#175 - Divine Sense of Purpose

Good morning! Hope you are doing well. If you are feeling a bit down or out of sorts, the Word is there to encourage, lift up, and give you answers to whatever it is you may be going through. The Word truly does have the answers we are looking for! Let's get going.

Eccl. 3:1, 3b, 11a - TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: .... a time to break down and a time to build up... He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]...

Where are you at in life right now? Are you happy? Are you sad? Are you experiencing frustrations and valleys? Or, are you on a mountain top of success & accomplishment? Debt? Or financial abundance?

Ecclesiastes begins with the Preacher talking about the great abundance of wisdom & material things in which he was living. He decides to apply himself to seeking out what appears to make others happy. In chapter 2, you'll see that he builds houses, vineyards, pools, brings on servants, gathers silver & gold, wine. He acquires great substance, and even remained wise is says in verse 9. Whatever he desired, he acquired. At the end of his pursuit for happiness, he concluded that it was all vanity and amounted to nothing.

A man of such great substance, but joy did not come from the acquiring. Joy did not fill the home filled with so many 'things.' Chapter 3 then dives into talking about the 'seasons.' There is a season for everything. Sowing, reaping, mourning, dancing, peace, war, etc. Seasons. Seasons do not last forever. Seasons pass. Praise the Lord! Are you tired of the cold winter? Spring & life are coming! Buds on trees, flowers in bloom! Summer is coming! Beaches, pools, sand, grilling out. Summer is coming.  Seasons last for a period and then the tide changes.

Have you been in your season for awhile? Are you ready for the change? Have you been in a time of 'breaking down' and you are just thinking, "When is it time to build up? When is it my time to win? When is it time for joy, abundance, fulfillment?" Your season is coming! Your season to win is upon you! Wait it out. Don't quit.

Make sure your motives are right. We see this preacher pursuing every material thing, yet it did not bring fulfillment. Eccl 3:11 answers a question, and brings clarity to what our focus should be, let's re-read it: "He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]..." A divine sense of purpose has been placed in YOUR heart & mind! A DIVINE sense of purpose! Nothing but God can satisfy that yearning you have in your heart & mind. God Himself, has placed a divine sense of purpose on the inside of you. In the flesh, you may yearn for the house. You want to move from an apartment to a house, you want to upgrade your vehicle, you want bills and bill collectors not hanging over your head, you think that just to accomplish and move up in those areas, you will be happy. Only to arrive to that place and there be something else, something new.

A divinely implanted sense of purpose which only GOD can satisfy. Success in your business, will be futile. Success in your job, futile. Success in your finances, futile. Unless the underlying focus for ALL you and I pursue is to fulfill the purpose and calling that God has placed on our lives! To purge the underlying things that we "think" will make us happy, and pursue with fervor His purpose. Helping people. Changing lives. Drawing people to His Kingdom. Pursuing with excellence the calling He has placed on our life, the specific way He has called us to make a difference for the Kingdom. We were ALL put here as a piece to the puzzle of God. God's big master-plan, and WE have a part to play. We have a job that needs to be done.

An unhealthy focus on "acquiring things" can pervert our ability to pursue with purity of heart. In our purity of heart, in our pursuit of God, the other things will eventually follow. His desire is to bless His children! His desire is to provide. He is a good God! But we must not stray from our first love. We must not stray from the pursuit that only God alone can satisfy. Pressing in to Him. Pressing in to the One who makes all things possible, the One who gives us life, air to breathe, love.

A divinely implanted sense of purpose. What is yours? Are you pursuing it? Go make YOUR eternal difference in the world. God accomplish YOUR purpose! It is YOUR SEASON! The tide is changing for you! Take a deep breath. It's your season! It's your time! 

#174 - Is there enough Time in Today?

Good morning! :) I pray all is well with you?! Things here are great. Went to bed a bit early, starting out the morning awesome, and the Word of God is ALIVE & ACTIVE like a two-edged sword! Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." The WORD is ALL of that! That is powerful! Well, praise God that we serve a RISEN Savior! That even today, we can commune with, be directed by & enjoy a friendship with a living God! I'm thankful for that!

Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

This morning as I sat down to have my Quiet Time, I began to journal.... and this morning I began listing out ALLLLLL the things that are on my mental "To-Do" list. In a way I was kind of whining to the Lord. Not really totally whining, but just trying to figure out what has the most priority on it, because all the things are important. I was just journaling out my thoughts to the Lord, kind of in a "HELP" mode. Have you ever done that? Either in your mind, on paper or out-loud? You think, "How is it humanly possible to get all of this done today? I just need more time." Well... those were some of my thoughts.

