost

Jesus Wept

Spirit Called

Breath Breathed

Girl Found

Sigh Heaved

Light Flooded

Heart Cleaned

Life Again

Girl Redeemed

~ Kari Day

The Trouble with Dreams

You don't have to be a genius to realize that there are a lot of people facing difficult times right now.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  2 Cor 4:7-8 

Nothing motivates us like trouble. A problem appearing on our radar moves us to act. It moves us to make a decision. There is nothing like being backed into a corner where you have few options to bring clarity to your path. When we are living lives of mundane mediocrity we have too many choices to entertain us rather than em-passion us. Can we really say that we understand fully what it means to "Count ALL things lost for the sake of knowing Christ?"

I don't know about you, but I don't need another TV show. I don't need another to do list. I don't need another routine week. I need to know Christ, and know him fully. To know him fully is to count ALL things loss for the sake of knowing him. That means my family, my children, my dreams....

That is a tough one. What if some of our very dreams, the things that we desire to see happen in our life, actually are things that can keep us from knowing him fully? Even if those dreams are things that we want to do for God, they can hinder us when we hold on to them more than we hold on to God. They easily can become works, and put in a place before God. 

 

Imagine with me for a moment that your dream, what you desire to do for God, is a blank piece of paper. Smooth and unwrinkled. This represents HIS perfect plan for that desire.

 

The more we hold on to it, the tighter we grip it, the more wrinkled and distorted it becomes and the less it looks like what it was originally intended to be. But when we loosely hold the paper and instead clutch to the one capable of fulfilling our dreams it becomes not only more than we can imagine but all that it was intended to be.  

Trouble causes us to let go and hold on to HIM for dear life. What if we chose to hold on to him for dear life every day not just in times of trouble? What if we chose to give our devotion in our relationship to him our full clutching attention, and let him work out the other details? What if we allowed for the fact that we may never see what he is doing in our life that is significant to his plan, but instead just trusted that he will use what we give for his glory. What if Loving him fully became more important to us than the way we are serving him?

If you are in trouble, hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down today God is allowing you an opportunity to hold on to him more than anything else. How does that change your perspective?

Lessons in Listening From My 9 Year Old

I have often said that I believe God uses the example of our children to teach us about our relationship with him.

Here is my latest lesson:

When we were camping this last weekend, my kids were riding their bikes with the other kids. The "moms" were walking behind and a bit of distance got between us. When we rounded the loop we suddenly saw that the kids had abandoned their bikes in the middle of the road and took off through the trees to the lake... 

Let me just say this was NOT COOL with me. 

When I had found my kids (and scolded them a bit) I sent them back up the loop to retrieve their bikes. This was not a very far distance and there were very few people.  I watched my 9 year old and my 6 year old walk back up toward the loop and completely miss the turn they needed to take. I began calling to them to stop, but the louder I called the faster they ran the other direction.  I couldn't reach them quickly enough before they disappeared down the loop going the very LONG way around. 

When I found them again I  asked my oldest, "Didn't you hear me calling to you?" 

he answered "Yes, I heard you." 

I said "Well, why didn't you stop then?" 

9 year old says "Because I knew what you were going to say." 

(stop for dramatic pause while mom internally blows up)

Believe me, the words that came out of my mouth next began something like "Well, do you know what I'm going to say now???" and he got the lecture you can probably imagine. To think that he clearly heard me, but chose to ignore my calling to him to stop.  How could he do that to me? Why didn't he listen to me? His mother and clear authority?

Then the Holy Spirit started talking to me. 

He said, "How many times Kari, Have I been calling to you to stop and you just kept right on running away because you thought you knew what I was going to say?" 

....."Many times Lord"

.... "And how many times have I asked you to do something for me, but you took off in your own direction instead?"

.... "Too many times Lord"

.... "And how many times have I forgiven you, restored you, and brought you back to wholeness?"

... "More times than I can count Lord."

When was the last time you felt the Lord tell you to talk to someone about Jesus, but you hesitated out of fear, and then ran away? When was the last time you knew what the Holy Spirit was convicting you of something, but you chose to ignore it? 

This is a hard lesson for me, but just like my boys, when we don't listen to the calling of God we just are running the long way around the loop. Eventually he will bring us back to face what we are running from. Let's stop running, and start listening and obeying what God is clearly showing us to do.

Stop the Noise and Just Listen

My family went camping again over the fathers day weekend with 3 other families. That means there were 11 kids all under 10 years old. It was an amazingly fun time! And a miracle that all the kids got along! LOL!

There are so many wonderful things about camping, but what I really love is getting away and into God's creation. There is somthing about sitting in the midle of a quiet lake in a canoe and just listening to the sounds of nature... the wind in the trees, the water, the birds... that brings out the calm in me.

