Daydreamer...

1 Tim 4:7 "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

NLT version says "Don't waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly."

The Bible doesn't tell us exactly what these old wives' tales were. It seems that Timothy may have been so exhausted that he was starting to daydream about finding an easier and more trouble-free way to do his job. Was he tempted to daydream about life in the ministry becoming simpler? Was he hoping that things would eventually become a lot less hectic, undemanding, and uncomplicated? If he was....then his thinking would definitely fall into the category of a fable/wives' tale.

I can look back at my time in ministry when I have done just what Timothy did. I'm sure that anyone working in the ministry can say the same thing. Wondering....what can I do to make this easier? Is there a short cut? How can I get this done faster?

When God trusts you enough to give you more and more responsibility, it always demands more of you, not less. Ministry is work, and none of us should ever forget that fact!!

Those anointed by God just need to face the fact that your schedule will get busier, your demands will increase, and your challenges will grow. But as long as you allow God to develop your character along the way...you will find that you're able to successfully manage anything He puts on your plate!

When challenges head your way.....you need to adjust your thinking and take a different approach to the challenges. Rather than pray them away, embrace them and use them to develop yourself.

When you are physically or mentally exhausted, your mind may be tempted to daydream or to wander to other places. It is amazing how the mind tries to escape from reality. But rather than let yourself float away on a cloud of fantasy that doesn't help you fulfill your God-given assignment, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see things realistically.

Lord, help me to stay focused on what You have called me to do and to embrace everything that comes with Your call on my life. Forgive me for the times I've tried to find a shortcut to avoid responsibility. I want to put my whole heart into the race You have set before me-to fulfill my assigned tasks fervently, passionately, and with the highest level of excellence. I confess that I am both faith-filled and realistic about what God has called me to do. I realize that it's going to take hard work and commitment to take this assignment to the high level that God expects of me. I refuse to shrink from my responsibilities, and I choose to put my whole heart and soul into the task Jesus has given to me. In Jesus NAME!

(sparkling gems)

My Sparkling Gem: never-give-up attitude

In my study today of God's word....the message spoke very loud and clear to me.

1 Tim 3:1

In the midst of the situations and circumstances in my life, have I maintained the never-give-up attitude?

In today's message the writer talks about people living in despair and how heartbreaking it is to see them having lost all hope and a sense of purpose in life. Many times we can feel sorry for those people because life seems so bleak and that their situation seemed so desperate. But is that the right thing to do?

It is sadly true that many believers live low-level lives simple because they have no ambition, passion, or desire to do anything to improve themselves. Their complacent attitude prevents them from ever doing anything better with their lives. Considering the fact that the Spirit of God lives in believers and wants to take them higher, it is hard to understand why any believer would act in a way contrary to what God wants for them.

As I continued my study, I began to look back at the situations and circumstances in my life and have realized, I too have been complacent and sat around in a puddle of mediocrity, satisfied with the status quo. So today's prayer and and confession for the day become my meditation:

Lord, please help me stir up my desire to make significant changes in my life. I am so sorry for the times I've allowed complacency to keep me stuck in the same ol' place for such a long time. I want to change. I want to grow. I want to be different. I am asking You to supernaturally fill me with so much desire that no power on earth and no force in hell can stop me from becoming everything You want me to be! I confess that I am filled with enough desire to make significant leaps forward in my life. I am not going to stay the same as I have been in the past. I am getting up and moving forward. I'm stretched out to the goal and completely committed to achieving the dream God has for me. I will not stop, nor will I allow anything to distract me from reaching out to become ALL that God has planned for me to be. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!

"Meek & Quiet Spirit"

Today most people think a "meek and quiet" person is weak, timid, and soft-spoken.

However back in Peter's day, the term "meek (Greek word-praus)" is one who is friendly, warm, patient, kind, and gentle. "Quiet (Greek word-hisuchios) depicts a person who knows how to calm themselves and to maintain a state of peace and tranquility.

