Cleaning is Hard! #31daystoclean

February has passed, March is here and it has been here for a while.

At the beginning of this year, I decided I was going to commit to quite a few things when it came to me. My personal daily walk with Christ, my house, my mommy life, and my wife life. I want to provide for my family a home that is peaceful, not consistently messy or dirty, a home where we don't yell at each other and a home of peace, that my husband will enjoy coming home too.

So personal time with Jesus, became more deliberate and creative with #documentedfaith verse focusing, #ifequip daily devotionals, and #shereadstruth devotionals. I also want to dive in to a few books, we will see where that goes. If you want to connect with me through #documentedfaith you can follow me on instagram @jessncommunity

For my house:

I decided to buy a book back in November titled "31 Days to Clean"( See picture)

It took me till February to really crack this book open.

The author was doing a challenge and I knew I needed that kick in the butt.

It has felt like a long 31 days! Let's be honest, cleaning and organizing are not my forte...at all!

But, with the help of this book and my new friend the "Fly Lady"(if you don't know her, you need to!!)

My house is seeing progress!! I am seeing areas that normally build up and get in to piles that seem like mountains, not become mountains. I have a reference point for the last time I wiped down the front and inside of my cupboards, my closets are getting a regular cleaning and most importantly, I am less stressed and more relaxed in a positive way about my home.

I DEFINITELY NEEDED THAT KICK IN THE BUTT !

I wanted to do a bit of a summary of things I have learned so far with 31 Days to Clean.

I have learned that I want my house to be a refuge, a resting place, a place to come, sit and be. I have also learned it can't be that way unless I clean it, so I can properly rest.

I have been able to keep a schedule for the most part that does not make me feel suffocated.

I have learned and understood a real process of "His grace is enough for me" in my home keeping skills, not as an excuse to do nothing, or the least amount, but to do the most that I can and not beat myself up for it when I don't finish my list.

I have taken the time to focus on what I want my priorities to be, and how to walk through what I want to do about these priorities and verses to encourage me.

I have learned that this is something that I need to stay consistent in, continue to prod myself and keep on track with. That it is good to journal and keep these entries so that I can go back and remind myself.

It may have been a long 31 days so far, I am so grateful for the ways in which my house has seen rejuvenation, and I am feeling more on top of the day to day. And God is in the midst of all that!

Till next time, hopefully not too long,

Jess

soul amnesia

There are 234 references to the word remember in the ESV translation of the bible.

There are 25 references to the word remembrance in the ESV.

,

Definition of remembrance:

The action of remembering something

Definition of remember:

have in or be able to bring into one's mind an awareness of  something or someone that one has seen, known or experienced in the past.

Definition of memorial:

serving to preserve remembrance of or relating to a memory

 I have been reading in Joshua through the if:equip study. This is a great way to be involved and seeking after God, together through the scriptures. I have been continually struck by how often God encouraged them to remember, gave them commands to build memorials to remember in years going forward.

TO NOT FORGET.

Do you struggle with forgetfulness of what God has done for you? Do you forget in the hard times, how God was there before you, how he was there the last time with you? Do you struggle with Soul Amnesia? When things are going well, when the sun seems to shine and you know you are on the mountain? 

Sometimes, I wish I had reminder, a piles of rocks from the Jordan River, an altar to see from afar, a reminder of where God has taken me, a reminder of where I have been. 

I have been constantly hearing a song over and over in my head, from Bethel Music( Author: Jeremy Riddle). A longing from my heart .

Fall afresh

Awaken my soul, come awake

To hunger to seek to thirst

Awaken first love, come awake

and do as you did at first

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me, 

come wake me from my sleep

Blow through the caverns of my soul

pour in me to overflow

to overflow

Awaken my soul, come awake

to worship with all your strength

Spirit of the Living God come fall afresh on me,
come wake me from my sleep
Blow through the caverns of my soul
pour in me to overflow
to overflow

Come and fill this place
Let your glory now invade
Spirit come and fill this place
Let your Glory now invade

That we would awake, that our hearts would be as they were at first. That we would be filled afresh, that our souls would no longer know amnesia.

It has been rather quiet over on this blog lately, but I find many things percolating...
My mind has been busy with the things of the new year and so today is a catch up day, a look at all the things that have been zipping around my heart and soul and challenging me in all the ways of God.

