Hebrews 8 - Old Habits Are Hard To Break On My Own

I am very thankful that the old is now obsolete. Not just old covenant but the old me...

In reading the app today I kept repeating in my mind "that was me".

Reading books about the Bible instead on the Bible - That was me.

Listening to others talk about God but never being quiet myself to hear God - That was me.

Attending church but only going through the motions - That was me.

Asking others to pray for me but not praying for myself - This is still me.

I was and still am at times so guilty of having a religion instead of a relationship with God. I have a percentage in my head of what the religion/relationship percentage is for me right now in this moment. Think about what it is for you. Is it 80/20, 50/50. 99/1, 30/70?

For me this answer has been a spiritual check up. I am going to be in prayer for the old habits I see creeping back into my life. It will probably be a good idea for me to journal some of these thoughts that I am having so I can be purposeful in dealing with the head on instead of being distracted by the construction crew that just pulled up...

Hebrews 7 and Leviticus 16

Reading Leviticus paired with Hebrews has been pretty cool. It is so neat to make those parallels between the old and the new.

I know that I am so much more thankful on a daily basis in regards to my direct connection to my savior. No ceremony or sacrifice can atone for my sins, only my asking for forgiveness from him and asking him to guide my life in a way that is pleasing unto him.

I really do think that reading Leviticus has been a game changer for me. My deeps sighs about this study at the beginning have turned into beautiful revelations of God's grace and mercy.

Father, thank you for this study of Hebrews and Leviticus. Thank you for the team of women at Proverbs 31 ministries and for your guidance in their writings. I am so thankful for you taking my ho-hum attitude and turning it into a deep desire to learn more about you and for revealing things that I need to see in my life. Forgive me for dragging my feet when it comes to diving into your word. Use these next few weeks in these books to transform me in ways I could never imagine, in ways that are clearly from you and you alone. In your holy and most precious name I pray, Amen.

Hebrews 6 - Keep On Movin' Don't Stop

Well it is spring break and my posts will come at very random times this week. Just wanted to give you a heads up...

I have to start by saying that I felt so much closer to God this Easter since I have been in his word pretty much every day since August. I feel so much more knowledgeable about the word thanks to these studies we have been doing.

Hebrews 6 was a nice reminder not to slip back into old habits. It it very hard to read about falling away being like crucifying him all over again. I try really hard to have crops that are useful and not just useless thorns and thistles.

It has been so remarkable to draw closer to him each day. It has been hard to step out on faith over these 8 or so months but it has made my faith multiple. I have taught a bible study for the first time, shared my faith with non-believers and now I have the chance to talk about all of the good things that God has done in my life through an event in our women's ministry.

We have to keep moving forward in our faith and grow. We can't keep living in childlike ways.

I love this closeness to him. I crave it. I want to grow smarter, stronger, bolder in faith so that in the difficult seasons my first response will be "Thank you Lord for whatever may come from this trial".

Teachers, enjoy this time off. Refresh. Renew. Reconnect with him.

Everyone else, have fun at work?  =o/

Leviticus 15 - The Sound of Silence

Cue the crickets chirping here...

This was a difficult one to write about, hence the procrastination.

What I do take away here is that Adam and Eve had it good. Few rules. Lots of goodness.

Then there was the disobedience.  Sin.

Then the rules. Lots of them.

Clean this, clean that, eat this, don't eat that, give this but not that...

Lots of rules for the people to make sure they were clean and pure to be able to access God.

Then there is the cross.

God gave us his son so that he would be the perfect sacrifice. No more laws or rituals and complete access to him any time no matter how dirty our lives are.

I am so thankful today that I can come to Jesus looking like Pigpen from the Peanuts and he loves me just as much as he does Frieda, the girl with naturally curly hair.

Enjoy the beauty that Easter is. I pray that you have a wonderful day surrounded by the ones you love. Remember that we are so blessed to freely worship. Be in prayer for those elsewhere who are not.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Leviticus 14 - Exposed Sin

Right this very moment my house is being torn apart. The roof is only half shingled, boards are ripped away to be replaced, and my deck is a skeleton awaiting the new composite wood to be placed down. Every bit of rotten wood is exposed.

