God's Dreams

Dreams....I have so many. As I draw closer to God through daily time in His word He gives me the desire to do things I never would have thought about on my own. While growing up, I did not enjoy English class and the basic thought of writing any kind of report caused me to procrastinate to the last possible moment. I hated speaking to a group of my peers due to being extremely shy with no inner confidence. However, I did know that God had a purpose for me, something bigger than myself. As a young college student my only goal was to get married and stay home with my kids. That is all I wanted to do. Years later, I found myself as a mother with a full time job and miserable, for this was not my dream. I struggled with the thought of being called to do something more, that this daily grind was not what God had called me to. I started to attend Bible study and for the first time in my life began to study God's Word in depth for myself on a regular basis. It was at this time that the dreams and purposes of my life began to get more clearer and started to be more of a calling God wanted me to fulfill. In 2003, I attended a Women of Faith conference with a group of ladies from my church. In the middle of this conference, as I was listening to a speaker, I felt God say to me, "this is what I have called you to. This is your calling." At that moment, I was overwhelmed at the task, overwhelmed that He would choose me. But at the same time convinced that I had heard His tug on my heart. I may or may not ever speak to thousands as in that arena, but God has called me to be faithful and fill my purpose where I am. The details of how that will be used is up to Him. This adventure between me and my Saviour is a plan in progress, sometimes I doubt I heard Him right, but if I stop my busy life and refocus back on Him, the desire and calling come back in full force drawing me to do the next thing. This blog came out of a time when God was showing me so much in His Word that I just had to share with someone or else I would explode. My last two speaking engagements really brought all of this full circle for me. I went to the platform full of confidence that this is what God has called me to do. I still have lots and lots of dreams left on God's shelf. I just want to stay close enough to Him that He can pull them down from time to time to give me a glimpse into what He has planned. Just a little hint to keep me seeking Him for the next step. He knows if He had revealed the whole plan to a shy teenage girl who hated English, I would have ran for the hills! What has God planned for you? His dreams for your life are so much bigger than you can imagine. Draw close to Him and get a glimpse of what He plans to do through you. Let Him make beauty from ashes or in my case, confidence from self-doubt.
I Cor. 2:9- "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
Psalm 37:4- "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Driving Lessons

Youth camp! Even though I am not a teenager anymore I may just enjoy this week of summer more than they do. It is a chance to rest, relax, and re energize. It is a week for this mom to be able to focus on the main thing, Jesus and my relationship with him. There is no laundry to be done, no food to fix, no beds to be made, no lawn to be mowed. Just time....time to spend loving life and enjoying time spent in His precious word by myself and with others. Being on this camp property makes me feel like home, we are family. During this week, my husband had begun to let my five your old son, Trent sit on his lap and "drive" (camp property, no main roads involved!) back from the services each day. Trent loved this and looked forward to the next time he could "be big" and drive. Yesterday, as we were driving back with Trent at the wheel, a song came on the radio that my son had learned motions to a couple of weeks before at Bible school. He immediately let go of the wheel and began to sing the song complete with motions. We had a good laugh on how easily he became distracted while doing something he had been, only moments ago, begging to do. I found this to be a good picture of how I act sometimes in my spiritual walk. I struggle to keep the main thing, the main thing. Distractions, responsibilities get in the way of something I deeply long to do. How easily my focus gets put on something else rather than the task at hand. My task here on earth is to glorify God in everything. To spend time with him and express what he is teaching me, to others with love. I want to stay on course. I want to accomplish the task. What is distracting you today? Ask God to help you make Him the priority and keep your eyes on the road ahead.
Thanks Word of Life Florida for a great week!
Isaiah 26:3- "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

The Finish Line

Ten weeks and glory to God I finally made it! I was able to jog thirty minutes straight, completing the program. I feel much stronger physically, but mentally the last two weeks have been tough. I began feeling defeated after not being able to jog what I needed to. There were days I had mentally quit before I even started. I was dreading the morning workout time, frustrated with some Church issues, and struggling to move forward in my ministry purpose. All those things plus some others were ganging up on me leaving an overall feeling of defeat. This frustrates me because I want faith and hope to reign in my life, not defeat. I was praying and praying for these emotions to be lifted. I was pleading for a tangible reminder that I am not in this alone and the daily things that are done for his glory matter. I was longing for a fresh encounter with Him. It was then it happened. First, I received a letter (tangible confirmation)that encouraged me and infused hope. Then this morning before setting out on the dreaded run, I read this scripture. "He(Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4: 20-21. Those verses were exactly what I needed to give me the motivation and energy to lace up my shoes and hit the road. I am persuaded that what God has promised he is able to preform. My God has been faithful to me. He has lead me this far on the journey, He is not going to leave me now. I am so glad he gives me evidence I can hold in my hand that proves it. Every time I read the letter and the scripture I feel his presence right there with me. Calming me. Reassuring me. I am overwhelmed by his love, and these experiences never cease to bring tears to my face and joy to my heart.