We  are so connected to our things. Our phones, our laptops, our cars and hair dryers that it can be difficult to just be quiet. It takes a real effort to find that quiet these days away from everything we come to depend on. 

But that's just it isn't it. We depend on them. What would we do if all electronics stopped. If cars no longer ran. What would we do with ourselves? Those things are great tools, but I fear that we as a society become so attached to them that we are easily distracted by their instant entertainment gratification and we forget to stop and just listen.

...Listen to the words Jesus spoke... listen to the sounds HE created on this earth... listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit in our hearts telling us what is right, giving us courage to move forward in our purpose. Do we really listen ever?

The bible talks about Jesus often going off to lonely places to pray. He modeled what we should be doing. I want to encourage you today to actively seek to be alone and quiet with your savior and then really listen to him. What he has to say to each of us is so beautiful, it renews us, and sets us in line to fulfill that purpose he has for us today.

God's Purpose For You Right Now

Christ is coming back soon. And I just really want to be all about HIS business. Our time is short, and I want to do what he has purposed me to do for HIS kingdom. I want to be living out my GOD given purpose on this earth Right Now. It's not a someday thing for me. It's in my everyday walk of life.

I think sometimes we get caught up in life, paying bills, caring for kids, relationships with spouse, illnesses, and on and on... that we forget that God has a purpose for us beyond what life throws at us. His purpose isn't for "when things calm down" or "when we get more money" or "when the kids are older". His purpose for YOU is right now in the MIDST of whatever you are going through. 

If we aren't looking at everything in life through the lens of God's bigger purpose for us, we miss the mark. We are lost. We lose. And we will be unfulfilled. 

But when he is our focus, no matter what the circumstances are, we cannot be beaten. Because our purpose and our hold is not on the things around us, our problems, our needs, our hopes, but on God alone. He is all. And whatever you are going through is just color in the fabric of the tapestry he is weaving of your life. He will work ALL things for you GOOD. Not just some things, not just happy things, not just positive things. But ALL things. 

"In one thousand trials it is not five hundred of them that work for the believer's good, but nine hundred and ninety-nine of them, and one beside." ~ George Mueller

So my question for you is, how will you live out God' purpose for your life RIGHT NOW?

YOU Are My Strength Alone

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?" Psalm 121:1

Recently Ive been faced with a situation that I have no strength for. I am powerless to overcome it, break free of it, or solve it on my own. 

Believe me I've tried. 

I've gone to the Lord and asked him to fix it, change it, remove it, heal it. But he sees fit to keep it. It kind of reminds me of Paul's thorn. (2 Corinthians 12)

Looking back through my life I see that Ive lived with this thorn in various forms from the beginning. So why won't God take it away? It has nothing to do with me being in sin, but it has everything to do with keeping me FROM one very big sin. 

God uses this thorn to keep me from ever elevating another person to Gods rightful place in my heart. He uses it to protect me. It is a loving thorn. If left to my own I would begin to put others, or even myself, in Gods' place. He loves me too much to let me do that.

You see, he wants me (and you) for himself, and he won't let me harm that relationship for something that is fleeting and dieing. He wants to give me the eternal thing. And he won't let me mess it up. He is faithful and good to complete the work he began in me.

This way he still gets all the glory for keeping me in his hand. God is on my side, what can man do to me?

So I will learn to be trained by my thorn. To think less on the thorn and more on the one who is all knowing and deems it necessary for me to live with it. 

"Thank you Lord for keeping me in your hand and for being completely trustworthy to the ultimate goal of making me beautiful for the day I see you face to face. Come soon Lord, come soon. I need you. and I long for what is wrong in this world to be made right."

Can you see how God is using a thorn in your life?

Time + Conflict

Without going through the Journey there is no building of strength. Without being put through the test there is no skill developed. You know, those are not my favorite words that I've ever written. Going through the Journey is hard, and being put through the test is scary.

"The War between the house of David and the house of Saul lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker." 2 Samuel 3:1 

But what would David have been like if he had taken the throne over the entire house of Israel the day Samuel anointed him? He was just a kid. Would he have grown into the man that God would eventually use as the line in which to bring Jesus? Would he have been the brilliant warrior that he was? Would he have been able to write the Psalms? I think not. It was the time + the conflict that made the man. God was faithful to complete the work in him, even if it meant pain.

I don't exactly love the time + conflict equation. How about you? But just like God did with David, he uses the conflict to strengthen us and build in us the spiritual muscle we need to win the race. So he chooses to have us go through periods of conflict, and times when we think we will die from the waiting. Pain is a close companion at times.  But honestly, when I look back on past hard journeys that I have been through with the Lord, I realize that I wouldn't give them up now. What he has developed in me through those seasons, I greatly treasure.