When I read Leviticus this morning I see that the rotten wood is just like sin in so many ways. We have had to put off some major repairs for a while and of course things get worse the longer they sit without the needed repairs being done. I kept telling myself that we should just put off the repairs since there were so many and I didn't want to deal with only fixing part of the problems.

Isn't sin the same way? When we sin and don't confess and turn away it spirals into something really messy and rotten. We put off changing according to the conviction because we tell ourselves we are so broken that it can never be fixed.

Trying to hid the sin may only be a temporary patch. God always sees our hearts but we can by a little time with our family and friends.

Continuing to sin when we feel the spirit speaking to us is simply us ignoring God's conviction in our hearts.

Even when our house is done, people driving by only see the outside but I know what the inside looks like. Is it in need of major repairs? Does it need just a little sprucing up? Or is it pristine?

What is God tugging at your heart about this morning? What can you do to change that something that he is convicting you about?

I know for me personally it is in regards to a relationship that I don't nurture enough. I hope that you will take time today to listen to him speaking to you. He loves you. He wants good stuff for you, not all of the rotten stuff that we try to carry around.

Lord thank you for these wonderful women here today. Father I pray that you convict me on the rottenness in my heart and mind. I pray that you replace that with thoughts, actions, and feelings that only glorify you. I pray that you will continue to work on me. I know that until I reach my heavenly home, I will never be fully complete. As we continue to reflect on the crucifixion, I pray that those represented here today do not waste another precious day and that they fully confess the messes in their lives. Thank you for your love, your grace and your forgiveness. Amen


Thank you for your prayers for my grandfather. They repaired a 90% blockage yesterday. I am certain that he will be feeling so much better once he recovers.

Leviticus 13 - Outside the Gate

From the outside looking in, many of us seem to be living comfortably inside the camp. My reality prior to last summer was not the same.

Yes I went to church every Sunday and Wed night.
Yes I volunteered whenever I saw a need at church.
Yes I was active in my Sunday School class.
Yes I was going through the motions without a meaningful relationship with him.

I should have been kicked out of the camp.
I should have been outside of the gates.

It is so very hard to deal with the spread of sin. It starts so small, like a bump or a rash on our skin. The truth is that it can spread so very quickly when untreated through prayer, admission and turning away from the sin and focusing on what God calls me to do and be.

Since I have fully committed to changing who I wanted to be and let God have full control over me, sin has had a much more difficult time spreading. There is this neat little thing called conviction that stops me in my tracks and helps me to see that trouble is ahead if I don't pause, listen to God and pray for his guidance.

We all sin and fall short of his glory. I am so thankful today for the cross.

Lord thank you for the cross and all that it means in my life. Thank you for Leviticus and for the reminder that sin left unchecked, unforgiven, and unnoticed leads to a much bigger disease. Thank you for the relationship I have with you. Thank you for keeping me in check with conviction. Forgive me for the ways I will stumble and fall short of your glory today. Thank you for the opportunities to serve you both inside and outside of the camp today Father. Be with me. Lead me. Use me today to do your will and not mine. Check my heart this morning and forgive me for any sin that is there.

Lord I also ask that you be with my Paw as he has a heart procedure today. Please ease his nervousness so that he will feel complete peace and know your presence at this time. Be with each person that he is in contact with today. May they see the wonderful person he is and see your love shining through. If anyone does not know you I pray that your love shines through him today. I praise you in advance for the outcome. No matter what it is I know that it is your will. Lord thank you. I love you so much and praise your Holy name today and every day. -Amen

Leviticus 12 - Lambs, pigeons, periods. Oh My!

Uh, well. I really don't know what I am going to do with this one.

It seems pretty clear from reading this passage that boys were held in higher esteem than girls. Periods were unclean and required a sin offering and a burnt offering.

I am no Biblical scholar but how can something God created my body to do on it's own be a sin? Maybe someone has a good answer for this. Please share if you do. I am learning as I go with this one and I am a little scared to do a google search. I am guessing it is all about the blood.