I read through Proverbs 26, nothing really jumping out at me except the obvious.... "don't be a fool!" It talked a lot about "the fool." I then proceeded to jump over to Proverbs 31. Though I have read this chapter what seems like hundreds of times, I just felt like this amazing woman must have some insight into planning. I just knew that she surely had it together in this area of "accomplishing" and "getting things done." I mean, she is the infamous Proverbs 31 woman! She is the woman who "excels them all" as it says in verse 29. Surely she could reveal to me the secret. Right?

I read through the chapter, through my underlining, circled words, highlighting, scratches in the margins... and as I completed the chapter, I was still just drawn back to one of my favorite verses. Proverbs 31:15. I say "favorite"... but it may just jump out at me because it is still something that I know I need to work on. Now, don't you go and tell Tyler to read this devotion! He doesn't read all of them, but this one, he could very well come out saying, "I told you so!" But, praise the Lord for Tyler. He's an amazing husband and probably the #1 thing he's learned over the years is to cast ME on the Lord. He doesn't try to change me, he just casts me on the Lord. He lets the Lord deal with me and make me better! Which is good.... probably the stubbornness of my childhood may just rear up and buck if someone tried to "make me do something." However, the Lord has His way of prodding us, doesn't He?

So, I'm reading Proverbs 31:15, "She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks." Sure, we know that Franklin Covey wasn't around when this was originally written. As well, she wasn't able to go down to her nearest Office Depot to pick up a DayTimer. Right? But.... imagine with me, if you could read while closing your eyes, I'd have you do that... but just imagine this... She, our Proverbs 31 friend & example, wakes up, crawls out of bed leaving her sleeping husband still there, she quietly puts on her house-shoes (slippers for those of you up north!), brushes her teeth and pulls up her hair, then slips downstairs. The house is quiet, the windows reveal the darkness still hanging outside, the birds are even still sleeping and the only sound is the occasional chirp of a cricket. She gets the coffee ready and pours herself a cup, most likely doctoring it with honey or something good for you (OK, she might not even drink coffee... just go with me on this. *wink*) There at the table, she sits down and begins to get her "spiritual food." She begins getting in the Word, listening and talking to the Holy Spirit. She is not beyond learning. She is pulling out gold nuggets from the Word, she is learning, she is growing. After her spiritual hunger is filled, she moves on to listing out the tasks and assignments of that day, including what the maids are to accomplish. I would imagine, she also lists out those things that SHE wants to accomplish that day. With the direction of the Holy Spirit, she prioritizes & is led with a plan for the day. Since she is in-tune with the Holy Spirit, and has already been communing with Him, if she writes something down that would be done in vain, HE prompts her not to do that today, it wouldn't go well, the person that you need to talk to wouldn't be there, so don't go to the "Market Store" today. She LISTENS to the promptings, wraps up her list/schedule of activities for the day, begins to prepare breakfast for her family, slips back upstairs to put on her clothes for the day, a touch of make-up, her hair in a neat pony-tail, and the hustle and bustle of the house begins! The house awakens. The birds begin to chirp, the kids begin to arouse, and everyone wakes up hungry and ready to eat, the smell of bacon already pulling them out of bed.

Sounds like a "dreamy" morning, doesn't it? Peaceful, but planned. Just the idea of "coming out with a plan" for the day sounds grande, doesn't it? I know I went through a season of doing really good at this! I accomplished a LOT with "planning my day." As I read this morning, I was prompted that ALL of my things can get done if I would only have a plan. "You can't just fly by the seat of your pants if you want to accomplish all that I have for you," I felt the Holy Spirit prompting.

So... this morning, I'm getting my notebook back out. "6 Things Before 11:00" was one of my goals. It allowed me to accomplish a lot. God has big plans for me, so I need to PLAN in order to get done all that He has for me!

Do you need to plan too? Is there enough time in today? There is EXACLY enough time to accomplish the things the Holy Spirit wants me & you to accomplish, we just have to ask Him!

XOXO!

Be blessed! ~ Amy J

#173 - Praise as Sweet as Honey!

Good morning! I pray you had a great Easter! Time to enjoy family, food & a celebration of our ALIVE JESUS!?! :) What a blessed time. We had a great time visiting with family, and I must say that my mother-in-law, Jeannine, outdid herself with an UH-MAZING lunch yesterday! It was pretty awesome. What a blessing to have home-cooking! It really does beat any restaurant! Thanks J! :)

Let's get started:

Proverbs 25:16 - Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest, being filled with it, you vomit it.

