Introduction - Bloom Spring 2014 - Pursue the Intentional Life

So Excited for the next Bloom Book Club with Angie and Jessica.
If you've never participated in this group head o over and check it out. It's a lot of fun!

Extreme or Necessary?

Some things came to mind while joining in on the If:Equip group study this morning. We are continuing through the book of Acts. Today Acts 5:1-11. Please come join us we'd love to hear your thoughts and watch the vimeo below for added insight to His powerful Word!

So here I am reading today's passage and it hits me-- Why, did they die?? why so extreme...couldn't they turn from their ways?? You know confess, repent---that warm, fuzzy Christian-accept-all-stuff.

Well, no... that's a common misconception about our God and I really think it's time we, as Loving Christians, help to bring to Light for those who are new to God's discipline blanketed in Christ's Love.

Upon further prayer and meditation on this passage, I think the dying was necessary because sometimes when there is a problem so deep in the heart it needs to be removed before it causes more damage to the whole.

Like with cancer sometimes parts can be removed to save the whole body...so, too, with sin and evil. God knew the true heart of these people and could see that their sin and evil in their hearts would damage the group. I believe He took such extreme measures to protect the hearts of His people.

He always knows best and we have to believe these actions, to Him, were not extreme but actually quite necessary. When He wants to make a correction He will do extreme things to get our attention - Flood? Famine? and more currently terrorism....


We are a sorry lot who cannot see with our heart-eyes as often as we should. Let this be a wake up call that will open our heart-eyes anew today:)

You are all such a blessing to me! Love sharing thoughts with you!



Day 14 - Acts 5:1-11 from IF : Equip on Vimeo.

Watoto Children's Choir - The Heart of the Father

Watoto Children's Choir Three years ago I attended a Watoto Children's Choir performance at my church. This is such a wonderful organization which equips the orphaned children of Africa with the skills to be leaders. Those who were left on the streets or in garbage dumps are taken in and blanketed with the love of Jesus.

It's an amazing organization and one I am proud to sponsor. My sweet girl is Zara. She is now 4 and growing up so fast! I receive letters from her house mother and older "sisters" and school work samples and drawings from her. I look forward to the day when she will write to me herself.

Please watch this sweet video, forward it to your friends, and pray for our children.
Many blessings...

Of Dream Catchers and Dream Snatchers

We live in a world of Dream Snatchers. Dreams failed to be lived  are often the result of another person or event that squashes or at least fails to acknowledge potential in our youth.

When our dreams are not lived, human nature is to turn to other desires
                       - those of the flesh rather than those of the Spirit.


But dreams can be resurrected! Thanks to the Bloom Book study I am searching my desires again. Starting in childhood and looking at what has given me joy. The desires that God put deep within me to reflect His glory.

The assignment in a million little ways was to look at our past, what we enjoyed doing as children.

I grew up "teaching" all my animals and babies. I wrote many stories, and how-to books as a teen and young adult. It's not that I liked telling people what to do, it was more of a 'let me show you an easier way' attitude.

So, the most obvious career choice was Accounting - yikes!

Why do we listen to the world? Teachers always told me I was not good at English so there goes the writing...
               and teaching - no money there.....

Resurrecting the Dream--

I have since successfully homeschooled my children - fulfilling that dream of teaching and I am working on writing now. As the video said I am:

 giving myself permission without expectation. 

That was so freeing!!

I am writing my blog and some other articles for submission with no expectations except for the Lord to use them in any way He sees fit.

I am also watching what I say and do regarding the dreams and desires of my children (husband and friends as well). I was on a path to destruction with that before this study -  encouraging them to study what is safe and easy rather than where their inner desires are leading them.

Dream catchers were need more of ....not the "art" people hang on their windows and walls, but the soul Art of God.

He is the ultimate Dream Catcher.

The Ultimate Desire of our hearts can only be fulfilled by

                                  the Ultimate Creator of Dreams!

 

Have a blessed day and please comment, I would love to hear from you:)

The Seed

So I'm readying myself for Lent and thinking where can I go this year?

What will make this new and different...a feast of His Presence not a repetitive ritual....

I'm reading Lenten devotionals and nothing's digging...digging into me the way I want it to. This time, this period of ---- mourning, it should be uncomfortable.