First:
I have been inspired, challenged and stirred in the areas of creativity.
A wonderful friend of mine started an Journalling Bible last fall and her instagram's are so encouraging. I have a very creative mind, but struggle oh so much in drawing it out. If Journalling Bibles interest you please check out Coralee's blog by clicking here.

Beautiful isn't it! I have been so inspired by her. Just before Christmas, my husband and were out with some friends. We were talking about devotional life and I started saying how my current journal, has been driving me crazy. I started to talk about what I preferred. Well, my hubby was listening so intently and purchased for me as a gift on Christmas morning a new heavy paper, coiled and beautiful journal. He also included a new set of Sharpie pens (he was careful to note that they do not bleed through). I was really excited, but as I continued to look at these large papers, I got discouraged.

In comes my good friend Coralee again. She not only inspired me through illustrated faith, but now also through documented faith. This is a group of people who have been joined together through art, a love of the word of God and the heart to journal. Coralee directed through her blog to a women named Stephanie Akerman. This woman has started Documented Faith. This I thought, this I could do. I think I can start here and then maybe after I am more comfortable move into a Journalling Bible.

So here goes, I am going to show you the first few pages of my Documented Faith Journal. I am continually stretched, continually pushed and continually meeting God in a new and expressive way this year.

Second:

31 Days to Clean

I have had this book on my IPad for a few months, having bought in November. This book is one to help all the "Mary's" out there clean their homes and still have time to sit at the feet of Christ. Sarah Mae, wrote this amazing book. I am looking forward to starting it this month. Tomorrow (Tuesday January 20th) there is a group of women, reading the book and working through the challenges together. I NEED THIS! If you would like to join us, pick up your copy on Amazon for $1.19CDN for the next 6 days! Then the cost goes up to $4.99CDN . (Click on the link "31 Days To Clean") Visit Sarah Mae on her blog, as she and other women walk this through together. 

Thirdly:

If:equip

A daily, free online biblestudy, that gave me so much life last year. I am going to thoroughly enjoy the time spent in the word. For the next 3 weeks we are studying Joshua. Join us!

 I pray for all of you who read this blog, that you will encounter God in a new and inspiring way. That we will journey together in to a deeper intimacy, knowledge and communion with our heavenly father.

 Be blessed.

dreams being unlocked

old paths being forged again

NEWNESS in the AIR

Creativity being unlocked

Oh LORD your Grace is overwhelming...

On repeat here...

SEEK AFTER THE GRACE GIVER....

What is quiet times and how do I get them??

This is one of those learning posts...as I am still learning but talk as I learn.....

I recently put up a post of a cup of coffee, books, bible and a candle. If upon checking out my instagram or Facebook, you will probably see what I am talking about. 

My cousin-in-law asked how I get time like that. This is not the first time this question has been asked of me. 

 I am a mom of 4 busy kids, a Pastor's wife and in charge of feeding and cleaning my house. Time can always seem tight. A few months back I posted about the "good portion" and my cleaning being a huge weakness for me. It still is. That is a construction zone in my life, always improving. 

But I want to talk today about our spiritual lives, male and female alike. About 4 years ago, my husband was challenged to get more into the scripture. After that weekend he didn't look back. He pressed into God's word. He got up early morning to have his time with The Lord. He became a different man in the next four years. He spiritually grew more and more each day. 

HE HAS CHALLENGED ME

Mornings and I are not the best of friends. Even when I arise early, everyone gets up and needs me. So mornings first thing are a very hard thing for me to maintain.

I find time, where I find time. Sometimes that means my kids watch a show or movie(like right now), sometimes they are playing so nicely they do not need me. 

Housework is done in a dedicated 2 hrs a day(most days)

Sometimes dinner is a little later, sometimes things are not as tidy

But as I told a friend earlier this year...."I am a bad mom without Jesus." 

Without me in the word, I am a grumpy, moody, snappy mom and wife.

Without God, now can I lead my children to follow Him, if they never see me follow Him.

Something's my kids go without something while I meet with The Lord, but they are not suffering.

My children know that Mommy reads her bible and during that time to not bother me. 

BOTTOM LINE:

They know Mommy is reading her bible.

Summer is here, and I am fighting against stagnant water. Yesterday, I didn't read the word for very long, I didn't allow it to be apart of my day....I kept thinking I was missing something all day.....