Proverbs 25:27 - It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to seek glory, their own glory, causes suffering and is not glory.

Proverbs 31:28 - Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her.

Proverbs 31:31 - Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

In our Proverbs 25 verses, both talk about honey. Sweet, honey. In the Hebrew, that is exactly what it means. Honey means honey. Unlike some other words in the Hebrew, it does not give us a plethora of other definitions of the word. Although, verse 27 does take honey and compare it to men seeking their own glory. It compares it in the latter part of the verse as something that men/women can crave. Notice. Recognition. Praise. Admiration. It compares the sweetness, the gratifying feeling that "praise" brings, that recognition brings.

So... we have two avenues to walk down on this one. We can first walk down the avenue that is just a blanket fact. Craving pure honey, sweets, sugar, desserts. Desiring and filling oneself with these pleasure in excess is highly not recommended in both verses. Proverbs 25 verse 16 does not say that sweets, desserts are bad, but it recommends using wisdom when eating them. Eat ONLY what is sufficient for that sweet tooth, pull the reigns back from allowing yourself to indulge.

OK. One word: GUILTY! Here we come, off of a great holiday.... for me, a week and a half of baking just because I felt like it! Baking, leads to needing to get rid of the "baked goods." Right?! Have you ever been eating, and you are no longer hungry, but you just want to eat more anyways because it is so good? You don't desire more, but you know that once you leave, the yummy treat will be all, so, you indulge! Guilty! Our Proverbs 25 verses remind us of to hold back! Consequences? Vomiting. Not feeling good. Feeling heavy, bloated, maybe depressed. Self-control is an underlying theme in both verse 16 & 27. I heard a trick from Dr Duke Johnson about desserts. He said to enjoy them, but to eat the best bites first! The first bite sends a "sensation" signal to your brain like, "Ooooh! This is so good." The taste-buds are heightened. Then the 2nd bite, the sensation signal that is sent to the brain isn't as strong. The 3rd bite, less strong. And before you know it, you get to the last bite and sure, it's still good, but not "THE" good like the 1st bite. So... make the 1st bite the best! He said, after having several of the best bites, you can often push the rest of the "cheesecake"back. You've already eaten the best bites of it, now just the "scraps" are left over.

That was a bit of a tangent.... but, hopefully one you can use. I'd like us to take a look at the Proverbs 31 women. Proverbs 25:27 compares eating honey, consuming in it's sweetness to seeking glory. Everyone loves to be praised. Everyone likes a pat on the back, appreciation, recognition - whether in private or public. I was even reading about potty-training this morning.... to have a POTTY dance after your little one goes potty as a way of praising them, or showing them they did a good job. Now... I'm not recommending that YOU adopt a "potty dance" (that would be funny though, especially if you don't have a little kid!)... but look to what the Proverbs 31 woman did! Two things happened for her to receive praise. FIRST: her children & her husband praised her. She was praised by those closest to her. Not praise sought out, praise that was freely given. SECONDLY: her WORKS praised her. She let her accomplishments speak for themselves. She did everything to the best of her ability, and she let the quality of her work speak for her. The quality of her work, the consistency of her work, the results of her work, she let her results, her work speak for themselves.

Allow your family, friends, co-workers to do a "dance" for you! Allow them to sing your praises. Allow your works to do a "dance" for you. That you do such great work, that it shines through. You receive praise, recognition, but in a way that is received with humility. Others given instead of self given.

So... if you want praise, let your work shine. If you want praise, sow praise. Praise others for their good work. Create your own "dance" for your friends and family when they do good! Praise others and you too will get praised! Praise... as sweet as honey!

#172 - "Stick with Me!"

Good morning! It's a blessed day and will be a blessed weekend! Today, PRAISE GOD is SUCH a GOOD day! It's GOOD FRIDAY! Today is the day that Jesus DECIDED to go to the cross for us, to suffer & endure the pain, knowing it was the only way that we may be able to enter in to heaven, knowing it was the only way that we may experience the FULLNESS of freedom! Praise the Lord for Jesus! Praise the Lord that He was WILLING to sacrifice for us, to give up His will & that He didn't just call a legion of angels to rescue Him off the cross. What selflessness! Fully man on earth, He sacrificed it all for us that we may have life. It is a good day. Actually here in Columbia, the weather is even representative of what it may have been on that day, overcast, cloudy, no sun visual in the sky. The great news? SUNDAY IS COMING! When our Jesus rose victoriously & defeated death, hell & the grave! He defeated Satan! He WON once and for all, and because of His victory, WE TOO can now experience victory! He defeated Satan for us and now, as believers, by just ONE Word, "JESUS", Satan is under our feet! PRAISE GOD! Thank you Jesus!

