Intentionality

Intentionality...to be purposeful on purpose. This is how I defined Intentional to my children today as we discussed Christmas.  I asked them "Why do we celebrate Christmas." They answered "to honor Christ's birth."  I then asked them "What do we do to honor Christ's birth?"  And they reminded me how we read the Biblical account of the birth of Christ, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and even have a birthday cake.  Then I posed yet another question..."How many times do we do that during the Christmas season?"

ONCE, on Christmas!

Being intentional about not participating in the secular bustle of Christmas, has NOT, by default, made us intentional about celebrating and honoring the birth of our Saviour, Jesus. Sure, we talk about Jesus...but that is NORMAL in our home.  It is our daily conversation.  We try to focus on others and how we can bless them with gifts instead of making lists and being self centered during this season. BUT, we have to purposefully make a choice to be purposeful! We must choose to, on purpose, honor Christ. As a parent, I want to have traditions that kindle a flame for Christ...middle ground is gray, stagnant water and can lull us to sleep!

This year we have been brainstorming ways we can be intentional about honoring Christ this season...what that means and how to tangibly remember the Awesome God we serve. I know as we seek to bring honor to Jesus, he will show us how!

I am still learning. I don't care for the middle ground. I am pressing in.  As I draw near to God...He chastens me.  He burns away the chafe. He purifies me more...and yet I see my need for Him grow stronger.

Go Light Your World

This Song is on my Heart tonight. The video is a little dated...but the Words Are Powerful!

Go Light Your World...Even your Hometown!

Martha...AGAIN!

The last few weeks I have been praying and pressing in to seek after God with a whole heart.  One of devotion, compassion, zeal and intent.  Tonight, as I listened to the message at church...I was completely caught off guard by the enemy.

Tonight's message was about having the Fire of God burn in us.  That it is a choice we must willingly make to be a Holy and Living Sacrifice.  It's our choice to be consumed with God's Holy Fire.

Here enters the subtle...almost slipped by me...attack!  "Did I turn on the coffee pot?"  There you have it!  Right in the middle of this powerful and challenging message I am wondering about the coffee pot!!!!  GIVE ME A BREAK!

Martha, AGAIN!  Martha is just like you and me. She had guests in her home and was trying to be a hospitable hostess. I think the enemy just consumed her with her responsibilities in order to blind her from the LIFE that was sitting in her living room.

Don't let life sneak up and steal the LIFE that is meant for you!  Pray and put on the armour so you can extinguish the fiery darts...even if the look like the coffee pot!

What Do I LOOK Like?

The last couple of days I have been drenched in the presence of a Holy and Loving God.  He has allowed me the privilege of praying for people I know, and even those I do not.  I have been reading a great book...it's been stepping on my toes, but that is good, too. I have been reading one of my favorite blogs.

In all these different avenues of my life...God is speaking to me. Showing me new things. Building a heart of compassion in me.  I am seeing differently. Feeling differently. Wanting to LOOK differently.

I have so many whispers in my heart from God.  So many seeds that want to grow, and are...little by little. I have come so far in my walk, yet I have so far to go. I fail. I get up. The Lord gingerly whispers again to my spirit.

I am pondering the holidays quickly approaching. Thanksgiving...Christmas...A New Year...What do I look like to those who spend time with me, even if for the minutest moment?  Do I look different from the masses?  Do I show God's splendor in my expressions? Does my Home point to the creator?  Do people See JESUS when they see me, or do they see hypocrisy?  Of course there is a little of that in everyone...we are after all, human and in being so...we are less than perfect.  Do I talk the talk and forget my walk? Do I live out my passions, convictions or just talk about them? 

The upcoming holidays have struck a chord in me.  I want them to look different.  I want them to be MORE than the shoe box we pack for a few children.  More than buying gifts for people who have everything they could possibly need or want.  More than just reading the birth of Christ from the Bible or saying our thanks to the All Powerful God of the Universe around the Thanksgiving meal.  More than empty Resolutions for the coming New Year.  I want to DO more.  I want to LOOK different. I don't know how to do that...people already think we're weird... No Santa...No Tree...No Stockings....but that is just the baby steps to what God is laying on my heart. I want to be INTENTIONAL.

Lord, use this vessel.  Pour into me what you would have me pour out to others.  Change my countenance like you changed Moses' when he radiated as he descended the mountain from being in Your presence. May I walk in your presence and look to you for ALL things.
 