But where do I go. What can bring me to my knees, to feel the Promise, to feel the Pain.
I want to walk the path, the path to Golgotha with Him. I want to walk in His steps...touch the blood...kneel at the cross....while the Favored is  
                                         
                                                          ----------f.o.r.s.a.k.e.n

I start in Genesis a personal favorite:

 I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman,and between your seed and her Seed. (v.3:15)

This verse is the summary of the whole Bible. From this verse everyhing else flows. Christ is clearly labeled as the Seed and God's salvation plan is laid out in a glorious redemptive promise.

As we start our Lenten season preparing our hearts for Easter, shouldn't we focus on the ground we stand on. 
This ground where the seed lies still. The coldness, the barrenness, the darkness. The seed that lies under the layers of darkness, the sin, the dirtiness that takes years to work through  and never quite comes clean...

--unless, 

we remember that there was a day long ago after Adam and Eve's sin, the first promise of God's Perfect Grace was made. 
The Grace-solution that would fill every area readily prepared for it.  Filled completely with Sacrificial Freedom overly and abundantly 
                                               --filled...

Lent prepares us for the ultimate growth. Like the seed, it takes time to expand and bloom. The ultimate Grace-plan took time to grow and bloom. Truth grows brighter and brighter as the seed in you defeats sin and the Seed of the woman defeats the deceiver once and for all - that is a 

--Promise!

 

 

 Think.Ponder.Dwell

 Think:

 Are you feeling like the opposition is beating you down. Is today the day that patience and grace seem so far away?
Let's look at our Old Testament friend Nehemiah for some encouragement...

Nehemiah 6:3

So I sent messengers to them, saying,
“I am doing a great work,
so that I cannot come down.
Why should the work cease
while I leave it and go down to you?”

Nehemiah was a man of action.

He left a prestigious job in the Persian government to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem - to be obedient to God. He knew God would use his talents to get the massive feat done. As soon as he got on the job everyone knew who was in charge. He made things happen!

The project was not without opposition though. There was a group of gripers all too ready to do the devil's work with their insults, ridicule, threats, and sabotage. But Nehemiah held them off at every turn using -- prayer, obedience,  and encouragement. In chapter 6, the wall is almost complete when the opposition gives it one more try. This time they try a new approach by centering their attacks on his character. But they are unsuccessful against this godly man. The wall was completed fulfilling the prophesy in Daniel 9:25.

What a tremendous testament to God's love and faithfulness! Enemies and friends alike knew that it was God that had made this happen.

Ponder:

In this passage Nehemiah knew that the only objective of the opposition was to stop his work on the wall. What does that tell us? How can we apply 445 b.c. life to encourage us today?

As you go through life on this sin-infested earth there will be days of complete frustration. The evil one will use fear, opposition, and dissension to remove what he knows will bring glory to the Father. And we know that if it were not so he would not be trying so hard to make trouble every day for us.

Remember in verse 3 of Chapter 6, our friend Nehemiah would not stop his work. The gripe gang  tried 4 times to stop him from completing his mission. But he endeavored to persevere and glorified God.

 

Dwell:

Are you experiencing frustration while carrying out what you believe is God's will?
 
Do you have a gripe gang all too ready to sabotage your work with coaxing to  'come down' and seek "better" things?

Let's take some of the 445 b.c.-goodness and dwell right in the middle of it for a while.

Climb up your ladder and stay there a while. Look down at the opposition and tell them you are doing a good work and cannot come down. Don't be afraid to take action. Let others know that you are acting in God's will. Stand your ground and you will be rewarded for your faithfulness.

In the end even the gripe gang could not deny the fact that God had been there with Nehemiah. And your gripe gang will see it too. There is no denying it when God is near. When His will is accomplished the Glory-light is so bright there is no denying His Presence!

God will be glorified through your faithfulness!

Blessings sweet friends!

What's on your "To Do" List ?

I just love uplifting words from other believers - who needs affirmation when you have such awesome prayer sisters! God is using us in amazing ways to encourage each other.

I think the coolest thing about being in a prayer group of ladies is that no matter how messed up you think you are they welcome you right in and let you know they're messed up too. ---Not feeling quite so messy when you can share it. The evil one wants us all to think we are the only messed-up ones and there is no hope... we constantly have to assure ourselves of our worth in Christ and that is all that matters. He shed His blood that we will be FREE not constantly reminded how worthless we are....

We know the Truth and it has set us FREE! (John 8:32)

We are not worthless but are His Masterpieces! (Eph 2:10). 

