30 Day No Make-Up Challenge: My Experience.

I woke up on Sunday, October 14th, with absolutely NO intention of participating in this '30 Day No Make-Up' challenge. I loved that a friend of mine had started it, but I just dismissed it as 'her thing.' As my morning routine progressed, my mind kept going back to the challenge, and I just couldn't let it go. I stopped what I was doing and sought the Lord in it. I asked Him, 'Lord, do you want me to do this?' I kind of inwardly whined a little bit, and I came up with many reasons why I should not participate, and I even told God that I didn't NEED to. 'I'm confident in how I look God. I know I look ok without make-up, so why would You want me to participate in this?' And very clear to my spirit came these words.  
'Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.' 1Samuel 16:7
It's so amazing that God would speak to us, using His very own words, huh. (A little sarcasm for you there.)
I wasn't quite sure why God was speaking this scripture to me, but I complied. I agreed to the challenge, as I was sure God must have just wanted me to be an example to the young ladies. It turns out, that was just part of it. God had something for me, too. He wanted me to see some things inside of myself. He wanted me to let go of the outward focus and turn it to the inside. God wanted me to look at my own heart. In just thirty days I found out a lot about my heart. I saw a lot of good, but I saw some ugly, too. I got a good look at my hopes and dream again. I saw my passion to love God and to love others the way God has loved me. I saw myself in His image; so beautiful, so equipped, so strong. But I saw some things that weren't easy to see, as well. I saw that I still, after trying for years to convince myself otherwise, care too much about what others think of me. I saw that I still have some selfish desires and that sometimes I look to my own strength to get things done. 
I'll be forever grateful, and in Jesus' Name, forever changed through this challenge. Never again, do I want to look in the mirror and let the image I see reflecting back be the deciding factor of who I really am or where I really am. I am so grateful that God is doing a work in me and that He will never stop. God is perfecting the work He began in me, and I'm grateful because I can do nothing apart from Him.
1 Corinthians 10:12b (MSG)
'Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.' 

For those of you that would like to know more about the 30 day challenge, here is the blog of the amazing woman behind it all.
http://trulyloved.blogspot.com/
 

The Importance of Reading to our Chidren; Young and Old.

Last night was Open House for my middle-schoolers, and something the Headmaster said really struck me. He said if there was one piece of advice he could give to all of us parents, it would be this: 'to read aloud to our children of all ages.' This really hit home for me. I have been a mother for seventeen years, and I've done my fare share of reading aloud to my kiddos. But, boy have I been slacking! The temptation we have when we have big families is to grow weary in our parenting. The things we did for number one are often missed with number two, and then a little more with number three, and by four it's.., well, you get the idea. Thankfully, I was challenged in this are last night. I thought to myself, 'Wow, I knew this once.' I once knew the importance of reading aloud to my children. I had just forgotten, and I'm so glad to have been reminded! Shout out to Headmaster 'G' for the reminder! Some quick words of encouragement to all of you parents out there. 
'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.' Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
The harvest of reading to our children is mighty! It grows their minds and connects hearts to our hearts. It enhances their ability to comprehend and allows them to escape the business of this life, just for a little while. It's GOOD!
I found this article today when researching some books that would be of interest to all of my children. I hope it blesses you. It sure did me. 
http://www.katemessner.com/why-youre-never-too-old-for-a-read-aloud/

Who Has Your Life?

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

My husband and I watched Act of Valor last night. Wow! What a movie. It is a film about  an elite team of Navy Seals, whom embark on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. Without revealing too much about the movie, there is a powerful scene where a Lieutenant literally lays down on a grenade to save his fellow comrades. He literally throws himself on top of it, and loses his very own life at the chance another might live. This man was on a promising course, living a very blessed life. He had a wonderful wife and unborn child waiting for him to return home safely. But, his honor would not allow him to place his own life above the lives of his men. He had a responsibility and chose not to lose even one of his men. He lived out the very character of Christ. 
Before Jesus was crucified, and freely gave up his own life, so that we could live he prayed this prayer for us, his disciples:

'I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were 
 yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.'

This is how we must live - by laying down our lives for our friends. And it is easy to do when you recognize these simple truths - a)Life on earth is temporary and it is not our own  b)Our life has been bought by Christ and because of Him, it is eternal. The Lieutenant in the movie knew that this life was only temporary. This life and all this world offers really isn't true living at all. We must run this race with one prize in mind - spending eternity with Jesus. He is the only one worthy. Losing our life in Him is the only way we will ever really find it. 

In Matthew 10:39, Jesus spoke these words...
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

 

Love - for His glory.

John 13:34 (MSG) Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples---when they see the love you have for each other. We are recognized as Christians by our love toward one another. Wow! Lately, love has been all tat is on my mind. Am I loving like Him? Are my actions showing love? There is such a burden on me to love others; first to love the Lord, then to love others how He has loved me. I can't stop thinking about it, and I know it is because He wants me, first, to do it, and, second, to exhort others to do it. The gospel of John, also, goes on to say that the world will know His glory when we (His children) become one. We have to love in order to be one. Love conquers ALL. It breaks down walls and fuses us together as the body. In John 16, the bible talks of childbirth. It says we forget about any anguish or pain the moment we see new life. I believe it's that love for another human being that covers all. We immediately love that child and that love conquers! Love has the power to change everything. It gives you supernatural strength to forgive, endure, suffer, whole being patient and kind all the while. That's His love, all for His glory! And love is not just for our own family, friends, or people we enjoy sharing our love with. It is for ALL. There is no such thing as an unloveable person. That person that challenges you and rubs you the wrong way - love is for them, too. The person who makes you feel awkward and uncomfortable - love them. Listen, when you allow Him to reign in your heart, love is easy. He will do it all for you and , eventually, it will just be who you are. 1 John 3:18 (MSG) My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.