Arguing With Myself

I woke up this morning in protest. The excuses began to flood my mind. "It is too late to start in this Florida heat...One day won't hurt...I just don't feel like it...." Have you ever had a day where you fight a war in your mind before you even get out of bed? I reluctantly got out of bed, and started out for my 16-minute jog , still not in the best state of mind. I lacked confidence that I would meet my goal for the day. "I am just not strong enough, not today." My mind began to negotiate a smaller amount, like maybe I would just run ten, that is not totally giving up, right? Again, myself arguing with myself, as I put one foot in front of the other. I began to ask God to carry me through. I can't tell you which minute exactly he showed up, but as I finished the 16th minute I felt strong enough to go another minute in order to finish my goal this week. It reminds me of the poem, "Footprints in the sand" as I look back I know he carried me. What makes the difference between starting out trying to convince yourself you can make it and finishing strong? Hebrews 12:1b states "let us lay aside every weight(excuse), and the sin (unbelief) which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience (hopeful endurance) the race that is set before us." I just love when I find comfort for my weary soul in scripture, it gives me that hopeful endurance I need to run the race. Is there something in your life that you have been giving excuses for or something you lack the confidence to move forward to do? Meditate and memorize this scripture and cheerfully run ahead to finish the race. After all, there is a great cloud of witnesses waiting for you at the finish line.
Romans 15:4 -"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope."
Hebrews 12:1 -"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." KJV Also James 1:3-4.

Running the Race

The last five weeks I have changed my morning routine to include exercise. The program is called couch to 5K, which you can look up on line to get more specifics. I began slowly with the first day including a five-minute walk, one-minute run and then finishing with five more minutes of walking. At that time, I thought jogging for five minutes would be out of reach. Praise the Lord, I am ecstatically reporting that at the end of last week I ran for nine minutes straight. Today, I am happy to say I ran six minutes, walked five, ran six and walked five again. I feel my body getting stronger. I am finding that if I get up and run, my food choices become better as well. I want to give total glory to God for what has been accomplished. I am half way through the program and feel victorious. Running has so many spiritual aspects or examples to it, but the one I want to focus on today is the way that one simple obedient step leads to more obedient steps. Just as when I make a commitment to run in the morning, other behaviors change throughout the day. I eat better, which gives me more energy, which enables me to keep going all day, which burns more calories, which makes a day filled with victory and makes me want to repeat it. It is a domino effect. I believe the same goes for victory in our spiritual lives. The more we choose to seek God personally ever day, the more victory we have over sin, the more spiritual fruit we exhibit, the more we look like Christ. Another domino effect! The hardest step is the first step, make a habit of seeking him daily and the rest will follow. Live victoriously. Make the choice.
Matt. 6:33- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you."
II Tim.4:7- "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

Accessorizing to the Max...

My ten-year old daughter loves Claire's. Claire's is a mall chain store that has everything you ever thought of to accessorize any outfit from handbags, to shoes, to necklaces and earrings of all colors, shapes, and sizes. She received a gift card for her birthday and can not wait to spend it. This shopping adventure came to mind while I was reading in the book of I Timothy when I came across the word adorn. Claire's is the perfect adorning shop for a modern day outfit, but I Timothy 2 says that we should,as women adorn ourselves modestly, soberly, without gold and pearls. The next verse goes on to say we should instead array ourselves with good works. What a different kind of accessory store that would be. According to this scripture, My daughter and I should be spending more time looking for good works, purity, and godliness instead of earrings, purses, and shoes. I Peter 3 in the RSV gives the thought that we should be developing the "hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." I loved the wording of this verse. I want my daughter to be an imperishable jewel that God views as precious. How do I help make that happen? I need to take her shopping daily in the Word of God and help her pick out a gentle and quiet spirit, a spirit that represents inward beauty and not just outward adornment. I want her to be known by her inward,spiritual beauty not just her outward, physical beauty. I want her life to attract others to Christ. I believe this is the heart of what Paul was trying to convey in these scriptures. I do not only desire it for her but for myself as well. Maybe we should spend a little more time in God's accessory shop, the Bible ....and a little less time in Claire's!
2 Timothy 2:9-10 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." KJV
Titus 2:10b "...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."KJV
Also Read I Peter 3:3-5