Well... let's get going...

Proverbs 22:12a - The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it...

Proverbs 22:17 - LISTEN (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.

Proverbs 22:29 - Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

Where to even start?? "Stick with Me" is what I heard the Holy Spirit saying to me this morning. "Stick with Me." As I was reading through Proverbs, again amazed at how the Holy Spirit can string scripture together, and bring it together in a way that we have never seen before, though our eyes have read and re-read those very verses countless times. He simply is amazing!

I was interested first of all to notice that the Lord keeps guard over the man or woman who have knowledge, who possess knowledge. I thought, "Well, I want the Lord to keep guard over me!" Right? Isn't that an obvious thought. Of course we want the Lord to keep guard over us. Keep us safe. Keep us in a position of favor. Keep us, period. Keep us on His path, traveling the right way. Keep us in His will. Keep us moving in success, moving in divine favor, moving in accordance and in the TIMING of the Holy Spirit. Because "timing" can be pretty important, right?!

Aside from being in the Word, allowing the Word to speak to you, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, I believe Proverbs 22:17 gets us some additional insight into gaining knowledge. "LISTEN to the words of the wise." Listening to the wise provides one avenue to gain knowledge. I find it interesting that it says, "LISTEN" to the wise. LISTEN! It doesn't say "TALK" to the wise, it says "LISTEN". Have you ever been in the presence of someone and EVERY time you are with them they are talking about themselves? They are talking and talking and talking, barely even taking a breath. Telling you everything they are good at, what they do, their background, where they came from, everything. You don't even have to ask them any questions, they will keep the "one-way" conversation going, if you will just not interrupt. Proverbs 22:17 reminds us to "LISTEN." I heard someone say once, "There's no need for me to talk, I already know everything I know. I may actually learn something if I listen." Good listeners are hard to find.

Gaining knowledge? Gaining wisdom? One beginning step, seek out some who is wise. They may possess wisdom in ONE aspect of what you are looking for, they may not be the "whole" package, but they may have wisdom in: business, raising kids, finances, the Word, marriage, relationships, communicating, writing, sewing, potty-training. They may not have it all. But seek them out for the wisdom that you may need at this time. It's called, "The BODY of Christ." We are a body for a reason, to help one another. Seek out someone who you can buy a cup of coffee, who you can just sit and LISTEN. As you do, you will be gaining knowledge.

One verse that I've always thought is neat, and used to think was impossible was Proverbs 22:29. Imagine, being so skillful in your trade that you stand before KINGS! You stand before world leaders! You stand before the President and the First Lady! You stand before your hero's in ministry. I was reminded this morning, on my path to gaining wisdom and knowledge, this is no longer something that is impossible! And the Proverbs 31 woman, ALSO rejoices over the future, maybe she rejoices over knowing that even THIS is a possibility for her! Standing before a King because of her gift? Wow! Just imagine. I was thinking this morning how amazing that it would be to stand before the Queen of England, to be in her presence and be called by name. Wow! What an honor that would be! That is when I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Stick with Me."

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. 

MY FATHER will do "SUPERABUNDANTLY" more than I dare even ask or think? INFINITELY beyond my hopes or dreams. Standing before a King or Queen would be pretty amazing. WOW! But imagine being a "counselor" to them, a "friend!" WOW! That would be beyond my dreams. But, I can THINK it, so God can make it come to pass! Maybe YOU write or speak, make bags, design clothes, make baby items, golf, love training leaders, are a great cook, can turn wood into something amazing with your carpentry? This morning I thought about Prince William and his fiance, Kate, carrying around one of my books. To have a real PRINCESS reading a book that I write. That would be cool. And I'm sure just the media exposure alone, would be awesome for the book. Whatever it is for YOU, GOD can do what you could NEVER imagine! Whatever it is that you are skillful in, God can BRING YOU before KINGS! So START IMAGINING!

Have you always wanted to do something great? Deep in your mind you've thought, "Man, I just want to make a huge impact! I want to be different! I want to do something radically great! I want to change things for the better. I want to help people." Deep in your heart and mind, have you desired to be more than just average? Well.... I believe the Holy Spirit's word to you is what is was to me too.... "Stick with Me." Stick with the Holy Spirit. Stick with God. Stick with HIM! It is through HIM and HIS guidance that He will direct you to do what you are called to do, to do what you were designed for. He will bring you before GREAT MEN with your gift. So commit today to excellence. Commit to seeking wisdom and knowledge. And as the Holy Spirit said, "Stick with Me."

