I came across this and it is such a picture of the life we can live when we trust God and step out in faith to follow him! What a challenge for those of us who are afraid to do anything that seems less than practical or illogical or maybe a little bit unsafe even when it's where God calls us to be. That's the kind of life I want to live!!
"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."
- Mark Batterson
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Do the Next Thing
I read this and was really inspired and encouraged by it. I hope it will accomplish the same things for you!
Do the Next Thing by Marybeth Whalen
"Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways.'" Haggai 1:5 (NIV)
When I was a new mom, I often felt overwhelmed by my circumstances. The crying, the whining, the mess. I would look around at it all and just want to sit down and have a good cry. At some point during that time, I heard Elisabeth Elliot speak on the concept of "do the next thing." She talked about how, after her husband Jim died, she would have been overcome if not for this simple concept. When her emotions would start to run away with her, she would simply ask herself what the next thing she needed to do was. And then she would do it. And then she would do the next thing, and the next, and the next. And all those little "next things" made up her days.
I adopted this principle and began to whisper to myself, "Just do the next thing." Sometimes the next thing was to change a diaper, or start dinner, or return a phone call. Even now I move through my day doing the next thing. Sometimes my next thing is to homeschool my children. Sometimes it's to tidy the house. Sometimes it's to sit down and hammer out an article I have due. Whatever it is, I focus on that one task until it's done. And then I ask myself what's to be done next.
I always knew I learned this concept from a godly woman, but I never thought about this concept being from God. My reading in Oswald Chamber's timeless devotional, My Utmost For His Highest has helped me see that it is indeed a spiritual truth that God wants us to learn. Consider these two quotes:
"We look for visions from heaven, for earthquakes and thunders of God's power... and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. If we will do the duty that lies nearest, we shall see Him."
"When the Spirit of God comes, He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable... whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things—the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there."
Chambers referenced the scene in I Kings where Elijah is running from King Ahab. He is hungry and tired and very depressed. (Ever been there?) In that scene God sends an angel to him who says simply, "Arise and eat" (I Kings 19:5). What was Elijah's "next thing" he needed to do? Get up and eat something! Sometimes just moving forward in the most basic way is all God needs from us. With our obedience comes the solution we are seeking.
I hope this thought will help you or someone else who is feeling overwhelmed and even depressed. What "next thing" is God asking you to do? Get up, do whatever it is, and find Him there.
Dear Lord, help me to do the next thing when I feel overwhelmed. Help me to remember that You are right there waiting in that next thing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Make a list of things you need to accomplish today. Now, instead of getting overwhelmed by your list, pray over it and ask God,What is the next thing I need to do? It might just be to cross some of those things off your list!
Reflections:
What is a "next thing" you can do right now?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 10:23, "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." (NIV)
Proverbs 20:24, "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (NIV)
Do the Next Thing by Marybeth Whalen
"Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways.'" Haggai 1:5 (NIV)
When I was a new mom, I often felt overwhelmed by my circumstances. The crying, the whining, the mess. I would look around at it all and just want to sit down and have a good cry. At some point during that time, I heard Elisabeth Elliot speak on the concept of "do the next thing." She talked about how, after her husband Jim died, she would have been overcome if not for this simple concept. When her emotions would start to run away with her, she would simply ask herself what the next thing she needed to do was. And then she would do it. And then she would do the next thing, and the next, and the next. And all those little "next things" made up her days.
I adopted this principle and began to whisper to myself, "Just do the next thing." Sometimes the next thing was to change a diaper, or start dinner, or return a phone call. Even now I move through my day doing the next thing. Sometimes my next thing is to homeschool my children. Sometimes it's to tidy the house. Sometimes it's to sit down and hammer out an article I have due. Whatever it is, I focus on that one task until it's done. And then I ask myself what's to be done next.
I always knew I learned this concept from a godly woman, but I never thought about this concept being from God. My reading in Oswald Chamber's timeless devotional, My Utmost For His Highest has helped me see that it is indeed a spiritual truth that God wants us to learn. Consider these two quotes:
"We look for visions from heaven, for earthquakes and thunders of God's power... and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. If we will do the duty that lies nearest, we shall see Him."
"When the Spirit of God comes, He does not give us visions, He tells us to do the most ordinary things conceivable... whenever God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things—the things we would never have imagined God was in, and as we do them we find He is there."
Chambers referenced the scene in I Kings where Elijah is running from King Ahab. He is hungry and tired and very depressed. (Ever been there?) In that scene God sends an angel to him who says simply, "Arise and eat" (I Kings 19:5). What was Elijah's "next thing" he needed to do? Get up and eat something! Sometimes just moving forward in the most basic way is all God needs from us. With our obedience comes the solution we are seeking.
I hope this thought will help you or someone else who is feeling overwhelmed and even depressed. What "next thing" is God asking you to do? Get up, do whatever it is, and find Him there.
Dear Lord, help me to do the next thing when I feel overwhelmed. Help me to remember that You are right there waiting in that next thing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Make a list of things you need to accomplish today. Now, instead of getting overwhelmed by your list, pray over it and ask God,What is the next thing I need to do? It might just be to cross some of those things off your list!
Reflections:
What is a "next thing" you can do right now?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 10:23, "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps." (NIV)
Proverbs 20:24, "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (NIV)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day
We had a nice Memorial Day. Spent the morning doing yard work and then spent time with friends in the afternoon and evening. It was quite chilly but the kids had a great time playing outside with their friends. These are a few pictures from the cookout.
Prima Ballerina
Natalie had her ballet Spring Show last Saturday. The girls were so adorable and felt so special in their leotard and lace skirt! I thought they did a pretty good job for not having their instructor on the stage with them! Her class is actually called Creative Movement and it certainly is!!!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Springtime!
I am enjoying this spring so much! My garden, although majorly diminished in size from last year, is in, and the kids are having so much fun playing outside. Jeremiah can hardly get enough of playing in the dirt, sliding down the slide, chasing the dogs around. Here are some recent pictures.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Spring in my Yard!
Well, we finally have what looks like spring here in Southeastern Wisconsin! Time for my children to make mud holes, sidewalk chalk drawings, walk around barefoot and jacketless! Yay! The bikes get to come back out of storage, the Shout stain treater comes out for mud and grass stains and the bandaids get more use than ever! I love to sit outside and watch them interact with each other (some playing, some fighting) and watch Jeremiah discover a whole new playground. This is his first spring to be outside, walking around and exploring the backyard. He delights so much in all of his new discoveries!! My garden is almost set for planting and the yard is almost ready for grass seed. (Sadly all of the work we did on landscaping and planting grass in our yard last year all was in vain with the weight of the snow this winter and we get to start over. Oh well...it will look so fresh and beautiful in a month or so! Here are some pictures of the fresh growth in my yard and my oh so beautiful magnolia tree! It's probably my favorite thing about our yard! Well, that is until the tomatoes are ready to eat!!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Sick
This has been the scene at our house for the past few days...poor Bella has the tummy flu. I hate it when my children aren't feeling well and there isn't anything I can do to make it better!
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