I don't have this problem anymore but I can't imagine having to go out and by pads and tampons and then pick up a lamb and pigeon as well. And there are 3 girls in this house. Yikes!

My take away here tonight is that I can't skip over readings in the Old Testament because they clearly help me understand the New Testament. I never imagined I would learn so much from this study of Leviticus. Stepping out and embracing this book has drawn me even closer to God and really boosted my knowledge. Lots of A-Ha moments happening this month.

So try to remember during your monthly visit that at least you don't have to buy a lamb and pigeon. Praise you Lord for that!

Leviticus 11 - So. Many. Rules

For the Israelite's to be a people who had a hard time getting it right, there sure were a lot of rules to follow! (Lots and lots of opportunities to get it wrong.) I cannot imagine having to remember all of these rules on a daily basis. It must have taken complete concentration and remembering God in every little single thing you did from moment to moment.

While I am so very thankful for God sending his son to die on the cross for my sins, I think that I really take this freedom he has given me for granted most days.

I really am a spoiled Christian at times. I forget about how Old Testament living was. I take for granted my freedom to worship and be in direct fellowship with him. I don't have to think about every single decision I make from moment to moment to make sure I am following the 600+ Levitical laws.

He did so much for me on the cross that day. What a wonderful week to be studying Leviticus. I know we all know the accounts in the New Testament about his death and resurrection, but how awesome is it to read about ALL of the ways that he saved us.

The cross brings conviction with Christ living within my heart, mind and soul. It brings a desire to do what his will is. The cross sets me free to live a life with him as the main focus.

Lord, thank you for not only saving us from our sins but for changing the way we access you. Thank you for the freedom we have in you. Lord help me to see each day how you have extended such grace and mercy to me. Be with me this week as I prepare my heart for Easter Sunday and personally reflect on what the cross means to me and how it is a gift that's value is immeasurable and can never be repaid. Amen.

Hebrews 5 - Solid Food

I love, love, love it when he speaks so clearly to me! This is definitely one of those times.

I have been working really, really hard on weening myself off of "milk" and on to "solid food" this year. I have been pushing myself to go beyond the basics and really digging deep into his word and knowing the truth.

When I began this journey in August I was craving more of his word. I went from none to very little time studying the bible to a minimum of an hour each day. These 8 months have been transforming to say the least.

While I have a lot to improve on in my walk with him, I am so far away from where I was.

Shouldn't that be our goal each day? Shouldn't we strive to be better? To be closer to God?

Like my sweet hubs always says, "My goal each day is to try to be a better person than I was the day before. I don't get it right each day but I try".

I will be thinking about that tonight as I drift off to sleep, (I wanted to sleep in tomorrow so I did my study tonight.)

I know we are all looking forward to Easter and making all of the preparations. I know that personally we always get new dresses and shoes. Then there are the baskets for the kiddos. To me this is easier than Christmas when it comes to keeping my focus. I pray that I will keep the cross as my focus this next week as I prepare for Easter Sunday

Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend!

Hebrews 4 - No Limits

There have been many times in my life where I have been restless in my faith. Just last night during my bible study class, I spoke about not fully trusting in God and his goodness. Even still today I limit God and what he can do in my life. I put barriers on his power. I believe Satan's whispers that my problem is too big, too messy, too complicated or even sometimes too small for God to even bother.

In these instances I am not holding firmly to the faith we profess and I am not honoring God in my thoughts.

Last night I shared a very personal story in our group. Jeffrey and I have never been faithful in tithing until this year. Earlier this week I was on the church website looking up an address and I happened to look at our giving this year. We have given more so far in 2016 than we gave in the 3 previous years combined. Please don't see this as bragging. It is so far from that. It really is a testimony of our full faith in God and his ability to provide for us.

This year we decided to put God closer to the top of our list of financial responsibilities instead of the very rock bottom. There have been a few Sunday's where I dropped that check in the plate and said a quick prayer that he would provide if things were tight. And he did. Each time I prayed after the tithe, Jeffrey would end up working over time. The money seemed to stretch farther. I was more mindful of my spending. I stayed away from Target. (You feel me?)

