Nine Arts- LOVING!!!!!

Do you love people?
Do you love your parents?
Do you love your Spouse?
Do you love your children?
Do you love your Family Members?
Do you love your friends?
Do you love your neighbors?
Do you love the waitress at the restaurant?
Do you love the teen that waited on you at the fast food restaurant?
NOW A BIG QUESTION>>>>>
DO YOU LOVE JESUS????

Oh WOW!!!!!  It may be easy to go down the list and say YES to 95% of those.  Let me ask you another question....do you love them unconditionally?  Do you show your love to them?  If you do, how do you do that? 

Let's really think about that.  He loved us first!  He loved us unconditionally.  Scripture even says that "While we still sinners, Christ died for us."  He loved you even in your sin, so much that He was willing to die for you.  That really just takes me to my knees in gratitude!!!! 

Let's look at some other scripture to consider....
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (NIV) Zephaniah 3:17 " And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, through it is too great to understand fully." (NIV) Ephesians 3:18-19 "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"We love because he first loved us"(NIV) 1 John 4:19

Here is something for us to consider when we are going through this process of seeking those that are lost. 
"Musician Aaron Niequist explains it this way in his song "Changed" 
We have been blessed,
now we're gonna be a blessing.
We have been loved,
now we're gonna bring love,
We've been invited,
we're gonna share the invitation.
We have been changed, to bring change"

"God invites ordinary men and women in their every day lives to make an extraordinary impact with an extraordinary message.  What's the message?  God extravagantly loves ALL PEOPLE!!!!"

M.I.A

Where to start?  Oh my goodness it has been just crazy.  School ended with the first Kaleb graduating Kindergarten and getting ready for FIRST GRADE!!!  I am still amazed at the fact that he is going to be in first grade!~

This year I will get to go to "work" as a Substitute Teacher for the schools.  I was able to sub a little last year and absolutely loved it.  I'm excited about getting  back in there and meeting more children.  I found out that I really enjoy the 3rd-5th grade.  I was really surprised by that for some reason.  It was just good all the way around!!! 

We have been traveling and have enjoyed it so very much but I have to admit that I am tired and ready to stay home for a bit.  We had an incredible time at Disney World and then at VBS and then in NC.  We have been BUSY!!!!!

We finished the James Bible Study with the sweet ladies in our Sunday School.  We had so much fun and it was a great study.  We will be praying and seeking the Lord about what we will be doing next.  I'm excited!!!  We are growing with every study!

I have had a little time while riding in the car to do some reading.  I have finished 2 books and working on another.  I can't wait to share them with you.  They were so powerful!  I want to finish what I'm working on before I share them. 

I hope that you are having a wonderful summer!!!!! 

God Is Good

Yes He is!!!!  Sometimes we just need to step back and look.

I know I have been away.  Life was crazy there for a few days.  I'm getting to work at the schools here in Mississippi and that has been such an experience.  I'm a Substitute Teacher.  It's great!!!!!  I've had 2nd grade, High School World History (that was eye opening!), Elementary Music Teacher for K-2nd and then at the end of the week I get 3 days of 5th grade Science.  I am just amazed at what these kids are required to know.  In the 2nd grade class they were "diagramming" sentences along with learning unbelievable math concepts.  All grades including Kindergarten now have to do "presentations during the year in front of their peers.  Just amazing!!!!!

In the midst of the blessing of being around these kids, I am teaching/leading another Bible Study at church on the book of James.  WHAT A BOOK!!!!  I'm just amazed every time I open His Word.  I have studied James before on different occasions but once again, there is more.  More to learn. More for Him to speak. I just love to study!!!!!!! 

He blessed us with the opportunity to go to Biloxi MS for Bo to go to a conference.  Of course, there was a beach and that meant running and pool time for me.  Mom and Dad stayed with Kaleb so we could go.  BLESSING UPON BLESSING!!!!!! Mom took care of the inside and Daddy overhauled the yard and it looks FABULOUS!!!!!!  They are such a blessing and there are just no words to adequately express that and Thank You seems so small! 

His blessings are so rich.  His mercies are new every morning. I'm just gratefully overwhelmed if that makes sense at all. 

Have a blessed day!!!!

We Picked One

Well, our "group" that did Unglued together has picked a new study.  We needed something that would be approximately 6 weeks.  Oh my...what to pick???  There are so many wonderful studies out there.  How in the world do you pick one. 
The simple.
The basic
The DVD driven.
The no homework (we didn't see one of those)
The little homework
The MAJOR homework
It was a little overwhelming when we first looked at our list.  We had so many great writers and authors.  We had so many different styles of study.  It was quite a list. Just to give you an idea, this is what it looked like.......

