Consistent in my Inconsistencies...

I want to talk to you a little about inconsistencies. Well maybe a lot...This morning on my drive to work I was having my very own personal pity party. It involved me beating myself up over my inconsistencies in everything I do or try to do. In fact, the only thing I
feel I AM consistent in is my inconsistency. Prayer, cooking, cleaning, reading my bible, reading to my kids, healthy eating, exercising, & many more I have chosen not to share for your own sanity. Why can't I just get it together, kept playing over & over in my head! My life feels instable b/c of my incapabilites to get things done. I was letting myself have it, when I heard the radio in the background, reporting about the earthquake in the midwest this morning. One of the reporters asked what we think is most stable on this earth? The earth or ground! She said that even the most stable “thing” shakes & moves. Thus leaving God's word the only thing unshakable. Boy did I needed that! I've often heard that we can't truly love or feel love until we seek & experience God's unconditional love. Then we can truly learn to love others like He does. Well doesn't my inconsistencies apply also? I can't be 100% consistent with anything, until I lay everything aside & seek God's unshakable word! The verse below is just what I needed, as it is very straight to the point! I hope this brings you some encourangement today! I love you & pray you have a safe & wonderful New Years!

Psalms 16:7-9 (NIV) 7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will
rest secure,

Tumbleweeds...

It's Friday & the Happy Fridays are back up & running. If you don't already know we've been adding on our house & moved in 2 weeks ago. I'm sorry I couldn't keep up with the e-mails during this time. I
hope you've had a wonderful week & are already getting into the Christmas spirit. How many times have you said or heard it said, " I don't know how people can live without Christ in their lives."? I know I say it or at least think it often. I know we've all been there when we think we can handle things
on our own. We pray for what WE want instead of what God wants for us. I'm stepping on my own toes this morning! :0) In verses 5-6 God describes us as tumbleweeds not only aimlessly scurrying around but not being able to get nourishment & grow. Grow closer with Christ. I struggle daily with having God as the center of everything I do. Instead I find myself putting Him on a shelf, theoretically speaking, & pulling Him down only when I need Him. This is wrong & goes against everything God has taught us. Verses 7-8 are so beautiful to me. Blessed is the WOMAN who sticks with God. They are rooted, nourished, & people can witness the fruits of their spirit in Christ. AMAZING! I love how in verses 9-10 it says that God doesn't just know us, he has searched & examined your heart in great depth. He knows our true being, while we think we have everyone fooled! These verses really opened my eyes to my own hap-hazard life & the way I live it.  I hope this has brought some encouragement to you today. I hope you have a great weekend & a wonderful Merry Christmas! I love you & pray your day is amazing!

^{Jeremiah 17:5-10 (The Message)5-6} God's Message: "Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans,Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets God aside as dead weight. He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows. 7-8"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf,Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. 9-10"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind.I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."

Neighborly Love

 I want to tell you about something that I saw yesterday in front of my office. Some of you may have already heard but it's such a inspirational story to not be told again. :0) So here goes....A man was riding his bike on the sidewalk in front of my office & failed to stop before crossing a intersecting road. Well at that same time a SUV pulled out of the intersecting road hitting the man on his bike. The man was fine but his  bike didn't make it. Praise God he walked away with only some scrapes. A couple people ran to help him up & check on him while the ambulance & police made it there. One lady that was talking to him, left & started walking up the road. In the meantime, all of the emergency responders got there & were checking his injuries. After a few minutes passed, the same lady that had checked on him was walking back towards the scene rolling a new bike. :0) She gave the man one of
her bikes to replace his busted one. Can I just say I was amazed at her generosity & thoughtfulness! I hadn't even thought of the man losing his probably only transportation. What a wonderful way to care & show love to a stranger! Isn't that what God calls all of us to do? I pray that my eyes & ears are always open & I recognize the oppurtunity to share God's love. I've attached Mich 6:8 below as it tells us exactly what God wants from us. There isn't any small print under this verse or any word trickery; it's plain as day! I pray this brought you some encouragement today & hope you have a wonderful weekend! I love you & remember to praise God always!
 
