#266 - Is it Possible to Hear from God?

Jeremiah 30:2 - Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 

Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night and gets (spiritual) food...

John 10:27 - The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. 

Have you ever been curious as to whether you hear from God? Or if it is even possible to hear from Him? Is it Biblical to hear from Him? Let's take a look into the Word about this very subject. 

If we take a look at the Word, in John 14, Jesus is talking to the disciples and is letting them know that he is going to leave, the world will see Him (the person Jesus) no more. BUT, the even better news is that Jesus says that in His place, He will leave the Counselor, Someone who will be with us forever! Let's take a look in verse 16 and 26 of John 14, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever ...  But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."

I know there is a myth out there that we, as Christians, cannot "hear" from God, but the truth of the matter is, that is a wrong belief! If we are a believer, we CAN hear from God. More specifically, we can hear from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity of God (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit the Counselor). When we get saved, it is the Holy Spirit of the Trinity that comes to reside inside of us. It is the Holy Spirit that is talked about in John 14:16, 26. The Comforter as it describes. Also Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Strengthener. As believers we are SUPPOSE to hear from the Holy Spirit. He resides in us to be that Voice to tell us, "No, turn right here instead of left today. There is an accident ahead that I want to keep you from." As we read earlier in John 10:27, the sheep (us!) hear My (the Holy Spirit's) voice. 

So, we have to get the 1st myth out of the way. Now that we believe we CAN hear from the Holy Spirit, GET OUT YOUR JOURNALS! Literally! Jeremiah 30:2, tells us to write down what we hear! 

I remember doing this for the first time. It was about 12 years ago when I first began to practice the art of listening and writing down what the Holy Spirit revealed to me. I was a teacher at a private Christian school and was on my prep period. I was sitting in the library reading my Bible and was determined that I was going to practice trying to listen to the Holy Spirit. I remember like it was yesterday as I sat at the table by myself. Often finding myself distracted by things or sounds, I had to try to make everything quiet. I closed my eyes and literally plugged my ears with my two index fingers. I pictured a big bulldozer or tractor with a cement wall on the front literally going through my mind and pushing all the thoughts out of it until I had a blank slate. My mind was blank, distractions gone and for the first time, I began my conversation with the Holy Spirit. It began like a simple conversation. I said, "Good morning Holy Spirit." He replied, "Good morning Amy." As our conversation continued, as it says in Jeremiah 30:2, to WRITE down in a book what He tells us, I had my journal out and began to write what I felt He told me. Interesting enough, probably just to prove to me it was Him, after journaling what I thought He was saying, I opened up my Bible to read. The passage of scripture that I read, went right along with what I had journaled. Confirmation! I was so JACKED! I HAD heard from the Holy Spirit! I was so excited. And THAT was the beginning of me practicing to listen. Granted, I don't have to go through all the steps I did at one time to get in a position to hear, but for a long time I did. Today, after practicing listening for so long, like John 10:27, I can hear my Fathers voice. I can distinguish between His Voice and the noise of the world or of the enemy easily, as long as I take the time to listen. 

I'd encourage you today, get a journal or notebook. Begin to WRITE DOWN as you hear from the Holy Spirit. Be confident that the Holy Spirit DOES speak to you and WANTS to! He was designed for that VERY REASON! To be our Counselor. It wouldn't be a very good counselor if he didn't give us any counsel, now would it?! That is why Jesus left! He said it is BETTER that He leave. Why on earth would it be better? Because as a man, he could only be one place at one time. The Holy Spirit on the other hand dwells within EVERY believer and can be everywhere! We have the Holy Spirit with us FOREVER! (John 14:16)

Friend, practice today! Listen and write down what you hear! Never go another day without conversing with the Holy Spirit!

Your Angel is on His Way!

Daniel 10:11-13 (Amplified / The Message) - “And [the angel] said to me, ‘Daniel,’ he said, ‘man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I’ve been sent to bring you news.’ “When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking. “‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me…"

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.  

Mark 11:24 - For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].  

Do you ever wonder why your prayers are not coming to pass? Do you feel that what you are praying is not only a true desire of your heart and something you feel strongly about, but also something you feel God really wants to happen? Something you have felt led to do. Do you feel like you are called to do this very thing? Maybe it is a business, a book, a relationship, a family, a move, a job, a specific direction in your life. "But GOD, WHY aren't you answering my prayers?"