Community Bible Study (They have a great little book they use)
Disciplers Bible Study (Written like BSF)
Beth Moore Study
Anne Graham Lotz study
Lysa TerKeurst study
Kay Arthur
Priscilla Shirer
Beth, Kay and Priscilla Study
Prayer Notebook Assembly (Putting together a Prayer Notebook)

We were completely honest with time and time management and what we could commit to.  That was soooooo important.  We narrowed it down to........................................................................... drum roll please......................................................................................
DISCIPLERS Bible Study!!!!!!!!!  Then we had to narrow it to what book of the Bible to Study.  We knew we needed 6 weeks. 

JAMES!!!  I love this book.  It can be step on your toes difficult but you can never read it and learn it enough. 
I was so excited about this I could have just busted.  What thrills me about it is this.....
There are 6 days of homework.
There is a commentary to read that is about 4-6 pages.
There is NOTHING ELSE TO READ!!!!!!
This what I a LOVE about BSF, Disciplers and Community Bible Study.  It requires you to read your scripture.  Dig in the scripture. Listen for the Lord.  Let Him teach you.  I was so excited!!!!!
THEN IT HIT ME>>>>>>>>>>>  that little voice of doubt.......I would be responsible for the teaching part.........Maybe we should rethink this.......then I get sweet encouragement from my Husband, and others.  This is going to be WONDERFUL!!!! 
Here's the key.  If I walked in thinking that "I can do this", I completely missed it.  Here it is...."I can't BUT He CAN" is my thinking.  My fear subsided and my excitement has completely taken over.  The great part....we are going to do a "Prayer Notebook" Assembly the first night we kick it off.  Everyone will bring their list of supplies and we will put them together and use them during the 6 weeks.  Some are going to bring their teen daughters!!!!!!  WHOOT!!!!!!  Happy Holy Dance Here!!!!!!! 
I hope you will join us in the journey into His Word.........it is so RICH and so POWERFUL!!!!!!

Life!!!

Life keeps going!!!!  There is always something happening and something going on.  I am so grateful for the friends that I have made here on so many levels.  They have just amazed me!!!!!!

I have received my "letter of approval" from the school board stating that I can be a substitute teacher here in Amory.  This was a process for sure but so grateful for the help.  I am anxious to get in the classroom with the children!!!!! 

Kaleb had his first "fundraiser" at school.  Being in Kindergarten, he had not done one before.  The key for us is that in Amory there is ONE Elementary School.  You don't have 6 or 8 competing and all selling different stuff.  Amory is a small town.  Everyone we know goes to the same school.  So appreciate friends and family here and there (in NC and Ga.) that have bought stuff so that Kaleb can participate. 

Still amazed at how the Lord continues to bless.  I finally got to meet with the Women's Ministry Director the other day.  She is such a delight and we are on the same page.  I'm super excited about it!!!!!!

The Ladies from my Sunday School class are meeting next week to talk about what to do next.  We have talked about a bit of everything from Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Community Bible Study and even Disciplers.  It's exciting to see this group of women excited and wanting to get together for more study and getting closer to one another!!!!! 

The other blog over on Pam's Pantry Idea's is noting the other progress that I'm making on the P90X journey.  Journey is putting it lightly but let me tell you, it is SOOO worth it!!!!!  I JUST LOVE IT!!!!!  You can check it out when you have time. 

I hope you are doing well.  I'm excited to see what is next!!!!!  Joy In The Journey!!!!!

Unlgued

Last night was the last night.  It has been such a journey.  Such a blessing.  From the first e-mail/message on Facebook to last night.  I watched the Lord work.  I watched Him change lives.  I watched women become less-Unglued.  I watched Imperfect-Progress.
I found a group of women that I love dearly.
I saw and experienced the Lord take me completely out of my comfort zone.
I have always been the participant and the "behind the scenes" person. 
I never dreamed that He would take me completely out and put me in front of a group of women that I barley knew.
Obedience was called for and there was no way I was going to say No!  Call it a learned experience, you don't do that!!!!!! 

These women are hungry.  They want more.  They love the Lord.  It's exciting!!!!!!  I can't wait to see what He has planned for us next!!!!!!  We discussed many things last night.  We will be meeting again to come to a decision and pray!!!!!!! 

God is soooo good!!!!!!!!