In this case of need and full trust in God, I didn't limit him.

And here I sit surrounded by roofing and paint samples. God has provided a way for us to do some much needed home repairs. Almost equal to what I make in one year. I am just blown away by his goodness and mercy. I can't wait to open up my newly spruced up home to offer my first ever home bible study this summer. Now, this is not free money. Trust me when I say, it was truly a God thing.

Today I will be more mindful of the limits I place on God in all areas of my life.

Health
Finances
Ministry
Relationships

The word of God is alive and active. Hebrews 4:12

I encourage you to share that verse with someone you encounter today. Commit it to memory if you haven't already. Be the light.

Shine bright today sweet friends!

Leviticus 10 - Silenced

In reading this chapter I am stuck this morning on the end of verse 3.

Aaron was silenced.

My first thoughts go to why he remained silent. Was he angry and didn't want to dishonor God? Was he in shock? Was he processing what had just happened? Was this a reality check? Maybe you have studied this before and have more insight than me, if so please please share your thoughts.

How many times have I been silenced by God and his powers? Good or bad? 

My world is very noisy. Lots of busy work.  Lots of distractions. Lots of things that mask themselves as being from him but are not. There is very little quiet. Very little time to just be still. 

As far as serving him, there are lots of opportunities for me to serve him each day outside of the church walls. Do I really take this seriously? I know that I pray each morning that he gives me clarity on opportunities to serve him but do I really truly reflect on this or am I just going through the motions. Do I really take these opportunities seriously?

Today as I sit here in silence, I am going to ask God to search my heart and convict me of things that are not pleasing unto him. If I am going to be serious about doing kingdom work I need to bring my best self to him. While I know that he is the only perfect one, I cannot use that as an excuse not to do my best at all times. 

Leviticus 9 - God's Glory

Wow! I read this Chapter that I would have probably not read if not doing this study and I am in awe of God and his glory.

I can't imagine what this would even have looked like or felt like then, much less now.

How many times have I "shouted for joy and fell face down" for him?

The answer is probably few to none.

Just the other day I was talking to some friends about how people in our church rarely go to the altar any more. There is really no invitation to do so although it is understood that it is always available.

I think people are afraid. They don't want others wondering what is going on in their lives to necessitate a trip to the altar.

I am telling you first hand that there is something beautiful about going to the altar to pray. I am not saying God hears us any better but there is just something wonderful about it and I don't do it nearly enough.

We have got to stop being afraid of freely worshiping him. He deserves our full worship and praise.

How are you holding back from God today? Is it your worship? Your prayer life? Your daily time with him?

Look at all he has done for us.
Look at all he has given us.

He has never been ashamed of us. Certainly we should not be ashamed of him.

Father God, during this season of reflecting on the cross and ultimate sacrifice of your son, help us to see your glory. Lord, forgive us today for not giving our best to you. Forgive us if we have ever been ashamed or worried about what people might think of us during worship. Lord thank you for never being ashamed of us and for always loving us. Prepare our hearts today as we enter the world that needs your light. Help us to see opportunities to serve you and to take them without hesitation. God we love you and praise you in advance for all of your goodness today. Amen.

Catching Up On Leviticus

I am spending lots of time reviewing Wed-Today. Thanks for being patient as I recouped from being under the weather.

Chapter 5
God expected the people to give an offering they could afford. He didn't ask the least of them to give the greatest.  Reading this makes me remember that while God wants our very best, he is reasonable and provides what we need. He doesn't ask us to give more than he equips is to give. I know that I need to really remember that today.

Chapter 6
God hates sin. The priests had to keep this fire going all night and not let it go out. I love how the light is represented here. The fire, the light, must be burning through the night and not let the darkness overtake. My sweet hubs commented during church that "while sin happens in the lights, it thrives in the dark". This is so very true. We must stay in his light so he can help us with our sin. Sin cannot win or overtake us in the light.

