Saved by grace

Our pastor spoke these words yesterday - "God's love can't be achieved.  It can only be received."

For so long in my life, I lived under legalistic presumptions.  I felt pressure all the time that I was not saved or going to heaven due to the sin that was still in my life.

It wasn't until the last few years when God showed me that His grace saved me and all I had to do was receive it.

Will I still sin and mess up? You bet your life on it that I will.  But, if God's salvation left me just because I may sin, who would want that kind of salvation?

I can guess that no one would want that.  That would be a scary thought to constantly be questioning my salvation as I once did.

As I have read through the old Testament this year, I have found so many people who God chose for His purposes, yet they constantly messed up.

God didn't create us to be perfect.  I would even venture to say that if sin was not in our lives, we would never grasp the true depth of this grace that He willingly lavishes upon us.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;" 

Ephesians 2:8

Our pastor talked of the apostle Peter yesterday.  Peter sinned and even denied Christ. Denied Him!  
And yet.  
And yet, Christ did not give up on him.  In fact, He made him leader of the church!!!
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."  Matthew 16:18  (NASB)

Now, truly, I am not saying that this gives us free reign to sin after we become saved. Not even close.  I believe that when we are saved, our heart is changed.  That doesn't mean that there will not be sin, but it does mean that God's conviction will be in our heart.  

I don't want to sin.  I hate feeling that feeling of conviction.  But just because I am saved and don't desire to sin, it does still happen.  Probably more frequently than I care to admit.

So this brings me to another issue - judgement.

Oh, yes, I said it.

As Christians, we seem to do this quite frequently and yet, not consider it a sin.  

Whether we are judging those who are unsaved, or those who are saved, but are "messing up," it is still a sin.

I believe we can speak to people out of love and try to lead them to the right path, but I also really believe that we should always try to edify everyone we come in contact with.
"So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."   Romans 14:19 (NASB)

I believe that most of being a Christian is pretty simple.  We seem to like to make a lot of rules and judgments, but what it comes down to is - your relationship with Christ.  

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Romans 10:9-10

I believe James chapter 1 paints a perfect picture of life and how to live a Christian life.  

Give it a read :)

God's Word is so important to hide in your heart.  My goal for the coming months is to memorize scripture.  This has always been so hard for me.  I'm not sure why, but it has been.  

Being in His Word is how we become close to Him.  See?  It's not very complicated.  

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  James 4:8a  (NKJV)

I've been working on my testimony that I hope to share in the next month.  I want to share how my life was changed by these revelations.  I pray that if you feel like you can never be good enough or being a Christian is too hard - read these scriptures and pray and ask God to impart truth to your heart.  

It really is pretty uncomplicated.  Remember the song we teach our children?

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me! 
This I know, 
For the Bible tells me so. 
Little ones to Him belong; 
They are weak but He is strong.

Jesus loves me!
Loves me still,
Tho I'm very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free,
Bled and died upon the tree.

Jesus loves me!
He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me!
He will stay
Close beside me all the way.
Thou hast bled and died for me;
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

--Anna B. Warner, 1820 -1915

Influence and Sovereignty

Italics indicate what I gleaned were the author's thoughts on a topic.

Lately, I've had a lot of soul searching going on. Some of the reasons are: life, my Bible study I'm doing, blog posts I've read, and writing out my testimony.  It has left me thinking and questioning and reflecting.

Some of the themes I've noticed in a few bloggers is, one,  questioning things about God, and  two, a need to say "no" to things and focus on being a better wife/mother/friend/child of God.  They have resonated with me because both of those things are happening with me. 

Things got really crazy last year.  I had health issues and I was so busy that it was hard to do good at anything that I was doing.  I had a moment when I realized that I was going to have to say no, and to more than 1 thing.  I've had more clarity on it over the last few months and I've come to realize that what I'm called to do is a very influential calling.  The fact that it is an influential calling scares me.  It makes me not feel worthy.  That influential calling is being a mother.

Our society has made mothering seem less influential than it really is.  I can think back on SO many times I have heard people say that their mother or parents had the biggest impact on their lives.  The BIGGEST.  That started rocking me to my core.  I may have the biggest impact on my children's lives?  What am I doing with that?!  This is one of the major things that I am wrestling with.

I am doing a Bible study titled, Gripped by the Greatness of God.  Today, we started the week on the sovereignty of God.  This really ties in to the things I have read lately about questioning God, the other thing I have been wrestling with. 