Psalm 23

Psalm 23


The Lord is my shepherd;
That's Relationship!
I shall not want.
That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul:
That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That's Guidance!
For His name's sake.
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death,
That's Testing!
I will fear no evil'
That's Protection!
For Thou art with me,
That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and THy staff, they comfort me.
That's Discipline!

Though preparest a table before me
In the presence of mine enemies:
That's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil;
That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over.
That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That's Security!
Forever.
That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.
What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives,
but WHO we have in our lives!

Unglued Memory Verses

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)            

AND

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Unglued

We won’t bend from the weight of our past, but we will bow to the One who holds out hope for a better future.  It’s a truth-filled future in which God reveals how emotions can work for us instead of against us. Unglued, pg17

 

When faced with a situation out of our control, we need to ask, “Whose side am I on?’  Will our response reflect that we are on God’s side, or not?  If we determine that, no matter what, we’re on God’s side, it settles the trust issue in our hearts.  And if we ground ourselves in the reality that we trust God, we can face circumstances that are out of our control without acting out of control.  We can’t always fix our circumstances, but we can fix our minds on God.  We can do that.

Unglued, pg28

 

Our goal isn’t to be perfect; that’s not realistic.  Our goal is to make progress- imperfect progress

                       Unglued DVD

 

UNGLUED

Well, we are moving right along.  We had an incredible time on Sunday evening with some wonderful women that I just love dearly!!!!!!!  We shared!  YES WE SHARED!!!!!!  Leading a Bible study is always a wonderful experience but I am always afraid that people won't talk and they all stare at each other.  It's not a good feeling but NOT THE CASE!!!!!!

We were real.  We were open.  We are all in this together.  I heard two ladies state the same thing and it has just stuck with me all week.  We may all be in different places in life but we can share and encourage one another.  AMEN Sister!!!!!!!

This week we talked about chiseling.  It sounds painful.  At times, it is painful!!!!  Yet, in the end.....The Master will complete His work and we will look more like His Son, Jesus!!!!!  That's my desire !!!!!!!!!! 

We all have our UNGLUED moments.  We can make a choice in how we want to deal with them.  Before reacting.....speak softly....."Lord Chisel Me."

Job- Week 2

Let me just say once again, and I will probably say it every week, this is just one of those books that when you read it and study it, you are just reminded of how powerful The Word is.  It is just amazing to me. 
This week we discussed this conversation between satan and the Lord.  The audacity that satan takes upon himself to even come into the presence of the Lord is just mind boggling when you think of it.  The other thing that Rita reminded me is that we are the Lord's.  The Word says that the Lord says, "Have you considered my servant Job?"  Sit on that for a minute.  The words "my servant".  I am his.  The Lord is saying...."That one is mine."  When I just stop and think on that I am just overwhelmed.  Then it gets even better.  "Job".  He doesn't say...'That man over there with 10 children and land and security....He says "Job".  I mean He knows us by name.  Can you wrap your brain around that.  Let's make that verse a little more personal.  Fill in your name when you read it.  "Have you considered my servant _________"  Makes it real doesn't it!  He know us. We are His. IT'S PERSONAL!!!!!

All of these things happen to Job.  He looses his animals, his children, and his health.  Scripture says that he tore his clothes, shaved his head.........and fell to his knees in worship.  WOW!!!!  Let's really look and think this through.  This is a man that within a matter of a few hours has lost his camels, his oxen, and 10 children AND has been covered with boils.  Yet he falls on his knees in worship.  REALLY?  Could I do that?  Could I really fall on my face in worship if I had lost it all?  I would hope that I could.  Do I think that I would have Jobs attitude....The Lord gives and the Lord takes away?  I'm not so sure.  I believe that I would probably go through those stages of loss and grief before I could be there. 

If you have lost something. Maybe it was.....
a friendship
a relationship
a parent
a sibling
a child
a teenager
a child you never got to hold
a spouse
a house
a car
what would your reaction be?  How would you respond?  I can only pray that I don't have to loose something to worship Him.  I want those words to be continually on my tongue......The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, yet I will praise Him.  He knows what is best. His ways are higher than mine. He loves me and those that I love more than we can ever imagine. 
Job has a lot to teach us.  I pray that this will get your mind going today.  Focus on HIM!!!!!  Realize that He loves you!  If you are going through something.....He already knows.  Cry out to Him!!!!!!!  He's right there!!!!

