Is this "my" season?

I love this picture! We had amazing days last week with beautiful winter scenes. Believe it or not, this is NOT snow on the trees, but frost. We had warm weather and extreme fog, which made for frozen fog in the mornings and an incredible frost. The sky almost had a blue tint and outside reminded me of Narnia!

It was such a VISUAL reminder of how CREATIVE God is!

Which reminds me of the Nurturing Creativity conference...

On Monday, I spoke about too much ACTIVITY in our lives and being too BUSY. I shared that we need to let go of GOOD things at times because it is not the right SEASON of doing it.

God places these incredible desires and dreams in our hearts, but sometimes we "jump out ahead" of Him....not waiting on His timing. We have to remember that there are SEASONS of our lives.

As a gardener, I am aware that I never REAP in the same season that I sow. When I plant the seed, I have to nourish it......and wait patiently before it produces fruit.

And, living in the Midwest, it is so fun to watch the crops grow. Farmers plant in the spring, wait all summer and harvest in the fall. They NEVER harvest the same season they plant!

Sometimes God needs several seasons of our lives to nourish and grow the dream. He wants us to stay faithful to it....believing in Him and that all things are possible....but waiting ON HIM AND HIS TIMING!

Lord, thank You that You have good plans for me. Thank You that Your timing is perfect. Lord, help me to be patient waiting for Your best timing. I love You, Lord! In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

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Lessons from the nursery!

I was going through some of my older devotions and was so encouraged by this one. Abby is almost 3 now and I have to LAUGH at how much she is STILL like that newborn baby...wanting to do everything on her own....making things happen HERSELF. I love her independent spirit! But, I am sure we will BOTH learn many lessons as she grows!!!!!

I pray you will be blessed...and don't forget to come back TOMORROW!!!!

God is so good! I love that He teaches us so much spiritual Truth in our everyday lives! I have laughed so many times as I see myself in Abby, our newborn baby. It is amazing how much I am like her and how much my human nature "kicks in".

One of the first lessons God taught me through Abby is that if I would "get out of His way", things would be so much easier! Let me explain. When nursing Abby, she sometimes "helps" by flailing her arms all around and it almost seems like she is trying to pull me to her. I have to stop and move her arms and hold them so that I can continue to feed her. I tell her, "Thank you, Abby, but Mommy does not need your help! You would get your milk faster if you would let Mommy do it and move your arms out of the way!" And sometimes (this is soooo cute), she turns her head in all directions, mouth open wide, looking for me. If she would just be STILL, I could latch her on to me, and she would be eating right away.

One late night, God spoke into my heart that it is the same with me- if I would get out of His way, God could work much easier! If I weren't so busy trying to make things happen in MY own strength, and depend upon Him, life would be easier. Sometimes I think I have all the "right" answers and barrel ahead, doing it "my" way, forgetting that God's ways are the best. He has the answers to all of my questions, the solutions to all of my problems, the right direction, the best way. And, if I would stop turning my head in all directions, and be STILL, God draws me to Him! "Be still and know that I am God!"

Thinking about all of this, I realize I want to surrender and submit to my Daddy, my Abba Father. I want to rest in His arms, knowing that He is in control, that His ways are perfect. I want to get "out of the way" and allow Him to work in my life- to bring to completion the good work He has begun in me! Lord, I lift this up to You. Thank You for these little life lessons. I love that You teach me so much about our Father/child relationship through my children. Lord, I pray I always have eyes to see and ears to hear what You want me to learn!

Another lesson I thought about today happened again while nursing Abby. When I finish nursing Abby on one side, I burp her and then finish nursing her on the other side. Sometimes she gets very impatient and cries (very loudly) while I am trying to burp her. She THINKS she knows what it is best- more milk, now, now, now, now!!!!! But, Mommy knows she needs to burp so that she is more comfortable and doesn't spit up. Then, she would get her wonderful milk that fulfills her and sustains her and nourishes her. Oh!!!!!

This hits home! How many times do I think I know what is best for me while God is doing something else (burping me!). He knows there is something else I need. But, I want what I WANT AND I WANT IT NOW, NOW, NOW!!!!!! If I would just allow God to do the work He needs to do first, I would get the wonderful nourishment I need. But, so often I want INSTANT GRATIFICATION! Father, I want to wait upon You. I know YOU are doing a good work in me and that You work all things together for my good. Help me to be patient as You are doing Your good work. Help me not to scream and cry, but to cooperate with You, trusting in You completely. Praise You, God! Thank You, Jesus! Amen.