The quality of a "meek and quiet" spirit is a treasure, so much so that God says a woman who has achieved this state of maturity possesses something of great price. A woman who continually controls herself-holding her temper, keeping a lid on her emotions, and remaining a stable, tranquil force in every situation-is demonstrating evidence of a great maturity.

Oh man did this hit home with me today. Before reading this devotional, there were times when I thought that a "meek and quiet" person was weak, timid, and soft-spoken. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to this new vision. God appreciates it when we put aside our own anger or emotions and instead helps peace reign in the situation. I pray that I allow God to teach me to look to Him rather than be swayed by the circumstances of life.

We have a choice to either react in anger or in this new vision of meekness. Every time we have an opportunity to react in the flesh or be up and utter words that will later be regretted, we can choose to be a peacemaker.

Lord, I am so thankful for you. Please help me learn how to keep a rein on my tongue and how to submit my attitude to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Help me also to perceive how I can become one of those rare and special women You consider such a great value and worth. Holy Spirit, it's going to take a deep work of Your grace in my life for me to become this kind of person. So today I ask You to initiate this vital work deep inside my soul. Please transform me and make me into the person You want me to be.

(excerpts from the Sparkling Gems Devotional, Oct 12th)

Why is it that we can have faith so strong 95% of the time but when we're in the midst of a situation it weakens. I'm humbled & God reminds me through a beautiful rainbow that He ALWAYS keeps his promises. I tell myself, stop telling God how big your problem is & begin telling your problems how BIG your GOD is. I know that HE is in control & He has a great plan. I will continue to recall Jeremiah 29:11, and Psalm 91. Ty Lord for your word & the power it has in & through me.

THE WORD OF GOD

IS TOTALLY AMAZING!!

Here are a few things that God has spoken to me today: (NLT)

Matt 6:6 "But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

Matt 6:14-15 "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Matt 6:32b "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs."

Matt 7:7-8 "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

Thank you Lord! Amen.

Technology Fast

Well, I've been on a technology fast for the last couple of days and it's been an amazing and humorous journey. Even though the people in my life know that I'm refraining from twitter and facebook, they lovingly try to keep me posted on what's happening in the social networking world. I am amazed at the time freed up during this fast. I never realized how much time I put in and have determined to schedule time for those areas on my calendar.

During this time, I have embarked on a wonderful journey of healing, change, transformation, growth, wisdom, and connection.

I can't wait to share with you all the wonderful and glorious things that God has brought me to.

I pray that you are all so blessed!

Who holds the future....

God never ceases to amaze me with the plans that He has for each and every one of us. He moves and transitions us to help us reach our full God-given potential. Without His guidance and direction, that potential cannot be reached.

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we don't understand. But as His word, complete and total authority that it is, says John 13:7 "What I am doing right now you may not understand, but someday you will."

My family and I are in the midst of one of those transitions that we don't fully understand, but one day God will make it all clear.

We may not know WHAT the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future. - AMEN! Thank you Lord!

Superb Saturday

Today I learned that even tho we go through some challenges and it seems like the day is just another day. God has the power to turn it around and do great with something that could end so terribly bad.

Today began with disappointment after disappointment. What have I learned from that? Don't put your faith in something that will only turn around to disappoint you. God will never disappoint! Today wasn't about proving or acceptance....it was about honoring. What I learned is that the only person that I need to honor is God. Today I honor my husband by honoring God! He's my father and He's the only one that I have to make proud. Galatians 1:10 say: "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Once I gave the rest of the day over to Him....man amazing things began to happen.

What an awesome BarefootKids Ministry team we have. I also learned today that God brings people into position for a reason. When they are trained and then freed to do what God has called them to do....what amazing blessings they are. We have to be willing to LET GO and LET GOD. Our Elementary kids were blessed today because I stepped out of the way to allow an amazing volunteer go after reaching their full potential. In doing so...she was excited about partnering with our ministry. She felt like she was being utilized instead of just being another person. She brought an awesome message to our kids. A message that would have been unprepared, mediocre, and not God's best if I had stayed put. I am blessed to have such an awesome team who get the vision and run after it with their full heart. It's not about me. It's about partnering with people to help them reach their full potential. My responsibility as the Director is the equip people with the vision and allow God to take them to greater heights. My responsibility is not to grow our MINISTRY through our church, but to grow our CHURCH through our ministry. Today that happened. Not only were the kids blessed....but our volunteers were blessed.