UNGLUED

Well, well......we had the first night of Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst.  Let me first say that this will be a very short post.  I was completely blown away.  We had been talking in Sunday School about how satan spoke and whispered in Eve's ear and made her question and doubt what the Lord had truly said.  I will be the first to say that the entire week leading up to last night, he was whispering in my ear.  I knew it was him and refused to allow him to win.  That was NOT an option.  I knew in my heart that this is what I was to be doing.  I knew it without a shadow of a doubt.  I had been praying.  Amy and Nancy had been praying.  I knew that I knew.
Of course I had that awful feeling that started about Saturday afternoon that I was getting excited for nothing. The What-If's started to come in.....
What if no one comes?
What if I don't have answers for them?
What if I act like an "know it all"?
What if they don't come back?
and on and on it came and every time I just kept praying and knowing in my heart, this is what He wanted and I needed to EXPECT Him to do something. 

We had, I believe, 16 women......16 WOMEN wanting and desiring friendships, relationships, closeness, sharing, learning what the Lord has to say about our emotions.  It was all I could do to contain myself and not just bust out in tears.  I was blessed beyond measure. 
It's going to be an awesome study.  God showed up like He always does.  We are EXPECTING BIG CHANGES during this study!!!!!!!!!! 

Feel free to check in next Monday after week one.  It's just blessing on top of blessing!!!!!!

Unglued Prayer Request

Unglued.

Am I Unglued?

What if I am Unglued?

What happens when I become Unglued?

Well, Sunday night, there will be a group of women gathering here in Amory to start studying Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst.  It’s a wonderful book.  It has a wonderful message in it.  I’m writing on behalf of the women in the group.  We would covet your prayers during our study time.  We will be gathering from 4:30-5:45ish here in Mississippi.  We are EXCITED!!!!!  It is the group of women  from our Sunday school class.  We decided to do this to bring us close together, to get to know each other more intimately.  It’s a powerful book with a powerful message.  There is studying to be done each week which will require time for them to be in the book as well as THE BIBLE!!!!  We will be working on memorizing verses, posting them in our cars, on refrigerators, bathroom mirrors and even on our computer screens.  This will be a lot of soul searching and a lot of being honest with not only ourselves but with our families, our friends and especially THE LORD!!!! I would ask for several things for you to pray for and we have included a list below.  Please just leave a note at the bottom of the page if you are willing to be praying…..

*Satan would be bound.  He would love nothing than to cause us to fail.

*Time for study each day/week

*Open hearts for change where there needs to be change

*Honesty with the Lord.  He knows already.

*Family to be supportive and loving as we strive to be the woman the Lord wants us to be.

*To come away from the study changed

* To grow in our relationship with the Lord

* Grow in relationship with one another

We are giving this time to Him.  We are EXPECTING Him to show up mightily!!!!!!!!!!

Book Of Job - Part 1

So we have a new study in Community Bible Study.  The book of Job.  My first response was “Oh My!”  I had been listening to it on my You Version while doing my reading through the Bible in a year.  I would get frustrated with the people giving the advice and get frustrated with Job and his response and then the Lord ever so gently reminded me that I am no different at times.  I’m either acting or being Job or I am giving such advice as Job’s friends. So I chose to sit back and EXPECT Him to show me some new things in this book of Job and what He has for me.  I’m excited and can’t wait to see it.  I thought I would give you a little bit of what we learned about in this first week.  They are more “points” so to speak.  So let’s get started.

·         We don’t know who wrote it.  There are all kinds of speculations.  One thing that was brought up in our group is that we may not know for sure but whoever did, had knowledge of this conversation between God and the enemy.  Can you imagine what that is like?  To know about such a conversation?  It really made me stop and think.

These following thoughts are more from the “Teaching Time” with Rita.  I take no credit for any of these things but I am still pondering and wondering and praying about them. 

·         Job (we) has an enemy.  That enemy is Satan.  We can’t see him but he has one goal and that goal is to take us out! 

·         First impressions are important.  We are told that Job is blameless, upright, feared God and shunned evil.  My first thought was that when people see me and get to know me, do they get that as a first impression from me?  Something to consider.  Moving to Mississippi, I do think about first impressions with the people that we met. 

·         He had a genuine concern, love and passion for raising and loving his family.  Having 7 boys and 3 girls plus spouses, his family was large.  He was sacrificing for his children JUST IN CASE they had done something wrong.  He was bringing his children to God when things were good and for sure when something was wrong, I am sure that Job was right there showing and teaching them how to make that relationship right again.  Question posed was…..Is it our regular practice to bring our children to God when things are going right?  She talked about her grandchild and how he tries to sing Jesus loves me.  I was so convicted about this.  Do I point my children to the Lord?  When things are good? When things are bad?