Chapter 7
Yikes. If I had to give an offering every time I felt guilt...In reviewing these past chapters we see that there is lots of blood shed. I am so thankful this morning that Jesus shed his blood for me so that ALL of my sins can be forgiven. He paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Chapter 8
Do you have the workbook? I love the illustration of the priestly garments. I am a very visual person so this really helps me understand all of the details. The consecration ceremony lasted for 7 days and 7 nights. The first thing that popped into my head was how I start looking at my watch at the end of an hour sermon and wonder when it will be over. That is not pleasing unto him and really kind of sad. I bet we are all guilty of that one from time to time. It really isn't that much of a sacrifice to give him 2 hours of my day once a week. Doesn't he deserve so much more?

Today I will pray that I am living for him in all I do today. I pray that I am the light in the darkness that surrounds us. There is so much evil and sin in the world today. I am so thankful that Jesus gave his life so that my sins can be forgiven without all of these rules and rituals.

Have a wonderful week sweet sisters in Christ. Love to you all!

Leviticus 5 - Junk In The Trunk

So this post right now confirms why I do this at 4:30 in the morning. My hubs is fragrant from the gym and waiting on his turn to shower, the youngest is speaking 4 decibels higher than necessary and I am TIRED and grumpy. Did I mention grumpy?

For whatever reason, God has silenced me. I have no voice. I was unable to work today and will be out again tomorrow. I am not feeling sick. Just lost my voice. I have my theories, one of which being the dust stirred up by the Great Shack Clean Out of 2016.

It really is a good life lesson for me. Here are some of my observations:

We have way too much stuff.
We use very little of all of that stuff.
That stuff is dusty.
You miss really good stuff that gets hidden by all of the rest of the stuff.
Putting approx 18 bags of stuff in the minivan to take to Goodwill feels pretty awesome.

In the words of that chick from Frozen...LET IT GOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aren't our hearts just like that?

When we hold on to lots of junk, the good stuff gets hidden.
We hold on to things that we don't need.
-Bad relationships
-Negative feelings
We hold on to things that are not useful.
-Shame
-Regret
-Anger
We hold on to stuff in hopes we can use it in the future.
-Pride
-Things to use against others
-Things to gain power over others

Being silent today has been very frustrating. I swear I looked like I was fighting off a swarm of beings while trying to communicate how mad I was with the girls today. They still haven't figured out why I can't respond to their questions from clear across the house.

Not being able to talk forces you to listen. I am looking for what God wants to show me and teach me through these days.

Not sure how all of this ties in with today's readings but it seemed worth typing.

Good night sweet sisters in Christ!

Leviticus 4 - Perfect Lamb

As I read this scripture this morning I have these images of the people going out to find the perfect animals for their sacrifices. I wonder what is on their minds and in their hearts as they are combing the fields looking for their best to kill as an atonement for their sins, both intentional and unintentional sins.

I really can't even imagine how gruesome this whole experience was. Maybe it wasn't quit as bad for people in that time since they had to kill animals, clean them and prepare them for food. I just personally can't imagine having to do this each time I sinned. Every time. Touching the head of the animal to transfer my sin to it before I slaughter it by slitting its throat.

So I will sit here quietly reflecting on how God searched his fields, found the perfect, flawless lamb and offered him as the ultimate sacrifice to end all other sacrifices.

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.

Our hands no longer have to be stained with blood. He has washes us, cleanses us.

I should be on my knees daily praising him for this.

Lord God, my heart aches this morning. My human mind cannot fathom giving up an only child to die so that the sins of all can be washed away forever. Lord you are God alone and I am so thankful that you have no limits. Your understanding. love, forgiveness and grace is immeasurable. Lord forgive me today for where I will fall short. Thank you for removing all barriers between us so that we can speak directly to you and receive complete forgiveness for all of the times each day that we intentionally and unintentionally sin. -Amen

Leviticus 3 - Daily Offering

I must admit, I agree with the weekend wrap up completely. Leviticus is a tough read but I am praying that I see what he wants me to see from these passages even though at first read they are difficult to understand.

First thing this morning, when I opened my eyes, I gave thanks to God for another day to serve him. I then prayed over my husband. This is the first of my daily offerings.

