The Chase?

Have you ever been told that you should chase after the Lord? Do you chase after him? If you do, what does that mean to you? It is something that I have been pondering and questioning this past week. It is actually something new to me that I have been trying to do in my life. If He is jealous for me, then I should want to chase after Him. One thing I have changed this past week is to give the Lord the best parts of me. I have been dancing with Him, talking with Him, writing love letters to Him and giving Him the best part of my day. It has been amazing to see the transformation in my life by doing these little things, and in my families lives too. Every day, I have set aside time in the early afternoon just to sit at His feet and talk to Him with no agenda of my own. I want to know every part of Him. Have you ever thought about all of His names? There are many, and if He has that many names He must want us to know all about them too. Have you ever wrote Him a love letter, just telling Him how much you are in love with Him? Let me just say, I am more in love with my Jesus today that I ever have been! He is so amazing! Thank You Jesus for loving me!

Lesson learned!

My five year old son is growing up so fast, that sometimes I don't realize that he is more aware of what is going on than I realize. Sunday he said to me that he was in love with a little girl in his church class. So I asked him what that meant to be in love with her, and he said "well she smiled at me and it made me feel good so I smiled back at her." Anyway, we talked about what it meant to be in love and how he had plenty of time, but it was good that he smiled back at her and to be nice to her. So, I saw her mom last night at church and shared this story with her. Her mom thought it was so cute too. Well, Tra was not happy with me. He asked me why I shared that with her, so I told him that I thought it was such a great story that I wanted to share it with her mommy. That did not matter, I had already broken his heart. So, I got down on my knees and asked him to forgive me, and he did. Anyway, I think it broke my heart more than it broke his because I realized several things. First, that he is growing up and this was really important to him. Second, that I broke his trust in him, and I never want to do that again. Three, the next time I have a great story to share about one of my kids I need to make sure it is a story I can share. Anyway, I learned many lessons last night, but the best part is, Tra is not upset with me and because he is a 5 year old boy, he moved on pretty quickly. Today he is back in love with his Mom and I that makes it all worth it!

Experience...

I love going to church. I love seeing people, I love the worship, I love just being in a place where everyone comes expecting to meet with Jesus. Yesterday we had an incredible church service. The Holy Spirit came and poured out in our services. It was just so amazing. The worship was like none I have seen in our church for a long time. People were asking God for things, and He was answering them, right there on the spot. I was praying with one woman and her back pain was instantly gone. It is just so cool that God would use me! Mathew 10:7-8 says "7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Mathew 6:10 says "10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I want to live on earth as it is in Heaven." I have kingdom authority and I am a princess. Today, I even have a bit more faith and boldness to walk in the ways He wants me to go. My prayer for my family and friends is they experience the Lord in a way that makes them want to walk with their daddy this way too!

A New Day!

This morning I started back into my old routine of getting up early and walking. I have been in a bit of a rut lately and this week the Lord showed me that I needed to get back to what He wants me to do. So, I am getting up at 4:00 am and walking before my beloved husband goes to work. This also gives me a good hour or more of quiet time to spend with the Lord before I shower and the kids get moving. Today was a hard transition, but I did it. The coolest part is how supportive my husband is. After my shower I got into my stuff for my face and hair and found a card. The front of it said "It's very simple. I love you." He wrote some very encouraging words on the inside and it just totally blessed me. We have not had cable for over a week now and I think it is bringing our family closer together. Every night after dinner we are spending the time together and the TV is hardly ever on anymore! I am so loving this time we have, and am really enjoying the time my husband and I get when the kids go to bed. We can just sit on the couch and read together, or sometimes put in a movie and just sit together and it is so nice. I love my precious husband and am so thankful for what the Lord is doing in him, me and our family!

I get a day off!

I just have to say that I have the best husband ever. He went away this weekend to a cabin in southern Ohio with some of his friends. They like roughing it, no toilet, no shower, no water unless you bring it yourself, and sometimes no heat if there is no wood cut or dry. Anyway, when he planned this weekend trip he decided to take the Monday after his weekend off. At first I thought it was to recover from his weekend. That is when he shocked me! He took the day off so that I could take the day off. How exciting. He is going to stay home and take care of the kids and I get to leave and do what ever I want to and stay out as late as I want to and not have to worry about the house or kids! I am so excited! He is out getting his fingerprints for the adoption of our youngest boy, then when he gets home I am out of here. I just wanted to write a short note saying what a great husband I have. I am truly blessed to have him by my side and I love him more and more every day. He is truly the best thing that has happened to me and I am so thankful the Lord brought us together over 12 years ago. He is the most handsome man I know and I am proud to be his wife. I love you Tim and thank you for today!