It was a powerful lesson and it was only on the first 5 verses of Job 1!!!!  Wow!!!!!!  I’m excited about diving back into studying!!!!!! 

Have you ever studied Job?  It’s going to be awesome!!!!!!!

 

Bible Study- Not 1 but 2

Well, Community Bible Study has resumed.  It's on the book of Job.  Oh my goodness!!!!!  I have studied Job in the past.  I was glad to get back to going.  Today was wonderful.  I met the ladies in my group and then listen to Rita teach.  She reminds me so much of Marsha.  It was just so refreshing to be there.  I am sure this will include a lot of post.  Job is an awesome part of the Bible.  I'm ready to get started!!!!

On the other hand the ladies in our Sunday School class will be starting the Bible Study, Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst.  We are so very excited.  We can not wait to start!!!!!  We are going to use the DVD that goes with it.  I'm the one being the facilitator.  This is such a God-thing.  I'm thrilled to be doing this and what a wonderful way to get to know these precious women in our class.  Not sure how many we will have but the ones that the Lord wants to be there will be.  It's a great book!!!!  Something to apply to every woman!!!!!  We have encouraged the husbands to be praying for their wives!!!!  This is going to be great!!!!!!!

What Bible study are you involved in?  What was your all time favorite Bible Study?  Please do share!!!!!  I can't wait to share what the Lord does......Its going to be FANTASTIC!!!!!

Expect It!

Well, my word for the year was EXPECT!  Well sometimes He does things and we were not EXPECTING it. 
Today a new Community Bible Study started. Doing the book of Job!!!!  What a book!!!!!  I had my information to go and had seen one of the ladies and told her how excited I was about coming.  I had it written on my calendar and ready!

Now let's back up a little bit.  Earlier, almost 2 months ago, I started a "Read Thru The Bible In a Year" on my iPad with the You Version Bible.  I LOVE IT!!!!  Part Old Testament and Part New Testament every day.  It was perfect.  I am not perfect and had fallen behind. 

Back to today.  I got up this morning feeling rough.  I had not slept well at all last night and was kind of achy/sore and of course I had 2 thoughts.  First- OH NO I'm getting the Flu.  Second- I over did it at the gym yesterday.  I took some meds and thought I would just stay home and take it easy.  I just didn't feel good.  So I sat down on the couch and thought....."Lets get caught up on my "reading".  Well, I started reading and then figured out that it could be listened to, so I let it read.

I have made it through Genesis, Exodus, Mark, 1st and 2nd Thess.  Well, I got caught up to today's reading.  You will NOT BELIEVE this!!!!!!!  Today started with Job 1 and 2.  I almost fell off the couch.  I could not believe it!  I didn't see it coming.  I had no idea.  It was such a God moment! 

I had made the decision to stay home today and wanted to be at Bible Study.  I didn't EXPECT to have the same Bible study with just me and my Savior.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!  I wasn't expecting it but  did He ever just BLOW ME AWAY!!!!!!!

I will be at Bible Study next week.  Amazing!!!!!!  EXPECT HIM!!!!! 

Elohim or Yahweh or Both?

This is something that I read in our Sunday School lesson that just really made me think.  Of course then it asked a question or two.  I'll share it as a quote and then share the questions and let you ponder them.

Based on Genesis 1:1-5 and Genesis 2

 Gods transcendence, power, and authority are what command creation into existence.  The very named used to describe Him in the account of creation above is Elohim, the common name of God in Hebrew that means mighty, powerful, and exceedingly great.  All created beings, including mankind, owe their allegiance to this amazing God because there is none like Him;there is no other God who has such power and authority, such bigness and transcendence.

At the same time we see the author of Genesis take a moment to retell  the story of creation in chapter 2, this time with a subtle yet crucial difference.  In the second account we see Moses refer to God as "Lord God".  This name is different from the first.  It doesn't describe an attribute or role of God but instead calls Him by His personal name: Yahweh.

 Can you think of some reasons Moses would want to give us two perspectives on the same creation story by referring to God in two distinct ways?

 What do you think he is trying to tell us about God?

 

This was powerful!  Something to consider and pray about!!!!!!

 

Blessings,

Pam

Are you a Sponge?