Micah 6:8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

Many Names

Anyhow I just feel like I should just stop & praise God. He's done so much in my life & has
brought me out of some deep valleys. He is almighty & His love is undeserving & infinite! He is my Father, Comforter, Healer, Protector, & leader just to name a few. I have attached Isaiah 42:10 as it describes everyone & everything praising Him. It gives us a peek into God's character & tolerance for His enemies. He puts His foot down & it's beautiful knowing He'll never leave those who are faithful to Him. I hope this has brought you some kind of encouragement today! I love you & hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Isaiah 42:10 Sing to God a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world! Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in. Let the desert and its camps raise a tune, calling the Kedar nomads to join in. Let the villagers in Sela round up a choir and perform from the tops of the mountains. Make God's glory resound; echo his praises from coast to coast. God steps out like he means business. You can see he's primed for action. He shouts, announcing his
arrival; he takes charge and his enemies fall into line: "I've been quiet long enough. I've held back, biting my tongue. But now I'm letting loose, letting go, like a woman who's having a baby— Stripping the hills bare, withering the wildflowers, Drying up the rivers, turning lakes into mudflats. But I'll take
the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are the things I'll be doing for them— sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."

Looking through the chaos

It’s Friday!!! WooHoo! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week! This week has brought much chaos in my life. My job is flaky, my house is a mess, my sweet 2 year old’s middle name is chaos, & my brain is just completely frazzled. It’s been one of those weeks where I wasn’t sure what was gonna happen next. I just felt like if I could just go to a quiet desolate place & get some peace. Have you ever felt like you were surrounded by chaos? With everything changing & throwing me for a loop I have been longing for a consistent refuge. I have to tell you that there were numerous times when I would just pray for Jesus to clear my head so I can see Him through all of the craziness & I clung to Him throughout my day. I’ve attached 2 Samuel 22:2 as it describes that God is our rescuing knight & deliverer of safety. I pray this has brought you some encouragement & hope you have a good weekend.


2 Samuel 22:2

God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout; My mountaintop refuge, he saves me from ruthless men.

Finding Purpose

It’s Friday!! WooHoo!!! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week! Have you ever felt the spirit of God or felt His conviction? What an indescribable & overwhelming feeling, His presence leaves on our hearts!


This past week I was scrambling around trying to get my 2 year old ready for daycare & out the door on time. Let me just say her independence is driving me crazy! Here’s how our conversation went while we both were trying to put her socks & shoes on. Me “Hadley, why are you being so difficult?” She’s kicking & screaming because she put her socks on upside down & I’m desperately hanging on the patience I have left. Me “Just let me help you!” I’ve said these statements numerous times but never have they stopped me in my tracks like they did at that moment.

I’ve been praying for purpose & guidance a lot lately! I can feel His presence so close I know that He’s orchestrating something grand in my life. Way too many opportunities & doors have opened for it to be anything other than God’s work. As humans we try to run the show instead of letting God direct our lives. So in the moment of me fussing at my child I felt Him saying the same thing to me! Why are you being so difficult? Why won’t you just let me help you? Isn’t that what He wants from us? Below I’ve attached Ephesians 1:3-14 as it explains that God has a purpose for everyone one of us. We just have to let Him lead! If you have time I encourage you to read all of Ephesians 1 in The Message bible because it’s just too good not to! :0) I pray this has humbled you & brought you some encouragement! I love you & hope you have a great weekend! Remember to Praise God Always!

Ephesians 1:3-14 The God of Glory (The Message)

3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

13-14 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.

Growing Numb

I have a couple questions for you this morning. Have you ever been talking with someone but you
weren’t really listening & after the conversation you were clueless as to what was said? What about when you hear the same thing over & over it becomes a routine or loses its value? How about when we sweep problems under the rug so we don’t have to face them? Out of sight; out of mind, right? I’d have to say these things happen more than I’d like to admit. When I see starving children on TV from 3^rd world countries, I change the channel because I don’t want to see their saddened faces.

Has God ever convicted you of something & you run the opposite direction instead of seeking Him for forgiveness & guidance? Matthew 13:14-16 explains that our hearts can become calloused, our eyes blinded, & our ears deaf to what God’s trying to reveal to us. Even then He reminds us of His grace & forgiveness. Thank you Jesus!!! What has God been dealing with you about; & better yet how long have you been running away? Below I’ve attached Matthew 13:1-17 (The Message) because it’s just so good, but I also want you to read your normal version as well. I pray you find some encouragement in this & want to thank the sweet lady that brought this to my attention. :0) I love you & hope you have a wonderful weekend! Remember to Praise God Always!!!

Matthew 13 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at
all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories. ^3-8"What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell
on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. ⁹"Are
you listening to this? Really listening?" ¹⁰The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?"  ^11-15 He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday
and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it. I don't want Isaiah's forecast repeated all over again: Your ears are open but you don't hear a thing. Your eyes are awake but you don't see a thing. The people are blockheads! They stick their fingers in their ears so they won't have to listen; They screw their eyes shut so they won't have to look, so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face, and let me heal them. ^16-17"But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.