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.

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:)

AMLW Chapter 11: Wonder

As your basic multi-tasking mom it is very hard not to live by a list, but I am trying to live among the wonder. It has definitely been something I've had to work at.


Wonder:  

                 to be filled with admiration,
                                         amazement, or awe




I love the way Emily relates it to a child on page 176:

"A child sees the wonder, takes it in, picks it up, and walks among it."

alternately,

A mom looks for certainty, stares at the mess, picks everything up and puts it away, and walks in the emptiness of a clean abyss....

Children haven't yet formed an opinion as to what has "worth" and what doesn't.

I am still working on that - not judging the worth before I experience the wonder... it takes practice to open my eyes without seeing the mess.

It's not too late to get your copy of Emily P. Freemen's book a million little ways you can still visit the incourage book club site and comment and see the discussion videos too. It's a wonderful book filled with eye-opening changes any mom (or dad) can make to help their Art to blossom.

Thanks for spending time with me:)

What I'm Reading this Christmas Season

Here are my picks for this Christmas Season. I hope you enjoy them!


P31 Reads - Christmas





The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas
 by Ann Voskamp famed writer of 1000 Gifts


The Women of Christmas
by Liz Curtis Higgs




You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times
 The new sensational read by Max Lucado

and finally,






The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations
You just can't go wrong with a Lee Drummond recipe.

AMLW Chap 8 Show UP

Today we are studying Chapter 8 of a million little ways  by Emily P. Freeman.

The chapter outlines how and why we need to show up in order to make our art. There is no formula for living life with Christ only:

Showing up, 

           Trusting, 

                       and Believing (p. 129).

This really resonated with me. How often are we looking for that magic formula or "right way" of living in order to reap the benefits of the Christian life?? When, what we really should be doing is just simply: Showing up....

I can't help but pull apart words and phrases. As I write I see images and words move around in different ways than they were intended.

In this way I see showing up as showing UP. I see it as more than just being dressed and ready to go but being

                              ALL there, 

representing the Father and looking UP ready for whatever He has for me.

Can you see it? Are you representing God with your art? or are you keeping it to yourself.

Emily points to 8 statements we use to hide our art.

1. I'm not cut out for this - this steals our art by thinking this is our own doing and in our own strength. Remedy - it is God's doing so use God's strength.
2. someone else can do it better - yes, someone probably can, this attitude is a courage stealer. Remember God has called you and no one can do it better than you with His guidance
3. people might not like it - this topic is so big that Emily focused on it for a whole chapter (6) and basically there will always be critics. Acknowledge it and move on. Listen to what/who matters and assess it based on the critics intention - to hurt or to help.
4. I have nothing to offer - yes, yes, you do
5. I hate my calling - another great quote came out of this bullet, putting to rest the greener grass theory. "There are no greener grasses, only different lawns" (p.140).
6. It's a waste of time - God doesn't waste time only we do
7. It's too much work - it takes work, a lot of time MORE work, to ignore or try to quite a Spirit-filled work within you.
8. Who do you think you are? - the only remedy to this is to know who you are. Even if it means posting signs to remind yourself that you are chosen, holy, beloved. Made in the image of the one True God. Allow this to sink in when doubt sets in.

But, the most encouraging quote came at the end of Ch 7 on page 144:

"Lack of movement isn't because of fear or sin or lack of belief.
Sometimes it's simply God asking us to wait"

Maybe you've addressed all those statements and still no progress where you feel your art is. Don't give up. Keep making your art and wait with God. Ultimate beauty is well-timed!

Blessings, sweet sisters.

AMLW ~ Critics & Crazy ideas

Today we are studying Chapters 6 & 7 of a million little ways  by Emily P. Freeman.

In chapter 7, Emily talks about Listening. She begins with a wonderful quote:

Think:

If God is speaking, 
then nothing else matters but listening. 
                                            ~Brennan Manning

It seems everything in this world is begging us to live BIG. But nothing is reminding us to live small.

How do we listen to what God has to say?

Emily points to 5 ways, some will hit all readers, other will not. Let's hear what means the most to you, dear readers.

Listen to your:

1. tears - what brings you to tears. is it a song, a movie, a word, a picture
2. questions - "Be with what is" - Ruth Barton. Let the day be the day without trying to run away from it.
3. heartbreak - grief does deep, important sacred work.
4. Tuesdays - paying attention to the now, the routine, the rhythm. the ordinary days, the days that keep it real. You cannot look forward until you live in the Tuesday.
5. crazy ideas - Doubt and fear keep the ideas hidden. the crazy idea is not crazy to the adventurous it's just an idea. 