Let me back up.  I know it sounds bad to say "questioning God," but truly I think we all have questions and I think we have more during certain times in our lives than other times.  

One blogger has questioned why one person gets cancer and dies, but another person gets better.  The person she loved that died, was prayed for and they petitioned to God for his life.  Why was he taken?  Is everything that happens a consequence of sin?  Are we paying for the sin of others who have gone on before us?  

Another blogger questions if prayer really changes things.  For instance, God's will is what He pre-ordains.  He knows what is going to happen in our lives, so does praying for a person to be healed change that?  When someone that we are praying for passes away, we say "it must not have been God's will for them to be healed."  So, if that is true, did our prayers change anything?  Is prayer more of a relationship than a request for things that we want?

I'll admit, I've questioned these same things.  I think as humans, we are wired to question just about everything.  

As the speaker in our video spoke today about God's sovereignty, it was like my eyes were opened.  For one, I realized, that we seem to know about God's awesomeness and His holiness, but His sovereignty?  It seems to be an attribute that we glaze over.  

We say, "yep, God's in control!"  How many of us honestly believe that?  Everything that happens on this Earth is to bring forth God's glory and we have no control over any of it. The things that happen and what we say and do, never hinder God's plans.  Never.  They will come to fruition whether so & so is president of the United States or if your husband gets that awesome job or if thousands of people perish in a tsunami.  

God's word tells us not to worry.  It tells us that God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  To believe in God's sovereignty is to truly and fully trust Him.  I believe that believing in His sovereignty will hinder us from so much questioning.  
I'm preaching to the choir, I know that.  I worry and I question, but I don't want to continue.  
I want to fully grasp God's sovereignty.

Your love never fails

I've been struggling since Thursday.  A tragic death of a father and two sons, and the death of a family member of a friend from Sunday school.  My heart has been heavy.

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I've also had a heavy heart for a family I have never met, but I read their blog, and for another friend from Sunday school who is starting chemo this week.

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday

Your love never fails

I know that I want to question God and life.  I want to know why we must endure these kind of things.

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

I want to know why some prayers go unanswered and why tragedy and injustice occur.

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

I want to throw a fit and see fire fall from heaven and healing come.

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

And, yet.

He is so much bigger than all of this.

We are not the only ones that have tragedy. So many people in every area of the world in every time period have experienced tragedy.

But, faith.

Faith through all of it, proves that He is still here.

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

lyrics: "Your love never fails" Chris McClarney

A stirring

I wrote this last night after a hard day and wasn't sure if I would post it or not-

Today did not rank as one of my best days. 
There were physical/hormonal issues that contributed to my state of being today. 
I was grumpy, impatient, and irritated at most things. 
I wish I were better at being a person who does not wear their emotions on their sleeve. 
I wish I had more patience. I wish I didn't snap or yell. 
I just read news of someone who passed away and was really pretty young-51. 
It snapped me back to reality. 
I just see how quick life passes, and how quick things can change. 
I pray for God to help me LIVE and be His servant and not someone focused on me or my own shortcomings. 
I pray for God to help me to LOVE and to give GRACE and MERCY to others. 
I know I need grace and mercy everyday, so I need to be doling it out too. 
I want to be a blessing and not a burden.

This morning I read this post of Kelly's.

After that, I saw this post from Jenn.

And then I saw this post from Ann Voskamp.

I've also read posts by two other bloggers in the past 2 weeks, one of which had a recent huge transformation by God, and the other is just so honest and real about who she is as a  person and as a Christian.

I've felt a stir in my soul for several years.  I know that things are supernaturally happening. What they are, I have no idea.  God is preparing people for whatever it may be though.  I feel that certainty in my bones.

I want to be prepared.  I always question whether I am prepared and what am I doing that is God's will.  

I need to stop questioning so much and just seek Him.  

I think we try to figure things out too much.  I just don't think most of it is ours to figure out.  Am I on my own with thinking that?

I also think that we get bogged down thinking about so many bad things happening and we don't always focus on the good and what God is doing.

Will this be a revival of Christianity, true Christianity?  Not the Christianity that the world sees or  how they view Christianity, but the real thing.

Don't you wish everyone could experience the true-ness of it and not what they see displayed in media?
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 
1 Peter 3:15

I feel like I am rambling, but I felt like I needed to share all of this.  

Let's pray together and for each other.  

