#219 - Feel Confident with Your Decision!

Proverbs 16:33 - The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].

Proverbs 31:16a - She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]...

Have you ever had an important decision to make, a decision that is a pretty big deal, that will affect the next several years of your life? Maybe the rest of your life? It's important, you really want to make sure you make the right decision. It's going to affect everything.


As you begin your decision making process, you begin to weigh the options. Maybe you are a list person, so you write out all the pro's & con's on a piece of paper. You may fold your paper in 3 sections, use a ruler to make a straight line and begin to neatly bullet things out. Or, maybe you're the type that just gets out a sticky note, and scribbles a few things down. You may be the thinker. The person who sits on it for awhile, days, thinks it over and over. Quietly & to yourself, but you just think. Then, there are those of you who are talkers. You just have to talk to enough people, hear yourself think outloud, hear the ideas come out, get the opinions of others to help narrow down your decision.


Whichever type of person you are when you make decisions, hopefully you do pray or take a minute to just bounce it off the Holy Spirit.


Whenever I read Proverbs 16, I think of it as a "Power Chapter" when it comes to making plans & deciding things. Verse after verse it talks about "plans." Something that I found comforting this morning was the very last verse, "The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]." Since the term "lot" isn't something that we commonly use today, I decided to get a bit more clarity and check how the original Hebrew defined "lot." The definition that made the most sense to me was this: a systematic way for making decisions. 


So here you are.... the big decision on the table. Maybe it's a job, moving to a different city, getting married, buying a house, changing churches, starting a business, closing a business, beginning to have kids... whatever the "big decision," it's on the table. Whatever your "lot," your "systematic way for making decisions," you begin the process. What I like, as a Christian, is the latter part of the verse. Though we plan, we systematically sketch out our thoughts, pro's and con's, at the end of the day, the Lord is going to ultimately direct us. Especially when we are seeking Him, acknowledging Him, considering Him, we are going to be led the right way. We are going to choose the "right spouse," the "right house," the "right city to move to." God is not in the business of leading us awry, but leading us down the path of life, godliness & favor. 


Our Proverbs 31 woman, follows the same process as we do. She "considers." The Hebrew breaks the word "consider" down as this: to fix thoughts upon, devise, plan, consider, to purpose. In the case of Proverbs 31:16, she is considering buying a field, basically jumping into a new business venture. She takes time to fix her thoughts, her undivided attention upon weighing her options. Is this a wise business decision for her?  


Friend, take comfort. God will not lead you astray. If you need one last "check" in finalizing your decision, a rule of thumb I always use is this: Let PEACE be your umpire.  In the natural, if I am not sure which way to go, I follow peace. With which decision do I have the most peace? The Holy Spirit is peace. I allow peace to direct me. I also heard Tyler say this recently, which is extremely helpful, "The Holy Spirit always pulls, the enemy, Satan always pushes. There is pressure with the enemy." If I feel pressure, I typically stray away from that decision.


As you acknowledge the Lord, take peace. Whatever the decision you make, it is not accidental. Take confidence in knowing, since you acknowledged the Lord, He will not lead you astray!

#213 - The Path of Clarity

Proverbs 4:12, 18  - When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble. But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].

Proverbs 31:18b -  ...her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night ...

It's early in the morning, and you are standing in the forest. The early beams of light are shining through the trees onto the path. The vision is magnificent. The light morning fog is lifting and the path before you is lit up as the rays embrace its outline. There is no mistake. You know exactly where you are going, the path is leading you. Your direction is sure. With the light as your guide, you begin your journey to your next destination.

Clear & open. No questions. No confusion. Clarity. Do you just want to know that you are on the right path? Headed the right way? You CAN know. Proverbs 4 tells us our path is clear & open, like the morning light shining to give you direction it makes your path brighter and clearer! Clarity. The questions are subsiding, the fuzziness of decisions are coming into focus. You CAN know exactly where you are supposed to be. You CAN know the exact path and direction that you are supposed to be traveling. Isn't that good news?!