Same today, I went on Facebook  before reading the word.....truth be told, it took till 3:00 for me to meet with The Lord. I need to learn to put down the devices, meet with my saviour instead of the current news feed. 

I need to feed my soul, I want to be one who refuses to allow the things of this world to crowd my heart. I want to be like the Gentiles in Acts 13:48-52

I urge you, as I urge myself do not let stagnant water be the image that depicts your personal spiritual life this summer....it may seem selfish to say "not right now" to our children, or our housework or dinner, but what may seem selfish is In fact putting Christ where He belongs. First and foremost in our lives. 

May your summer be a rushing river, overflowing its banks, touching areas you never know or guessed it would. May your summer be fruitful. May you look back and say, I have grown so much from this summer. May God be our Everything.

motherhood

when I think about this day, like all women I can't help but think about my mom.

Laurel Evangeline Fortune, is truly a gift from the Lord for me...

She has raised 10 kids, in the North of Canada, Whitehorse Yukon
She was a Pastor's daughter and a Pastor's wife
She balanced the home while Dad worked to provide for us,
many times doing two separate jobs at once

I don't have bad memories of my childhood, even with all of us to care for I remember..
Mom, caring for my friends, our church family, our family friends, and even taking in people in need of a loving family.

I remember Mom, wholeheartedly loving and serving her Heavenly Father and teaching us to do the same.

One day when I was (probably grudgingly) vaccumming the couch, I  found a list and on it was all the names of us kids and notes beside each name. When I asked my Mom, she said it was her prayer list. I later found out that before she started each day with all of us, she would start each day with God.

Mom is the woman I look up too, the woman I hope to emulate. Mom's favorite words are "Yes!" and "Obey!" They have become mine as well.

Thank you Mom, for all that you are, for being obedient to the Lord and teaching and encouraging me to do the same.

Do you need to be encouraged to say "Yes!"? I encourage you to get your hands on a copy of Rhinestone Jesus #Yesinmymess by Kristen Welch.
This lady has read my heart.
Trust Jesus, Say Yes, and take the ride of your Life.....you won't regret it.

Outside of me....

Today I am sore, today and last night my body hurts. With little to no voice, constant headaches, back aches, everything aches.... I am choosing to look outside of myself.

It is easy to sit and mope, to complain, to find reasons to not clean, mother and be a good steward of this home.

Today it is easy instead to hide in myself, play games on my iPad, put off needs of my children, and the call to SURRENDER my needs and wants to Christ. It is easy to spend no time thinking of HIM. 

easy.....but life draining....

instead today I am going to choose CHRIST, not myself...

Today I am going to enjoy the giggles, laughter, and color that the girls bring to my life

Today I am going to worship through the aches, through the sore throat... 

Today I am going to hear Christ, surrender me, and focus on HIM.

Through the housework, and the lunch times, through the happy kids and the whiny moments, the color of my home, through the rain clouds outside, through the storm clouds that threaten to hide Christ from my own heart.

Today I am going to prepare my heart for all Christ has for me....

Today I leave on a ladies retreat and Satan doesn't want a victory this weekend for Christ...

There is much a battle going on over here, and I do suspect in the hearts and minds of the ladies getting ready to attend this weekend....

So today we say "NO!" To ourselves

Today we say "YES!" To God's plan for our families, our hearts and our spirits and HIS GLORY!!

No voice mama

Today is day three of no voice. My throat is so sore, and I find out that with out a voice being a Mom is difficult at best. It is harder to address behaviors, break up fights, tell them how beautiful they are, help with meals, it is hard to function. 

This makes me think of the church...

As the church we have three resources of our Heavenly Father that we can access...

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

what a gift we have! 

Not only do we have the God the Father, our creator, our Beginning and End, Yahweh, Alpha and Omega...

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  

"He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."(Psalms 103:8-12)

But we also have the GIFT, the expression of His Great and Powerful love, his Son. God gave us His son. Not to just save us from Hell, not to only ensure us of our entrance into Heaven. Do you have a Son? I do....Samuel is a most precious gift to me, he is giving, loving, affectionate, passionate, my first-born, my gift from God. 

Can you imagine saying "Son, I love you, I walked with you from the beginning of everything and now I am sending you to fulfill the Scriptures, you know what I need you to do. I am asking you to surrender yourself for our people and for our glory, to allow yourself to be tortured, cursed, beaten, and then I am going to turn my back to you, when you most need me, I will turn from you, because of the filth that is upon you I cannot be around you.