I feel like something we need to be prepared and to support each other, especially as women.  

We are the ones raising this next generation and I think they will be doing great, big things.

Reflections

I haven't been in the space as much as I normally am, and yes, that does make me sad.  I know that I wrote recently about shifting my focus, but things like that do not always happen overnight.  

I still have commitments right now and I am one of those people who follows through with what they say they will do.  I find that to be a great trait until I'm at this point where I was wishing I could just quit!

This week coming back from Spring break has been super busy.  I've not been home much and my house is a mess.  The new has worn off and it is time to clean this pretty new house.  Boo. 

I told y'all how I had not looked at Facebook for a few days last week.  I had actually de-activated my account and really did not want to re-activate it.  I ended up re-activating it and I do like seeing updates from a few people there, but for the most part I just don't care anymore.  I have noticed since re-activating it, I only go on there maybe twice a day.  I cannot tell you how refreshing that is to me.  

I sometimes feel like all the stuff I see and ingest from online "clogs" up my head.  I don't know if you have any idea what I mean or not, but that is the only way I know how to explain it.

I love blogging and Twitter and Instagram, but sometimes, it is just too much.  Too many opinions and too much negativity.  I really do try to weed the negativity out, but it's hard to get it all.

A friend of mine posted a link to this post on Twitter yesterday.  I was torn from wanting to give her a standing ovation to running in the corner and crying from being guilty.  Seriously, ALL of us have posted a photo to Facebook or Instagram and secretly hoped that we get "likes" on it.  When you really stop and think about it, how silly does that seem?   

Or maybe you have never done that, I don't know.  I know I have.

Today is Good Friday.  I wrote this post about Good Friday last year.  When I really sit and reflect on what Jesus did for us, I almost cannot take it.  Every year, I make myself dig deep and really think about what He did.  It's really hard for me to go to a place to experience such emotions.  

What really gets to me the most is that He did not just die for me and for you.  He also died for murderers and rapists, He died for Adolf Hitler and Jeffery Dahmer, and He died for all the other evil people that have walked this earth.  He died for them.  He died for me.  He loves each and everyone of us so much.  We are all sinners.  Even though we see certain people as more sinful than others, the truth is that we are ALL sinners.  

 ^"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

First solo weekend in our new home!

This weekend was the first weekend that we were in the house the entire weekend with just us as a family!

It was fantastic!

Friday night, we picked up daddy from work and headed for a fun dinner at Steak and Shake!

Saturday morning, we got up and around so that we could get groceries at Walmart before the crowds hit.  We made gumbo for Sunday, and Tim and I hooked up our new Blu Ray player so that we could watch Argo Saturday night.  It was a GREAT movie!

Sunday morning, we went to church and Sunday school for the first time in a month!  I was missing going so badly.  I've been to Bible study and AWANA, but I need that worship time on Sunday morning.

We sang "At Calvary" during service, and the words resonated with me so much. 

"Mercy there was great, and grace was free; 

Pardon there was multiplied to me; 

There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary!"

I get so emotional thinking about how grace was free.  It is impossible for someone to understand the good news and love of Christ without first understanding that we are sinners incapable of saving ourselves.  

"Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary!"

This time of year is always super emotional for me.  The Easter season has became a time of reflection for me.  Thinking upon what Christ did for us, sets me at awe.

The first part of this week is going to be busy for me, but I'm looking forward to slower, warmer days!  We are going to the park after school today to celebrate today's warm weather.  Come Spring!

Legacy

I am part of the visitation ministry through our women's ministry at church.

Another lady and I go and visit a wonderful 96 year old gentleman.

He still works at the business in town that he founded.

He still drives.

He still goes to breakfast with a group of men every morning.

He works with a son and at least 1 grandson.

 I see him in church every Sunday.

He has a very sharp mind and memory.

It has been so interesting hearing the stories that he tells.

You can see his faith in the way he lives and talks.

Yes, he has had sorrow.  He has lost his wife and a son.

But, today, while I was visiting him and we were talking, he said, "The Lord will take care of me, He always has."

Through 96 years of life, God has always taken care of him.

I want to be able to say that if I am so lucky to reach the age of 96.

I want to be able to leave a legacy of faith like he is leaving.

He has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that he is leaving this legacy to.

I wonder who I will be leaving my legacy to?

The legacy will be passed on to people I have not even met yet.

The way I am shaping my life and the way I am raising my children will influence generations to come.

