WFW ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS

She shall rejoice in time to come...

Proverbs 31:25

I wish that I could take credit for this amazing picture, but it was taken from Photobucket. I used to hear this verse and think of people- that people are made beautiful in their time (with gifts and talents and dreams fulfilled.) Now, I apply it also to things and circumstances. There is a time for everything. And, God will make beautiful and perfect that which we are concerned about. (Psalm 138:8)

I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 3:10-14

How wonderful that God has put eternity in each heart with a curiosity and longing for life beyond death and a desire to live for more than the mundane and the temporal. How precious that God made the way for eternal, abundant, and fulfilling life here and now through Christ. Please stop by Amy Deane's blog and consider joining WFW!

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY

The Lord has been challenging me in the book of Esther.

I hear of so many problems, see so many needs, and yet feel so small. But GOD!

God shows us who He is in our darkest hour. He turns our mourning to gladness; He never changes. He is the same God of Esther, who moved beyond what seemed impossible... as they desperately sought for His intervention. I pray that I will be desperate to seek God for such a time as this.

Please stop by Amy Deane's blog and consider joining WFW!

PRAYERS UNHINDERED

I went to a life-transforming conference this past weekend and wanted to journal something that revived my heart and my walk with the Lord. The mini-sermon was based upon the following verse:

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

The speaker asked us to consider why some of our prayers go unanswered. (Of course there are other "conditions"... praying in accordance with God's will, not willfully sinning etc.) But, she highlighted praying and walking with the Lord in total agreement- with our hearts - with our souls - with our minds - with our strength. In other words when we pray and obey are our hearts (our motivations, our desires) with God? Are our words with God? Are our minds with God? Are our efforts with God? Are we 100% for the Lord?

When I answered these questions for myself I could see where I have let my relationship with the Lord slide. I have become complacent. My nightime routine had become to put the kids down, watch something, stuff my face, go to bed. (BTW- I don't condemn television; it had just become my 'outlet'.) I asked myself more questions.

Am I hungering for God? Is my heart in my prayers? Are my actions and words undergirding my prayers? Sometimes yes. Other times no. This conference gave me the kick to get back to pursuing God even when quiet times feel dry, even when He seems distant... even when life is very challenging. Yes, I will love the Lord God in agreement- with my soul, my mind, my strength. My heart is stirred once more to know Him and to love Him completely!

God bless you friends today... with more and more of Him.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

"What are you thankful for today? Stop by Sonya's blog, Truth 4 The Journey, to find out how to share your gratitude and see what others are thanking God for today."

1. My husband is off for two weeks- no studying! HALLELUJAH!

2. My son asked to go to the potty twice today and we haven't even officially started mission potty training. THANK YOU JESUS. (Candy rewards help too:)

3. We have a roof over our heads, clothes without tears, reliable cars, more than enough food, clean water to drink, a good gospel preaching church, great loving friends, and healthy growing children. Life is good.

4. I love my husband and am so grateful for him. I told him yesterday that it bothered me that there were toys left out in the yard (probably only four toys- I am ridiculous like that.) He said it didn't bother him and I said I would pick them up later. I looked out the window this morning and he had picked them up for me. He knows my love language:)

5. I love my mom and dad. I don't ever want to take them for granted. I thank the Lord for all the wonderful years I have had with them and hopefully many more to come.

WFW and MISSION POTTY TRAIN

Please stop by AmyDeane's Blog for more words and images and consider joining her"Word-Filled-Wednesday" meme.

Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I
declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:9

What are these former things you may ask? Diapers. And what new thing am I declaring?

Mission potty training. This Friday. Prayers solicited.

The little fellow in the picture will say bye-bye to his diapers, while I say goodbye to some of the things I enjoy (like a somewhat clean rug:) He will say hello to big boy underpants, while I say hello to extra cash each month. (Be thankful I didn't stick a photo bucket potty training picture on there. By the way there are many, including pets on toilets:)

Sometimes new things cost us something... but God loves for them to spring forth. I pray we would say hello to what God has in store for us today!

Philly conference WRITE HIS ANSWER

TOP PHOTO-

Susan, me, Shelley

MIDDLE PHOTO-

Joyce Magnin and novelists

BOTTOM PHOTO-

me, Kelly, Sonya, Kelli

WRITE HIS ANSWER ...

Yes, I was blessed with a scholarship that covered my entire tuition. But, I will say it was a hard weekend for me emotionally, so that I was very grateful for the friends that surrounded me.

I rode with Kelly and Sonya. I also met many wonderful people, like Shelley and Susan. I also met Leslie, who I knew from the blogging world but had not met face to face. Meeting and being with all of these wonderful women helped me tremendously. (My roomate, Shelley, did not snore and likes to run. God knows me:)

Why so emotional? Well, a lot of things I heard (like the how to's of getting a book published) left me questioning. Am I called to write? Well, yes. Is this the season to write? Well, yes. Am I willing to do what it takes to "write His answer"? Pause. Pause. Will I ever get where He wants me to be in writing/living? Pause. Pause.

Kelly told me one day at lunch that she had been praying for me. I broke into tears (in front of a table of ladies no less). She offered me a lot of encouragement- about keeping first things first (my kids) and allowing my writing to "ebb and flow". In other words, sometimes we can write a lot and other times life takes over. As she said, "you still have a lot of living in you." Sonya's encouragement helped me get to the conference in the first place. (I emailed her of my pre-conference dread!) Shelley's zest for life and go get it attitude also helped my blahs. And Susan- poor Susan tried multiple times to go and get the right key to get in the dorm. She never complained and always seemed to have a smile. In short, God knew how to surround me and with whom to surround me. Joyce Magnin was an amazing workshop teacher and from the general session I learned from Susan May Warren. WOW!

For me, I am determined to be steadfast in writing for the Lord (here and submitting elsewhere) as long as God gives me the breath and strength to do so. I am so grateful for my hubby who took on the task of single parent for five days. I am also grateful for home and that to live is Christ (to live is not just to write, not even just to be mommy). At the end of every day, He really does care:)

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY

PSALM 23

I am blessed to be away this weekend and have some still calming waters at a writer's conference! To me, that entails some quiet time, some alone time, and some down time. I am thankful for the ride with Kelly and Sonya and for time to spend with the Lord. And, of course, I am thankful for all God will do!

Please stop by Amy Deane's blog and consider participating in Word-Filled-Wednesday.