The Proverbs 31 woman keeps her lamp on. Her lamp burns continually, just as the light of dawn, the light reveals areas where we may not want to step. The light magnifies areas we want to avoid so we do not stumble.

What is the "light?" How can I have it? As a believer, the light within us is continually burning, the Holy Spirit is continually at work within us to direct us on this clear path, this path of clarity.

I was reminded this morning to acknowledge the Lord more frequently throughout the day. When a question arises, or a decision needs to be made, to take a moment and stop. Stop and ask. Even if the question is just in my head and I pause long enough to acknowledge the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will direct me. Often, a question that I need to ask is this, "Holy Spirit, what should I do next? I'm feeling tired and fatigued, do I just press on to finish this task or should I take a break?" He knows exactly what I need to do in order to complete the tasks that HE has laid out for me for the specific day. In acknowledging Him, I do not stumble. He shines clarity on the tasks at hand. He makes my path clear. He shines light on the activities that are on my "to-do list" that may be in vain, the activities that may add no value that I just "thought" would be good. HE will direct me with clarity.

I encourage you today. When you are feeling weary, having questions, feeling like you are going to stumble.... take a moment... pause... close your eyes and envision the morning light shining in through the trees on your path... envision clarity and ask the Holy Spirit what you should do. He will give you clarity. He will shine light to your path.

#211- Put Your Hands UP!

Proverbs 2:8-9 - That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.

"Put your hands up! You are under arrest!"

Have you ever resisted something? Maybe not specifically a police officer, but have you ever resisted change? Holding on to how things have always been, not wanting to change and jump into the new? The last few days I have been going through this myself. Experiencing an area in my life of change, but in my heart wanting to hold back and resist it. You know the feeling, when you feel uneasy, uncomfortable, like you have knots inside your heart. As you go to sleep at night, your mind keeps going over and over this possible change if you decide to give in to it. That was me last night.

As I fell asleep, I just thanked the Lord for working everything out. I praised Him that all is well, and that "this too" shall work out.

I often use "peace" as my guide when making decisions. I know that our God is a God of peace. So, the feelings of "uneasiness" I take with caution. I don't like to jump into anything unless I sense a peace from the Holy Spirit that the decision is right, one of obedience. As I experienced feelings of uneasiness with this decision I was facing, I knew the Lord would have to make it right within me, He would have to bring a peace. Who likes change? When things are comfortable, working, good... who wants to change things? I know often I do not!

This was what the Holy Spirit revealed to me this morning, maybe it will apply to you in an area as well.

Resistance. Be open. Change can be uncomfortable, but is is often part of My plan in taking you to the next level of MY blessings for you. 

The knots in my heart were wanting to hold me down. I was not wanting to change what was good. Not being able to "see into the future," I was just looking at the present. Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit. He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints..... yes, you will understand every good path. 


I can have faith in the fact that GOD is guarding My path! As I seek Him, He will not lead me astray. Sure, change may be uncomfortable, BUT I WILL understand this good path. Though I may not understand it now, I will understand it. He ultimately is always setting me up for favor. He reminds us in Proverbs 2:9, "...yes, you will understand every good path." I will understand it, eventually.

There is a point of resistance that is good. Resistance until peace is received. Resistance until release is received. Release? Yes, release to move forward. Release to make the change. Release. Once the "Umpire" shows up on the scene, "Peace", then it is time to move forward and allow change to take you to a point of understanding, blessing & favor. If we always stayed in the same place, there would never be new books, new business', new opportunities. There would not be new inventions, new concepts, new ideas. Change is essential. Action is essential.

The Proverbs 31 woman also took this to heart. We can see that through one running theme through Proverbs 31:10-31. Look at ALL the verbs of Proverbs 31!  Look at some of the verbs...