My precious Son!

We have been struggling with our 4 year old. He is going through this stage where he doesn't want to listen and will do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. Well as you know this doesn't work in a family, and it really doesn't go work well with me or my husband. I have been praying for him and things are getting better, however, last night was not a good night. I feel like sometimes all I am doing is disciplining him and that makes me sad. I am glad though that his feelings don't get too hurt because this morning at about 6 am he asked if he could cuddle with me for a bit before we had to get up. This made me so proud as a mommy that I said yes. I don't let the kids in bed with us usually, but I made an exception today. During my quiet time later this morning the Lord was showing me how he just needs some extra mommy and daddy time since he is the middle child. Anyway, I just wanted to share my heart today. To get this our there so I can let it go for now. I love my kids so much, and am so honored that the Lord would use me to be their mother that I don't want to do anything to hurt them. I do however want to train them up in the ways of the Lord. So, have a blessed Saturday and GO BUCKS!

Greetings!

I am learning that how we greet each other plays a big role in how we reach them with the love of Jesus. 1 Peter 5:14 says "Greet one another with a kiss of love." Now you can take this literal or not, but I want to make sure that my greetings to everyone I encounter has a kiss of love. I don't believe that everyone I will actually give a kiss too, but I do think that I can love them with the love that Jesus has given me to give them His kiss. Anyway, I wanted to just get this thought out there this morning and challenge you to think about you greet anyone you encounter. Even the people you don't really want to greet. I know this is a challenge for me and I can only do it with the Lord's help.

My heart today...

Let me start by saying that I was truly grieved this morning when I heard that Obama is going to be our next president. I have been in prayer and will continue because I don't think things are going to get better with him in office. Okay, that being said, my heart today is heavy and I want to share a little of it with you. As I have been doing my Love Dare book I am finding many areas in which I want to change to become a better person. On Day 6 there were some scriptures that really touched me and I want to share them with you.

Colossians 3:12-14 says "So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." So out of this I want to let Love guide my relationships and not get caught up in unnecessary arguments. This is how I want to be dressed too!

Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." I don't want to do things on my own anymore, I want to pray through them and let God take care of them. I want to let my petitions and praises shape my worries into prayers.

Exodus 18:17-23 says "Moses' father-in-law said, "This is no way to go about it. You'll burn out, and the people right along with you. This is way too much for you - you can't do this alone. Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men - men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible - and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. They'll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They'll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they'll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. If you handle the work this way, you'll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also." I want to learn how to delegate things when I am overworked. I have a hard time with this and am learning that it is okay to ask for help from my family when I can't get it all done. I am also learning that this makes my kids feel important and helps to show them how important they are to our family.

Proverbs 25:16 says "When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick." I want to avoid overindulgence. This has been a struggle for me lately because walking has increased my appetite and there has been lots of candy around the house and not enough fruits and vegetables.

I am also making it a priority to take my Sabbath and rest. I am using it as a vacation day, to not do my daily routines and to rest and refocus on the Lord. I want to teach my kids to do this and I need it to make it through my busy week. Thanks for listening to what is going on in my heart and I hope it ministered or blessed someone today.

Saturday update

I normally don't post on Saturday mornings. The weekends are very busy for me as with most people, but this morning I just wanted to give a quick update on some things I have posted in the past few days. They walking is going good. I walked this morning which made my fourth day this week and I have met my goal for this week. Now next weeks goal is five days - yeah! My love dares are going great. I can see a change in my husband and I have shocked him a couple of times already and it is only day 5. Today could be a challenge for me as he is going to have to tell me a few things about me, but actually, I am ready for this because I really want to change for the better and this way I will know some things that effect him and how I can change to be a better wife. I am so thankful the Lord has called me to this love dare book and encourage everyone who is married to read it. God has blessed me with two other friends doing the book with me and it has been encouraging to go through it with them. Okay, now last night, I had so much fun with our friends. The food was good, slow, but good. Then the playing was fun. The kids went off and played in the play area, the older kids (Dad's included) went off and played and the babies and moms sat around and talked. It was just so much fun being with friends and playing. I really wish I could do this more often. So, I guess this wasn't really as quick as I thought but it is just some ramblings on my heart this morning. I hope everyone has a great weekend and has an incredible encounter with the Lord!

