Thankful

Do I remember to give God thanks for my blessings?  How about for my trials?

In 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 it says to rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Give thanks in all circumstances.

In everything?

Yes, in all circumstances.

When I'm running late and I get stuck at another red light?

          Thankful for an opportunity to speak to Him.

When I burn dinner?

          Thankful that I have food to eat.

When it feels like everything that could go wrong is going wrong?

          Thankful I have Him to lean on when life is too heavy to bear alone.

It's easier to give thanks when life is going my way.  When it fits in my pretty little box and goes according to my plan.  It's easy to be thankful when my dinners turn out fabulous, my kids aren't whining, my husband gets home from work early, and the puppy is behaving well.

But, am I giving Him thanks for those small things?  Am I taking the time to thank Him for my small blessings.

Today, take some time to thank Him for your blessings and your trials.

Jesus, we thank You.  We thank you for everything in our lives.  The good, the bad.  We lay it all out before you and give thanks.  We know that You will use all things to work together for our good.  And we trust in You, now and forever.  Amen.

Blessings,
Megan

Oak Trees

I suffer from "hurrying sickness."  I always feel like I need to be going, doing, going, doing.  Over and over again.  My to do list never ends.  I mark one thing off and add two more.  I am constantly moving or doing something.  I feel unproductive if I'm not.  But, that's not what God wants for us.

Listen to the story of Mary and Martha.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman 

named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the 

Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha, was distracted by all the preparations 

that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has 

left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but 

few things are needed - or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not 

be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42 NIV

Jesus told Martha that what she was doing wasn't important, it wasn't necessary.  That what she needed to do was let go of it and sit down and enjoy the time with Him.  When is the last time you were able to made time to sit down and enjoy His company.  To really spend time with Him.  

Can you do that today?  Can you put everything in your mind aside and spend time with Him?  

Sometimes God calls us to be doing more and sometimes it's less.  Last week I talked about feeling stuck and how there is freedom in letting go and embracing where God has called you to be.  

Since I am always going and doing I think that should be the way my spiritual growth should be.  I do something and it should stick right away, right?  Wrong.  It takes time to solidify our spiritual growth.  We have to put in the time with Him and work.  Then we have to give it time to stick.

Friends, what if the "stuck" times are the times we are solidifying our growth.  When God wants to make a squash He takes six months.  When God wants to make an oak tree He takes one hundred years.  He takes time to make squash and oak trees.  He takes time when it comes to our spiritual growth too.  

In the Book The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith he states the following.

"Some years we may experience tremendous growth, and some we see very little 

change.  An oak tree has only a couple of months of actual growth each year in terms of 

measurable expansion, says Strong.  The rest of the year, the other ten months, are spend 

solidifying that growth."

So embrace your slower times.  Let them be the times that solidify all of the work He has done in you. 

I'll end with a prayer from The Good and Beautiful God.

Patient and loving God, when you want to make a squash you take six months, when you want to make an oak tree you take one hundred years. You created us, O Lord, to be eternal spiritual beings, more immense than we could ever imagine. Stretch out our arms to embrace the rhythm and pace that you have created the universe to operate at. Through our reading and discussion today and through the on-going practices of our faith may we be healed of hurry sickness. Amen.

Peace,

Megan

A Living Sacrifice

When I sat down this morning to read my Bible I was interrupted by my kids more times than I can count.  I know all the other moms out there can totally relate.  I was attempting to have some time with the Lord this morning (which I should have gotten up early to do) and my kids come in.  It always happens this way and it's ok.  It happens (life, that is) and I need to be able to roll with what's thrown my way and continue to keep my eyes on what's important... Jesus.

This is why I think the following verses are so amazing.  How is it that I read exactly what I needed to hear this morning.  It's a God thing, I couldn't do it if I tried :)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

Why don't we give our lives (yes, I'm talking crazy busy lives full of interruptions) over to God and let Him transform them to what is in His will?  Offer up everything you do today as praise and worship to Him.  Yep, in my world I'm talking about worshiping Christ through changing poopy diapers, wiping snotty noses, keeping a calm voice, and letting my kids be kids who make messes.  I will worship Him by showing my kids His love by serving them today.  Some days are easier than others to do this.  

This isn't even half of the mess they've made this morning.

How are you going to praise and worship Him today?  

I think I'm going to go sit on the floor and play with Batman, tractors and lincoln logs :)

Blessings,

Megan

Sermon on the Mount

Recently, I (well, Beau and I) just finished reading a chapter of John every day (almost) for 21 days with our church.  It was a fun way to spend some time together and get in the Word.  So, when I came across this challenge from The Year of Less blog I was excited for the chance to do it again.

What's the challenge?

For the month of October you read Matthew 5-7 every day.  Yep, every day. As the notes in my bible say "The Sermon on the Mount is in effect Jesus' inaugural address; explaining what he expect of members of his kingdom."  Don't you want to dig deeper into that? 

(source)

This morning I listened to it on my phone with my bible app.  The app is free which is ALWAYS in my price range :).  I am able to look up so many different versions of the bible and it's always right at my fingertips.  I love it!  

So, are you going to take the challenge with me?  Let me know and maybe we can chat about it through the month of October.

Blessings,

Megan 

Something You Love & Chores

It was bound to happen... I forgot to take and post a picture yesterday.
I'm sure it will happen again too!
Days five and six of the photo a day challenge from Maternal Lens....

March 5

Something You Love

I love my new Bible.  Opened to 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."

March 6

Chores

Dishes... what else can I say.  My sink always looks like this.  They are never-ending!

Megan