Phil. 2:12-13  Even as the Philippians were obeying in Paul's presence and even while he was away, they were growing.  They were learning, working and being followers of Christ by working out their salvation.  Let me be clear here.  Works will not save you!  Faith saves you and the works that flow out of that faith is what causes you to grow.  We could work all day, every day and no matter how good, how wonderful or how much of a blessing we are- without faith it doesn't matter.  All of those good deeds won't get you any where.  Faith in Christ.  Faith that believes He is who He says He is.  Faith that believes He can and will do what He says He will and can do.  AMAZING!  He loved you and me so very much that He was willing to go to the cross.  He would die a criminals death and be buried in a borrowed tomb and be raised again on the third day to ascend to the right hand of the Father.  Can you and I even come close to wrapping our tiny human minds around that?  Do you believe it? Do you understand it? If we have enough faith to believe that He did this for us- How can we not be busy about the Father's work.  How can we just sit by and act like a sponge. 
Let me explain.  A household sponge that soaks in all the water possible and is left to sit will start to smell and stink and eventually will get moldy and mildew.  On the other hand a sponge that is being used to fulfill it's purpose is filled with water, cleans and is rung out.  What comes out when it's squeezed is what it was filled with, cleaning water.
You and I are like this and we can be useful or we can be stale and stinky.  We can be the first sponge.  We can go to Bible Studies, Sunday School, Worship and we can soak it all in.  BUT we don't "do" anything with it.  We are just busy soaking.  After a while we are a  little hard hearted, a little bitter over someone or something and before long we are wallowing in our mold and mildew and we just reek.
OR we can be like the second.  We go- we listen- we pray and the we squeeze a little for service in the community or squeezed again for service within the church-squeezed again when finances are tight, kids are not obeying and what comes out is what we were just filled with at the last service or lesson.  Sweet, fragrant offerings.  The second sponge doesn't get stale and smell and stink. It's being used, poured out, cleaned and refilled.
My question-
Which sponge am I?
Which sponge are you?
For sure something to consider. Working out my salvation- Faith without works is dead.

Being Brave

I am going to walk out on a limb and share something with all of you that read.  If you have been following me for any length of time, you know and see that I obviously love to share and to write.  When we moved to Amory, I was invited to the Women's Community Bible Study.  Such a powerful experience exactly when I needed it!!!!  We were studying the book of Philippians.  One that I just love in the scriptures.  Well, during that study of the scriptures I found myself writing.  Writing not only the answers to the questions in the study but a "devotional" of sorts. 

It was exciting to see what the Lord would say and write through my pen.  It was such an experience! I have chosen to share this on this blog.  I am not going to share every one that I wrote but several of them.  I'm excited to be able to share my heart with you!  I am looking forward to this and I hope that you will check in and read!!!!!!!!  We will start tomorrow with the first entry.  I look forward to hearing from you!

What If....

Sunday in Sunday School we were having a conversation about what was important. The question was also asked what was important about what was important to you about your spiritual life/walk.  They had posed the questions to the youth and then we were answering the questions and listening to what the youth had to say.  It was amazing!!

We took the conversation a little different and talked about the influences not only in our children's lives but even in ours and the distractions that come as well.  I was really thinking and praying to the point of tears by the end of the closing prayer. 

The question was posed.... What if you gave up TV or one hour a day and read scripture, time praying and/or reading a devotional?  Do you think it would make a difference?  I just wanted to stand up and shout YES!!!!!!!!  The more I thought about it and the more I was just praying and thinking and hearing what the youth answers were I was just overwhelmed.  Some of the answers to the question just broke my heart.  (these are not word for word) but not reading scripture because it's to hard, not enough time, not sure how to study it, etc.  Our teacher, Tim, talked about how as children and even youth we only teach our children about Moses and the Red Sea, Jonah and the whale, feeding the 5,000.  We haven't taught them about the Crucifixion and who did that.  We haven't taught our children about Stephen. We haven't taught our children about Saul/Paul. 

I totally agree with teaching at age appropriate.  That is not my point.  My point is that we teach and encourage and instruct but we drop the ball at taking it to the next step.  Do we have devotionals for our children?  Do we read the scripture with our children?  Do we teach them how to read and study the Word?  I will be the first to tell you I haven't!!!!!!!  For that I am so sorry.  It will be changing in our home for sure.  Conviction was all over me. 

So what about you....
What if you.....
gave up your cable?
gave up your Facebook for 2 weeks?
gave up your TV for one hour every night?
gave up your books for 2 weeks?
You took that time to read The Word, Prayed, Read a Devotion.  Would things change?  Would your life with and in Christ change? 

I've been challenged.  How about you?  I will be thinking on this for a while!