As I was reading and studying, I found something very interesting in the book of Daniel. An angel came to Daniel in response of his prayer. The things is, the angel began to come to Daniel the very time WHEN HE PRAYED. It took the angel 3 weeks to get to Daniel to answer his prayer. WHY? In laymen's terms, he was held up. He encountered a problem. "Houston, we have a problem." The angel ran into opposition. I looked up the verse in the Hebrew and here is the definition I found:

Withstood/Waylaid/Delayed: To take one's stand, Rise up Against 

The angel on his way to answer Daniel's prayer was hit with opposition. Who would oppose an angel? Demonic forces. A demon got in the way while the angel was on his way to Daniel. The angel was delayed for THREE WEEKS! Then was finally rescued by the angel Michael. I'm not making this up! Angels are real. Equally, demons are real. They are out there. We may not see them, but they are real. It's right there in Daniel Chapter 10.

What does that mean to you? Have you grown weary? Have you prayed and feel you are at a stand-still? Have your prayers not been answered but you really feel like what you are praying for is something led of the Holy Spirit?

Friend, if you believed when you prayed, like Daniel, one of your angels could have taken flight right when you prayed! Obstacles to answering your prayer could have come up along the way. That doesn't mean an answer is not coming. It just may mean you need to wait it out. Do not grow weary. Stand firm. Be steadfast. Once you have prayed, THANK GOD for the answer. Thank God for your answer coming to pass. As you are delighting in the Lord, seeking to please Him, it says that HE WILL give you the desires of your heart.

Take heart! Your Angel is on His Way!

Enjoy TODAY!

Good Morning! Today's post is a bit significant! Why? This is my 400th blogpost/devotion! Wow! We've been through a lot on this blog….3 kids to be exact. I started this blog shortly after Tyler Jr was born…continued it with Trinity…. and now, 10 weeks into Timothy's life it is still going. :) So… a big THANK YOU to YOU for joining me and being on this ride together as we study the Word of God! :)

HAPPY READING on today's

400th BLOGPOST!

Eccl 3:1 - To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.

Matthew 6:25a - Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life... 

Do you ever get stressed about where you are at in life? How much you have or have not accomplished. Are you living a life of significance? Are you "Getting Things Done?" as the popular title of a bestseller rings in my head, "GTD - Getting Things Done by David Allen." 

I obviously cannot speak for you, but I know for me most days I like to feel like I am accomplishing things. So much so that most days I really have to STOP and remember to smell the roses along the way. With a newborn, I am reminded at how quickly this phase of parenting goes by. You know the phase of them snuggling up to you, falling asleep in your arms, breathing their "milk breath" on you as they fall asleep after being fed. Because once they are mobile, the snuggling without wiggling may be few and far between depending on the child. So…. now, knowing this, I have purposefully tried to slow down more with Timothy. Enjoying the moments. Taking those "snapshot pictures" with my eyes, when my camera is not around. Soaking in the moments when he is smiling or looking at me or simply sleeping peacefully.  There are also those occasions when I catch myself and am mentally reminded, "I need to stop and slow down to have fun with my kids." Put my list of "To-Do" things and projects aside, which can wait, and have a fun day with them (or even just 15 minutes of fun.) Go to the park. Jump on the trampoline. Chase them around. Focus solely on them without multi-tasking. It's funny, even 15 minutes of fun with mom or dad is a lot to a 4 year old! At breakfast and lunch, we have this habit of going around the table and asking, "What was your favorite part for today?" And wouldn't you know it, the days where I do spend 10-15 minutes jumping on the trampoline or playing outside, THAT 10 minutes of time, is Tyler Jr's "Favorite part for the day."

You have probably heard (maybe said) the phrase, "You know, time sure does fly." Or, "Before you know it, they will be grown up and out of the house." Or, "You better not blink, time will pass just like  THAT!" As the person snaps their fingers. 

Time does go by. I have been guilty almost of being scared of "missing it." Missing the time with my kids (even though I'm there for almost everything as a stay at home mom.) But I still catch myself being almost scared of them growing up. Not wanting them to grow up because I know that means one day this season will be over, they will be out of the house, married and having kids of their own.