Longing for LIFE

I am longing in my Spirit for MORE.  I am longing to live everyday to the Fullest.  What does that look like?  I don't fully know but I have a picture in my mind's eye.

I know that I long to spend more time in the Word and Prayer...just getting to know my Savior better.  I long to radiate like Moses did when he came down from the mountain after spending time with the Lord.  I want to be moved with the same compassion as the Samaritain.  I long to spend time with my children laughing and crying...LIVING.  I long to be a wife that brings honor to her husband.  Who lift him up and doesn't tear down with words.

I am longing for LIFE.

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" John 10:10

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:35-36

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John1:4

" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."Galations 2:20

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it."

1Peter3:8-11

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6) That is the LIFE I am longing after!  The living Savior who directs my paths...who pours out his compassion on me, so that I may have compassion on others.  The one who beckoned the Little children so that my heart, too, will be soft toward my own.  What layed his life down...not only to save mine, but to be the example of true love, friendship...and LIFE.

I am not ALL I long to be...I have days that it's two steps forward one step back...but I am Longing for Life. 

What do you LONG for?

Standing Together

Today I woke praying for a few women God had placed on my heart, thanked Him for the beautiful trees I see out my bedroom door and asked him to please guide me as I accomplished the mounding list. I got out of bed...and got to it.

I made good time with the tasks at hand. I even enjoyed my kiddos while working. (When I am concentrating that is not always the case;)) I had pressing things to take care of, not important in the grand scheme of things, but pressing and fun. I also had some things to take care of for church. This, I was already praying about and trying to assimilate as I was going about my other business.

So about 1:00 I sat down to work on church business. I was still sitting there at 5:30, with NOTHING accomplished, crying out to God in desperation and crying out to my hubby for help.  Church started in 1 1/2 hours and I wasn't finished...really, I wasn't even started, nor was I dress and hadn't fed my kiddos either!  After we all prayed together, everything just came together. In 30 minutes I had accomplished what usually takes me about 1-2 hours!

I say all this to say that sometimes we need people around us, standing with us in prayer.  It's not always enough to "go it alone".  I had been earnestly seeking the Lord from the time I woke, but still hit a wall and was unable to move forward until I asked Jason to help.  Thank goodness he had the wisdom to pray with me, which also led to my children praying as well.  When we stood together,as a family, and God moved. 

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

I am thankful for family and friend who will join in prayer and service, in HIS name!  I am thankful that He is faithful to His word and meets us everytime! What an AWESOME God we serve. 

Mom Heart Conference

Click the button for more information!  I have always loved this conference!

Stand Strong

On Monday, I had to take a trip to the hospital due to cutting my knuckle open working on a clock.  I am no stranger to the hospital!  I've accompanied my hubby, son and by the time my daughter was 4 she had visited our local hospital 6 times! I too have had an occasional visit.  This was not a huge catastrophe. I thought I'd get a couple stitches and we'd go home.  Well, no stiches, just glue and a tetanus booster.  This is where the problem began.  You see, I DID NOT want to be administered a tetanus shot (and NO, I'm not afraid of shots).  I said no...several times, and of course I was countered by the people in the room.  After several minutes of arguing and protesting...I gave in, against my will, totally upset and angered...I gave in!

For the last couple of days the words Stand Strong have been resounding in my spirit.  I know the booster shot was not of eternal significance in the grand scheme of things, but it has given me pause to think.  I believe PASSIONATELY that I did not need, nor want the shot, yet I was unable to stand up and refuse, despite signing papers during my admission process that I could refuse services. 

So...what happens when I faced with eternal choices in my physical life?  What happens if some one asked me to choose...will I Stand? Is my Faith strong enough to Stand and not succumb to the pressures of others? I am asking myself these questions...

The Word of God has much to say about standing. It tells us to Stand Fast...Stand Firm...Stand over and over. 

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we Stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  
1Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 
2 Corinthians 1:24 “…for by faith ye Stand.”
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to Standagainst the wiles of the devil.”
1 Thess 3:8 8 “For now we live, if ye Stand fast in the Lord.”
2 Thess 2:15 “Therefore, brethren, Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

It also says to Stand together, united as one voice.

Isaiah 48:15 “Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they Stand up together.”
Mark 3:24-26 tells us that house divided will not Stand.
Philippians 1:27 “that ye Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

I am praying for increased faith that will Stand. One that will not back down. One that Honors my Savior, God, Friend and Lord.  I do not want to fall short.