#171 - Cowboy Up!

Good morning! It's going to be a great day because THIS IS THE DAY the LORD has made! Praise the Lord! Do I hear and Amen out there from wherever you are sitting?? Well, good! Amen. Let's get started.

Proverbs 21:31 - The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.

I remember reading this verse sometime when I lived at home with my parents. I remember that it stood out to me so, that I wrote it on an index card and pinned it on the wall next to my bedroom door. It's funny, because even today when I go home to visit and sleep in my old room, there it is, still on the wall, still pinned up for me to read. Today, it also jumped out with significance.

As a bit of a continuation from yesterday's devotion, "Endure because You Win!", I'd like to piggy-back off of some of the concepts from yesterday. Something that the Holy Spirit pressed on me heavily yesterday was this, "Press Back In! Press Back IN! PRESS BACK IN!" Have you ever started something with fervor and diligence, with excitement, to only find yourself a month, two months later just going through the "hum-drum" of life, no longer diligent in that area? What you began was a worthy pursuit, but in the process of pursuing you lost your consistency, you lost your drive, you lost your excitement? Well... I have been guilty of that.

Tyler sent me a voice note this morning while he was driving to an appointment. As he usually does, he was listening to a "Self-Improvement/Success" CD. In his message to me, he just reminded me of a couple who had arrived to a place in life where we aspire to be. He said, "Amy, this couple is no better than us, they just more consistently pursued their dream with focus. We can do that." He is right. God is no respecter of persons. If God has done something for one person, He can do it for you! God does not make any junk. You & I are already winners! We fought the odds and came out victorious! Are you trying to think of how you have done that? Well, think back to even the beginning! You are ONE in 300,000,000! That is THREE HUNDRED MILLION! When your parents got together there were 300,000,000 sperm trying to get to that egg! And do you know what? YOU SWAM the FASTEST! You fought the HARDEST! You edged your way in with the most diligence! You WON! You are already a winner. You are no accident! 299,999,999 others lost to you! When you think about it, the odds of winning like you did are probably similar odds to winning the lottery. YOU WON!

What I want to say is this, COWBOY UP! COWGIRL UP! If you, like me, lost some wind out of your sail, lost some diligence along the way, TODAY is the day to get back up! Get back on that horse! The HORSE is made ready for battle, but the VICTORY is of the LORD! What is your responsibility? Your responsibility is to BE PREPARED! BE ON THAT HORSE! Then... the cool thing is this, the "Victory" part is the Lord's responsibility! You just need to be prepared! You need to be in your place. You need to be doing YOUR JOB diligently. What is that? I'm sure you know exactly what it is for you... but here are some possibilities: Do you want to get pregnant? Maybe it's your job to get your body in shape to prepare for carrying a child. Do you want to be a light in your workplace for Jesus? Maybe to do so, you need to have more WORD in you to be prepared to share with people, maybe you need to be more girded up and strengthened by having a regular "Quiet Time" with just you and the Lord? Do you want to be a better mom? Wife? Maybe "COWGIRL UP" means evaluating your calendar and taking some things OFF of it so you can focus time on your family, raising up godly warriors? Learning to say one of the most spiritual words out there, "NO" and not adding more things to your plate, but taking away. Maybe you have a Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Amway, Premier jewelry business and you've lost your "umph" to add partners to your team, or sell products. Maybe for you it means getting your "handshake on" and reaching out to people. God has the people out there that are looking for what YOU have!

Cowboy up! Get back on that horse! NOW is the time like the Holy Spirit said to me, "PRESS BACK IN! PRESS BACK IN! PRESS BACK IN!"

Give God something to work with! Remember, the VICTORY is HIS responsibility. Your responsibility is to be diligent and prepared! When it's time for battle, to be on YOUR horse, be prepared! Don't leave your horse running into battle by himself! COWBOY UP!

____________________________

Check out our upcoming little blessing! :) 

We are expecting this to be our little "Trin-Trin"! Trinity Faith.  Since I'm around 16 weeks pregnant right now, the Doctor officially tells us around 20 weeks. She'll be a blessing & Tyler Junior will be a GREAT big brother!

"YES YOU! COWBOY UP!" :)
Doesn't he look like a politician in this picture?! HA! Minus the jello on his head! 

#170 - Endure because YOU WIN!