Today's scriptures are a great reminder, To EVERYTHING there is a season. STOP begin uneasy, anxious and worried! Sure, my kids are going to grow up, but I can ENJOY each season as they are growing. Just this week, as I was getting Trinity up and ready she said, "Mommy, God wants to eat your hair." I obviously laughed and then I asked her, "Why?" She proceeded to say, "God loves you Mommy. God loves Mommy." Ok? Not sure where the logic comes from, but straight from the mouth of a 2 year old. :) Moments like that! Moments with a 2 year old.

As I am encouraged to just LIVE IN THE MOMENT, LIVE IN TODAY, I encourage you to do the same. Now sure, that doesn't take away from planning, preparing, accomplishing goals, living out your assignment and the calling on your life. That is a talk for a different time. But as you are moving through life, discovering and living out your purpose, ENJOY TODAY! Enjoy the silly moments, the sunshine, the opportunities to go to the park. I'm reminding myself not to be so tied up on "projects" that I miss those memory making moments.

Go make some memories today!

From Vodka to Vanilla

Phil 4:13 - I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

Philippians has always been one of my favorite books in the Bible. When I was in High School, Philippians 4:13 was my favorite verse, we even included it on the back of one of our cross-country shirts. Though there are the other great verses in the book, Phil. 2:13, Phil 3:14, Phil 4:8, Phil 1:6, just to name a few of my favorite.

This morning, for the first time ever, I read Philippians 4:13 differently as I read the amplified version. I noticed that in the amplified, it used the word "infuses." It says, "through Him Who infuses inner strength into me." 

You see... my recent "Martha Stewart" skills over the last 2 years caused me to try and learn how to make Vanilla Extract. I bake enough that I use vanilla extract A LOT! Not to mention my theory with vanilla... "If a little vanilla is good, a LOT is better!" When baking, I think vanilla makes everything better. If a cake or cookie recipe calls for 1 teaspoon, I add 2-3 teaspoons! But, vanilla is not cheap for the normal person! A small 2 ounce bottle may cost $4-5. That doesn't go to far with as much as I use it. So, that brings me to this eye-opening new way of seeing Philippians 4:13. I looked up the definition to the word "infuse." This is what it said:

infuse: to steep or soak (leaves, bark, roots, etc.) in a liquid so as to extract the soluble properties or ingredients.

In order to make vanilla extract, you need vodka or rum. You cut the vanilla beans, scrape out the "caviar" from the center, and both the bean and the "caviar" soaks in the vodka or rum. Then what happens, the vanilla flavor is infused into the vodka creating Vanilla Extract. The vanilla flavor is extracted into the vodka creating that super yummy ingredient for all your favorite baked goods. THE SECRET?!?!

Infusing takes TIME. 

For the vanilla beans to change the vodka from simply an "alcohol" to "vanilla extract" takes TIME. At least 6 months to be exact, and like wine, the longer the vanilla infuses into the vodka, the greater and richer of a flavor it will be. Like wine fermenting over time, vanilla beans will continue to extract their flavor and infuse into becoming a delicious ingredient that could make world renowned cookies! :) (If you know me, you know that I have been in a few chocolate chip cookie bake-off's, so I take my cookie baking and ingredients seriously! Ha!) 

The amplified version of Philippians 4:13 reads, "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency."

The Holy Spirit will INFUSE INNER STRENGTH within you! But this infusing process takes time. It's going to take you and I steeping and soaking in the Word of God so that the Word of God can be extracted into our lives! So that the Word of God can begin to change our flavor, change our make-up, renew us, change us from the "vodka" (the world & flesh) to the "vanilla extract" (the good things, the God-nature, the Christian who walks in and by the Spirit). As we steep and soak in the Word of God, not only are we strengthened as it says in Phil 4:13, but our literal make-up begins to change. The cuss-words that were a part of our sin nature, as we steep in the Word of God, over time, those same cuss words begin to sound like nails on a chalkboard. Some of the movies we watched at one time, now seem to not be appropriate. As we steep, we are changing! The Holy Spirit is infusing us with INNER STRENGTH! When things come at us, we are stronger to handle them, where the previous us would have broken, the INFUSED US rises up with STRENGTH!

Friend, I encourage you.... take the time now steep and soak in the Word of God. Allow the WORD to get infused into your very being, so that when strength needs to rise up on the inside of you, that is exactly what will happen. You will be filled with inner strength and able to conquor anything!

#265 - HEY MOM! You Are Raising World Changers!

