Living with Intention

With a new year comes another opportunity for growth and learning. About a month ago, I felt God laying a word on my heart to focus on in the year ahead.

Intention. Defined several ways- determination to act in a certain way: resolve. What one intends to do or bring about. The thing that you plan to do or achieve: an aim or purpose.

Photo Credit: my brother, Justin Brenneman

As I've reflected on this the past few days, I've focused on 3 areas in which I feel led to be intentional this year.

#1- Living with intention. This sounds so cliché, but I want to live in gratefulness for each new day that I am given. Being filled with joy for what God has done for me and allow that joy to spill out to those around me. Taking time to play with my daughter or converse with my neighbor because they matter.

#2- Loving with intention. I have sensed that I need to grow in the area of loving those I don't know well including strangers. It is far too easy to cast judgements based on outward appearances, but that's not what God requires of me. He requires me to "do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8b, ESV) As I walk humbly with my God, I should have a desire to love those around me.

#3- Serving with intention. What does this look like for me this year? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure yet. Getting to know our neighbors better and those in our community. Meeting the needs of the hurting, whether it be through a listening ear, a word of encouragement or through a meal.There are many possibilities to serve and be a blessing.

Photo Credit: Justin Brenneman

Of course, I also desire to be intentional in several other areas such as doing more reading (stay tuned for an upcoming post with my book list for the year) and more frequent exercise (because it won't happen just by talking about it!) I am excited to see how I will grow from all of these intentions in the year ahead.

If you have a word or personal focus for the year ahead, I'd love to hear it. Blessings as you seek to learn and grow in a deeper way.

Life distractions

Something happened the other day that made me frustrated. While out for a walk with my daughter, my phone fell out of the stroller, screen side down. When I picked it up on the pavement, there were cracks all over the screen. I sighed in frustration. Then I realized that what I viewed as an inconvenience was possibly God's way of getting my attention. How little time I've been spending with Him lately and how much of my time I have been giving away to other things.

Distraction- "a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else." 

Corrie Ten Boom once said, "If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy." How true that is. There are so many things in life that cause busyness. Often times they can be good things, but when they consume us or take us away from Jesus, there's a problem. If I'm honest, one of my struggles is social media. It's a great way to connect with friends and family members. But when the temptation to check it frequently throughout the day takes me away from time with my family or Jesus, I need to admit that it has become a distraction and take steps to change my habits.

I posted here about my word of the year and desire to cherish moments and people each day. When life's distractions get in the way of that, I need to do a heart check and assess my motives. My daughter is growing so quickly and these days I'm savoring when her head rests on my shoulder when she's sleepy and when her little fingers explore my face. I also love how she gets silly when she's sleepy, just like me. :) I don't want to miss these moments simply because I'm checking the latest news on Facebook.

Mother's Day

This verse was in my devotional the other morning- "My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare." Psalm 25:15. I thought it was so fitting for this topic. Snares can take many forms and it's always good to be mindful of them in our lives. When we recognize them, we can take action. 

I found this article to be so good and so challenging to me personally. Hope it speaks to your heart as well today. 

A Season to Savor

Word of the year. To some, it may sound like a popular trend, but to me, it has proven to be a worthwhile challenge. As I was reflecting on the year ahead of me in 2017, the word savor came to my mind and I somehow knew it was my word.

Savor: a particular flavor, smell or taste of something; a distinctive quality.

Although savor seems to be mainly associated with food, I'd like to focus on the second half of the definition. This year, I desire to savor people- strengthen relationships and friendships. In 2016, I was especially reminded of the frailty of life when my dear friend's father passed away suddenly at a fairly young age. I want to live in the moment and enjoy those near to my heart. We are never guaranteed tomorrow. Each day is a gift from our Creator and I want to make the most of the days He gives to me.

I also desire to savor moments this year. Even when my dear baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night, I strive to choose joy amidst my grogginess. Joy that I have a healthy daughter who is able to wake me and that I am able to bring comfort to her when she needs it. I know she will grow quickly so I am doing my best to enjoy all of the little moments of snuggling with her when she's napping and also playing with her rather than tackling things on my to-do list. The moments of watching my husband play with his little girl or moments of taking time to talk with a friend so we can both be encouraged. This all takes an intentional effort.