Listen to Gossip - Get a Belly Ache. True Story.

'Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; 
do you really want junk like that in your belly?' Proverbs 18:8
I read this early this morning, and it jumped out at me - I needed to share it! 
As I've grown in the Lord He has shown me so much. He's begun a work in me, and He's not through yet! I think it's amazing how His word, so practical and simple, renews, reveals, explains, and changes our very hearts and minds. Something else His word does is protect. 
On our own, we can make a real mess out of life! I remember being young - in my teens and early twenties- and participating in gossip. I read that word today and thought, "Oh, yes! I remember that AWFUL feeling in the pit of my stomach afterwards! Oh, I'm so glad God has changed that in me!" (Not that I've never gossiped since I was 24 years old, but it's definitely been more and more scarce over the years and has always been followed by true repentance.) So I read this scripture, and literally remembers the yucky feeling I would get if ever I had gossiped. But, THEN, I RE-read it! And saw that it said that even 'listening to gossip is like junk in our bellies!' I knew I needed to share this... a while back God showed me this very thing about listening to gossip, and I'm not even sure I had even paid attention to this scripture before now, but I just began to stir on the inside. People would say things to me about stuff in their lives, that I really didn't need to know. And I'd just kind of sit there...I'd try and give good advice or just laugh nervously or try and change the subject. I'd leave the conversation feeling extremely heavy in my heart. I went before the Lord, and He eventually revealed to me this very scripture in my spirit and basically said to me... 'listening to gossip is just as bad as participating.' Woah! That was TRUTH to my spirit. I felt the same yucky feeling I'd had when I was participating in it! So God started to deal with me. 'Walk away.' And I do now and it's brought me peace. I encourage you to do the same - Jesus has come to bring life and life more abundantly... Speak words that bring life; Life to you and life to others. His word protect us from feeling yucky!
One more thing-
Don't get caught up in this lie - 'It's my story, and it happened to me, so I can tell about it no matter who else is involved.' Does it bring life and life more abundantly? These are the words we should ask ourselves when we speak. If there answer is no, then do something I heard a kindergartener say the other day, 'Lock it and put it in your pocket.' 
I want my readers to know - God uses me, but I'm not perfect. This is a good reminder for me, too. Be excited with me - that He is growing all of us to be more like Jesus!

Who or What is Guding You?

'So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.' These are some pretty simple, yet powerful, words. After all, every word of God is. It's quick, alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit...
Speaking of Spirit... You know His Holy Spirit - the one He sent to us to be our guide and to orchestrate our very lives. The one who saves us from destruction, who doesn't hide anything from us, but reveals to us everything we need for this life. The One who SPEAKS to God on our behalf. WOW. Grab ahold of that. Just meditate a minute...
My husband and I just got back from a wonderful vacation. We came back refreshed, renewed, and even more excited about our future. It wasn't just us - we brought along His Holy Spirit. He came, and we welcomed Him. We made room for Him, and listened for His voice. He helped my husband and I make decisions and grow together as one. He spoke things to us regarding our future, but also led us through each new and current moment. He was louder than any worry or doubt, louder than any uncertainty or question, and louder than any whim or emotion. He was our captain. There were things He spoke very clearly to both of us. He loves to be included. We were in His Word each day as He revealed new things to us, while reminding us of things forgotten. He told us where to go and what to say. He protected us from harm on two occasions (that I know of). He was faithful. He IS faithful - at all times.
We don't want to lead our 'own' lives. We want His leading for our lives. We don't want to be led by our  feelings or emotions - these things are not truth. There is such a peace and a joy in knowing that we are fully surrendered to the Lord. We are completely willing to lay it all down becasue we know that He loves and cares for us and has our lives completely in His hands. There is no place I'd rather be. <3

Love and Be Loved

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others,Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel,Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything,Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.
This love amazes me. His word amazes me. Yet, somehow, I am amazing to Him. This is how He loves me! If you think about God - He requires nothing from us, but hearts surrendered. He doesn't put conditions on us, doesn't force us to do right, but just the opposite. He loves us - and in turn we love Him. It's just so natural - Love and Be Loved. Then His very love is shed abroad in our hearts, and we can give t out to others; His VERY love. It's no something we have to figure out how to do or strive to do, we just love as God loves us. He gives it to us, and we give it to others. Simple. Let's not complicate it by trying to 'find' ways to love, or by 'wondering' how to love. He has shown us already, and it has been revealed to us by His Holy Spirit. There's nothing new under the sun with God, no new formulas, no special exceptions to the rule, no shortcuts, just His way. Choose God - Choose Love.

The Pursuit of Righteousness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (AMP)

"Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart."

What is your focus for 2012? Who and what will you decide to pursue? I will pursue Christ and His righteousness, for He is all I want and all I need. I will seek His very heart, His kingdom and His righteousness, becoming more intimate with Him every step of the way, knowing full well that He is providing me with all I need. (Mt. 6:33)

2 Peter 1:3 (MSG) says,

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust." 

His word is so clear! He has given us the power it takes to truly live for Him. And in living fully for Him we can receive all His promises, which are Yes and Amen!!

The best revalation I've ever had is this...

I can strive and try to be a 'good' Christian to the best of my own ability, but all I'm going to get are natural results, or I can abide in Him and BE who He has told me I am in Him and get supernatural results! 

This set me free. He really does ALL the work on you if you'll let Him! So choose to pursue Him today!