Proverbs 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

Let's just be honest, if you are a mom with kids in the home, it can sometimes be overwhelming. I had that day the other day when I felt like all had gone awry, and it looked like I had gotten nothing accomplished. A "Favored One" (what we call our kids instead of "yayhoos!") had spilled juice - so MOM got to clean the table and floor, had to change kids clothes because they got wet, had to change my clothes because they got "spit up on", had to give kids bathes in the middle of the day because they got sandy, sticky syrup all over sippy cups and the table, pretzels & waffles under the table.... not to mention just preparing meals.... by the time one meal was done and cleaned up (which could take hours between all the interruptions and distractions) it was almost time to start on preparing the next meal.... and the list goes on! If you are a mom, you may very well know just what I'm talking about!

On days like this, it is good to remember two important conversations I had regarding my kids. One with the Holy Spirit in my quiet time one day and one discussion I had with my husband.

1) Holy Spirit: On one overwhelming day... I had asked the Holy Spirit how to do a good job as a mom. Not just ANY MOM.... but a Christian Mom wanting to raise up kids that will make a difference. WHAT does that Mom do? How does that mom model her day? There were so many voices coming at me! Watching other mom's do the job of "Mom'ing." You may know some of them.... those moms:

• The Overly "Involved in my kids Preschool" Mom   

• The "I make the classmates at my kids preschool awesome cookies, gifts and crafts" Mom  

• The "Have my kid in lots of sports" Mom  

• The "Go to activities with my kids all over town" Mom

• The "Uses Scissors and Glue and does crafts at home" Mom! (argh... ahhhhh) 

• The "Go to the library and read 100 books in 2  days with my Kid" Mom (ok, slight exaggeration, but u know the mom who has her kid counting and reading when they are practically still an embryo! ) 

• The "ambitious teach my kid how to ride his bike, go to the park, go to the zoo, go to the Lowes Building workshop, go to... go to.... go to...." Mom! 

You know.... THAT MOM!!!! Granted... on my more ambitious days, I may do some of those things, but I found myself looking at everyone else's best days and comparing them to my frazzled, no make up on, dishes piled up in the kitchen sink, fly-away hair kind of days.

So, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit one day, I had to be reminded of my MOST important job. And what He had told me was this, "It's not the activities, the busyness, the "things" you can get caught up in, but it is the atmosphere you create. What is the atmosphere in your home." 

2) My Husband - In our conversation, he basically reminded me of the GREAT IMPORTANCE of my job! I am raising up WORLD CHANGERS! YOU, fellow Mom, are raising up WORLD CHANGERS! For my kids, it is my job to teach, prepare and instill things into them that will allow them to make a difference in this world for Jesus! Whether they grow up to be the President of the United States or the President of the Girl Scouts, a business owner or a missionary, a musician or a ballet performer.... MY JOB right now in this season is to RAISE UP my kids learning the Word of God, learning principles from the Bible. At ages 4 and 2, those principles may simply be "sharing" or "being kind" or "talking in a kind manner," whatever it is based upon their age, MY JOB is to mold and shape the World Changer in each of my children.

So.... on those days, where I feel frazzled or while washing 'the sticky' off the kitchen table I wonder, "What I'm doing, does it really matter? I'm not shooting out Corporate America emails. I'm not dealing with winning a new multimillion dollar account. I'm not meeting with the CEO of XYZ Corporation. Is what I'm doing really important?" The answer is, YES! Wiping noses, washing peanut butter and jelly off the light switch, cutting sandwiches into 1/4th's,  peeling off the apple peel, giving smooches, tickling kids, chasing them around, jumping on the trampoline, and practicing Bible verses.... despite that fact some of these tasks seem insignificant all are important tasks of this Mama.

And what YOU are doing raising your kids, IT MATTERS TOO! YOU Mom, YOU are raising up kids who are going to change someones life! When Jesus' Mom, Mary, was changing the equivalent to a poopy diaper, she may have felt that task was insignificant, BUT Mary, that mom, was raising up a WORLD CHANGER! Friend, YOU TOO, are raising up someone very special. YOU TOO are raising up someone who can make an eternal difference in the life of someone else.

Mom, your job is important! YOU ARE RAISING WORLD CHANGERS! 

NOT Walking in FEAR about your Children & Life!

Psalm 91:11 (NLV) - For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Psalm 118:6 (GNT) - The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid…

Job 3:25 (AMP) - For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me.