In the past I think I was conditioned to think that the "offering" was a monetary gift given at church. Reading this passage brings me back to the reality that my offerings to him are so much more than that. I am giving an offering to him each time I praise him, each time I am in his word, each time I acknowledge that all that I am and all that I have is from him.

We could spend all day doing nothing but praising him. Just look around you right now. Look at all of the things and people in that room that you can give him praise and glory for.

When we look at all that he gives us, we should easily be able to see how we can help others.

Just this weekend Jeffrey and I cleaned out 15 bags of clothing and misc items just from our walk in closet. Yikes! I can't believe that we had so much stuff crammed in there. I could have easily had a yard sale but instead I am donating these items to God's Storehouse in hopes that someone can use these items to help them dress for a new job.

Sin in my life is very much like that closet. When we are cluttered with anything that is not pleasing unto him it becomes hard for us to see what we really have and to realize that those things come from him. 

Sin clutters our lives and hides our best from God. 

And just like cleaning out and purging those items that were hiding things we had forgotten we had, confessing our sins and giving him praise for all that we have declutters our hearts. We are renewed and can see and experience him in a whole new way.

Today I challenge you to go through your day giving him praise and having your eyes open for those in need.

Lord we thank you this morning for your word. We thank you for offering the ultimate blood sacrifice so that we may declutter our hearts from sin and from things that are not pleasing unto you. Lord I pray that you will help me to see all that you give me today. I pray that I will be able to see the abundance of what you give me and be able to share it with others.  Father help me to see that it is so much more than money or material things but rather my time, kind words or even a prayer for a friend. Thank you for your love. Help me to be the light today in all that I do. -Amen

Leviticus 2 - Typing Through Streams of Tears

This morning is one of those mornings where it is both easy and hard to give thanks  I know that may seem confusing, it is to me.

This day 14 years ago, my sweet mom went to be with Jesus. She was only about 4 years older than I am today. She had not been blessed with any grandchildren which was her life dream. She was so sick for so many years. Despite all of that, I rarely heard my mom complain about her illness and she continued to love and care for others just as she always did.

Just like every family on this planet, our relationships had its ups and downs. There were times in my life that my mom and I never spoke and there were times in my life where we were the best of friends.

I miss her everyday.

The older I get the more wisdom I have about my mom and her short life here on this earth. 14 years ago I would ask questions about why our relationship was so rocky, why didn't she do better by me and why didn't I talk to her that Sunday when she called.

Today I see that my mom did the best she could. She suffered more from diabetes and the ongoing complications more than I knew as a child and teen. You see, I couldn't understand because of my perspective.

My mom suffered so much. She had more surgeries than I could ever remember, took handfuls of medicine and was on dialysis.

So today I am choosing to fight those feelings of sadness and anger and I am going to praise the Lord that she is no longer suffering. That is so hard to do when all I want is to have my mom back.

I am not sure how all of this neatly fits into today's reading. I do know that without a relationship with God this would be an unbearable thing to face...

each time I want to call her on the phone
each time I see her photo
each time I see friends with their moms
each time I see grandparents loving on their sweet grandchildren
each time my girls ask about her and what she was like
each time I visit her graveside

I am thankful that God fills those cracked areas of my life. His daily bread is nourishment and fills those empty and broken areas.

Dear Father, thank you for the 25 years I was able to spend with my mom. Thank you for the love that she showed me and everyone around her. Thank you for the end to her suffering. You have fully restored her and I know there is no suffering and anguish anymore. I praise you for the discernment I have today. Thank you for the example of love and kindness through her. Please be with me today as I go out into the world and try to love and care for people just like my mom did and even more, like you do. Thank you for your love and for giving me peace this morning. Be with my family today as we remember my mom, Terrie Lynn Conger. - Amen

Leviticus 1 - Attitude Adjustment

Growing up my parents would threaten us with an "attitude adjustment" which we were clear in understanding. It was a whooping. Not a spanking, a whooping. If you have ever had both of these you clearly know the difference.

When I saw that we were reading Leviticus I was not very excited. I haven't really read much of this book but I have read some and it always seemed really odd and confusing.