Ponder:

The listening section that made me think the most was the crazy ideas. I was raised by a very stable family. We didn't take risks because if we failed 'what would people say...' I married a very spontaneous man, of coarse, and have been trying to find middle ground ever since...we do manage to balance each other out quite well.

But, the point that resonated most with me was that to those who are adventurous, a crazy idea is just

                                      an idea.... wow! that hit home with me.


Finally, on that same topic, I have been carrying a few ideas 'in my pocket' for years. And, as Emily pointed out, if they were trash I would have thrown them away by now. The fact that they are still in my pocket proves they have life.


                                         It's up to me to give them wings.

Dwell:
 What can you give wings to today??

AMLW Desire Chapter 3

Back to our amazing book study on a million little ways...

During this chapter we were asked to look within. The sometimes scarey area that holds the buried, the forgotten, the lost....we are to look within, uncover all that slush, move it out of the way and search for that which God set in the fragile orb -- our soul.

These are the things C. S. Lewis called the "first things." (p.41) The first things we see and feel before the rational/logical self edits them out to make room for it's own 

                                         SAFE, EASY second things....

But, what does it actually look like to think of God's glory as a 'first thing.' Today I take a step back and, rather than try to figure out what my "thing" is I want to just bask in His Presence.   

To think about His glory and the fact that I, a mere sinful human is even a speck of dust amid the luminous blaze that is the I AM.

I resist the urge to put in an image of hands raised as this would include me in the blaze. I want to just sit back and bask in the light, the warmth, the connection...

Desire has been redeemed in Christ. My soul desire has purpose and a need to connect to its Creator...

In the video Emily uses the signing symbol for connected often. It is the thumb and finger touching on each hand and together. 

When you try to draw it out (like I did in my notes) it takes on a look of infinity.

That's when my heart leap and I felt the kiss of God.

I am connected with God, souls intertwined, infinite....

true desire is born out of death, of knowing I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..

The Trinity is 

                          the beginning of always

To die with Christ is the beginning of my always....eternal life. 

Living that desire is true life, connected, intertwined, infinite....

AMLW Chapter 2 Reflect

Now we are knee deep in a million little ways  and I am in awe of how God is working on my heart through this book.
Let's take art for example:  visual art is so obvious: singer, sculptor, painter...easy to identify.
But what we're looking for is the 'soul-art' (p.19) the art that is practically invisible because it is so NOT obvious.
We make art with our lives (p.21) says Emily Freeman. 

Every smile, every hug, every load of laundry - soul-art.

I REFLECT about what I know:

I was created by a Creative God

          in His image

               He spoke creation into existence

                       He breathed life, literally, into man

                                            His Spirit lives inside the believer, 

connecting

created to Creator.

So I DWELL on this:

what is the difference between this creative art and this soul art....

and I am given the conclusion of YHWH - yes, just that, His breath.

The difference between the two are His breath. 

Can creative art be Soul art? Absolutely.

But it is not turned into SOUL ART until it touches HIS BREATH and

 LIFE. is. BREATHED. into. it.

Paintings are painted, books are written, dances are danced, 

            dinner is made, laundry is folded, a smile is given,

      

                                   a child is born.

All is art when connected to the Breath of GOD.

Created by the Creator, 

reflected by His image (me & you) through the Holy Spirit,               making VISIBLE the invisible 

               by connecting Spirit to SPIRIT 

                      all to the Glory of 

 ONE. Awesome. God.

So now I LIVE it:

I dig deep to find the art, the God-breath I've been given, by the Creator. 

That is my plan: to find His plan, wait for Him to breathe on it, and 

Spirits-united make His ART.

Reflect.  Dwell.   Live.

Feel free to share your comments with me and while you're at it go out and make some art!

Thank you for stopping by. If you would like to join in the study pick up a copy of a million little ways and join us over at (in)courage the link is on the side bar. 

Have a blessed day and

AMLW Picture this...

Adding my picture to the a million little ways book club. It seems like I'm the only one using the kindle version. I love to sit down with my coffee and note book. I guess I've been making a little art as well with my notes....I tend to use different colored pens and clouds...makes it fun to look back at.

Looking forward to sitting down with Emily, Jessica, and Angie today for chapter 2. It's not too late to start - what an amazing book! and join (in)courage.