• She comforts
• She encourages
• She does him only good
• She seeks
• She works
• She brings
• She rises
• She assigns
• She considers
• She plants
• She girds 
• She makes
• She tastes
• She sees
• She lays
• She opens
• She reaches
• She fears not

Our Proverbs 31 friend is open to change. She is ACTIVELY moving forward. She is taking action. She is not stagnant. She does not stay in one place. 

In what area/s do you need to step out in? Are there areas of change that you need to embrace? Though it surely was uncomfortable for the Proverbs 31 woman at times to "Step Out," she did step out. Because of it, she was blessed and you will be too!

#142 - Still on Track?

Happy Wednesday! :) Wouldn't it be interesting if we woke up like every day was a Holiday. If we woke up with excitement each day, kind of like we do on Christmas or our birthday. Yesterday I did that with Tyler Jr. It was kind of fun! I said, "HAPPY TUESDAY!! It's a special day! It's going to be such a great day! God has made it! HAPPY TUESDAY!" It was actually fun. It made me smile just saying it. So.... to you, I say, HAPPY WEDNESDAY! It's a really great day!!! It's a really special day! God has made it and you are here! It's an extremely special day. We are in route, on a journey to be all we are called to be. To reach our ultimate destination, heaven! So many things to do along the way. But PRAISE GOD we can enjoy the journey. :)


Let's go...

Proverbs 16:1,9 - THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. (9) A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

So, I recently did this very thing. I, Amy, made a plan. I looked at the areas of my life that I wanted to grow in. Areas that I wanted to move forward in. Goals for my life. Fitness, Spiritual & Mental Growth, Family, Our Business & finances, Writing. I sat down and fully "bulleted" out these areas and wrote what MY PLAN was in order to grow in these areas. I established a plan. What did I do next? I brought MY PLAN before the Lord to gain wisdom and insight on it. "Lord... here's my plan for these areas. Is this a good plan? Is there anything you would add? Take away? Anything I should tweek?" As I sat waiting for His answer, I was able to gain clarity on My Plan. And better yet, I was able to receive a WISE ANSWER from the Lord! I have planned my way, and now can have confidence that the Lord will direct my steps in my way. 


Well... just yesterday, I was looking over my plan. I noticed several things that I was not doing. It had been a few weeks since I had looked at it. I was reminded that I needed to put My Plan up, keep it in front of me, keep it visual, so that DAILY I am able to see & review my plan and make sure I am still on the right track. 


That is my task for today. I just wanted to ask you.... have you made a plan? Do you have YOUR PLAN established? If not, do you think that it would be helpful? Maybe it is just ONE area that you want to grow in. Maybe you want to start a business. Or begin sewing. Maybe you want to improve your relationship with your spouse. Or maybe, like me, you have several areas in which you want to grow or progress forward. Not that you need several areas.... if personal growth is new to you, I'd recommend starting out with maybe ONE thing. Growing in one area. Being diligent.... and then maybe next month.... adding another area..... then the next month, adding another area. Not overwhelming yourself with trying to change everything today, but taking small steps daily to grow. 


If you have a plan, are you still on track? Do you need to revisit your plan and make sure you are not forgetting anything? I definitely noticed a few areas where I was not on track, I had forgotten about. 


So... are you still on track?

#128 - Faithful, No Matter the Cost!

Good morning! :) Well... let's just say it has been an interesting morning as normal! :) I've had a chance to talk to my husband A LOT! :) (HA!) During my quiet time, he wanted to share all the stuff he got out of his quiet time... and wanted to share a funny reprimand that happened to him yesterday... OK.... let's just say, it looks as if "THAT" will all be a part of today's devotion. We will be veering a little of our "regular" reading schedule. 


We were both sitting in the living room with our Bible's and journals, having our own separate "Quiet Time." Tyler piped up and said, "Do you mind if I share some of what I'm learning right here. I mean, this is good stuff!" So.... I stopped my own reading.... I had just written down a key verse that had jumped out at me, then I put my pen down to give my undivided attention to my excited husband. :) As he started to read, I recognized the verse as the one I had JUST written down. 