Memories are another thing that I hope to savor in 2017. This week my daughter rolled for the first time. So much excitement as we relish all of these milestones! Watching her grandparents and aunts/uncles enjoy her so much is another joy. Taking pictures helps to keep memories fresh, but I also feel like Mary some days-"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

I love this picture of storing up memories and moments and hope to do a lot of it this year.

I'm going to close with the following challenge-

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In 2017, may you savor people (relationships and friendships), savor the little and big moments in life, and savor memories deep within your heart.

[If you have chosen a word of the year, I'd love to hear it!]

Dream Big

Have you ever faced a season in life in which you are called to create a new normal?

That's where I currently find myself. Last week, I said goodbye to my co-workers at my part-time market job. Although I was only there for one year, I established some good friendships and will miss those whom I grew to love during my time there. They were so kind as to throw me a little baby shower/goodbye party complete with balloons, gifts and yummy food.

Now my days are spent at home prepping for baby's arrival in four short weeks. I can't believe it is almost here already! As I think about what my new normal will entail, there are many thoughts that come to my mind. In my new role as a full-time homemaker (at least for the time being), my calling is to create a haven of joy, love and rest for my little family. Sure sounds like a high-calling, doesn't it? To those of you who do this on a daily basis, I bless you for serving your family in this capacity. It may seem mundane to some, but it's a vital role that God has called you to for such a time as this. Embrace it. Enjoy the little moments. Look forward to what God has in store for your future.

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I look forward to fulfilling this calling in my own life, but will admit that sometimes I wonder if I'll be content doing the 'keeper of the home' thing. Will it present enough of challenges for me? Will I be satisfied? But then as I thought about this, I realized God is also calling me to anticipate this new experience and dream big. "Dream big? I don't even know how to dream little, God." I've never been one to do a lot of dreaming. Yet somehow, the thought of dreaming even a little brings excitement to my heart. How can I use my God-given gifts, skills and strengths to bless others? I'm not sure I have the answers yet, but I'm anticipating what God will reveal to me as I seek His heart for my future. My encouragement to you, regardless of the season of life in which you find yourself, is to dream. Dream big, dream little. Just dream. Seek the Father's heart in how He wants to use you and in doing so, He'll bless you in ways you can only imagine.

Why I need More of Jesus in my Life

The other day, I was reminded again that I need more of Jesus in my life. Nothing is guaranteed from day to day- our health, our loved ones, even our homes. In the midst of sadness or trials, Jesus is our sure foundation. His love never fails and His mercies are new every morning.

Why do I need more of Jesus and less of me?

::He is my anchor. I know He is always there when I need to cry out in prayer, bearing my heart and those who are on it. There is nothing more comforting than knowing we don't have to go through difficult circumstances alone.

:: He provides rest. No matter what stage of life you are in, more than likely it is a busy one. We can become so wrapped up in our agendas and schedules that we forget to sit and be still in His presence. I can speak from experience that when I do so, everything else fades away for a time and somehow becomes less important on my to-do list. I've found that for me personally spending some quiet moments with the Lord first thing in the morning is the best way to set my day in the right direction.

::He is my strong tower. When the winds of life blow uncertain, He provides shelter and a sense of peace through the storms. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)

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It is my prayer that my capacity for God would continue to grow and I would desire to run to Him first with every need. Would He be my focus, your focus, each new day!

Are you a burden bearer?

Burdens. We all bear them. Sometimes I think this tends to be more of a struggle for women, myself included. It is a lesson that I continue to learn, ever learning and growing. Perhaps it may be helpful for us to ask ourselves these questions:

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-What causes me to bear burdens? I believe it tends to come from a heart of compassion, mercy and deep love for others. We bear because we care. And we care deeply. It is one of my biggest questions sometimes. “God, why have you given me such a great capacity to love?” While it has its tremendous blessings, it also causes much pain during times of difficulty.

-In what atmosphere or sphere of influence do I most often bear burdens? In other words, the setting(s) or areas in your life in which you see this pattern occur the most. For me, it occurs in areas of ministry and close family/friend relationships. Those who touch my heart the deepest weigh upon it the heaviest. And that is not their fault; it’s just the way God has designed me to care for them.