Good morning! We're going to jump RIGHT in this morning. Such great WORD & revelations! Praise God that HE is not a dead God! That He is ALIVE and still speaks to us through His Word, that He reveals things to us, uncovers what seemed like mysteries. Praise God that we have the opportunity as HIS Children to enter into a relationship that can be growing and growing, that we can gain insight and wisdom EVERY SINGLE TIME we are in His presence! Praise GOD! I'm extremely grateful!

We're jumping off the reading schedule to some Spirit led scripture. Let's go...

Hebrews 12:1-3 -  ... let us throw aside every unnecessary weight... which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, Who is the Leader ...  He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (3)Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

We are called to ONLY run the appointed course that is BEFORE US! We don't have to think of the section of the course for next week or next year, just the portion of the course that is before us NOW! Just run our race TODAY!!!! Stay FOCUSED ahead.... like a runner, we are not looking down at our feet nor are we looking around just aimlessly taking in all the scenery, we are staying FOCUSED on who is ahead of us, the LEADER who IS paving the way.

Jesus endured the cross, WHY? For the JOY of obtaining the prize. He knew that the PRIZE was greater than what He would currently have to endure. The PRIZE was greater than the pain. Right here, right in this point is where many people quit, they loose heart, they faint. BUT, when we keep our eyes focused on our Leader, and we keep the Joy of the prize in mind, we run with the "end in sight" KNOWING that we have ALREADY won.... WE TOO can ENDURE in the race!

Now wait... it gets better! I've always stopped at verses 1 & 2. I've read those, and then stopped. But, WOW, verse 3 is UH-MAZING! So... it says basically.... "Look, take a look at Jesus, think about it.... He endured the cross, the torment, the pain, the mockery, the hostility, people sneering and snickering at Him.... just think about it, CONSIDER all HE went through to the CURRENT trial you may be going through..." OK.... let's take a pause right there. I ALMOST had to LOL at this point. Consider MY trials in comparison to what HE endured on the cross?! Now if that is not a JOKE, I don't know what is! My trials hold NO water, no ground to what He endured on the cross and leading up to it. But... let's continue. So WHY did he endure and go through all of that? Let's finish verse 3, "so that YOU may not grow weary or exhausted! So that YOU may not loose heart, relax and grow faint in your mind! He endured it not ONLY for your salvation, so that you could live in heaven when you pass, but He also endured it so that the CURRENT section of your race could be run without you being exhausted. Without you growing weary. Without you growing tired! Without you toiling in your MIND! He endured the cross for MUCH more than just mere salvation! Salvation is just the stepping off point!!

Why can you have Unwavering Confidence? Because CHRIST endured so that YOU & I could have VICTORY! Sweat-less VICTORIES! Why can you have JOY in the endurance? Because you know the end of the story! Whatever you are going through, IF you will only ENDURE, be patient, and CONTINUE on this section of your course, YOU TOO WILL BE VICTORIOUS! It says in Phil. 1:6, that HE will carry out what He has began in YOU to completion! Have you started something and not yet had victory in it? BE PATIENT! ENDURE! CONTINUE in your race! And.... if you are a bit brave, you can EVEN enjoy it!! It says that JESUS endured so that you could run your race without getting weary, without losing heart, without getting faint, without getting exhausted. YOU CAN HAVE SWEAT-LESS victories if you will ONLY continue on your course!

**** Pre-requisite **** - IF you do not FINISH the course, you will not see the victory that you have been waiting for! The key is, KEEP your EYES FOCUSED on your Leader! Like running a cross-country race, or track. Keep your EYES on the back of the One that you are following, Jesus! Keep your eyes on Him and RUN right through into the finish line of this section of your race! WIN this section! The race is on-going! It continues! We won't be finished until heaven, so on earth we will be in this constant race..... but I encourage you, when you have the end in mind (ie: YOU WIN) you can have JOY in today's endurance! You know the end of the movie! You know the end of the story! You know that YOU will be the one, standing on the stage, holding the trophy to prove that YOU HAVE ENDURED! YOU HAVE WON!

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive THE VICTOR'S CROWN!!!

Amen & Amen!
That was good stuff! It ministered to me! Praise the Lord! 

#169 - How to get REFRESHED!

Computer errors caused part of this blog to get deleted. I believe that even after filling in some gaps, it will bless you! I pray I didn't forget anything. The enemy did NOT want you to get this one!!! The Holy Spirit told me that His people DO need this Word!
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Good morning! Well, I must say it is a beautiful morning out! I am officially on my back porch.... had a cup of hot chocolate, now on to some English tea and the birds are just chirping away! It is absolutely peaceful! I can only imagine what it would be like to live on a property with lots of land, not ever hearing ANY cars or neighbors, just nature! Wow! A small piece of heaven, I'm sure! I look forward to OUR piece of land like that!!