Proverbs 19:21 - Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand.

He proceeded to talk about Proverbs 19:21, and we jumped over to a couple other places that also applied: 

Isaiah 46:10 - Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose .

Isaiah 29:11 (NIV) - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

As Tyler started talking to me... he made a statement that is a GREAT statement to think about EVERY time one gets in the Word. Good enough to even write it down on a post-it note, include it with your Bible, so every day when you open up your Bible, you have THIS thought in the back of your mind. This is what he said: "As I was reading, I was looking for the word behind the Word." That, my friend, is what it means to meditate. That, my friend, is what it means to allow the WORD to speak to you! TO LOOK FOR THE WORD BEHIND THE WORD!  What exactly does that mean? Well.... obviously, we know that not even a pen-stroke should be added or taken away from the Bible (Matt. 5:18), right? So how can we get more than what is there? Well, since when we are saved, the Holy Spirit now LIVES within us, He has the ability to make known to us all things, IF we are willing to ask, seek, meditate, etc. So... when reading... it is a matter of reading with purpose, reading with a desire to see the "hidden treasures" that are locked away in the Word. (Prov. 2:4, Is. 45:3)


With the scriptures from today... the bottom line is this: The Lord's purpose will stand. He has a plan! We have our own will, but He has a plan. We have the ability to choose His plan, or choose our will. If we choose our will over His plan, He will find someone else to carry out the Ultimate Purpose! Tyler made an amazing point as we were talking! He said, "Look at the life of Joseph! Look at when Joseph is in Potiphar's house and Potiphar's wife continually tries to get Joseph to go to bed with her. Well, after continual refusals, she finally tears of Joseph's cloak one day and accuses him of trying to get her to go to bed. So, Joseph is wrongfully accused. Well, look at this. Joseph didn't try to defend himself, THOUGH he was innocent. He was then thrown in prison and remained their for a couple years. Well, think about this. Why didn't Potiphar just KILL Joseph right there? Maybe Potiphar had some doubt that what his wife said was true. Maybe Potiphar thought, 'This is totally against Joseph's character. What if he did not do this?' Then, if Joseph, would have slept with her, he probably would've died! Potiphar would've probably had him killed!" If you remember the rest of the story, Joseph ends up rising to power, 2nd in charge only to Pharoah, and because of the plan Joseph receives from the Lord, in a time of famine, that plan SAVES NATIONS!


God's divine plans will stand. He will see that someone who is willing to be faithful, will get the job done. We just have to remain faithful to HIM and HIS direction. He declares the END and the RESULT from the beginning. So, as we start down our path of following him, from the BEGINNING He has already declared what the end & the result will be. IF we stay on HIS path, the end will prove to be thoughts and plans to prosper you! Now, that is good stuff! IF we, follow HIS plan, the ending has already been determined! The end our OUR story as a faithful, child of God are plan of prosperity, plans of success! Praise the Lord! 



I definitely can't take any credit for all this Joseph information! Tyler has been meditating on it for over a year now. He continually sees new insights, information, nuggets, treasures. It is a story packed with amazing things!


Well....let's wrap this up. God is God. His purpose will stand. The question is, will you be faithful to HIS plan no matter what the cost? Will you be faithful? 

#107 - Build Your Business

Good morning! It seems like there has been a theme going on here with the Lord.... at least with the devotions the past few days. Plans & doing GREAT things, becoming who you ought to be, and today... putting your hand to work, putting your hand to the plow. 


What a theme. I know God is really speaking to me, a world of revelations and convictions, whether it is speaking to you.... I'm not sure. But I praise God for HIS Word, how it can change, perfect & help to progress one forward. It can move us from strength to strength increasing in victorious power, like it talked about in Psalm 84:7.

Proverbs 24:27 - [Put first things first.] Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house and establish a home.

Proverbs 31:19a - She lays her hands to the spindle...