"God is never in a hurry, but spends years with those he expects to greatly use. He never thinks the days of preparation too long or too dull" ~ Streams in the Desert

Thank you Lord that you are able to complete what you have begun in me. I look forward to the day I stand before you and can see all things completely.

The Power of Words

I love John 1:1-18. It is probably one of my very favorite passages of Scripture. I feel the stirring of the spirit within me when I read this poetic and beautiful description of who Jesus is. He is the embodyment of the very words of God. He is God made manefest in his words.

" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1-2

Have you ever thought about how when God speaks he can't just speak idle words? His words BECOME. They become a creation. His words have power to create, and whatever he speaks just IS.

When I speak things aren't created. I can't say, "Let Dinner be Prepared" and have it appear in front of me. Oh how I wish I could ~ don't you? But my words still have power. He gave us that power from the beginning in the Garden. It says,

" He brought them (the animals) to the man to see what he would name them: and whatever the man called each living creature, that was it's name." Gen 2:19

God wanted to include Man in a bit of the creation process. We were, after all, made in the image of God. He wanted to see what we would do, and show us that our words have power. I am thinking today about how powerful my words are. And how I might use them. If I saw my words BECOME would I be more careful? If I really thought my words had that kind of power, how would I use them?

Jesus said

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Mat 18:18

Our words do have power. And we are wise to use them to do the work God intended. We are wise to loose those things that cause healing, and hope, and Bind those things that cause doubt, anger, and fear. Lord I pray you give me the right words to speak today.  Words that heal, and proclaim your glory!

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

I think my personal world would be more at peace, If I thought of every word that came out of my mouth as this powerful. Don't you?

Treasures From the Beach

Something happens in me when I hit the Beach. Have you ever seen the Pacific Ocean on a cloudy/sunny day? When the water is that stormy green color so unique and so powerful? When you can look to the horizon and see the sky meet the ocean for as far as you can see? Where the wind is blowing immense waves that crash against the rocks and spray high in the air? Where the sandy beach is littered with huge water worn driftwood and sand-smoothed stones? The awesomeness of it all makes me feel so small, and problems become irrelevant.

I am a beach comber. I love to see what treasures have been washed ashore by the sea. I adore the rocks that have been smoothed. I fill my pockets with the most special . Hours can be spent doing nothing but searching the rocks for just the right ones, creating sculptures and giving thanks for the beauty of such small common things. However common they may be, I consider them treasures.

As I was standing on the beach taking in this scene yesterday something relaxed in my soul.  Something I didn't even know was tensed. With all this splendor, with all this awesome raw power, I felt so small, so insignificant, so utterly powerless. Yet God says he treasures me (and you) above all things. We are his treasured possession. We are the rare beauty he loves.

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." Psalm 45:11

The awesome power and wonder of the immense ocean is something to behold and I see my LORD in it. How powerful the crashing waves are, yet how beautiful and somehow gentle, soothing, and calming. Glorious.

I feel so small and so frail compared to these surroundings. Yet infinately more powerful because of  who remains in me. Because we were chosen, and empowered by the ONE who created the sea and gave it it's power. We know that when we remain in HIS power we will not be subdued by the things of this world, but we will subdue it by the power of the ONE who wills it to be so. The One who is our first love, Jesus. Thank you Lord for these Treasures from the Beach.

Kids = God's Training School

Have you ever wondered WHY your kids challenge you in certain ways that just make you want to scream? Or even asked yourself "why can't my kids be more like 'so-in-so's' kids.... they act so normal". Well, I have a long held belief that God gives us the kids we NEED as a way of working out in US the characteristics that he want's to heal.

Actually, I think that kids teach us WAY more about how to live for Christ then we will ever teach them. I think they are "God's Lab" for our life.... Ya know?

Well, I had a tough exam in that lab yesterday. I think every one of my sharp edges, unrefined points, and ugly characteristics were challenged to rear their heads yesterday.

I love those kids of mine with a love I didn't know was possible. But boy O boy are they helping work out the sinful characteristics in me. They teach me to confront my fears, kill my preconceived ideas, adapt to circumstances, love (when I don't want to), serve (when I don't want to), and be tireless in seeking the good for another at the expense of my own desires.

Sounds a bit like how God wants us to Love the World doesn't it? So you might even say that parenthood is a great missionary training school, if we pay attention what God is trying to teach!

What is God teaching you through you kids?

Blessings!

Spiritual Discipline and Sleep

" But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."Luke 5:16

If there is one thing I have never been good at it's self discipline.  I don't know if you share this trait with me, but I am way too easy on myself. I would much prefer to stay warm and cozy in my bed rather than get up into a cold house. I make excuses like...

