Beth Moore Simulcast

Well, it has been forever since I have blogged. I hope to catch up someday becasue it was a very busy summer and since my blog will probably be my scrapbook I need to make sure I blog about our entire summer, 2 birthdays, school starting, and who knows what else I have forgotten!

I wanted to blog tonight about something that I do not want to forget about. Today my friend Melody and I atteded the Beth Moore simulcast and it was amazing. Beth has a way of knowing right where you are. I want to list the main points for my benefit (to help drive them home more) and for yours. maybe you see yourself in this somewhere. I sure did! God keeps bringing me to this issue of my desires and today was no exception. I started this year wanting to be AWAKENED to Him. I can see now how the Lord is showing me why I have been so distant with Him. God never moves away from us-we are the ones who move!

The Heart of Our Desires
Psalm 37
1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires.
2. Beneathe the desires of our heart is the heart of our desires.
God will trunp your desire if destiny or glory are at stake.
What we want is what we do not have.
3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities.
4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight.
We have given people (husband, wife, children, boss, etc...) a right they do not have. If we do not delight it is something internal-not external.
WHAT IS TAKING A BITE OUT OF MY PERSONAL DELIGHT BECAUSE DELIGHT IS MY RIGHT. You can usually contribute it to this: JAW

J-jelousy (37:1) desire tinged with resentment. Who comes to mind when you think of jelousy? Look under yur jelousy to your desire.

A-anger (37:8)-What am I mad about? Do you have an anger problem? We use anger to control a situation. Only brings out resentment. Anger NEVER works as a motivator. It creates alienation which is the opposite of delight. Is there an element of grief or sadness under your anger (lost love one).

W-worry (37:8)-fret-means to eat or knaw into. We can repress which makes you sick or rebell which makes you stupid (do stupid things).

5. To make room for delight we've got to commit. Roll it over to Jesus. Micah 7:8
v.5-way means road, journey. course of life. Put it on His shoulders. This is hwere addiction comes in. Addiction takes over identity. Is this your desire or a craving?

Am I on the course of life I wanted in my 20's? Get on the road that takes me where I want to be!

6. Nothing is passsive about patiently waiting for desire to turn into delight.
v.7-Be still-same Hebrew word for STOP IT. Be silent.

7. Until faith becomes sight trust God and do good. He did not say do what is right, he said DO GOOD. Romans 12:21 What good can I do. Who can I help? That's why the world hates us-we are always have to be right. Instead-do some good.

Where has God put us to do good? Enjoy where God has put me and enjoy safe pastures!

Something Is About to Happen

Do you ever have times in your life when you feel like you are wanting a change? You want something to "happen" but you don't know how to make "it" happen whatever "it" is. I've been feeling like I want changes in all areas of my life: relationships, health, spiritual, and family (this is the AWAKEN part that I wrote about earlier.) I feel those changes coming and all I know is that the Lord is up to something. After my ScreamFree Parenting class ended I felt lost. I knew we were about to join a small group and that after years of not being in a Sunday School class we were finally going to be able to spend some time with adults! I still felt lost. I wanted to do another class but it just wasn't time. The new year started, our small group started and I am really enjoying it. We have all bonded and i look forward to every week. In a couple of weeks I have to tell my "story". It's very emotional for me to talk about my past. It is not easy but I know it's the right time. There is a part of my "story" that has been on my mind for some time. Nothing I can share here-just on my mind and I may have to deal with this and don't know what that will mean. At about the same time, the Lord has led me to something else that I am praying about right now and it will be difficult. This probably sounds confusing but I just can't share it all right now.
Anyway, all these things add up to all these areas of my lfe that I want to see a change in. Over the next few weeks, I may not be blogging very much. I am spending a lot of time focusing on these areas of my life and I can't wait to report back with exciting news! So, to all 3 of you who read my blog-don't give up on me! I will be blogging some, just not very much. Pray for me-there is a lot going on in this already full and confused brain of mine!