Reading Chapter 1 last night was really interesting. I guess I had never had the attitude that I wanted to see what God had for me while reading this book. I experienced a different kind of attitude adjustment here.

God wants our very best. He wants our tithe, our good attitudes, our willingness to serve him...the list can go on and on.

I know that I am guilty of giving him less than my very best.

I am going to work on giving my heart and attitude adjustment today. I am going to look at the opportunities I am currently involved in to serve him as a blessing, not another thing on my to-do list to check off.

I am so thankful that he loves me and forgives me each time I fall short. Everyday.

Lord, thank you for ALL of your word and not just the books we love to read. Thank you for challenging me this month with the study on Leviticus. Open my heart and my mind to receive what you would have me to take away from these readings. Lord thank you for the heart adjustment that I know will come from reading these words. Help me to give you my first, my best , and an attitude that is pleasing unto you and forgive me when I fall short. -Amen


PS- Sorry, I forgot to hit the post button on yesterdays blog post. =o)

Hebrews 3 - Fix Your Thoughts On Him

I really needed to read this today.

My thoughts have not been fixed on him lately.

I have been distracted. Distracted doing things that I felt were from God. Bible studies, volunteering, blog writing...

Satan has been busy making me busy. He is filling up my calendar and my to-do list. He has been busying my days so I have less time to connect with the people I care for and love. He has also been rushing my thoughts. Worry and doubt have been creeping him.

My prayer life has really taken a blow. I feel rushed in the mornings so I pray short prayers. I am not praying throughout the day like I normally do.

Today that is all going to end.

I am no longer letting Satan steal my time, my thoughts, my prayers, my concern, my family time...God first then family. The rest will sort its way out.

I can no longer pretend that I am Wonder Woman (yes, I have been called that by several friends). Because I am not.

I am tired. I am disconnected in many areas. I need to draw even closer to him.

I will be praying for you today. You may be in the same boat as me or you may be one of those woman who have it all together. Today I am going to stop pretending that I can do it all and instead give it all to God.

Hebrews 2 - Distracted

These past few weeks have been filled with distractions. The main one is my own health and wellness. I have not felt like my normal self. Even last night when I thought I was on the mend, I felt lousy again. This clearly impacted my postings last week and is impacting time I spend with the people I love.

In life it is so easy to get distracted from what really should be our focus. We know that is how Satan works. And please don't think for a minute that Satan doesn't tempt us. I get frustrated when I hear people say "God is sending -such and such- just for me. I know he is blessing me with this -thing-." Well, guess what folks? Satan distracts us. What may seem to be good and wonderful is not those things if it is not from God.

There have been many times in my life where I thought something wonderful was from God. The truth? I wasn't even talking with God daily. I wasn't in his word. I wasn't in fellowship with him. Me saying that it was from God was my own making. The sad truth is, it was something that was not meant for me. It was something that distracted me from him.

This morning I am personally reflecting on my career. I received an email from another school wanting me to come for a job interview this week. I have been in prayer about where God wants me to be. I had already declined the interview but this passage is really speaking to me this morning about where He wants me to be.

I have been teaching preschool special needs for over 7 years. I know my job. I am good at my job. I am comfortable.

I really feel in my heart that God wants me to stay at this job that I truly do love.

Starting a new job right now would be a distraction. I would have to learn a new school, new people, new curriculum, new students, new program....All of this would distract me from God, my family and from the ministry that is being developed.

I will continue to be in prayer for his guidance in my life. Who knows? Something may be waiting for me out there. Something better than I could have ever imagined.

For now I will pay attention. Keep my eyes on him. Read his word whenever I can.

Lord, thank you so much for loving us so much that you sent your son to live as we live on earth. Thank you for the reminder this morning that we are to pay attention and be on guard against anything that is not from you. Father I ask you to be with me today, help me to be focused on you and not be distracted. I pray that you will heal whatever is going on with my physical being right now so I may give you all that I have and all of the glory will be yours. Thank you for your word, for your love and for caring so much that you sent your only son to die for our sins. -Amen