-During what seasons of life, circumstances or stresses, do I tend to take on burdens? The when moments. Do you see a pattern take place? Perhaps when you are weary and worn after a period of being on the go and not having enough of “you” time. This is my weakness for sure. Maybe it occurs when you’ve said “yes” one too many times and you've stretched yourself much too thin. Is it when your joy has been diminished and needs refilling by the One and Only? Be honest with yourself.

-How do I bear burdens for those in my life? Do you keep them to yourself, share with your closest confidant, or first bring them to your Father God? Do you allow the burden to rule you or your day or do you entrust that person/situation to the One who can bring redemption and deliverance?

Know that when you've searched your own heart and motives, you may be better equipped to fulfill the calling to adequately bear burdens for those precious to you. Galations 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” 

The Virus of Distraction

I'm guilty. Guilty of distraction, that is.

I guess you could say that I have a good reason. I've been caught up in a wedding whirlwind that is only accelerating as we approach the next eight days. It has been so exciting, but oh, so exhausting. So looking forward to a lovely, relaxing honeymoon with my Mr. :)

As I've struggled to make time for just about everything lately, the biggest hurdle has been creating a solid time slot for my devotions each day. I'll be honest here [for some reason, I'm feeling vulnerably honest this morning!] If I don't do it first thing in the morning, it doesn't happen. Who's with me? I know it's not an excuse, but I think it's somehow more comforting when I know I'm not alone.

I read the following quote on Ann Voskamp's blog and it greatly challenged me.

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Far too often, we have the tendency to cram more and more into our schedules when the solution lies in simplifying. So how have I done that lately?

-Embracing a period of rest when I need it. Whether that is taking a short nap or sitting down for a few minutes, it has a wonderful way of reviving me.

-Making a to-do list and sticking to it. No more, but sometimes less. It's ok to not be superwoman and achieve all. Remind me of that this week!

-Eliminating the unnecessaries that vie for my time. Sometimes I just need to say no.

-Realizing that tomorrow (or next week or next month) is a new day. No need to stress out over what can be stretched out!

-Knowing that I am fully loved and accepted by a Father who loves me unconditionally in my weakest moments, who is willing to lift me out of the dirt, dry my tears, and carry me until I can walk again on my own, with Him ever by my side.

Today, I choose to not allow distractions to overtake my mind, my joy, and my life. I choose Jesus!

Birthday Reflections

Birthdays- a time for celebrating and reflecting. I had mine this past weekend and it caused me to think back on all that has happened over the past year and what God has taught me along the way. Just thought I'd share a few of the life lessons-

Lesson 1. Surrendering every care to my Jesus. This is the lesson I've been reminded of time and time again. I can't even tell you how frequently I've had to relearn this over the past year. I shared some of these thoughts in this post.

Lesson 2. The importance of returning to the Word when I'm feeling weary and worn. His promises are always just what I need. Some of my favorites from the past year are- Lamentations 3:19-27, Hebrews 12:7-11, Exodus 14:13-15, John 1:16, Isaiah 41:10, 13, and Isaiah 46:4. And I could list many more.

Lesson 3. Willingly embracing the waiting periods in my life instead of rejecting them. This will bring an overflow of joy and peace. (And yes, I know it's hard. I'm in the midst of one once again.)

Lesson 4. Music has a special way of speaking to my soul. Favorite songs from the past year have been- Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher), Bless the Lord (Laura Story), Nothing is Wasted (Jason Gray), Sovereign (Chris Tomlin), Give Me Faith (Elevation Worship), and Here's My Heart (Passion- David Crowder.)

Lesson 5. Realizing that sometimes God takes my dreams and performs a wonder by replacing them with His own for my life. It's never an easy process, but well-worth it in the end.

Lesson 6. He is my adequacy. Far too often, I feel inadequate for what He is calling me to do in the present and in the future. Yet I've come to realize that is only my flesh as well as the enemy speaking lies. Jesus is the Great I Am and is more than enough for me. When I am at my weakest, His strength sustains me. He has called me to "let go and let Him." And then He says, "Accept My calling."