Parents: Come hang out with your kids. Partner with us to help your kids make a kingdom difference. We want to walk beside you and encourage you as you work with God to Transform your kids into spiritual champions.

Thank you Barefoot Church for letting me be a part of the bigger vision.

My Test Mobile Blog.

Hurray! I can now blog from my mobile phone! Rock awesome!!

Maybe this will help me keep my blog up-to-date. Leveraging technology.

Begin again

Do you ever start something and then time goes by and you have to start again.....well then, you know where I'm coming from.

I've started this blog business over and over again and find that I'm not so dedicated to it, but there are lots of things floating in my head that need to be released.

So this is the first of firsts, again.....

Hello Blog world, I'm back. Look forward to sharing thoughts and discussions!!

Seek God this Week: What do I need to change?

So yesterday, God spoke to me in a mighty way. My question to him, what do I need to change? And he spoke volumes to me.

You need to make sure you share your vision well, bold, and often!
Take care of what you have in order to prepare for what you will have.....
Change is inevitable, so embrace it.
Pray for your leaders, team, and family more than yourself.
Seek God for encouragement, not man. Man will fail you but God will not.
Always have a plan B.
There are more options out there.....don't settle.
When you're seeking me, I will appear and not your socks off!
My office, does it bring productivity or does it hinder it?

Lost of things to think about. What's kewl is that he spoke to Lance what he spoke to me!!

Awesome!!!

Seek God This Week - What can I praise God's name about?

What can I praise God's name about? The thing that first comes to my mind is, who he his:

Adonai-Jehovah -- The Lord our Sovereign
El-Elyon -- The Lord Most High
El-Olam -- The Everlasting God
El-Shaddai -- The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People
Jehovah-Elohim -- The Eternal Creator
Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord our Provider
Jehovah-Nissi -- The Lord our Banner
Jehovah-Ropheka -- The Lord our Healer
Jehovah-Shalom -- The Lord our Peace
Jehovah-Tsidkenu -- The Lord our Righteousness
Jehovah-Mekaddishkem -- The Lord our Sanctifier
Jehovah-Sabaoth -- The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Shammah -- The Lord is Present
Jehovah-Rohi -- The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Hoseenu -- The Lord our Maker
Jehovah-Eloheenu -- The Lord our God

Seek God This Week - What can I tell God I'm thankful for?

What can I tell God I'm thankful for? I could thank His name all day......but here is a list that I came up with, not in any particular order:

1. Because he loves me so much!
2. His creation, earth, sky, oceans, mountains, stars, sun, moon, clouds, trees, grass, bushes, creatures that walk the earth (yes even those humans that frustrate me and hurt me). OK, even palmettos-they have to serve some other purpose than driving me crazy. OK, even spiders, I know that they have a greater purpose than to freak me out too!
3. My son Liam. Wow! What a blessing he is to me and an everyday reminder of how much God really does answer prayers and gives you the desire of your heart.
4. My husband who displays grace, mercy, compassion, wisdom, discernment, humor, passion, focus, humility, talent, support, understanding, and gentle correction. For having faith in me when I have little.
   
5. Jennifer Tucholski: for her desire to grow closer to God by helping me become a more organized and affective leader.
6. Grant Kuhn: for the hours of wonderful conversation that we can get lost in during our meetings. For his desire to help me grow as a leader and his compassion.
7. Clay and Kim NeSmith: for their love, compassion, strength, wisdom, discernment, willingness to take a risk by selecting me to be on their team. For this constant leadership and teaching on growing as a leader in God's church. For their friendship.
8. Michelle Mosley: for her love and friendship. Her wisdom and compassion during difficult times.
9. Heather Vaughan & Kat Dennis: for their passion to serve the Lord and their desire for excellence. I love their humor and dependability.
10. LaDonna Alexander: for her love and friendship. He wisdom, knowledge, and direction.
11. Barefoot Staff.