I got a fresh word from the Lord last night! Yahoo! I love that when that happens!
My heart feels lighter this morning. I have been searching for answers from the Lord for the past several months and last night He spoke clearly to my heart through His Word.
God has showed me how I run ahead of Him. I see Him working in an area or moving in my life and I fill in the rest of the blanks without His help and not in His timing. Why is that? I beleive that it is pride. Pride on my part that I know what God is thinking. That I can second guess what He is up to. Rarely am I right, yet I continue this way. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Hmmm... I get frusterated with my children when they interup me in mid-sentence or take a command I have given them and then run in a wayward direction with it. But that is what I do with God. And then I live in frustration when things don't go the way I thought they would or should. I want to be patient and stay by God's side. Not lagging behind but definitely not running ahead.
Thank you Lord for never loosing your patience with me. Help me to stay in the shelter of you wings.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Feminine Appeal review
I get to check another book off of the Spring Reading Thing challenge. Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney was excellent! When starting a new book I always look through the titles of the chapters and predetermine which ones the Lord will speak to me through. I would have never guessed before reading the book that the chapter titled 'The rewards of kindness' would have spoken to me the way it did. The Lord revealed some things that I did not realize were in my heart. Thank you Lord, for revealing secret things in my heart.
The last chapter is called 'Margaret's Story'. Can I just say I want that to be said of me. As I read about this dear sweet woman I kept thinking 'She is amazing'. I want to be content in my life. That serving my family is enough and I mean really serving them like Margaret. The Lord has showed me some things that still need to be removed to do this. I pray that I have the courage to do that. To give up the things that maybe are not best for my family. Good things, even godly things, just not God's best for me. I pray that I would not to worry or even consider what others may think of me for leaving commitments. I want to serve my family well.
This book was filled with encouragment as well as challenges. I had never heard of the Mahaney's before. I will have to look into other books they have written.
The last chapter is called 'Margaret's Story'. Can I just say I want that to be said of me. As I read about this dear sweet woman I kept thinking 'She is amazing'. I want to be content in my life. That serving my family is enough and I mean really serving them like Margaret. The Lord has showed me some things that still need to be removed to do this. I pray that I have the courage to do that. To give up the things that maybe are not best for my family. Good things, even godly things, just not God's best for me. I pray that I would not to worry or even consider what others may think of me for leaving commitments. I want to serve my family well.
This book was filled with encouragment as well as challenges. I had never heard of the Mahaney's before. I will have to look into other books they have written.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Life as a Vapor
Here is to checking one book off my reading list for the Spring Reading Thing! Yahoo! Not just yahoo to a check-off but yahoo to a great read.
I bought this book last fall. We were in the adoption process and I read an article about Steven Curtis Chapman in the CCM magazine that told how this book was life impacting. It had great influence on the 'All Things New' CD. At the time I was so eager to meet our daughter from China and wanting to connect with anything and anyone in my situation, I got the book.
So, I started the book in mid November. We traveled to China the begining of December and here it is the end of March and I am finishing this 31 day devotional. Now before you get all excited, I didn't stop meeting with the Lord all that time, just John Piper in his book.
This is a great book/devotional to keep your focus on the Lord. To gain perspective on what is really important in life. When I started this book my focus was on getting to China. God had called us to adopt this precious child and I could not wait to get my hands on her. As I finished this book I kept thinking of my sister-in-law who is battling cancer. Hope for her beating this cancer is not looking very good. She is an amazingly beautiful woman physically. One of the kind that make you stare in awe. But she is plastic, in all ways. From head to toe you see what she wants you to see, an image that she has created, unflawed to the eye. She is not a believer nor does she desire that. We had a family picture done today with my husbands family. As I looked at her, tan body, perfect hair, makeup and clothes, my heart aches for her salvation. Her life is a vapor and she doesn't realize it. I have found myself coveting her lifestyle over the past 15 years that I have been married. They live a very extravegant lifestyle. But for what? At this point there is nothing of substance. Nothing that will last into eternity. I am so sad and burdened for her.
My life is a vapor too. I have no idea how long I will be here, neither do you. Some vapors are long, some short. I want my life to amount to something for God. That may be being the best mom and wife I can be or it may mean something else in addition. The point is to stay in line with God's will for my life. Be obedient in all things and remember this life is not the prize.
I bought this book last fall. We were in the adoption process and I read an article about Steven Curtis Chapman in the CCM magazine that told how this book was life impacting. It had great influence on the 'All Things New' CD. At the time I was so eager to meet our daughter from China and wanting to connect with anything and anyone in my situation, I got the book.