Though it's been a bit disturbing as I delve into the topic of "what is it that I really LOVE to do, what brings me the greatest Joy- the greatest connection with our Creator?" I'm almost embarrassed to say I really don't know. I am so guilty of takin' care of business all the time that I may need to dig a little deeper to find what matter to me. I am looking forward to learning more about me and my Creator.

I am also looking into my kids 19 and 14 to encourage them to find what makes them joyful. Homeschooling is a blessing but sometimes we get so focused on the task we forget to breath.

Breath deep - YHWH

Have a blessed day:)

Prepare Your Heart

Prepare your heart....sometimes this seems like just another overused Christian saying. 

But today it took more meaning for me. Today I saw words become reality.

While reading Emily P. Freemen's new book A Million Little Ways I was presented with the reality "Live as though you have something to offer" (p.17). I realized that I have my heart to offer. When I open my heart, consciously open it - to the who's and what's around me, I am aware of the needs and responses of others. But, it is a conscious effort. A training of the mind, heart and soul. I have to be...all...there.

I have to EXPECT to witness God. 

I have to PURPOSELY see through the eyes of my heart to witness something awesome in the most  mundane of circumstances.

What if you are speaking with a sister, a subject you have visited a number of timescomes up - your normal instinct would be to yes her, nod, agree, etc. but what if...

What if: GOD

God enters, you command your heart to open and for the first time you see what happens when your Spirit is allowed to interact with another Spirit. You feel their happiness, their sadness, their joys and their hopes. You see more than words, you feel more than emotions, you see the mundane unfold into...

His Art (capital A here).

I purposely opened my heart eyes expecting to see something beautiful. And God does not disappoint....I saw His Art in my dad who refinished my kitchen table just "because it makes me happy to see you happy," my daughter making me an elastic bracelet in my favorite colors, my husband asking me to make spaghetti instead of Sunday dinner because he knew I had a headache.

I saw more than a table, a bracelet, an easy meal - I saw love, a symphony of Words and Actions brought on by His Spirit in me interacting with His Spirit in them.

Breath - YHWH- pray His name.


I would like to 'encourage' you to join the book study over at: Bloom incourage We are on chap 1 and I am already amazed at the places she is taking us. Make no mistake, this book is not about art (small a), it's about Art (capital A)!

Bloom book club - a million little ways

So excited for the new community book study A Million Little Ways! If you've never participated in an on-line book club you may want to give this one a try. It is so flexible and fun.

I am looking forward to this book as it appears to combine the Creator with His created - me!

Can't wait to see how she brings about changes how I look at His work in this world. I have been feeling a little down with the world lately and am hoping this new insight in to Him and into myself will bring a new light into my thoughts!

Hope to see you there. Jump on the link below and see what you think:)
Praising Him, T

Take Up Your Cross

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must
deny themselves and
take up their cross and

follow me.

Mark 8:34

My small group met last night for the first time on the study Made to Crave. It was such a wonderful time....the fellowship, the sharing. I love it when new people show up, they bring a whole new dimension to the group.

Great are God's girls!

Lysa was speaking on denial on feeling empowered rather than deprived with our healthy food choices and included the verse above.

When breaking it down, we see the "deny self" - this commands us to deny our selfish, fleshly desires, pretty straight forward though not always done.

The second part is often misinterpreted. Upon exploration in our Life Application Bible, we learned that the prisoners in Roman times were made to carry their own cross before they were crucified (the death penalty of choice in that period), this time of carrying was to signify their submission to the Roman government as the highest authority.

The final command is to "follow me." One small sentence, buried deep in Mark, gives us the whole plan of salvation:

Deny yourself and fleshly wants
Submit yourself to the highest authority,
and Follow Him.

God makes it sooo simple, don't make it harder than it is!

If you're ready, feel free to hit the big red button....
don't make it hard...
why GIVE UP something for Lent when
you could RECEIVE something so much better!

Many blessings,
E

Just a little more....

I was reading Lysa TerKeurst's post today and was so caught up in her thoughts... She presented a very simple concept of "and then some..."

What if rather than doing "just enough" or getting all caught up in our pride about something.... we decide to do "just a little more"-- or -- "and then some"

-- such a simple concept - but then again that's what Jesus did. He took everything we "work" so hard at and made it simple.

Just like salvation - we make it complicated, not God. What could be easier than accepting a free gift. I'll take it -- thank you. It's that easy!


My small group is starting her study tonight "Made to Crave." It was not my intention to start on Lent but I guess it was God's... I will keep posting on the progress

Many blessings & prayers,
E