Use His Word like a sword to defend yourself that's why it's there! (Eph 6)

Also, prayer sisters inspire eachother to get off your butt and get busy with evangelizing... sometimes I get lazy and that energy is just what is needed.

 My verse this year is: "Whatever He says to you, do it" John 2:5... 

--that's a HUGE command, one that deserves our daily recognition -  how much more encouragement do you need after hearing that?

So I've made a list titled: 

Whatever He says to you, do it

 and every time I feel the Lord leading me to minister to someone, send a card, call, evangelize, write, I add it to that list. It's really the only list I keep that actually matters. 

For years I have had a standard to-do list that keeps me task-oriented. It works well for me. But now I have the most awesome to-do list because it STARTS with the Kingdom! Every time I look at it I am given the opportunity to do something amazing.  It puts a lot more purpose and power behind my actions too. 

His Power, 
       His Purpose, 
               His Glory 

                        - that which He leads--- He will equip you!

Do something awesome today for the Kingdom!

Rest in Him.

Sit quietly in His Presence and let Him bless you.
Make up your mind that you will not wear yourself out trying to make things happen or take any negativity to heart. Let Him be sufficient for the challenges this day presents.

Keep looking to Him and keep in constant communication with Him, ready to receive whatever thoughts He may make available to you.
Walk together today with Him. Take time to rest in His sufficiency, knowing He is enough. Let the comments and attitudes of others roll off you while you bathe in His amazing Presence.

Don't spend even one minute worrying about whether or not you can handle the pressures before you. Keep looking to Him until the Peace enters your heart again.
One word - Jesus -  so simple, yet so powerful. Just the sound of His name will put things back in focus, and bring on His Perfect Peace. There is always time for one word. That One Word.

When you feel the rush of the world you forget who you are and whose you are! That simple word - Jesus - brings it all back into focus. 

Praying for His 20/20 vision for all of you.

Remember the evil one is only getting so busy with you because God is going to do amazing things with you!

Know that every hurdle you jump, every wall you climb is that much more powerful since you're holding His hand!

You will not be shaken!

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer,

I have overcome the world.”

 

Blessings:)

 Practicing Thanksgiving

It's been over a year now with heart being held wide open with thankfulness. 

Started last year with eucharisteo - 1000 Gifts by A.V. The counting of God's blessings brings amazing comfort - makes praise so automatic... now also seeing thanksgiving repeated in devotions, readings - it opens access to God.  Opens the big doors, light shining all around the corners - saying 'open me.' Think 10 lepers healed by Jesus but only one came back to thank Him.. He was the only one who received Him, received access, received Salvation... 

We can give thanks abundantly when our hearts are grateful. It grows because when recognized, written down, recorded...as the list grows: 3, 6, 9...300, 600, 900 - the meer sight of it overwhelms us and the overflowing goodness of God overthrows anything we could possibly remember on our own. 

Practicing the memory of it. Releasing the good in all His goodness, so we can see it, touch it, and make it tangible. We try to see it... make it earthly, something we can hold onto when good seems so far lost, when aches are hurting and the eucharisteo is more forced than favored... we can grab the book, the journal of thanks and hold it in our hands....tears can  be thanks, we can yell the thanks, but the writing...that's where it gets real....that's where it's in black and white and when all else is worn, and tired...the words are bold and brilliant with His glory. 

Thank you for.....

a snowflake, a baby's smile, a healing miracle....all are glimpses of His glory and to be readily praised! There is nothing too small to be praised and nothing too big for Him to handle.

A never-ending song, a poem of profession, of Jesus-love spilling over into every area of your temporary life, making a praise-ladened path to your eternal life. A sweet bridge of thanksgiving and praise from earth to heaven.

What if:

What if:  you set aside your preconceived notions and thought about nothing but Him for 5 minutes.
Could you do it?

Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you! - James 4:8

During His time on earth Jesus healed, He taught, He fed.... but there were the few, the quiet ones, in the background who were just there to be in His Presence. We are created in the image of a masterful Creator who longs for us to want nothing more from Him than to dwell in His Presence. The Creator of Love and Grace wants to draw near to His beloved and grace-begotten children.

Think John 1:14 "The Word became flesh [just to] dwell among us..."

Can you even get your mind around that one phrase. He came to dwell. among. us.

Sometimes I don't even want to dwell among myself --but the Creator of the Universe wants to dwell with me. Wow, that just blows my mind.

Dwell in His Presence today, just for a bit and it might just blow your mind!