I want to leave good.

I want to leave faith.

I want to tell them, "The Lord will take care of me, He always has."

Fearlessly

There are so many other things that I want to blog about right now-

• how much of an honor and privilege I feel that it is to be able to live in a country where we can VOTE.  How much I feel like it is our civic duty.  
• Taylor Swift's new CD.
• the devastation of hurricane Sandy.  It's unreal.
• how my eyes are being opened to how many needs there are all around me.

I probably will blog about most of these things eventually, but not tonight.

I watched a video in Bible Study today.  The speaker was Louie Giglio and the event was Passion 2012. 

It could not have been a more perfect message for me to hear.

I don't know about you, but I was always raised to "pray for the will of God in my life," and to "pray for what my calling would be," and "am I in the PERFECT will of God?"

For so long, I have cried out to God "why don't I know what I'm called to do!"

I'm gonna go ahead and throw this out there, but my life was changed today.

To just give the short of it, we are in God's will where we are.

We are not all missionaries and evangelists and teachers. Some of us are just moms, and doctors, and bankers, and even Nascar drivers (his words, not mine!).

The verse he quoted was this- 

Ephesians 6:19
New International Version (NIV)
¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, Lord, when I open my mouth, will you give me words to fearlessly proclaim the gospel?!

In the place where I am.  To the people that I come in contact with everyday. To my children. To my family-

Lord, give me the words to fearlessly proclaim the gospel and do Your will.

Being content with your own blessings

Wow.  Has it really been 5 years ago since this picture was taken?

2007.

It may go down as the best year of my life.

I mean, look at those two!

1 year old and 2 years old.

That was the fall that we had moved to Paris.

Life was glorious.  The trees were spectacular that fall.

It was a perfect season in the middle of some hard times that I had health-wise.

I was feeling pretty good and things were going really good.

I had really gotten used to and loved having two tiny tots.

You know that rhythm you find as a momma? I had found mine.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Comparison breeds discontentment?"
I feel like that has been weighing on me for a while now.
I have let myself become discontent by comparing things that I should not have been comparing.
Yes, other people may have something that I do not have.
However, I have things that they may not have.
Lord, teach me to continue to see life that way.
What I have is so great.  I am very, very blessed.
My blessings are different than your blessings.
And that is okay.
That is very much okay.

I struggle

I think that it is no secret that we all struggle. 
If you don't, then I would like to know your secret. 
A lot of times, I struggle inwardly and I don't share my struggles. 
I war with them on the inside and no one can see the massive war going on inside. 
Sitting in Sunday school this past week, I had a lot of revelations about myself. 
The lesson brought them out, but more than that, a friend shared a deep, inner failing. 
She shared something that most of us would have just kept to ourselves. 
It was so bold and raw. 
I'm new to the class and her friendship and I'm a shy person. But, I grabbed her hand. I was the one sitting next to her and I felt the need to give her support. She had touched a nerve in me. 
Honestly, it's really hard for me to show affection sometimes. 
But, back to what I was getting at. 
My eyes were opened and I began to write things down that I needed to get straight. 
You see, I really struggle with some things and I know that I do, but I haven't been focusing on overcoming them. 
I've just been dwelling in them. 
And I don't want to live like that anymore. 
Some of my struggles are huge and have been there a really long time. 
I don't pray enough. 
I have anxiety. 
I spend too much time on social media and not enough time praying and listening. 
I need to spend more time listening about where I am supposed to serve. 
There is a plan for me, but I need to take time to listen for what it is. 
Sometimes I wonder how long I've been missing the plan. 
I get too busy doing this and doing that and I run out of time to do things that are truly the most important. 
My flesh wants things to be "just so" but I have to let go of that and take time to be "just still."

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" Psalm 46:10

A Lake Baptism

Yesterday was such a blessing for our family!

My sister in law, Karen, was saved recently and wanted to follow with believer's baptism.

Yesterday, we drove down to Russellville to Lake Dardanelle to watch her baptism.

 This was my first time to witness a lake baptism.

It was amazing how many family and friends came to support her.

The pastor who baptized her is also her son's father in law.  So wonderful to be baptized by family.

We are so proud and happy for Karen!

Things I want to say

Sometimes, I open my dashboard wanting to write, but not knowing exactly what to say.