So, I started the book in mid November. We traveled to China the begining of December and here it is the end of March and I am finishing this 31 day devotional. Now before you get all excited, I didn't stop meeting with the Lord all that time, just John Piper in his book.
This is a great book/devotional to keep your focus on the Lord. To gain perspective on what is really important in life. When I started this book my focus was on getting to China. God had called us to adopt this precious child and I could not wait to get my hands on her. As I finished this book I kept thinking of my sister-in-law who is battling cancer. Hope for her beating this cancer is not looking very good. She is an amazingly beautiful woman physically. One of the kind that make you stare in awe. But she is plastic, in all ways. From head to toe you see what she wants you to see, an image that she has created, unflawed to the eye. She is not a believer nor does she desire that. We had a family picture done today with my husbands family. As I looked at her, tan body, perfect hair, makeup and clothes, my heart aches for her salvation. Her life is a vapor and she doesn't realize it. I have found myself coveting her lifestyle over the past 15 years that I have been married. They live a very extravegant lifestyle. But for what? At this point there is nothing of substance. Nothing that will last into eternity. I am so sad and burdened for her.
My life is a vapor too. I have no idea how long I will be here, neither do you. Some vapors are long, some short. I want my life to amount to something for God. That may be being the best mom and wife I can be or it may mean something else in addition. The point is to stay in line with God's will for my life. Be obedient in all things and remember this life is not the prize.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Blogs
This world of blogging is amazing. I find myself thinking throughout the day 'Oh, that would make a good post'. The fact is I enjoy reading other blogs more than posting myself. I don't even remember how I first found this cyberworld. The first blog that I regularly looked at was Lifesong. I found myself eager to read Kim's posts each day. I started to read some of the blogs on her blogroll like Lisa Writes, The Hutch, A Spacious Place, and This One's for the Girls. It is so encouraging to me to hear the thoughts of women striving to lead godly lives and be and excellent example to their families and the rest of the world. It is interesting to me that you can almost hear their voices in their posts. My husband laughed at me when I came to him and said "There is this whole other world out there...did you know?" He being the computer whiz that he is did, but not so interested.
The original blogs have lead me to others and so on. The personalities are as many as bloggers. Sarcastic, pure, humble, boastful, funny, serious. Some have thoughts just like mine (which is always comforting). Some have caused me to evaluate what I believe and why. Some have caused me to dig into the scriptures and find a truth for myself. Some I agree with, some others not so much. Some of these women are theologians themselve and way too deep for my simple thoughts. Some posts I have gone back to several times because it was such an encouragement.
Only God know how far this will go for me. I want to fully live my life and be present for my kids. I can see where this could get adictive and become a not so good habit. I have also had to check myself coveting the 'pretty' blogs and saying to myself, 'I want one of those.' I am sure that jealosy is still a sin even if it is over blog pages.
God truly is in the world of blogging. Thanks to those who have encouraged me and spurred me on. This is like having girlfriends to have coffee with whenever my schedule allows. A place to hear a complete thought and the comments of others. I am loving this new place of conversation. I pray that I can someday be the same encouragement and a enjoyable place to visit.
The original blogs have lead me to others and so on. The personalities are as many as bloggers. Sarcastic, pure, humble, boastful, funny, serious. Some have thoughts just like mine (which is always comforting). Some have caused me to evaluate what I believe and why. Some have caused me to dig into the scriptures and find a truth for myself. Some I agree with, some others not so much. Some of these women are theologians themselve and way too deep for my simple thoughts. Some posts I have gone back to several times because it was such an encouragement.
Only God know how far this will go for me. I want to fully live my life and be present for my kids. I can see where this could get adictive and become a not so good habit. I have also had to check myself coveting the 'pretty' blogs and saying to myself, 'I want one of those.' I am sure that jealosy is still a sin even if it is over blog pages.
God truly is in the world of blogging. Thanks to those who have encouraged me and spurred me on. This is like having girlfriends to have coffee with whenever my schedule allows. A place to hear a complete thought and the comments of others. I am loving this new place of conversation. I pray that I can someday be the same encouragement and a enjoyable place to visit.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting a Spring Reading Thing. My list is rather small because I have got in a bad habit this of starting several books at the same time and have not finished any of them. So in the spirit of spring cleaning my goal is to finish these books before I start any new ones. I am looking forward to checking out what others are reading and getting some ideas for future reading this summer.
One Home at a time - Dennis Rainey
Feminine Appeal - Carolyn Mahaney
Heaven at Home - Ginger Plowman
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends - Stephan, Sarah and Grace Mally
Life Is A Vapor - John Piper
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