Ever wondered about your destiny or gifts?

I wanted to share with you my devotional that I read this morning. I love reading this along with my bible study. Here are the words of Rick Warren. Read them and let them soak in. We are preparing for a new series at church that touches on this very thing.

How can I know my destiny?

Do you know what God created you for?

Do you know what your destiny is?

The first thing you must do to understand your destiny is to recognize the gifts God has given you to use. They include the things you can't control -your parents, your nationality, you race, your language. They also include your SHAPE-your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. These are the things that make you uniquely you. 

Now you are not responsible for the gifts God didn't give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. But you are responsible for the ones he did give you.

When you get to heaven, God isn't going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 NIV says "each of us will have to give a personal account to God"

God has given you gifts for a purpose, And you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts-not for selfish  uses, but for the good of others. Your gifts are not for your benefit. God gave you gifts for the benefit of other people. Ask yourself, "What has God given me to use for good?"

WOW. That was powerful. Especially that last paragraph.  Remember those first three questions...So how do you discover all these things about you? Well you are more than welcomed to ask me and I can certainly help you by showing you this incredible journey of discovery we are about to embark on coming up soon. Seriously, we would love to have you. If you have ever wondered, now is that time to find out.

The new normal

I am so proud of myself. I accomplished most of what I set out to do this week. I have met my bestie at the gym Monday and Wednesday and Lord willing we will meet again on Friday. Friday is cardio and then Kenzie and I are going to play racquetball.

Today MacKenzie has a doctors appointment and then we will go to the gym after that as well.  It is only the first week and three days of a new year, I keep telling myself that this is the new normal. It has to be.

The treadmill is much better than I remembered. Last time I got on one of those was years at least four or so years and it hurt my legs so bad. Gave me the worse shin splints. So far, none this time. Praise the Lord.  Of course the elliptical is a crazy beast all on it's on. And lastly, those exercise bikes are not, I repeat not BIG BUTT friendly. But that's ok, my butt is going to get smaller and smaller, although I still don't think I'll be a fan of bikes.

I read in Deuteronomy this morning. Chapter 11:13-26. It says in 13 if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-14-then I will send rain on your land and in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.  So if you just read that and thought "wow, all I get for loving him and serving him is rain, grain, and grass, what kind of a deal is that?" You need to go and reread.
For me he is telling me, he will provide for me in every way in every season of my life. I will not be in lack. He provides steady work, which in turn enables me to provide through Him from which all good things come.

Verse 16 says Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other Gods and bow down to them.17 Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.
In 17 it is speaking of being tempted by things of this world, our fleshly desires and wants.  Bowing down to them would mean giving in to the worldly things.  He will quit providing and that good land, those steady jobs won't come; as a result I will suffer the consequences of turning from him and struggle financially. I mean think about it, picture farmer man standing there staring at an empty field, if there is nothing in the fields, no anything, there isn't a harvest, nothing to gather, just sitting staring at empty land. Nothing to work and no work means no gain.

Does it mean you have to be perfect? Absolutely not! He just wants your pure, honest, humble, and very best you have to give Him. 

Just think about it. Hope you are having a great day.

The first step

Today has been one of those days where when you wake up you have a plan and you are amped up and ready to go, but then, things have a way of going their own way. 

The first step is the hardest, or so they say. There have been times in my life where I felt there was much truth to this, and then times when I felt like keeping on stepping was harder. As for right at this moment, definitely the first step is the hardest.  I will be meeting my dear friend at the gym today to workout.  I have always been fond of the fitness classes, cause they are an hour, someone else has a plan and once I am there I am good to go. The thing about going and just working out on equipment is that I have to make myself commit to keeping on doing something. I have a tendency to get on the elliptical, do that for 10 minutes, feel like I really done something, then hop on the treadmill, tootle on it for about 15 minutes and then my mind starts going to all the other things I "need" to be doing at home or work. So I am hoping that today I will stay the course. This will be my first workout in at least a year. :( 

On a good note, I done really great last week, I am down 3lbs. I'll take that.:) Today I have done really well.I plan to weigh in every Monday morning.  So we'll see. 

I am stoked about going to bible study this evening after my workout with some amazing women from church. I also started a new bible study program today for my morning bible & time with God.