Authenticity.......................

ALTHOUGH THIS IS A REPOST FROM NOVEMBER 2007, IT IS VERY MUCH WHERE MY HEART IS AGAIN.... GOD HAS BEEN DOING AND "NOT DOING" THINGS IN MY MINISTRY...AGAIN PLEASE REMEMBER ME IN PRAYER! BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL...

Okay, God, time to get so honest, to confess the inner parts of my heart….

Talking with a dear friend the other day, she confessed to me a “whopper” of a sin (in man’s eyes- sin is sin to God!). She jokingly asked if I still was her friend, did I just think she was an idiot, could I believe the depth of her sin, did I feel sick to be with her, along those lines. And, I told her, that if I shared the ugliness of the deep secrets of my heart, she would be just as shocked. Well, she countered with, “yea, like what?”

I shared with her that I do sin, and sin terribly! I’ve “lost” it and yelled horribly at my kids. I have called Andrew “stupid.” I have terrible jealousy in my heart. I told my husband “I hate you” IN FRONT of the kids! (Boy, is it embarrassing to share all of that….) Well, my friend told me she was glad I shared that. She didn’t think I struggled with sin.

The human heart, no matter who we are, struggles with sin. (Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”) Thank God that He has given me a new heart! (Ezekiel 36:25-26). Man, I needed a complete heart transplant!!!!!! I told her I needed Jesus everyday! I needed to lean on Him, trust Him everyday! Thank God for the Holy Spirit who empowers us to walk in the Spirit NOT in the flesh! Thank God that I am more than a conqueror, more than an overcomer! Sin does not rule over me! I have the power of the Holy Spirit living within me, inside of ME! (Romans 6-8)

But, it struck me that I need to continue to be honest with people God has put in my life. Authenticity………. I want to be an authentic friend who shares her struggles. I don’t want to put on airs. I never want to feel like I can’t share my struggles because I don’t want people to think less of me…..God, forgive me for worrying about others’ opinions. Am I trying to please God or man? So, I can keep trials secret because of my own flesh- not wanting to be embarrassed. But, the enemy also deceives me into keeping them secret because when they are hidden in the dark, they are not exposed to God’s light. He wants us to suffer alone, never helping one another in times of trial. But, God’s Word tells us in James 5:16, “Confess your sins one to another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Well, here is confession time for me…………

I am struggling with trusting God right now. (I thought about being vague and not really giving details, but, I am going to let it all out!) God has called me to be a women’s speaker. He has placed such a passion and desire to go to women’s events, speaking Truth and sharing my love for Him with other women. When I go, He gives me such an overflowing love for the women. I am able to pray with them, minister to them, worship with them, and just plain exalt the Lord together with them! I know it is Him who has placed such an intense desire to serve Him in this way. Every time I go, I “have it out with Him,” vowing NEVER to speak again because I am nervous about speaking, how could He have called ME because I am not “qualified”…… I have said more than once, “I am never doing this again! How did I get myself in this???” And, then, He shows up, fills me to overflowing with His Spirit and I am able to witness His mighty hand perform great miracles in these women’s lives. I am so blessed by the experience He has so generously allowed me to be part of. And, after each speaking event, I am again filled with great desire to speak again!

Well, here I am. I have such a desire, but waiting for the Lord to call me out again. I don’t have any events planned. I continue to pray. I get frustrated because God hasn’t answered my prayer (in the way I want!!!!!!). I keep telling myself and quoting scripture about waiting on the Lord, trusting in Him, that His plan is perfect, His timing is perfect…. All the things my MIND knows, but trying to get my heart to believe. Am I going to really believe all the things I tell everyone else???????????? And, if waiting/trusting means waiting more than one day, will I wait patiently? You see, I encourage others on this all the time! But, when waiting comes to ME, will I truly believe that my God hears, He loves me, He’s working it out for my good, He has a good plan, and His timing is perfect (God, is Your watch broken?)? Will I trust in Him that “Father knows best?” Or, do I get disappointed and frustrated…. God, why did you place this desire in my heart if You are not going to bring it to fruition????

So, I am in the midst of it…….. Lord, I remind You that I am dust! Please be patient with me, God! Thank You for Your graciousness, goodness, loving kindness……… “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love endures forever- do not abandon the works of Your hands.” –Psalm 138:8

I love You, God! I love You……..

Oh, and please pray for me!
Blessings to you all!!