Lesson 7. Relinquishing control of various aspects of my life. I never realized how tightly I held onto certain things until God asked me to give them up. One of those was my health this year. I still don't have any answers, but I've learned that He will always hold me up when I feel weary and worn. It hasn't been easy; I've always taken my health for granted. Yet He has reminded me that I need to find my rest in Him alone and He will see me through.

Lesson 8. Discipleship and how to apply it in my life. I shared here about the journey God is taking me on in this area. It has been such a joy to see how God is using me to speak life into those He wants me to disciple and how they are doing the same for me. It has been a huge blessing and I can't wait to see how He continues to work in this area of my life.

Lesson 9. God loves to lavish good gifts on His children. We just have to have open hands to receive them. I have been blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being loved on by a wonderful lover of Jesus and the gift of becoming his wife in less than 6 months. Yay! :) I continue to be blown away by how God has worked in our relationship thus far and how He keeps drawing us to Himself through it all. Looking forward to all He has in store for us in the coming year.

Birthday gifts, which will make great wedding décor :)

Our true colors shining :)

 

Thank you, my friends, for your friendship and encouragement this year. May you be blessed as you take some moments to reflect on the life lessons God has taught you in 2013 and anticipate all that He has in store in 2014.

Beginning another journey

God has been laying so many things on my heart lately. Pretty sure I should be journaling more often in order to remember everything that He has been teaching me. One of these life lessons has been that of another journey, the journey of creating a better understanding of discipleship. What does it mean and what does it look like in my life? How do I practically apply it?

To be a disciple means to be a pupil or learner. A disciple is intentional about what he/she is studying. Discipleship then is the process of learning about the teachings of another, internalizing them and then acting upon them.

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Recently I was at a bible study where we studied Mark 8. Several of these verses and thoughts have challenged me in the weeks since then. In verse 33, Jesus rebukes Peter and says to him,
"...You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Oh, this went straight to my heart. Far too often, I have my focus on earthly things that hold no eternal value. My desire is that I would instead savor the things of God.

The following verses, 34-35, are familiar ones:
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.'"

I'll be honest and admit upfront that I often struggle with denying myself. As humans, placing ourselves first comes naturally. Yet our Lord desires that we would give up that right. I like the way that Greg Laurie states it-
"No, Jesus did not say that we need to love ourselves (we already do that). He told us to deny ourselves."
Denying our desires and plans may not feel natural, but doing so and taking up His cross is a daily choice we must choose to make.
"God wants us to be the vessel through which He can affect people on a daily basis. How do we respond as compassion moves us?"
I pray I could be more intentional in these areas.

I found this great article on discipleship if you'd like to do some further reading. From it, I found the following quotes to ponder::

"Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have." -Billy Graham

"In every Christian's heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of Man's soul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility." -A.W. Tozer

"The real test of being in the presence of God is that you either forget about yourself altogether or you see yourself as a small, dirty object. It is better to forget about yourself altogether."-C.S. Lewis

More than likely, you'll be hearing more about the journey of discipleship that God has been continuing to take me on. Blessings, my friends!

A Vulnerable Heart

What does it mean to be vulnerable before God and fellow believers?

This has been on my mind since yesterday. I'm realizing that I have a hard time opening myself up to those that I love, sharing the depths of my heart with complete honesty. As I thought about this, I realized part of the problem is pride. I'm fearful of what they will say or think when I reveal the thoughts and intents of my heart. What God will think. Yet pride is sin. That's the simple truth. We all have it in some shape or form in our lives. The answer lies in bringing the sin of pride out into the light and open so that God can take its ugliness and transform it with His grace into something more beautiful than we could imagine. That's what He does and Who He is.

To be vulnerable means to be extremely susceptible, weak, defenseless, and helpless. I used to think being vulnerable was a bad thing. Now I'm realizing, however, it is actually a wise thing. To be susceptible and weak before God for He is our strength.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." [Psalm 27:7a]

To depend on Him alone, trusting that He will help me in any and all situations.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." [Psalm 121:1-2]

God has called us as His church to be in communion with one another. I believe a part of that includes sharing our heart, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable even if it's scary and involves bringing darkness to light. The power of a shared testimony is great and blessings can result from being honest before brothers and sisters in Christ. Am I willing to take such steps of faith, trusting in Him to guide me in truth? Are you willing?