We are going to stray off the path a little bit as I want to share some insight with you into a very popular Psalm that I'm sure many of you could quote! Let's get started.

Psalm 23:1-4 - THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. ² He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. ³He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake. ⁴Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Sunday at church, my Pastor talked about Psalm 23 and the power of resting. As he was sharing scripture and going through some things, it was just like the Holy Spirit was revealing me so much even in what was not said. I was having some pretty exciting revelations in regards to Psalm 23 & resting. What is in store for those who rest.  Let's jump into things a bit.

In the Hebrew, verse 2, "leads" can be also translated as to "give rest, bring to a place of rest, refresh, cause to rest." However, in verse 3, the Hebrew word for "lead" is talking strictly about "to lead, bring or guide." It is not referring to "resting."

The power of RESTING in obedience?
As I sat in church listening to the Pastor, in my head I started thinking about what an oasis these green pastures would be to actual sheep. The Pastor made reference to how the sheep could just graze endlessly all day long. The grass was green, plush, yummy... perfect. When they got full, they could lay down, take a nap, go down to the still waters and drink. EVERYTHING that a sheep would need was provided for and laid out! ALL of their needs were met, there at the green pastures! Here's where my mind started to go off.... WHAT would "green pastures" look like for me, the believer? Green grass is great for a sheep, but I'm not going to eat green grass. What would "green pastures" be for me? Check this out! If to a sheep it meant TOTAL FULFILLMENT, ABUNDANCE, NEEDS COMPLETELY MET, that is what it would mean to me too! Total Fulfillment? Yes! My needs being met in every area. Finances? Abundance. Food to feed my family? Abundance. Clothing? Abundance. Health? Abundance - wholeness. When I and YOU allow ourselves to go to these green pastures, we set ourselves up for restoration. Verse 3 says that in this place, HE, our Father, refreshes and restores our life!

Are you running ragged? Are you tired? Are you feeling burnt out? When was the last time you visited the GREEN PASTURE? It is a place where RESTORATION comes! It is a place where YOU & I will get REFRESHED!

Why Rest?
Very simple. Re-read the beginning of verse 4, "Yes, though I walk through the valley..." We are ALL going to have valley's in our life at some point! Since we live IN the World and Satan is currently it's prince, bad things are bound to happen. Now, don't get me wrong, I am probably one of the greatest "Optimists" that you will ever meet. I believe that I have been set up to be BLESSED because I am following the will of God for my life, and if you are walking in obedience, I believe the same for you. God's desire is to bless His children.

Let's jump back... "I walk through the valley..." - THERE is the KEY for you & I! For the born-again believer! THERE is the key! To walk THROUGH the valley's of life! Not to STAY there! Not to STAY in the valley! Not to LAY DOWN in the valley. Not to make our HOME in the valley! We are to walk THROUGH the valley's that we come to. Man this is good! Are you getting this!?!?

And HERE is the KICKER! What makes someone ABLE to walk THROUGH the valley instead of STAYING in the valley? Because they have RESTED. They are REFRESHED. They are RESTORED. We are not meant to STAY in the valley! We are meant to go THROUGH the valley. We are not meant to lay down in the valley, to put up camp in the valley. We aren't meant to wallow in the valley, we are meant to go THROUGH the valley. As believers living in the WORLD, we cannot always prevent bad things from coming at us... even Paul reminds us of this in the New Testament, BUT to a degree, we can prevent how long we stay in that place. By RESTING, observing a Sabbath, we can get girded up with strength so that the "valley season" can be quicker, so that we are able to withstand the enemy, we are able to walk through the valley to the other side VICTORIOUS! The enemy wants you to STAY in the valley. How can we glorify God if we remain in a bad place, if we remain in disaster, turmoil. We glorify God when we are on the OTHER SIDE of the valley VICTORIOUS. Pre-requisite? Proper rest in the green pastures and beside the still waters.


The disadvantage to being FORCED to rest? 
I heard a pastor once talk about how he never took a day of rest. He never really rested. Being in the ministry, he traveled and shared the gospel all the time, but did not himself rest. After awhile it took a toll on his body and he was FORCED to rest. He was laid up in bed with back problems for some time and was MADE to rest. I've heard him recount the situation and say that he believes he could have avoided it if only he would have taken a priority to rest. So... by choice or by force, your body needs to rest. I choose to do it on my terms, healthy and having an enjoyable time versus being laid up in bed, or worse, being in a hospital somewhere.