Growing up in the Amish country-side of my small town in Indiana, I saw a great deal of interesting perspectives and lifestyle. From your every day, average middle class American families, to the lamp-lit and out-houses of friends who were Amish.  Home-cooked food, wonderful bread, bonnets, dresses, horse & buggy's and the Dutch language. My middle school Amish friends completed through the 8th grade & then they were done. They were off to work at home, work on the farm, work with their parents. I missed their funny humor. I remember my small town being broadcasted on Nationwide television for having the FIRST horse & buggy stalls/barns built in our local Wal-Mart parking lots.  


Why do I say all this? Well, Proverbs 24 has always been an interesting verse to me, well.... I say "always"... it really became a revelation to Tyler and I about 5-6 years ago. Put first things first. Prepare your work outside and get it ready for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house and establish a home. 


Some other versions of the Bible say to, "Build your BUSINESS first, THEN build your house." What is the "Barn" to the Amish? It is their business, their livelihood. The community comes together for the "raising of the barn" when a couple gets married, and the barn usually goes up very quickly with the help of SO many people! Build your Business first before your home. Honestly, I wasn't to excited about the realization of this scripture. I thought, Lord, can we just take that verse out of the Bible? Arghhhh! 


So.... let it be said, we roll a good bit different than a lot of people. A lot of people may think we're a bit strange, may think we are "throwing our money away" since we are not building equity. BUT, my belief is that GOD will HONOR our willingness to stay out of debt. GOD will honor our desire to want to pay cash for a home and not have a mortgage. GOD will honor it. Sure, will it maybe take a little bit for that cushion of money to be there, maybe. But, I also believe God could just do it tomorrow. Then.... would we have been stupid for spending 4-5 year renting if we then pay cash for a home? To spend however many years it takes, and take off 30 years of house payments. 


I'm excited to see how God does it. I'm not saying for YOU to sell your house and go rent. YOU have to have your own Word from the Lord. But... like the Proverbs 31 woman, she put her hand to work. She began the process of WORKING, of allowing her actions to manifest and create for her. For Tyler & I, we own a business that we know with work, can manifest a great amount of income. (Some of our business associates/friends had a $110,000 month THIS month! That would be a good chuck of a house! YEAH?!) We know we have a VEHICLE to accomplish what we want. The bottom line, is starting with a PLAN. Having a PLAN and then allowing the LORD to direct your steps. Whether it has to do with buying a house, getting out of debt, living your dream, pursuing your calling, whatever!


Some recent and really good quotes:

• So many people are walking around like Clark Kent because they do not know they were destined to be Superman. - Deep down, do you KNOW you have GREATNESS? Do you know you are not just average? 
• Don't ask God to guide your footsteps if you aren't willing to move your feet.
• If you stutter when asked, "What's your goal?", you don't know your goal! 

So many things to think about. 

Today... lots of things to chew on. Lots of food for thought. 

#105 - YOU ARE MEANT TO DO GREAT THINGS!

Hello! I'm BACK! :) It's so great to be home!! You know when it is exciting to leave, but it is also exciting to get back to "life". Get back to the routines & normalcy. My parents came into town last Saturday for the boy's birthday party. Then on Sunday we left to go to Orlando (except Tyler Sr staying home. :-(''' ) I drove back home on Thursday night, and Tyler and I left for a conference in North Carolina, Friday-Sunday.  SO... I'm HOME now. It's nice. What an amazing last week though! SOOOO many amazing things happened.... I wish I could share them all, but it would take WAY to much time. 


Well... let's go ahead and get started...

Psalm 82 - ¹GOD STANDS in the assembly [of the representatives] of God; in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment [as] among the gods. ²How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! ³Do justice to the weak (poor) and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. ⁴Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked. ⁵[The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; all the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking. ⁶I said, You are gods [since you judge on My behalf, as My representatives]; indeed, all of you are children of the Most High. ⁷But you shall die as men and fall as one of the princes. ⁸Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.