I know that I want to say how blessed I feel to go to church with wonderful, wonderful women.  Every new lady that I get to know has been so nice and welcoming.  I know I haven't even got to know half of the women that I see on a regular basis, but I am looking forward to it.  

I know that sitting in Bible study today, we reflected on Jesus and this week of His passion.  We watched a video that I couldn't even look at the whole time.  It depicted His trial, His beating, and His hanging on the cross and death.  When I sit and think of His love for me and you, I can't help but have tears in my eyes.

The older I get, the more and more real His love for me becomes. I'm not sure why that is, but it is.  I'm so very emotional every time I go to church now, and the week of Easter almost does me in.  

I just want to say, that He loves us SO much.  So much, that He took every sin and He died and rose again, so that we would have life eternal.

Recently, a lady in our church was sharing about her early years and was passing on a quote from a pastor she had been around. 
He told her, "It's never about the sin, it's always about Christ."

It resounded with me so much. Our churches sometimes put a lot of emphasis on what we should/shouldn't do, but when it comes down to it, we are all sinners.
It is not about the sin, it's about the redeeming love of Christ. 

His Word says, "For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23
and
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

I hope to write these things and not seem "preach-y," but to just convey how much He loves us.

I am so thankful that He loves us and gives us hope and life.

And even though I sometimes tire of being so teary at church, I'm thankful that He has made my heart so tender for Him.

Image credit

One.of.those.days.

Today is just one.of.those.days.  I have felt like doing nothing but sitting here and looking through my Reader and Twitter.  I have so much to do though.  I'm just blah.  I honestly would not get dressed today, but I have to take C girl to ballet later and I feel like I would be embarrassed going how I look right now. 


We had a pretty good, low-key weekend.  Friday night, we went out for pizza.  Saturday morning, we went to Target for a Dr. Seuss event and to Lowe's for the kid's clinic.  Saturday night we went to the home of our Sunday School teachers for a big breakfast dinner.  It was nice getting to hang out with them and a few other people.  Sunday we went to church, came home and had roast beef and then just hung out the rest of the day.  I ended up not feeling great Sunday night, but I sucked it up enough to play Candyland with the kiddos before bed.


Since I'm being honest, I'm missing family and friends too.  It's very hard being away from them a lot and not being able to see them often.  I wish I could go to my nephew's ball games and see my other 2 baby nephews all the time.  


This song has been on my mind today-
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights 
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights 
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

My Faith and My Struggles {I am a Work in Progress}

Right now, I'm going through a period of growth and learning in my faith. Every week, I have lessons from Sunday school, church and Bible study rolling around in my mind. I want to discuss all of them and naturally, they are not all about the same thing.

In Sunday school, we have just began a study on Hebrews.  It's been really great so far.  And I'm actually learning a lot.  It is a book that also has references to the book of Leviticus.  Leviticus is a book that I have read in the past, but really know little about.  It has piqued my interest to learn more about Moses and the laws in the book of Leviticus.  I've also had wow moments learning about how things in the Bible really are real and they really happened.  As well as realizing that not many things in our world have persevered through the ages and times.  Empires, governments, and countries have all fallen, but Israel was created on Mt. Sinai by Moses and still continues on in this present day.

In worship service, our pastor has been doing a series on heaven.  Well, obviously, that has created a lot of thought for me.  Of course, I wonder about death and what will happen after I die, but he has also challenged us with what we are doing for God while we are alive.  Yesterday, they showed a memorial video of Whitney Houston.  He used the video to illustrate the point that our life will have a beginning and an end.  It's the moments in between those two points that people will remember us by.  How will people remember my life? Your life?

In Bible study we are discussing The Resolution by Priscilla Shirer.  It has been such a good book for me in this time of my life.  I want to write more about it in depth.  The chapter we read for this week is called Loving my Children.  
She writes, "when our primary goal as mothers is teaching our children God's truth, the whole focus of our parenting changes."
   The resolution for this section is, I will demonstrate to my children how to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength, and will train them to respect authority and live responsibly.  
What a challenge.  And it puts great responsibility on me as a mother.  I have such an important task for shaping my children.  This is something I have been in prayer about, because I definitely do not always feel adequate for the job.  I just do not want to fail my two precious children.  

Something I struggle with on a regular basis is my health.  I don't discuss it much because I don't like to complain and it is a chronic issue that will go on and on.  
Sometimes, I will have a new issue thrown into the mix and I will start to Google things.  Have you ever done that?  I always end up convincing myself that I have cancer of some sort!  I've been trying so hard to just let it go and have faith that my health will continue the way it is or maybe even get better!