Not a ONE-TIME Event
Just like our bodies repair themselves each night when we sleep. I feel like each week, a Sabbath Day of Rest does the same thing. Tyler and I choose to schedule a Day of Rest EACH WEEK. We notice if we miss a week, we feel bogged down and tired. Don't get me wrong, it takes planning, especially when you factor in children, jobs, etc. We just started somewhere. If you can't do a "whole" day right now, start with a few hours or a half day. Start with scheduling some time to rest. By no means do I want to force my opinion or view of the Word on you... but if the shoe fits for you, maybe you should wear it too. Maybe you might just benefit from resting.

Pray...

Powerful blog on it's way..... Already written, though getting an "error" in posting it! The enemy does not want people to hear this message. Please pray for all to work properly & the message to be able to post.

Thanks! Amy
Amy J. McCart-Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

DOR

Hello! I hope you're having a great day!

I'm enjoying my Day of Rest. When was the last time you had a Day of Rest where you did NO work?!? Try it, you'll love it and come out refreshed! :)

xoxo,
Amy

#168 - Are you in Full Partnership?

Good morning! :) Today I have a 17 month old. Wow! He's turning into such a big boy!! He got a big-boy hair cut the other day at the barber shop with CLIPPERS! Wow! He looks so different.... so much older. He is so funny, just loves to be the center of attention and be goofy. We definitely laugh a lot around him. What a joy! Praise the Lord. :)

Let's get into the Word.

Proverbs 14:6 - A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.

Proverbs 31:11 - The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil. 

Well....the Word does have a way to reveal & confirm things in our life, doesn't it? As I was reading about the scoffer, a few things came to mind. First of all, this person was SEEKING Wisdom. They were SEEKING. In the past, we've studied verses on the importance of SEEKING, searching out scripture, finding those hidden truths in the Word. Well, here this "scoffer" is SEEKING Wisdom.... but as we read further we see that it is done in vain. Wow! Who knew you could seek Wisdom, but it be in vain!? We see why it was in vain, because of his attitude! His attitude blinded and deafened him for really gaining the truth, really attaining answers and Wisdom.

I personally had to to an "Attitude Check" for myself. The Holy Spirit revealed some things in my life that up until recently had been faulty, wrong. I'll share shortly (arghhh... OK, let's take a look at Amy's faults again! ha!! that's ok!)

Proverbs 31:11, gives us a bit of insight into how the relationship is between the Proverbs 31 wife and her husband. He trusts in her CONFIDENTLY, he relies on her, he believes in her. They truly are a team working together in their strengths. Each bringing things to the table that completes the "PAIR" to make them a dynamic duo! Separately, there would be thing missing. BUT, the Proverbs 31 wife has proven to her husband that she is capable. Through her series of successes of taking a task, accomplishing it, producing income with it or producing things her family needs, she proves herself worthy of his belief!

I have fallen in the guilty category of, "I'm the wife, you are the big, strong husband. Ride in off your white horse. Conquer the giants. Handle the responsibilities. And when all is said and done, I will dust you off and we will go off and live 'happily ever after.' - That is, AFTER YOU have done all the hard work." All the while, happy to give my opinion, or even on the rare occasions, sometimes disapproval every once in awhile.

Falling into the category of "not being the equal", but being the "lesser half" because of not wanting to take responsibility. Full responsibility. I was reminded of several things this morning that take two. (1)The disciples were sent out 2 by 2. (2) Deut 32:30 - One can put 1,000 to flight, TWO can put 10,000 to flight. (3) Eccl 4:11 - If TWO lie together they keep warm, but one by himself is cold.

And the list could go on. It has been an easy thing to just want "the husband" to go out and slay the dragons of life and just be the rescued damsel in distress, but I don't think that was how we were designed to be. The Proverbs 31 wife, PROVED HERSELF WORTHY. She earned her rewards through diligence. She was very much a PARTNER with her husband. Right, wrong or indifferent, I have wanted to be the "rescued damsel" into the fairy tale story without doing my part, leaving the weight & responsibility unfortunately on Tyler.

Praise God for marriage. We are brought together to become ONE. Where TWO become ONE. We were designed to COMPLETE each other, with our gifts, talents & abilities to be able to COMPLETE the calling God has on our life.

Are you single? It's YOU & GOD then! He's your partner! But to those married folks.... any of you trying to "shirk" responsibility? Are you in full partnership? Well... it's just another area that I have to work on.

Have a blessed day!