AWAKEN in 2009

I recently came across this song by Natalie Grant called AWAKEN. As I listened to it and looked up the words I realized how perfect it is for me right now. I think the pressure of 3 kids, busy schedule, not making time for myself, work, etc.. has just gotten to me. Let me pause right here and say that I know I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, great kids, great job/ministry, wonderful friends and family. I know all that, I've just found myself in a different place right now. One that I am not used to. I want to embrace this new phase of my life-teenager, last child will enter all day school in August-just a different place. I have decided to focus on three things this year:
1) AWAKEN to a passion for Jesus and my family. Enjoy life more!
2)Committed to exercise, eating healthy, tighter budgeting.
3) Determined to spend time on myself and my marriage (date nights and time away).

I am also praying about something else that I will share at a later date. For me, the new year begins AFTER the kids get back in school and we are back on a routine. It gives me time to reflect, make plans, and pray! Here's to a great 2009 for all of us! Let me know how I can pray for you!


AWAKEN
Sometimes I feel like, I'm just existing.
I'm not really living.
I'm only watching, the time slip away.
I've forgotten who, I am in You.
I'm not who I'm meant to be, no.
I'm drifting farther away from my, destiny

Awaken my heart, awaken my soul
Awaken Your Power and take control
Awaken the Passion to live for You, Lord
Awaken me, Hoooey

My Soul is longing, my heart is searching,
I'm desperate for You to move,
give me a hunger, pull me closer...
I'm crying out to You

Awaken my heart,
Awaken my soul,
Awaken Your Power and take control,
Awaken the Passion to live for You,
I want to live for you.

Awaken my heart, oh!
Awaken my soul,
Awaken Your Power and take control,
Awaken the Passion to live for You, Lord.

Open my eyes, so I can see Your presence
Dwelling inside.
Wake me up, 'cause I can't live another minute,
If I'm not shining... Your light.

Awaken my heart,
Awaken my soul,
Awaken the Passion,
In me... Ooh...Yeah
Awaken me

(Chorus x2)
Lord, awaken me, to live my destiny.
Lord, awaken me and shine Your light through me.
Lord, awaken me, to live my destiny.
Lord, awaken me and shine Your light through me.

Awaken my heart,
Awaken my soul,
Awaken your Power and take control,
Awaken your Passion,
to live for you,
to live for you... Yeah, yeah, yeah

Wake me up Lord.
Give me your passion, Jesus.

My Favorite Spot

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
Isaiah 43: 18 -19



This summer I have really been working on a more consistent quiet time and not just squeezing it in when I can. During the school year it's usually in my van after I have taken kids to school. I have discovered a favorite spot to meet with the Lord-my front porch. I'm sure you have that favorite spot-one where you can just try and get in His presence and hear his voice. If you have little children (or even if you don't), it gets difficult, doesn't it?

It's hard getting up.
If you get up, the kids get up early-what's up with that?
If you get up, get started, and are really get going good-the kids get up!
If you wait until night, you fall asleep!

To me, it's just doing the best you can. There could be a lot worse things than your kids waking up and seeing you in the Word, right? I remember several years ago Jacob told my mother-in-law: "When I get up, Mom is always reading her bible." Well, always is stretching it but it sure meant a lot to me that he noticed that. I decided this summer that I would not have a list of "wants" for the Lord. My prayer every day has been for Him to be the center of my life and to invade every thought and EMOTION (I'm a very emotional person) that enters my mind. The rest will fall into place.

So, consider yourself tagged if you are reading this. What is your favorite spot? When is your best time for a quiet time? What has the Lord been teaching you? Post on your blog and leave a comment so we can read yours!

Top 10 Struggles

Digging For Pearls is taking a survey on the top 10 struggles Christian women face. She is going to write a book about it. If you have a few minutes head over to her blog and give her your 10.

Here are mine:

1. Consistent quiet time and IN DEPTH bible study.

2. Keeping my cool with the kids.

3. Balancing work, husband, mom, home, etc...

4. Family devotions and prayer time with my husband. He is a fireman and does not have a consistent schedule.

5. Sharing my faith-2 different things going on here:
a. I'm not really around anyone but Christians. Would like to be able to
share my faith with people totally lost.
b. I am finding out that just because someone is "churched" does not mean
they don't need encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. They may even
need discipled. I'm praying the lord will lead me to those people.

6. Time with my husband. Not just at 10:00 at night when everyone is tired.

7. Feeling lonely. With so much to do I still feel lonely because I am by
myself so much.

8. Consistent exercise and getting at my goal weight. Keeping up with all the
"women stuff" that my body is going through at my age!