Experiencing His Rest

Sometimes I get frustrated with myself. That never happens to you, does it? :) My perfectionist personality really shines through in the summertime when it comes to creating to-do lists and goals that I aim to accomplish in a short amount of time. Problem is that when I don't achieve all that I desired, I become easily frustrated with myself. However, I am realizing something new- I don't have to do it all.

I've been doing a Women of Faith book study with a dear friend. The book is titled Resting in Him: I need to slow down, but I can't! It has been a definite challenge for me to accept the fact that I don't have to be superwoman, especially in these few months where I do have extra time to work on projects. Sometimes taking an afternoon off to relax and spend solely with Jesus is a much better alternative. "When we take the time to rest, we begin to realize that what feels like doing nothing is really allowing God to do something inside of us." ~Margaret Feinberg.

Since I've come to this realization, I've planned more restful moments into my schedule. It really has made a difference! If I feel tired, I take a short power nap to rejuvenate. If I have the urge to read, I sit down and relax for a bit with one of the books from my summer stack. :) I've also made morning devotions and prayer time a huge priority. Beginning my day with Jesus is the best way to start off my day and brings a joyful heart and attitude!

One final thought:

"When we stop, we are in a better position to allow God to move in our lives. Rest is a physical reminder that we are not in control of everything and, at the end of the day we are not the ones who have to hold it all together. That is God's job. Rest reminds us of our place, not just in life, but in Him." (Feinberg)

May you experience the blessings of His rest today!

Are you doing your homework?

Don't you just feel so loved by the Father when you come across a passage of Scripture that just speaks to your soul? That's how I've been feeling ever since I read this section of verses from Lamentations 3 the other week::

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

 

I've read this many times in the past, especially the ever popular verse 22, but for whatever reason, this time it spoke to me even more than usual.

 

Affliction, wanderings, and bitterness are common to humankind. When we go through difficult times, they stick with us for years to come, perhaps even our entire lifetime. But in verse 21 it says, "Yet" as a forerunner for the next few thoughts. We can have hope in Christ's love, compassions, and faithfulness. They wash over us anew each day, just when we need them. He is enough for us in our darkest of days. In the midst of it all, we have to remember He is still good. What He calls us to do is wait and seek Him. It doesn't mean that it will be easy, but that He'll be by our sides through it all.

 

The part that gripped my attention was verse 27. My immediate thought was, "What does it mean to 'bear the yoke?' I consider myself young and lately I've felt that I've been bearing a yoke. But I don't get what this verse is trying to say." So I reached for a Bible commentary (Life Application Bible) and this is what I found:

 

"To 'bear the yoke' means willingly coming under God's discipline and learning what he wants to teach. This involves several important factors: (1) silent reflection on what God wants, (2) repentant humility, (3) self-control in the face of adversity, and (4) confident patience, depending on the Teacher to bring about loving lessons in our lives. God has several long-term and short-term lessons for you right now. Are you doing your homework?"

 

Well, looks like I need to go. School is in session and this student has homework.

 

Blessings!

From the heart, To the heart

{Warning:: This post is straight from the heart and to the heart!}

Lately God has been revealing to me His incredible love for me. His love for each one of us.

And also how much of a sinner I am, a sinner in need of His daily grace.

"But He gives us more grace..." James 4:6a

For whatever reason, He has been opening my eyes to some ugly things in my heart. When that happens, it's never fun. It brings pain and tears. But in the end, it's what I need. And it brings peace.

This song popped into my head a few minutes ago and it just ties right into the thoughts of my heart right now.

The chorus speaks to me the most:

"Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you"
{Chris Sligh}

My prayer is that I could indeed be emptied.

My favorite sermon from church in the last month was titled, "Rekindling Our Love for Jesus."

The points that spoke to me the most were the following:

• "Love the Lord your God (referring to Deuteronomy 6:5) does not leave anything out.
• Is He everything to me?
• What and who is drawing your heart?
• You can serve Christ without loving Him, but you can't love Him without serving Him.
• We sometimes have a lifestyle, but not a heartstyle."