As a believer, it is great to walk in and KNOW the promises that God has stored up for us. Often, before knowing some of these promises, I was living in fear, doubt and unbelief without even knowing it. Now as a parent, I can see where it is crucial to STAY in a spirit of FAITH and not fear. To PRAY prayers out of FAITH, based on the Promises in the Word and not pray prayers out of FEAR! Faith is from God. Fear is from Satan. John 10:10 reminds us that the enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy, but GOD has brought us LIFE and brought it abundantly! The enemy, Satan, wants me to live in, think about and meditate on fear based thoughts. BUT, when I am walking and living in fear, I am walking and living according how SATAN would have me live, NOT based upon how GOD wants me to live.

Let me give you a few examples… this morning, as I was journaling, I felt led to thank God. This was my prayer.

Bless Tyler today. Show him favor in all he puts his hands too. Thank you that he walks in divine health every day of his life AND I thank you for the angels that surround him wherever he goes!! EVERY DAY! 

I was praying a prayer based out of FAITH because the WORD has given me specific PROMISES that I can cling to and hold on to. As I was praying for Tyler, I envisioned literally an entourage of angels surrounding him as he goes out and about, as he drives in his car. The thing is, an entourage of angels lines exactly up with the WORD OF GOD! As it says in Psalm 91:11, "For He (God) will order, His angels to protect you wherever you go." In THANKING God, I am but putting HIS Word to work. I am putting Him in remembrance of His Word, a promise that has already been given to me as a believer. THAT PROMISE IS FOR ME! PROTECTION is a promise for ME and MY FAMILY!

Often, the life of Job causes many people to walk in a life of fear. They look at the story of Job, how his family, home, business and health was all stripped from him. Unfortunately, they miss the part about Job LIVING in FEAR. Job sacrificed offerings daily, out of FEAR for his family.

Today, AS A BELIEVER, someone who has the Word of God, the Bible, which we can go back to again and again to reference…. I CAN KNOW God's Promises and I can stand on them for my life and the life of my family! I can pray prayers based upon the WORD, out of FAITH because it is the WORD OF GOD. It is a PROMISE for me!

No fear for my children. I'm not immune to Satan wanting to PLANT seeds of fear in my head. I'm not immune to Satan trying to tell me something is wrong with Timothy while I lay in bed. Granted, don't get me wrong, it is good to check on your kids. But, as I lay there, I need to first check myself. Am I being led of God or led of Satan. Am I walking in faith or fear? My first response is to take every thought captive and under the obedience of Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 10:5). If the enemy is trying to get me into fear, my job as a believer is to STAY IN FAITH and stay OUT OF FEAR. I may even say out loud, "I refuse to fear. My kids are covered under the blood of Jesus. According to Ps 91:11, angels are protecting my children because that is a PROMISE God has given me. My kids are fine. I take every thought captive. Fear you must GO in Jesus Name! I refuse to walk in fear!" 

Once I have taken thoughts captive, then I determine whether I am going to check on my kids…. I may fall asleep peacefully, or I may go cover them up and make sure they are warm. Whatever it is, I'm taking faith-based actions, and not taking rushed and hurried actions because the enemy is planting fear in me about my children's safety. I heard my pastor say before, when the enemy tries to get him in fear, he'll often "cook an egg." If you think about it, fear almost always causes you to panic, rush and hurry. "Cooking an egg" tells the enemy, "NO! I WILL NOT FEAR and I WILL NOT RUSH. I'm going to just take my time! I'm not in a hurry. I choose to walk in faith. All is well."

I encourage you today, if there is something in your life that the enemy continues to try and use against you, whether it is safety for yourself, children, husband, maybe it is finances, health, whatever it is, FIND A PROMISE IN THE WORD on that issue! Find a Promise that you can USE against the enemy when he tries to get you in fear over the situation. The enemy is smart, and he WILL try and use fear against you. He is here to kill, steal and destroy. Do not let him steal your peace and joy by causing you be in fear. SHOOT BULLETS BACK at him of the WORD OF GOD! Those are sure to stop him in his tracks!


PS. Psalm 91:11 and Psalm 118:6 are BOTH two of the memory verses that Tyler Jr (age 4) and Trinity (age 2) know and can recite. If they say they are afraid, I want them to KNOW that we do not need to be afraid! FEAR has NO place in our home because THE LORD IS WITH US, WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID! And we have BIG ANGELS TO PROTECT US WHEREVER WE GO! There are not monsters in their closets, there are ANGELS in their room protecting them! 