" Really Lord, I could just lay here with my eyes closed in this bed and have some quiet time with you"

When I give in to this temptation it always results in more sleep... not prayer or bible reading. Then I berate myself for not having done what I know is so important to do. The flesh wins, the enemy wins, and I have not started my day submitted to the Lord.

Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline says "Superficiality is the curse of our age. The discipline of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem."

Boy is that ever evident! I am all too satisfied with a quick lesson, a quick prayer, and to claim grace over my inability to stay in prayer and explore the deep things of God. And yet, I have a deep Love for those deep things of God. Don't you? I hear the spirit within me call to them, beckon me to come and explore even deeper. There are days when "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" is the testimony of my life. But I will not be mastered by my flesh. I will not allow it to steal my joy, or my effectiveness for Christ.

So This week I have finally given in to the prompting of the spirit and have chosen to go to bed early and rise early so I can spend time alone in a quiet, dark, cold, house with my Lord. I am saying to my flesh and all it's desires for ease and comfort. "I am your master, you will not master me"..... I am on day two. Pray with me that I make it to day three!

What Spiritual discipline do you desire to master?

Blessings!

Warning Signs and Hope

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Luke 21:26-27

 I am so impacted by what is happening in our world. My heart breaks for the people of Japan. For all of those who have lost their lives, loved ones, and belongings.


I am struck by all the different earthquakes, tsunamis, Nuclear explosions, and wars that are around the world. I believe we are living what has been written in the bible right now.

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. " Mark 13:10

Everyday we seem to see a new horror in the news.

Whether it is a devastating earthquake...

 

Tsunami..

Or War...

The world is shaken, the waters rise to destroy, and the people of the world fight everyday. 

But there is hope in the ONE who is NOT moved.  The one who can not be shaken. He is our rock and our salvation. He is Faithful and True. And He is coming again soon.

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28

Life has been put back in perspective. I don't know about you, but I want to be about my Father's business until that day.


In His Peace,

Action Steps and Seeking the Lord

I was reading Psalm 37 the other day and I realized that vs 1-8 showed me an action plan for seeking the Lord in any situation. 

Now I LOVE action plans. You know there is just something in me that wants a 5-step plan for everything I do. I guess it helps me to stay on track. I'm just so happy to see that the Lord is gracious to provide one here for me! 

Seeking the Lord based on Psalm 37 vs. 1-8

Vs.1 Do Not Fret... Because the Wrongs will soon die away.

Vs. 2 Trust in the Lord... Because you will always be safe in Him.

Vs. 3. Delight in the Lord... Because he will give you your hearts desire.

Vs. 4. Commit your way to the Lord... Because He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Vs. 5 Be still and wait.... Because The righteous will never be forsaken (vs. 25)

Vs. 6. Refrain from anger.... Because the evil men will be cut off and those who hope in the Lord will inherit the Land

I don't know about you. But this gives me hope! So many times I want to fret and trust in myself instead of the Lord. It's easier to delight myself in other things in life (children, work, relationships) instead of delighting myself in him first. 

If we were honest with ourselves how often are we more committed  to OUR own cause rather than his? I don't know about you but I can get impatient and angry when things don't go my way. 

Today, I want to bind myself to His promises and decide to not be moved. I want to cling to them like my life depends on it. Today let's remember the promises he has made, and find our joy in seeking him, rather than just seeking a solution to our immediate need. 

Be blessed today friends!

Trusting for Answers

I am struck today by the answers to prayer that have come to me from prayers that I begun long ago. Just the other day I received a surprise in the mail that came from a very unexpected place. When I researched it, I see that it had traveled to me from far away, and had gone through many crazy twists and turns to actually get to me. Though it was sent the very month I began praying for this specific blessing, I didn't get it for 4 months.

It reminds me of the story in Daniel when the angel says to him...

"Since the first day that you sent your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your Words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian Kingdom resisted me twenty-one days." Dan 10:12-13

Sometimes when we pray our answers are delayed, but God hears us when we set our mind on gaining His understanding. When we seek HIM first and HIS understanding then the answers come. Even if they are long in coming we must ALWAYS trust him. He is so faithful. Oh how I love that about him.

Amy Carmichael says it best...

  "...Do not forget that the answer to many prayers is, 'wait', or Sometimes, 'No, not that, but something else, which, when you see ME, you will know was a far better thing."

Oh I love that, don't you? When we see Him we will know that everything was worth it, and that what he chose for us was a far better thing that the ease we would choose for ourselves. It all comes down to trusting. Trusting even when we feel we are being bound and placed upon the alter for sacrifice

Thank you Lord, remind me of your trustworthiness often. I know I can trust you. you are good to me!

What are you trusting the Lord for today?