This is thee ultimate act of love... And we have this gift! The gift died, but then was resurrected with the hope and the Glory of new life, LIFE OUTSIDE OF DEATH, LIFE OUTSIDE OF SIN, LIFE OUTSIDE OF MYSELF

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:24-25)

Not only do we have a Father God that loves us to cleanse us of any wrong, but He also gave his Son for his to cement it. His only Son. What amazing gifts we have received.

" Because He was full of Grace and Truth, from HIM we all received one gift after another." (John1:16)

Unfortunately Christians like to stop here.

Unfortunately  as Christians there is a lack of knowledge/pursuit of the third gift...

How do we function without number three

How do we move, grow, and know The Lord deeper without the THIRD PART OF GOD

God  is NOT COMPLETE without the HOLY SPIRIT
           like a mom with no voice....no ability to influence and guide, to comfort, to encourage


do we know God, do we know Christ.... do we know them through our heads, do we have all the knowledge and yet not understand his love for us, his intense love?

do you know you are BELOVED, TREASURED, DESIRED, WANTED, PURSUED?

You have met God, you have met Christ, have you met THE HOLY SPIRIT
Have you encountered the wholeness of GOD

"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."(Luke 24:46-49)

"But the Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."(John 14:26)

Oh Helper, help me that I may see you, that I may always be in remembrance of all Christ has taught me, that I may be clothed in the power from on high....

"So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the COMFORT of the HOLY SPIRIT, it MULTIPLIED" (Acts 9:31)

Oh Holy Spirit work in me, so that I may know the comfort of you, so that we will see the church multiplied.

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD'S LOVE HAS BEEN POURED INTO OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT who has been given to us." (Rom 5:2-5)



oh Holy Spirit, fill us up afresh, baptize us anew, that we would now the fullness of your love for us, that we may further your name, your glory, that we might have the joy that can only come from you....

God is good

I find it interesting how as soon as I speak of something, like time, that is the area on which I begin to struggle most. God is good and is he is Grace!

Track your time, and see where you worship.....

Games are a nemesis to me,  although fun and challenging, they are time CONSUMING and Swallowing

At youth on Friday, I was challenged by my Pastor, what should I surrender?

Where can I give more time to The Lord...

I immediately think social media. Although I think that on a continuous basis we should re-evaluate our time spent on things like social media, I jumped the gun thinking definitely that, but only that. When God was asking for more. More than that, more then the given, more then the usual. 

My pastor said " When we surrender, God moves, we are expectant!" BE EXPECTANT

I want to be EXPECTANT

 I want to DESIRE more

  I want to be USEFUL

   I want to see GOD SHOW UP!

So begins the inventory. Where does most of my day go? When accessing my iPad, what app do I always touch first? Where do timers need to come into place? I need to TRACK MY TIME! 

A wonderful woman in our church body passed this week....

 She was expectant of God, she was desirous of Him, she saw God move

   she WAITED.

What does Lent Mean To Me?

Alright I am here, so this will definelty be a short post as my time on this snow day is limited. I will take what I can get. March is here, warm weather is here, but also a snow storm.  I think this is the first snow storm this year that I didn't completely mind as I know warm weather is around the corner and a youth ski trip on the weekend. 

I have been continually challenged as of late in so very many things, one that has stayed with me for months now is the attitude of gratitude (#1000gifts). I have been wondering how ill jump start this blog so that everyday I can blog be it long or short. 

Also, we are now in the period of lent, what does lent mean to me? Although each Easter season is one that I treasure as I spend time reflecting on my Lord and all he has done for me, for his Glory. I remember clearly a Good Friday where The Lord so touched me, and I was so focused that I met with Him for an afternoon on my face in my apartment. I was single, and time was mine to do with how I wanted. But why does having kids and a husband and a home so halt me from doing this. It may not be an afternoon , it may be an evening or an early morning. 

In all reality the only thing from stopping my opportunity with Christ in this season is me. So for lent to me it means this.... dedicated time with my Lord,  spending time with a grateful heart, doing #thejoydare, counting my #1000gifts, and seeing my Lord with fresh new eyes.

So until tomorrow....

Today I am grateful for...

1) my children even when they drive me hairy

2) my LORD at all times

3) my husband's family, although things are not rosy, they love our kids and they love us.