Minus the Condemnation!

Romans 8:1 - Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

Have you ever had a day that one thing after another seemed to not go as planned? Your "To-Do List" piles up with unchecked boxes, glaring out at you the undone nature of each item! The check-list person in you begins to feel guilty about the list, replaying in your mind whether you could have done something different.

Frustration.

Guilt.

Condemnation.

Well friend… I'm hear to remind you that condemnation is from the enemy. Today is a new day! Allow the condemnation the enemy is trying to get you to accept be washed away. Remember that when you became born again, the blood of Jesus from the cross washed away that condemnation. Romans 8:1 reminds us that for those of us in Christ Jesus, those of us who are born again, there is NO CONDEMNATION!

So today, start anew! Have a fresh new start! Like a blanket of snow before it is touched, while it still sparkles and glitters in the light… allow your day to start anew. Lets wash away the undone checklist and start new today.

One thing I like to do before my day begins is ask one question. "So Father, what should I do today? What should be on my list?" Sometimes my list is short. Sometimes my list is long. But at least I know when I ask, not only have I acknowledged Him so He can direct my day but in doing this it's also a way of applying 1 Peter 5:7, casting my cares (including my schedule) on Him. He cares for me! There is NO condemnation! I refuse to allow condemnation to come down on me because I AM IN CHRIST! What a great feeling! What a great reminder! When a day does not go as planned, I can cast it on the Lord and start anew, start fresh. Cast the day, my list and plans on the Lord and start new minus the condemnation!

#264 - Time with the Lord Anyways!

Hello & Welcome back to both of us!! :) Many of you most likely know that we just welcomed the birth of our 3rd child on December 30th! :) Timothy Isaac Josiah McCart. He is just now 4 weeks old. So….. at the McCart house we are learning to settle in to a "new" normal. Obviously still adjusting. I must say though, our little champ did a great job last night of sleeping almost 7 hours straight! Yay!! I'll take it!! :)

Meet Timothy! Born: December 30th, 2013 - 8:46am. 

Proud Big Brother Tyler Jr (4) and Trinity (2) meet Timothy hours after he is born.

Timothy weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 3/4th inches long. 

Nonetheless… I do look forward to getting back into a blog routine (along with many other things). No pressure, I'm going to ease back into things, but getting on a regular schedule is my goal. Since I've started blogging, when Tyler Jr was just a newborn himself, we have had THREE kids!! :) Tyler Jr, Trinity & Timothy. Which leads right into the topic for today…. spending time in the WORD despite some of lifes changes and adjustments! So…. let's get started! :)

Proverbs 31:15-16 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. (16) 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]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

As my 3rd time around with a major life-event, I must say I am reminded of the importance of having a regular time with The Lord. The last month has had its "whirlwind" type schedule of sleeping, dialing in a newborn, helping him sleep through the night, recovering from a C-section, etc, etc and to be honest, I most definitely have not been perfect! There have been many mornings where I have missed my time in the Word, which has reminded me even more why it is so important!

Let's take a look at this Proverbs 31 woman and her example. I want to look specifically at THREE things that she does in preparation for her day.

1. She rises while it is yet night. - Any of you who have children, especially toddlers, know how crucial this aspect is! Once children get out of bed, the idea of quiet is almost a far fetched possibility. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely. Our Proverbs 31 friend, a mother, must have witnessed this first hand. In order to get some QUIET in, she needed to rise while it was still dark and while her family was still sleeping in order to get some solid spiritual food in her spirit! 
2. Get spiritual food! - The value of feeding her spirit took place even before feeding her flesh. It didn't say that our friend prepared breakfast for her family first… but that she first got spiritual food. She first spent time, in the quiet, still dark outside, feeding her spirit! 
3. She considers! - Once up, she has sought the Lord, now she seeks the Lord about what to do for the day! The Holy Spirit knows what is going to happen with our day before it happens! He knows how the day is going to unfold and He knows just what tasks should be on our plate! When we seek HIM first, it allows us to go about our day without doing things that could be done in vain. Have you ever tried to get laundry done, only with interruption after interruption, taking 2-3 hours just to get ONE load folded and put away?! Not saying this is the case all the time, but when we seek the direction of the Holy Spirit, He may have directed us to NOT do laundry on such a particular day. He inevitably knows when certain tasks will just take WAY TO LONG for a given day. When we SEEK the Holy Spirit, when we CONSIDER what tasks to take on for the day, we can gain INSIGHT and DIRECTION on the God-specific tasks that should be on our schedule!

