She has been with Jesus!
8:07 AM
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Good morning! And yes, it is most definitely MORNING! Ok, for those of you who may know just a little bit about me you may realize just how much I normally abhor, despise, hate dislike mornings. Most the time at least. I can sort of make it through them if absolutely necessary but I prefer to sleep in.
Just being real here: I have really been struggling in my walk with the Lord the last few months, well actually, last year. We have had a lot of things happen in our life and not all of them pleasant. However, the Lord has been so faithful even when I have not been and I am so thankful for that.
A few weeks ago I stumbled across Inspired to Action (not even sure how it was most definitely a God thing) and say the link for something called Hello Mornings.
I was intrigued. Women keeping each other accountable in small groups on facebook and every morning spending time in the Word, prayer and then also working on getting motivated to excercise.
I joined.
And wow has the Lord been using it to bless me! I am a part of a small group and this is my third morning in a row NOT GOING BACK TO BED after Jason leaves around 6am (he gets up at 5am and I help him get his lunch etc) and instead spending time in the Word.
What a difference in my day it makes!
Right now we are working through this study in 1 Peter. Even if you are not doing the Hello Mornings I would HIGHLY recommend spending the $5 and purchasing this study! It is such a blessing and also a challenge to me!
I have been somewhat struggling just transitioning from single girl/mentor/Bible study leader to Mama and Wife. I am sure that you have noticed the lack of posting on here and that is why. I was a single blogger for so long trying to get into this new phase of my life has been really hard to transition to!
But today I was really challenged in my study. We were in Acts 4:13-21 and was struck by verse 20:
"As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
"CAN NOT HELP" Wow! That really humbles me. Jesus paid the ultimate price for my on calvery and yet-how often do I speak of Him? How often do I let opportunities to praise Him for the great things He has done pass by? God forgive me! True, this last year I have been really struggling in my walk BUT I have repented and am making an effort to get to know my Jesus again. My goal is to get to the point where I am so in love with Him that I CAN NOT HELP but talk about my Lord and the great things He has done in my life!
The other thing that really stuck me was in verse 13 where "they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
It was evident that Peter and John had been with Jesus! HIS character was shining through them so brightly it was obvious that they had been with Him.
My desire for today is that my husband, son and family members (as well as all I come in contact with) would look and me and say: "She has been with Jesus!"
"Do they see Jesus In Me
Do they recognize Your face
Do I communicate Your love, and Your grace
Do I reflect who You are
In the way I choose to be
Do they see Jesus In Me"
12 Thoughts
Something I was forced into..yes forced was being at my desk at school all year at 7:15 to do my quiet time. When I entered into this summer as a counselor at camp I slowly started not making my daily time with Jesus important and looking back now it was a horrible mistake. If I don't do my quiet time in the morning I can feel the difference, and I don't like that! I really liked the last quote you put up on here from Joy Williams. I want when others to look at me to see Jesus, not me! Love you Katy, and I'm praying for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing Emily :) You are so sweet! It is amazing the difference when we do not carve out time for Jesus! Praying for you :)
Deleteawesome post, so glad you are succeeding in making time for Devos! Blessings!!
ReplyDeleteThanks :) Love ya!
DeleteI appreciate your heart to follow Jesus, and share that journey with the rest of us! I'll be honest, I've had some of the exact same struggles since I got married almost a year ago. Being in a relationship, and then becoming a wife (and in a few days, a mama) is so distracting, and such a HUGE adjustment! I have found it a real struggle to keep focused on my real purpose in life - a relationship with Jesus - and often find myself too caught up in the home, the husband, the little one, performing perfectly in my new 'roles'. The Lord has really had to get my attention about such things and help me to find balance. It's encouraging to read your posts and know that other Christian women out there are struggling, failing and learning to triumph in the same ways I am. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing Joanna! I really appreciate it! How neat it is to know that we are not alone in this season of our lives!!!! :) Blessings!
DeleteI think a lot of women have the very same problem. A major part of that is the pressure in certain groups/churches that you have to be the PERFECT wife. House so clean you could eat off the floors, being neat and dressed and styled every day at every time of the day, doing community work outside the house, focus your life around your husband so much that he'll think he married a female Jesus... That's too much pressure God didn't intend to put on women. Remeber that the Proverbs 31 woman is NOT a newly wed young adult but a GROWN, EXPERIENCED woman. People ignore this fact way too often. Proverbs 31 is what you grow into, not what you become as soon as you say I do.
ReplyDeleteHere's something I found very helpful: Instead of trying to be P31 AND a godly woman at once, try to spend time with Jesus and become like P31 verse by verse. Pick out a verse of P31 each week and focus JUST on that, not all at once. As time goes by, use more verses each week. You've got SO many years ahead of you and God will teach you everything in his timing. Don't idolize people or images and do things you can't do yet. Go step by step, it will be so much easier to stay focused on what's really important that way.
(Plus, remember that not all of P31 applies to every woman. A barren woman, for example, will have a hard time living the verses about mothering her children. Make sure that what you're trying to do actually applies to you as God made you!)
I'm so glad to see you back at blogging. I really missed hearing about your life, but I don't want to pressure you in this new exciting life!
Thank you so much for your thoughts! :) I really appreciate you sharing blessings :)
DeleteThis is SOOO beautiful and really is to be THE goal...for us ALL - "Do they see Jesus in me". Transition is hard for everyone. On my places of change, I always reflect on David who really struggled with his journey - but God needed for him to go through the journey for such a BIG call...KING ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing! And what a great example in David! Blessings!
DeleteI just stumbled upon your blog, and I love this post. I was reminded about what God has been speaking to me about lately. I found myself very humbled by the apostle Paul. The verse in Philippians that says "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Wow!! Same sort of thought. Completely dying to ourself and then like you noted being so in love with Jesus that we cannot help but speak of Him. Hard to do, but I hope and pray that Jesus keeps that desire alive in us both! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting Kelli :) Wow that is so humbling! Definitely causing me to ponder! Truly may the Lord keep that desire alive in us both! :)
DeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read my blog :) I would love it if you would leave your thoughts! I will try to reply back with a comment as soon as I can so check back when you can especially if you have questions! :)
Please keep everything honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ (language, etc...) and appropriate for everyone :)
May the Lord richly bless you! Thanks for commenting :)