Pretty Feet

Warning! This blog entry is not for the faint of heart! I long for pretty feet! I used to have pretty young looking feet, but as I get older the young skin has vanished and the not so good-looking rough and calloused feet have emerged. Anybody with me? I know a good pedicure would help but money is tight so I have gone to the store and picked up some self help products in hopes of improving their present condition. I purchased some corn and callous remover, a scrub to help alleviate cracks and roughness, etc. With all these products, I find my new foot routine is taking more and more time just trying to repair what went wrong. Would it not have been easier to prevent the callouses to start with instead of trying to rub and scour them away later? Spiritually speaking, the Bible addresses this topic several places by asking us, as Christians, to "Harden not our hearts".
The Strong's Complete Dictionary of Bible Words says harden has the meaning of being "dry, hard, tough or to render stubborn." Exodus talks about how Pharaoh's heart was hardened toward the Israelites and the Lord. Psalm 95 mentions how the Israelites hardened their hearts to the voice of the Lord in the wilderness which caused their forty years of wandering. Hebrews pleads with us to hear the voice of God today to keep our hearts from being hardened by sin. We must guard against sin, listen for the Savior's voice and exercise obedience in order to keep our hearts from forming hard spots or calluses toward God and His word. As with my feet, our hearts are harder to clean up after the calluses have formed. Save yourself from painful, wasted years of regret by keeping your heart open and your ears tuned to hear his voice, today.
Psalm 95:7-8 "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:"
Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is still called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

A Godly Teacup...What would that look like?

I had such a wonderful time at the 15th annual Victorian Tea at First Baptist Church in Fort Meade on Sunday. This Church's women's ministry has got it together. Thank You Lesha, Carolyn, Vivian and all the others who had there hands in it. God is truly using you to minister in your Church and it is overflowing onto others.
Since this topic is on my heart right now, I thought I would share a couple of thoughts with you from the message I presented to these ladies this weekend.

Teacups symbolize daintiness, elegance, socializing, and good times. The perfect representation of a Women's event. The Bible refers to our lives in several places as empty vessels or can I say empty teacups. Just like our teacups, we choose what we fill our lives with. Things that do not satisfy or the real thing Jesus. I began to think about what a Godly Teacup would look like if it were a living, breathing Christian women. I believe the life would be authentic. She would be the real thing, the only one like it, which would draw people to her. Her cup or life would be clean inside and out. Her life would be spirit filled and powerful. Not perfect. The cup would get cracked or broken on life's journey but she would let her designer bear the burden of repairing her back to a useful state. Which He would do and she would then be even more beautiful and valuable after the restoration. This is the kind of teacup I want to be. As II Timothy 2:21 states, a vessel unto honour,
clean inside and out, and it would be prepared for and useful in every good work the owner has planned for it. What kind of teacup are you? Over the next few weeks we will look at four different cups we can be that keep us from being the teacup God wants us to be, so stay tuned.......
2 Timothy 2:21- "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

His Dwelling Place...Clean or Dirty?

With a household containing six members, I spend a lot of time and energy picking up clothes, cleaning dishes, changing beds, wiping counters. The old saying of a women's job is never done definitely rings true in my household. How about yours?
In my studies I came upon this verse,Exodus 15:2- "The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation......", Habitation means a place to live in. The verse is saying I will prepare him a place to live in. Right there this got me. There are days in my life and yours as well I am sure, where we spend time preparing a place to live in for our families, but spend little time preparing our hearts to be lived in by the most high.
If we are saved, our hearts are His dwelling place. Is He comfortable there? How much clutter is in the way of His plan? Nothing is more frustrating to me then trying to make dinner when dirty dishes occupy most of the counter space. I am sure He feels the same way when our hearts become cluttered with sin or misplaced priorities. Do you need to do a little spring cleaning to make room for the most important guest of all?Ezra 7:10-"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements."