Vacation with Jesus

July 2 2016
Festivities of the day before are over, but summer has started and the desire to relax and put aside the regular obligations, the constants of our regular days and embrace the full understanding of vacation is tempting.

I am immersed in family. I haven't seen my sister's and brothers and their kids in two years.  But I am surrounded when counting my kids too 10 kids 8 and under, 8 siblings and my mom and dad.... It is only going to get busier and I am loving it!!!

But today lacking sleep from kids not sleeping through the night and up till 12 laughing and playing games with my sisters and brothers I got up early. I spent time with Jesus. This is not me looking for applause but more so me confessing that it is easier to forget that I committed to Jesus that I would spend time with him. It would be easier to sleep in and chill out when I woke up, or not even get out of bed.
But instead I pulled myself out of bed, and here I am meeting Jesus and I am refreshed in more ways than a cup of coffee and family can ever do for me.

The word was challenging and hard, convicting and encouraging and pushing me into worship, repentance and growth.

I am studying Acts through #shereadstruth. How can we live in the boldness of our faith today when tolerance of everything but biblical Christian faith is acceptable. When speaking truth is not welcome even when spoken in love. When it is easier to live with a veil covering our "faces" then allow for the people to see the evidence of the spirit working in us outside of the safety of our church building.

Do you need to heaar this, do you need to see Christ today? To you need to allow Christ into your vacation time?
I pray that you carve the time out, surrounded by the attention of family and children and the beauty of vacation to invite the Lord into this time too.

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.

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.