That last line is one that has been resonating within me ever since I heard it. How's my heartstyle? Maybe not as great as I'd like it to be. I've certainly become more aware of some of my thoughts, actions, and attitudes towards certain people and am seeking to be made more in His image as a result. My challenge to you is that you would take a few moments to assess your heartstyle. Who is your heart drawn towards? Maybe the more important question is who do you want your heart to be completely drawn towards?

I firmly believe that God is moved by repentant hearts that are humbled and broken before Him. Whether it's on our knees or not, He hears our honest cries. My hope and prayer is that my heart and yours would be renewed and made fresh to serve Him anew beginning this very moment.

Plans to be Still

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"

Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

I was reminded of these verses yet again this week when my plans were interupted. There were things that I wanted to do. But the Lord said, "No, Janelle, instead you must be still."

 

How did He cause me to be still? By having me use some sick days from school. (Can I just say that I'm pretty sure there is no other profession that avoids sick days at all costs, but teachers?! It's just so hard to stay away from your classroom unless you physically aren't up to it.)

 

But alas, that was me this week. No matter what I wanted to do, God had other things in mind.

 

Too often, I put my agenda ahead of His. This was a good reminder for me of the importance of continually seeking His will for my life each day and putting His plans ahead of my own, no matter how good my intents may be.

 

So I've been doing lots of resting, both physically and spiritually over the past few days. I'll admit it has been good to spend some quiet hours in prayer and searching the Word.

 

The old familiar hymn Be Still my Soul  has been on my heart over the past few months, including this week. While searching for a new version of it, I came across this beautiful version. (Hmm, new worship song to learn for church?)

 

The challenge I leave with you is to be still before Him. And in doing this, find rest for your soul in Him alone.

Clay in the hands of the Potter

 

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"But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
Jeremiah 18:4

A few years ago, a friend shared this verse and it has been highlighted in my Bible ever since. I love the word picture that it brings to mind. It perfectly describes my life right now:

This newest piece of work was to be a pot, perhaps a vase, fit for displaying beautiful flowers. It was just right until the Potter no longer needed a vase. No, what He needed was something else. It would be just the thing for Him and others, but He knew that changing it would not be easy. He prepared His hands for this task, praying as He went along. Then it was time to take that near-finished vase and reshape it. And so He did. Piece by piece, He gently crushed it until it was no longer marred, but just right for molding. He began to work the clay, rubbing here, squeezing there until it was completed. It was no longer a vase, but a lovely bowl. Indeed it was different from what it had originally been. Rather than being appreciated for a time, it now served a long-term, useful purpose. Its purpose was to be of service, to be open and available. Just like me.

I really do feel like the Potter has been shaping my heart in similar ways lately. He has been opening my eyes to so many ways in which I need to be submitting to His ways and humbling my heart before Him. What I have been finding in my life is marred, dirty. But He has such a gentle way of wiping away the dirt and smoothing the creases in order to bring completion. My prayer is that I could indeed be a bowl for Him, fit for serving His kingdom and those around me.

Pillows & Grace

Ever have one of those moments where all you want to do is grab the nearest pillow, stuff your face into it and scream? Yeah, so have I. As a matter of fact, I had one of those moments today.

Even as it happened, I thought, "Hmm, can I get a blog post out of this?" And then it hit me.

Grace.

It has many definitions, but the one fitting for this occasion is this: generosity of spirit- a capacity to tolerate, accomodate, or forgive people.

That's what I needed to do today.

The concept of grace has been on my heart so much lately. I even made the following burlap banner to 'grace' my walls. Pardon the pun; I couldn't help myself!

GRACE <3 FULL

 

I love it and can't wait to hang it up in my own home some sweet day.

James 4:5 says, "But he gives us more grace."

More grace. We are always lacking, yet He never hesitates to lavish His grace on us.

How grateful I am.

My prayer is that the God who is Grace Full would continue to fill my life and yours with His generous grace, day by day, moment by moment.

Quote Lovin'

To my fellow quote lover friends, I thought I'd share some of my recent favorite sayings. Enjoy!

"It is a safe thing to trust Him to fulfill the desire which He creates."  

~Amy Carmichael

"To Your love I am always called back."  

~Henry J. Noumen

"...our happiness comes too, not in the having, but in the handing over..."  