Fire Proof

I know I have already talked about the movie Fireproof, but the Lord has been talking to me about my marriage. I have been married for 11 years now and although we have a good marriage, I want a great one. So, the Lord has challenged me to a "Love Dare" for my husband. Today starts the beginning of a 40 day journey of loving my husband with the agape love that only Jesus can give me. I cannot wait to see how this changes me and him and our relationship. I challenge anyone else to do this for their spouse whether you have seen the movie or not. I know I am only on day one and I can see areas in my life that I need to improve on to be a better wife. I will keep you updated as I go through my journey and I hope to hear from anyone else who is doing this for their spouse too.

Look at the Heart!

I have started a new devotional and it is about the life of David, so I am reading in the old testament right now. 1 Samuel 16:7 says "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I have been meditating on this verse for a couple of days. I have come to the point in my life that I want to emulate Jesus Christ in everything I do, so this has become my prayer. I want to look at the heart of man not just the outward appearance. I want to love people the way Jesus loves them. I know what He does and is doing for me so I want to pass His love on to other people so the can be blessed too!

The Cabin

My husband goes to a cabin twice a year down in southern Ohio. He loves it and is joined by a bunch of guys that love it too. They do all that male bonding and have no running water or a toilet that flushes. I have been down there a couple of times and have absolutely no desire to ever return. Our 4 year old son however can't wait to get down there. He was telling me all weekend how many cool bugs and things he could find there. Yuck! It will be a blessing though when our boys get old enough to start going then my daughter and I will have a girls weekend. How cool will that be! Anyway, I know my husband loves it, but I really missed him this time. I don't know what was different, but I am really happy he is home. The kids really missed him too. Don't get me wrong, me and the kids we had a great weekend playing all weekend and staying up late watching movies and stuff, but I am really glad the weekend is over and he is home. I missed you honey, and I love you very much!

Truely blessed

I love my husband. I called him at work before I got the kids up to ask him a question about a concert he wants us to go to and the first thing he said was "your welcome". I had no idea what he was talking about so naturally I start looking for something around the house for me. As I was talking to him I walked into the kitchen to find a box of jolly pirate doughnuts. He got up early and bought us doughnuts for breakfast. I have been craving them too, but don't want to get all the kids up, go to the store to buy them and back home again to eat them. The kids are going to be so excited when they get up to eat breakfast. Anyway, my husband does so many things for us but this was a neat surprise this morning. I wasn't even going to post anything today, but I decided to write about the love of my life blessing his family today. I love you precious!

Listening

Good Tuesday Morning! So, have you ever been studying Gods word and the same message just keeps coming back to you. You get the same thing no matter where you turn in the Bible or who you are listening to. This is happening to me right now. It is coming from every direction I turn. I don't know whether to be excited that the Lord is working in my life or concerned that I am not getting something and He is pressing me even more to get it. I want to only serve Him and do what He wants me to do. Like Paul in Philippians 4:11 I want to learn to be content in what ever circumstance I find myself in, to serve my Lord Jesus Christ only. I want nothing to matter to me except that which has eternal value. Lord this is my prayer today. Help me get what You are showing me. Thank You Father for loving me so much that You are not giving up on me. I love You Lord and want nothing more than to serve You in every thing I do!

To Be His Disciple.

If disciple means to be a pupil and a learner, than I definitely want to be a disciple of Jesus. I want to learn as much about Him and from Him as I can. I want to be in His word daily so I know who He is and everything about Him. I know the more I know Him, the more I want to know Him and the more I love Him. He is the only reason I make it through my days anymore and I am so thankful He rescued me from my sins and loves me as much as He does. I can't imagine my life without Him and I can't imagine ever living my life without Him. I don't want to miss what He is teaching me so when He calls me to go somewhere or do something I am ready and equipped with His word to go and do what He tells me to go and do. I want to remember that my calling is to be abandoned to Him. That is it, nothing more. I have to remember that He will give me tasks to do, but I am not to surrender to the task He gives me. I am His daughter, and I want to do what He wants me to do. Thank You for this reminder and continue to help me be sold out and abandoned to You Father God. I love you Jesus and want to do any task You bring me.

My Husband!