Today… I encourage you, can you find a way to fit some time with the Lord in, in the morning? 

Find some time with the Lord today ANYWAYS! Even thought life may throw a curve ball, throw a curve ball back! Decide to get some time in with the Almighty! Set your alarm now for tomorrow morning. 5 minutes early? 15 minutes? 30? Steal away for 5 minutes in the bathroom if you've already missed the morning hours…. Just START! Even if you start with just 5 minutes, He can direct your day in a way that you and I can never do. At least in a way that will wind up the most fruitful and productive! Because after all, isn't that what we're looking to do? Produce the best fruit? And on some days…. that may just be playing in the snow with your kids! :) #memories 

Have a blessed day!

You ARE Chosen!

2 Chron. 29:11 - …. the Lord has chosen you...

I recently heard a mom say that she felt like she was living in the mundane. As a stay at home mom, she chased a toddler, fed a newborn, and did the daily "day-in, day-out" activities that need to get done in a home. Cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, wiping noses, washing little fingers, laundry, and the list goes on.

Mundane.

Monotony.

Day in. Day out.

Are these things little value in the Kingdom? Is there value to them?

I asked the same question this morning as I was journaling. I made my list of things that need to be done. Today's list specifically, there seemed to be no "life-changing" or "world changing" activities on my list. As a Christian, wanting to take the world by storm for Jesus, change people's lives, help people, and I look at my current to-do list, and (aside from reading, listening to an audio, having my quiet time) the activities for today include: clean a box in the garage, do laundry, dishes, pick up living room. 

As I flipped open my Bible, I randomly fell upon 2 Chronicles 29:11, which read, "…the Lord has chosen you….". Though in context, this passage is talking to the Levites, those who are the ministers of this time, the priests. They are to guard and preserve the temple, the Holy place, receive offerings, etc. Though, as the yellow highlighted passage in my Bible stood out to me, I took a moment to listen to what that Still Small Voice had to say to me about being chosen.  (Substitute YOUR NAME and YOUR calling)

You are CHOSEN to be exactly Amy. Exactly where you are. Mom & wife. Pregnant right now. Business owner. Writer. You ARE CHOSEN to complete your calling. You ARE CALLED! Some days it may seem mundane. It may seem like the things are of little effect, but if you follow My Voice & plan, it all works into the big picture. Amy, I am not calling the perfect, I'm calling the willing. Those willing to listen, obey and act on My Word & Voice. Yes, some days it is as simple as cleaning a box out of the garage & doing laundry. Do not belittle the daily tasks. It is part of your CURRENT assignment, but it WILL NOT be your assignment forever. 

You are CHOSEN. You are CALLED. Even through the days that seem mundane. Organization and cleanliness allow a peaceful place for the Holy Spirit to operate and move. I've heard it said, "Clutter and chaos hinder the Holy Spirit. It breeds lack of peace." Maybe de-cluttering is what you are doing today. And do you know what, that is OKAY! It could very well be paving the way for starting up a ministry, and it may be right out of your garage!

You are CHOSEN and you are CALLED. If it's dishes and laundry today, accomplish TODAY's Calling. Conquering the World and seeing a million people saved may be work for next year, or 5 years from now or even 10, 20? But today, pave the way with your obedience…. even in the mundane.

You are CHOSEN to be YOU. Listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit & obey today's assignment for your life.

Be All That You Can Be!

Eccl. 3:14 - ... He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds (a divinely planted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy.)

Have you ever felt a desire to do great things? Be great? You may not have a desire to enroll in the army, but their slogan, "Be All that You Can Be" rings true as a desire for accomplishment in your life.

Friend, God has placed inside you these desires. Desires to do great things! To be great! To accomplish. He has put in you the desire, and He will also give you the means to accomplish those things that you have been put here on earth to do. As it reminds us in Psalm 37:4, God gives us the desires of our hearts. Friend, he will give you YOUR desires! He places those desires in our hearts.

Continue to seek Him. Search Him out for answers. A phrase I have heard many times, "There is nothing that cannot be answered by sustained thought and prayer." Do you not know the next step in accomplishing your dream or desire? Think on it! Pray on it! Listen on it! Take some time and pray, then LISTEN to that Still Small Voice for a response. There are answers! Seek them out and LIVE YOUR DREAM!