9. Organizing my home and pictures. I'm a pretty organized person I just don't
have time to do it!

10. Relationships-finding couples that we can hang out with where everyone clicks
(husbands, wives, children).

Deboshun

Last week I attended a prayer conference by Henry Blackaby, author of "Experiencing God". (That is for a later post.) It was truly life changing. I'm sure we have all struggled with our quiet time. We try to get up early-the kids get up early. A child wakes up sick. The new baby doesn't sleep all night. And if we do get up early we only have about 15 minutes to squeeze in our time with the Lord. Doesn't He deserve more than that? Mr. Blackaby spoke about praying without ceasing and living in the spirit of prayer 24/7. My friend Jodi and I were talking about how in the world do we do that with so much noise in our house? You can feel like it's not even worth trying, can't you? Well, I think I got my answer the other morning. I got one child to the bus stop, one child on the bus at home (my kids are at three different schools this year. By the time I deliver everyone 4 hours has gone by. From the time I get up to the time the last one is settled) and sat down at the table to do my devotion. Jenna was home that day and Pooh was blaring in the background. Here is the conversation that followed:

Jenna: "What cha' doing?"

Mom: "I'm doing my devotion."

Jenna: "What's a deboshun?"

Mom: "Well, a devotion is where you read your bible, pray, and write in your journal."

Jenna: "Oh"
The next thing I know, Jenna is pulling out her Bible and all her supplies. "I need to have my deboshun", she said.

Wow. I knew right away the Lord was telling me to just do my best. If something happened that day and I couldn't get up (that has to be 5:15a.m. for me), it's OK. Just give Him my best all day long. 24/7. That is a teachable moment I will never forget and cherish forever. If our kids never see us in the word how will they know it is a priority for us?

A few days later Jenna had her "diary" out writing stuff down. She said, "How do you spell I wish I could go to Hawaii?"

How's that for a prayer request?

Staying Fresh

A few months ago David and I were talking about what was missing in our lives as a couple. After 10 years on staff at my church, raising three kids, and David's job schedule, the lack of fellowship with other couples has really become evident. I have been able to work out time for my "girlfriend time" but we really don't have any couples that we get together with more than once a year at Christmas! I know life gets in the way and we are all busy which is more reason to work at kepping things "fresh". We had only been members of our church for 9 months when I took this position and Jacob was only 1. It's very hard for me to go to Sunday School and service and David does not want to go to Sunday School by himself (I don't blame him). I LOVE what I do and I know God has called me to it but my spiritual life and friendships are just going to take some extra work. I have usually found a weeky bible study to be involved in but that just has not work out the last 2 years. We both had forgotten how important it is to fellowship TOGETHER. So, we decided to try Adult Sunday School again and I am so glad we did. We have a wonderful teacher and yesterday his lesson was on brotherly love. One of his points was that the hardest struggle of a Christian is staying fresh. One way we can stay fresh is by serving. That really hit me because that is just what we had fallen into. With relationships and with the Lord. I recently read a statement that said the longer you are a Christian the easier is it to get "bitten by the bug of familiarity". That is so true! Church becomes familiar, reading the bible becomes familiar, Christian music, seminars, serving, the list goes on and on. I am so excited to start on a new/fresh journey with the Lord and see where this takes me (and David). I want to serve not just in my position but by showing brotherly love in other ways. I want to stay fresh with Him every day of my life and the rest will fall into place! How can I teach my children what a blessing it is to love the Lord if we have gotten stale in our Christian walk?


Romans 12: 9 - 16
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Wow! I just don't know how to put into words what a great weekend I had. The Women of Faith conference was amazing. Friday I got to sit under 6 hours of teaching by Beth Moore! She spoke on taking your name off of the roll of the Cult of Comfort. It was so powerful. One of the most difficult things was a commissioning she did at the end of her talk. You had to turn to the person beside her, look straight at them and repeat after her. It took all of us our of our comfort zone but was so worth it (thanks, Jodi). My friend Jessica did such a great job telling about the weekend on her blog. Check it out: http://bittersweet-jess.blogspot.com/2007/08/women-of-faith-weekend-what-more-can.html

Right now, I am still trying to process it all and will probably write more later. My mind is still so full of great stuff. Thanks Jodi for a great time and I enjoyed every minute with your family and friends.