~Ann Voscamp

 "We can't change what God determines."

~Marilla in Anne of Avonlea

"If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed- you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed." 

~Oswald Chambers 

"The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God. What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose."  

~C.S. Lewis  

 I would love to hear some of your favorite quotes so please share.

Be blessed!

The dangers of complacency

Throughout the past few months, God has been teaching me a lot about complacency. Why do I settle for it?

Complacency:: to be self-satisfied and unware of possible dangers.

As a Christ-follower, there is great danger in becoming complacent. And I am sad to say that I've been in those shoes more than once. I'm afraid too many Christians today have settled for this so-called lifestyle. We have become okay with being okay. [Which is not okay.]

My desire is to be surrounded by people who step on my toes spiritually. No, it's not comfortable, but it's absolutely necessary in order to grow.

Luke 14:33-

"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." 

Those words are not spoken lightly by Jesus. He meant business. But do we really take them seriously? Do I?

He does not say to give up something. He says to give up everything. Not an easy task at all.

I have been struggling lately with giving up my rights to my dreams for my life. [You're probably tired of hearing about it. *Sigh*]

Even though it's not easy, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has a reason for this season in my life. He always does. This thought alone brings me comfort. He works in all things. This phrase continues to play in my heart and mind and I love it. Nothing we go through is in vain.

No matter the season you are in, He is there. Reach up and He will reach out.

Blessings!

Cling to hope

I write today with a thankful heart, as I am curled up under a warm blanket across from a cozy woodstove. On a second rainy day off from school, thanks to Hurricane Sandy.

Hope. That's what many have been clinging to in the days leading up to this storm and even now as they face the repurcussions of it. I'm so very grateful that we only lost power for about 4 hours yesterday and were safely weathering the storm the entire time. God is so good!

Nevertheless, the storm is not what I want to dwell on right now. Yes, it's important to be thankful and trust me, I am, but God has been putting other thoughts upon my heart.

I read this wonderful quote recently and it's been on my mind ever since:

"Hope is an olive leaf- evidence of dry land after a flood. Proof to the dreamer that dreaming is worth the risk." -Max Lucado

Noah must've certainly clung to the hope that he wouldn't be stuck inside of the ark forever. He must've dreamed of the day when the dove he sent forth returned with an olive leaf. I too cling to hope. Hope that my dreams will come to fruition someday. Hope that those dreams will be worth the risk. Oh, I know this in my heart, but sometimes I doubt, just like Noah did, I am sure.

This verse has spoken volumes to me as well:

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." -Romans 8:25

 I know that this verse refers to the hope of heaven and although I am indeed anxious for that sweet day, I can't help but think of this verse in other ways. Do I patiently wait for what I hope for? Or do I waste those valuable moments bemoaning my situation and wishing for things to be differently? Each day is a gift. I want to be a valuable steward of the days given to me and honor my Father for the gift of each one, even as I cling to hope.

He-focused

I was driving last night when this thought hit me like a brick:

I must become less me-focused and more HE-focused.

It's not about me. Ever. Why do I fall into this way of thinking every day though? I try, try, try to begin my day by focusing on Christ, but somewhere in the middle, I lose my focus.

The definition of focused is "concentrated on a particular thing; single-minded and determined."

So how do we as sons and daughters of the King become solely focused on our Savior? Your answer is as good as mine. I gladly welcome your input.

In the meantime, I'll give a few of my thoughts. And let me just say that I'm speaking them to myself as much as they are for you.

1. Begin your day in the Word and in prayer. I've found it's the only way to start a day off right.

2. Attitude is everything. Do you have a positive outlook and a desire to be an encourager, the hands and feet of Jesus?

3. Do you surround yourself with uplifting friends who encourage you on in the faith and point you upwards?

4. What movies/tv shows do you watch, books do you read, and music do you listen to? If it's something that pulls you down, then it's probably not going to lift you up either.

5. Try to look at life through the Father's eyes. See your life as He does and think about your daily choices. Are they building you closer to Him or pulling you further from Him?

6. Make John 3:30 your goal each day: "He must become greater; I must become less."

Praying God's blessings upon you as you focus more solely on HIM.