And I'm off, hope your day is going great wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

60 in 12

I think so. It appeared to me in prayer time this morning.  Then I went and calculated it. I can totally lose 60 pounds in 12 months. That comes to 5 pounds per month, which is not unrealistic by any means.  What is unrealistic however is believing that I can continue to live the way I have been living and expecting change.  I can feel it this time. Something is different. God is with me and he has assured me, "we got this" He has already helped me change so much.  I can honestly say for the first time I am totally dependent upon him. I however will do all that I can. Cause let's face it, I have to do my part in this.

We kicked off the New Year with our really great friends. That was fun. I have an action plan. I spend most of the first creating the plan. I started the day in deep prayer, worship, and meditating on God's word and listening to him. After that time together it was clear to me that creating that plan was the first order of business. I mean if I want to travel to a specific destination California I need a map. I mean I can make it to California without it, but it will take longer, I'll be stressed, I'll probably a whole lot of times not really know which way to go. With a map/plan I can get there safely, efficiently, and a lot less stressed. No guessing on what I should be doing.

I started today doing the same thing. It is my desire to start each day that way.( I also have a list of people I have been praying over. If you would like me to pray for you, leave your name in the comment section on the blog or fb. I will most definitely add you.) I hope that I come to have a true thirst for His word. Admittedly there are times when I pick up the bible to soak in his word, and well my mind goes in a million directions and then I am like let me reread that I didn't pay enough attention. But that's ok I will reread it as many times as it takes to get it. And then of course I want to put into action what it says. James 2:17 says Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Hope you are having a great start to this year. There is really nothing magical in starting anything on 1-1 of a new year, I think it's just a mind thing, but that is ok cause that's what we need to get right is our mind.

The last Saturday before Christmas

I must say that this Christmas is turning out to be one of my favs. Nothing super special or particular, I just feel so wonderful So close to the Lord and the most grateful I have ever been for his sacrifice for me and for you. I feel so blessed to know that my kids know what Christmastime is all about.  The presents are fun and cool, but celebrating the birth of our savior is the focus.

As I was cooking dinner tonight I was pondering everything, my life, everything leading up to this moment.  I think most of it has to do with me being closer and having a relationship with the Lord and the the other part of it me being older and much more settled. Also my oldest is 13 and I love sharing so many conversations and memories with her.  And my youngest, well he will keep you in stitches. You literally never know what will come out of this mouth. 

God has been so good to me, to my family.  Jason recently had a biopsy done on his hand. We were concerned that it may be a form of skin cancer. Seeing how he works out in the sun all day everyday with no sun block whatsoever. When I googled the signs and symptoms, we were both panicked. After reading and looking at all that we were convinced.  Of course I made the appointment and prayed.  I have to say that the moment I prayed and laid it at his feet, I feel relieved.  I knew I had turned it over to the one who can see, control, and heal all. 

So off to the dermatologist we go... She said 10-14 days before the results. I was hoping sooner, but amazingly wasn't jumping every time the phone would ring.  And then there was a part of me that thought, well getting the call after Christmas might be better. The call came on (I think) Tuesday or Wednesday that it was harmless and no cancer. Praise the Lord.

I have been cleaning and cooking today. This morning I woke up and couldn't find Braden's medicine, as I looked and looked I kept hearing the Lord say, you threw it away, you threw it away. Jason had done took the trash out of the can and down to the dumpster, so off I go to dig in the trash. Thankfully it was right on the top and I didn't get to messy. I'll tell ya sometimes I don't know about me. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord will talk to us about the simplest things.

 The kids made a gingerbread train, which MacKenzie just informed me was an epic fail.  I said, did you have fun doing it? She said yes, and I told her that's all that matters. 

Jason has worked all day. He is still out. He just hates it when ppl can't flush. I told him to come on home.

It starts at home

Shooting sprees in our malls, schools, and other public places, murders everyday in every major city in every state.  What's the answer? Something has got to give.  That is what we are  all saying.

While I don't have all the answers and my opinion will vary slightly and largely from everyone, I do have my two cents I'd like to add.

Banning guns and abolishing our 2cd amendment rights is not the answer. It's not the people who have openly obtained a permit to carry a firearm, it's not even the people who like myself have yet to go get a permit.  You can't put a face with danger. We don't have a gun problem or a God problem, we have a people/parenting problem.

I am 100% for putting God back into every school in every crack and crevice of this world.  However, the schools removed him from school, not from your home or your heart. 

It starts at home. God and the Bible are things that should be spoken from the start. A lot of people that complain about religion being removed probably aren't attending church regularly. Oh what's that you say "I don't have to go to church to worship or know God" Ok, so then you have a relationship with Jesus? You pray to Him everyday? You read your bible and try as best you can to apply His word and the teachings to your life? To your kids?... "Well no, I know all about him though, I have read the bible. " I imagine these are the arguments many people have with themselves and to others. 