Another struggle I have been experiencing is being a "distracted mom" at times.  I have been a little too, shall we even say, "addicted" to social media at times.  I'm working on not allowing myself to check things at certain times of the day.  I'm working on becoming more focused on taking care of my home, exercising, praying, and spending time with my husband and kiddos.  It's not that I wasn't already doing these things, it's that I was sort of distracted at times while doing them.  I don't want to be distracted, I want to be present.

The Resolution for Women

We are reading The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer in my ladies Bible Study this session.  I have only read the first two sections, but I can already say that I HIGHLY recommend any lady to read this book.


This is my 2nd Bible study at my church and I feel so blessed to be able to go to these sessions and be with these wonderful ladies.  My 1st study was Here and Now, There and Then a study on Revelation by Beth Moore and it was simply amazing.


It has been so good for me to go to Bible Study and be able to meet so many more people at church.


Being in this Bible study class so far, has been so good for me.  I have met new ladies(to me) and have been able to share and listen to them share what is on their hearts about our study.  


The first parts that we have discussed have talked about being content with where you are in your life-at this very moment, and being feminine in the way that God intended us to be.  
It is just good for my heart to hear other ladies struggling with the same things that I do.  
I know that I am not alone in trying to rush things and get to the next thing.  
I am not alone in hurrying up bedtime so I can enjoy a few moments of uninterrupted "me"time.  
But, along with that, I've learned that I need to focus on being more "present" and "in the moment."  We need to be content with who are children, husbands, friends and family are right at this moment in time.  


"Right now--whether you realize it or not--you're choosing to treat people a certain way, to stay committed to certain activities, to live a certain life, to be a certain kind of person, to not be a certain kind of person. Either way, you've made a decision. A spoken(or unspoken) declaration.  A defining banner hangs over your life, written in the ink of your own choices. Others can read it, even if you can't. You're already a woman of resolutions." -The Resolution for Women


I can't wait to find out what the rest of the Bible Study has in store for me!

Faith

Some things have happened over the last few weeks that have me thinking more about my faith.


Not questioning my faith, just examining it.


The first thing was when my friend Kelly starting talking about why we believe the things we believe.  We grow up and are taught to believe certain things.  Now that we are mothers, it is our job to teach our children what we believe.  So, she has been on a mission to teach them why we believe what we believe based on scripture in the Bible and not just what we were taught to believe.  Thank you for inspiring me, Kelly.


Another happening had to do with me saying something on a public forum, and then regretting that I had said it (oh, the story of my life!).  It did produce a good conversation with someone that I am glad that we had.  I just want to say, that I am so glad for people who have been in my life throughout growing up and now in adulthood.  You people have definitely impacted my life.  For the better.


Then, on Sunday morning, we had someone speaking about Finish the Task in church.  The thing that he said that spoke the most to me was when he told us that during this process, his family had prayed and changed their will.  When he and his wife pass away, they are leaving ALL their earthly possessions to the church!  I was like, wow. He has taught his children not to trust in their parents for their future, but to trust in God.  I just was wowed at this family and the fact that they are giving back everything to God.  How many of us could truly do that?  Would you obey God if He told you to give everything back to Him?


We've also been studying Genesis in Sunday School and faith has been a main topic lately.  I've grown up having faith and believing, but faith has become so real to me lately-  What faith is and what it means.


And I heard this song in the van today and I LOVE it-


So do you have any good commentary on the subject of faith?

Here and Now... There and Then

That is the name of the Beth Moore study we are doing in my weekly ladies Bible Study.


I am literally blown away by how much I learned in the first session.  And it only covered the first 8 verses of Revelation!


This is the first time I have done one of her studies where I have watched video.  She is an amazing speaker.  The best thing I love about her, are that here studies are about scripture.  Not her opinion, but scripture.
I left the house this morning feeling very tired and blah.  I came home feeling very different.  I'm very excited to be going to Bible study for a number of reasons.  I'll stick with just a couple of reasons though. First and foremost, to learn. I have been needing a new refreshing, and this definitely doing the trick.  Secondly, to meet other ladies in my church.  The ones I have met are WONDERFUL.  I have been so welcomed.  It is so nice to get out of the house and meet new people.


Have you ever completed a Beth Moore study?  Which one and what did you love about it?