My husband is the best man in the world. He has been out of town this week and is coming home today. I really miss him and can't wait to see him. I never sleep very good when he is not home so I am selfish to say that I am also looking forward to a very good sleep tonight. I have been praying for him, for the Lord to reveal Himself to him. I have noticed the more I pray for him the more I fall in love with him. That is something I never expected. Don't get me wrong, I have prayed for my husband since before we were married, however not as in depth as I am praying now. There are some specific ways I have been praying for him and I see the Lord working in his life and that is very exciting. I can't wait to see him tonight, my help mate, my friend, my rock, my lover, the best thing that has happened to me on this earth, the love of my life! I pray the plane ride is much quieter and less turbulence on the way home for him. Hurry home my love!

I want to share some of my devotional with you from this morning. It really blessed me and I hope it blesses you too. I am doing Beth Moore's 90 days with Jesus and today's study was in Luke 7:11-17. Specifically verse 13 says "When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, "Don't cry". So when you think about compassion, what do you think of? What does it mean to you to have compassion on someone? I guess I have never thought about it before but I definitely have never thought about it like this. Have you ever thought about the "areas of restraint Jesus had as He walked on this pavement"? "For example, imagine the thought this funeral procession must have provoked in the mind of the author of life." Okay, I never thought about that. Something so simple as what He thought or felt about things that He saw just walking down the street. Now think about what He meant when He said "don't cry". I know when I say that I am feeling compassion toward the person and typically crying with them because that is how I am, but there really is nothing I can do for them except love on them and let them know I am here. As Beth puts it "please stop crying. I can't bear to see you in so much pain!" "Christ, on the other hand, is never helpless. When He said, "don't cry" He meant, "Not only do I hurt for you, but I'm going to do something about the cause of your hurt." WOW! He is going to do something about the cause of out hurt. He loves us that much that we don't even have to ask because He hurts when we hurt. That is just amazing to me. He has moved in my life so much this weekend and He took away a pain that I have had for most of my life and didn't realize it. The amazing part is He did this just because He loves me and wanted to take away some of my pain because I was seeking Him and wanting to bet closer to Him. God you are so amazing and I am so thankful You love me that much. I wanted to share this with you because it really ministered to me and gave me another way to look at this verse. I hope it gives you another way to look at our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Under my feet!

My house has been really crazy, in a good way. We have some extra friends staying with us and it has been lots of fun. The thing is, Satin has been attacking my husband and I. It took me until the middle of the morning to figure it out. Every time my husband and I had a conversation we would end up having some very intense fellowship. Another words, we would say some things to each other that definitely weren't uplifting or encouraging to each other. So I did get up and manage to have some quiet time with the Lord and during my prayer time I prayed for everyone and that there would be peace in this house. Then, satin attacked full force. Well, I was ready and I had him right where I wanted him, under my feet. I don't always remember that the Lord has put us over him and we have that authority to step on his head, so that is what I did. I brought it to my husbands attention and we started praying. God is good! He has taken care of it and my husband and I are doing great again. I know it is a change to have so many people here in our small home, but we love our friends and would do anything for them. We are praying they are having a wonderful time while they are away and we can't wait to talk to them tonight! Thank you Lord, for being there and for reminding me that I have the authority to take what the enemy has stolen from me and I can stomp him out of my life!

What a great visual!

This morning the Lord gave me such a great visual. I have always known this, but He showed me so personally this morning that it was like hearing it for the first time. He showed me that He stoops down to talk to me, to listen to me, to correct me, to heal me, or just to be with me. When I need Him, He is right there, stooping down to make sure I know He is there. He stoops low enough to put his cheek on mine, or to feel His breath on my face. That is just so amazing to me. That He loves me, and you, enough to do that for me each and every time I need Him. Even when I don't have enough strength to go on, He stoops down just to give me the strength to go on. Even more amazing is that He can and will do that for anyone who will call on His name. Anytime or anyplace He will be there for you and for me. He does this because He loves us, just because He loves us. Amazing! Father, I never want to not feel your breath on my face, or be in a place where You won't stoop down for me. I hope this encourages anyone today who reads this. He will stoop for you too, just whisper His name and He will be there for you, putting his cheek on your forehead to make sure you are okay.

Staying in Your hand!

Corrie Ten Boom prayed this everyday for the last 5 years of her life. I want to make it my prayer today too. "Lord, keep me close to Your heart so that I see things as it were more and more from Your point of view." I want this more than anything. I want to place myself in the palm of His hand and just stay there, where I am the safest.

Psalm 32: 23-24 says: "Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

I love the Lord, I want to be preserved by the Lord and my heart strengthen by Him!