We have to restore the parenting and proper raising.  Unfortunately history does repeat its-self. Do you not see that no matter how much your kids tell you they'll never be like you, the fact is they will be very similar to you. They will take to what they are around. They will become like the people they are around.  

I see so many parents pity patting around discipline.

" No no, don't do that." " I am going to count to three.. ooonnneeee, twwwoooooooo, I mean it, Threeeee..." oh but what do the kids see, nothing, cause you didn't do anything.  Just a bunch of calm baby talk coming out of your mouth with nothing physical to back it up.  So from early on your words have no tone, no authority, no weight whatsoever.  You just have to get firm and show them who is boss. Establishing a pecking order of who is in charge early on and that what you say goes is vital. It shouldn't be optional, it's the way things are. They will go to school and guess what if they don't mind you, chances are, they aren't going to mind the teacher. Oh but those big eyes and pouty lips that you just can't seem to stand firm with grow up and become cold and mouthy. Yeap that's right they become teenagers whom you have convinced yourself that you are "the boss of," when in reality you have never had them under control.  Think about this, do you work with someone who is a slacker? You do a lot of their work for them, they get most if not all of the credit, they can't do their job properly, they are late, inconsiderate, lazy? Everyone complains about them. They job hop,can't hold one down. Oh and it's always the fault of someone else , never theirs. Do you really think they got that way when they came to your work place? Nope. They are that little bratty kid that would never mind. They belong to the parent that "didn't have the heart" to really get on them. So they have a kid and it's the same vicious cycle.

 I am telling you, discipline needs to be restored. Morals and values, right and wrong needs to be instilled in the kids. They need to learn that there are consequences to their actions. That nothing good comes easy. That you have to work hard, be honest, keep your word.They need to learn to have respect for themselves and understand that no one can give them what a relationship with Jesus can.  And no matter where God is removed from, it shouldn't matter to awfully much as long as you put Him there first and keep Him there first and always. Teach kids to be respectful, polite, well mannered, and responsible.  Nothing is owed to them. This generation and I suspect ones for years to come are a very entitled bunch. We all have the same opportunities. 

Before anyone goes to saying "she sounds all perfect and high and mighty, let me just say no, I am not. I am probably one of the most imperfect people, trying the best I can to raise my kids the best I can while serving the MOST perfect and high God.  No matter what society or others try and take away from myself or my kids, they can't take away our integrity, morals, values and ability to love, serve, and honor God.

 It starts at home and it starts with putting God first.

Naysayers of church

For all you naysayers of church, to you I say... I am surrounded by hypocrites & imperfect people weather I am sitting in a sanctuary with my fellow believers worshiping the one true Living God or if I am in line at the grocery store or sitting at home with family & friends. I hear people say all the time "I don't need to go to church to worship, I can do that at home." to you I say, why sure you most certainly can. However, there is something wonderfully amazing about coming together corporately  with fellow believers that are more like family and friends than strangers and together worshiping. How do I know? I have done both.

I was that woman who tried this church and that church.  Eventually exasperated by yet another failed attempt at finding a "home" church. And telling myself that I'll just sit on the couch and watch a local church that was being broadcast on tv. Two things with that, one I slept in and missed it and if I didn't miss it, I for sure didn't get anything out of it.

I was that woman who got into a car with a lady I had just become friends with and she wanted to go to the Christian store to get her girls the latest veggie tale dvd and listen to christian music on the way there.  Saying to myself the whole time, this could never be me, I don't even want to be this lame.  I'd have settled for oldies but goodies over gospel music! 

Now I am not only the women who listens to Christian music but I LOVE it. I live for it and couldn't go without it. I am the one buying tickets to see Casting Crowns and Tobymac! Ha! 

 I am the woman who goes to church every chance she gets, not because I feel I have to but because I want to.  Not for anyone, but for myself. Because HE is worthy! I don't go for the people, although they are quite a nice bonus.  

One thing the bible repeats over and over is to love one another.  Love Him and love them.  So yes, yes I love coming together with them.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

He didn't mean for us to be alone. He didn't mean for us to bear the burdens, trails, and hardships alone. He gave us one another to help encourage and to share the good and the bad.

Finally, 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers and sister? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

Now I don't know about you, but that verse speaks to me and it says, I have something to contribute and so do you. Think of what so many are missing out on because you are keeping yourself all for you. You to have something to offer.