Proverbs 31:24 - She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them 

As I was reading Psalm 82, I was interested when I got to the phrase "complacent satisfaction." As I read and re-read the chapter, that was what the chapter encompassed... complacency. God being frustrated with magistrates and judges for showing complacency, for allowing unjust things to continually take place. Complacency had set in. What is complacency equal to? Darkness! When you walk around AVOIDING doing what you KNOW you are suppose to do, you begin to grow not only complacent, but your world begins to become a world of darkness. Complacency begins to not only affect your joy, but the longer complacency sets in, it allows your self-image to take a hit as well. When you know the calling God has on your life, if you have been complacent about it and not PURSUING it your self-image gradually gets worse and worse until hiding and being at home is the easiest thing to do. The passion and fervor for living life has dissipated and a midweek movie, or TV program becomes a normal thing to take part in. Pursuing your "Calling" would require effort and un-comfort in your life, so it is easier just to try to avoid it, all the while, it almost feels like a gnawing in the deep parts of your brain and heart is taking place. You KNOW you are CAPABLE to do great things! YOU KNOW if you just CHOSE to pull out that GREATNESS that you KNOW is in you, you would most definitely be a WORLD CHANGER and make HUGE difference to countless numbers of people. Deep down you KNOW how great you really are. You know that you were not created just to be living the average life you have been living. This is just NOT how it was suppose to turn out. That is what Psalm 82 is talking about. Complacency. 


The scary thing. Allowing complacency get to a point of "complacent satisfaction." At this point, even though deep down you KNOW you were MEANT, really MEANT, CALLED BY GOD to do really GREAT things. The complacency, the gnawing sensation in your heart over time stops "gnawing" as much. Over time of "doing nothing", not progressing towards your goal, or calling, your complacency turns into a complacent satisfaction. You begin to be OK with just being AVERAGE. You begin to be OK with the life that you are living. You begin to be OK about NOT pursuing your calling, the calling GOD has set for your life. You begin to be OK about just being AVERAGE.


Do you really want to just stay average? Do you really want to remain in a life knowing you COULD HAVE done so much. Knowing every day you are living UN-TAPPED. Do you really want to live and ultimately finish life like that? I heard someone say this weekend, what would the day be like in 20-30 years from now when you meet up with the person you COULD HAVE been? How would you feel?  When you meet up and you SEE the person that you SHOULD HAVE been? You see all the great and amazing things you were SUPPOSE to accomplish, how you were SUPPOSE to live, if you just would've gotten out of the place of "complacent satisfaction." 


WHAT IF? What if you chose to pull that person out now. What if you chose to live the life pursuing your ultimate destiny, living out the calling God has on your life. And then, when you get to the end, you look back and see all that you did, how fully you lived, all the you accomplished for the Kingdom of God, all that your children accomplished because they watched an awesome example in you. How different would things be if you just BECAME the person you are SUPPOSE to be. That you chose not to have fear, but to just pursue God's calling. If you just chose to NOT be average. If you chose to be GREAT. If you chose to pull out that AMAZING YOU that you know is deep down inside you. 


The Holy Spirit told me something interesting this weekend. As I was sitting in a leadership conference with so many winners and world changers, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Proverbs 16:9, A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. I had been waiting for the LORD to just tell me what to do, for the LORD to make a "plan" for me. But that's not what the Word says. The Holy Spirit proceeded to tell me that if I, AMY, made a plan, HE would direct it and make it sure, make it successful. It was up to me, I needed to make a plan. Those things that I have been uncomfortable about doing, but deep down have KNOWN that if I just started, I would be really GREAT at... those things, HE would make them succeed. And ANYTIME you begin to do something over and over, it gets easier. 


I know God has made me great. I know deep down I have really GREAT things to do and share. Great things to BE. I know that I was not meant to be average. And you know what, neither were you. 


What have you been afraid of? What has been holding you back? Choose today to leave complacency behind. Be the GREAT YOU! Live out your potential. And when it is all over, have the satisfaction of knowing that you will look back over your life with NO REGRETS.