Journey of Worship

  Chapter 7: Relationships Under His Rule I have struggled most of my life with the desire to please others.  When I was a child, this was appropriate most of the time when that meant my parents.  It wasn't always appropriate when it meant my siblings, friends, or people I wouldn't even consider friends.  As much as God was directing me, I still had a fear of man, what others thought, and their reactions.  God has been breaking that off of me intensely the last 5 years.  What freedom there is in coming under His Lordship!   How is this topic different than our words and social impact?  Isn't this likely to be repetitive?  Yes, because some things need to be driven home: our lives are meant to be relational, and everything we do impacts others.  No, because this is an opportunity to examine the priority we put on relationships and who we're actually seeking to honor with our lives. I want to propose this to you:   the people in ...

These days my work looks like a long list of chores to keep up my house and the yard, errands to make sure supplies are in stock for our daily needs, taking care of 4 children ranging from teenager to toddler (I have found you have to teen-proof a home to a different level than baby proofing required!), making meals, making sure lessons are completed as we homeschool, keeping up with emails, phone calls, and the calendar for school as one goes to public school, IEP's, our non-profit, our personal life, and the areas we are active to include church, our community, and extra-curriculars.  It's a lot of juggling! Last year my neuro-chiropractor said my frontal cortex was overloaded with logistics, I needed to learn how to cope, because it was making the rest of my body shut-down.  Last year, as a foster parent, I had a couple more kids, which meant juggling visits with parents, extra doctor's appointments, and keeping up with their school, IEP's, ISP's, and visits from...

   Chapter 6: Submitting Our Work to Christ Have you ever had a task before you come in conflict with an opportunity to worship?  One of my most impressionable experiences is that of getting through college.  I protected opportunities to worship over studying for exams or completing an assignment.  I did not neglect my school work, but I did not prioritize it over set apart times of worship.  Every time I have chosen this way, even since, I have seen success.  God blesses our time with Him and I believe it is the only way to multiply time.  He will make a way when we recognize Him in everything. Spend a little time reading 2 Samuel 7 , God's blessing over David as he sought to honor Him.  Then flip to 1 Chronicles 28 , David passing the baton, not just of kingship, but of serving the King.  The way we serve the Lord, prioritizing Him, will bless generations. Your desire to serve the Lord is very much entwined with your work ethic and the...

Lord, I've invited the world to read my devotionals. This is for Your glory, God, not for anyone else to approve of them, or that I spend time writing them purely for the "publish".  This is my time with You, God.  I cherish this time, and I love the way You lead me from scripture to scripture to direct, convict, and affirm.  Lord, my prayer is that others would pick up on this "line" to hear You, and open up to You in new and increasing ways.  You put it on my heart to reflect the light Your shining on me to others....  And then you made a way of accountability this past weekend at the " Big Ladies Club " conference.  Thank You for calling me out.  Whew!!  This is me and You, God.  I trust You!  By the blood of your Son I draw near today to hear your heart for me and write it so that others might believe for themselves.  I love you Lord, I love your Word, thank you for Holy Spirit 's guidance and presence this morning, and thank yo...

 The most amazing thing happened yesterday.  WOW!  And yet, it is not the most amazing thing, it is purely another, another, another act of God.  He is so good.  We must believe He is who He says He is and venture into relationship with Him to truly know.  Relationship means communicating, trusting, taking what looks like risky steps to do what He says to do, go where He says to go.  There is no loss greater than the blessing of walking with Him.  I'm not saying there will be no loss, but that the blessings as we steadfastly walk with Him will come.   I'm going to divert a little from the book that I've been working on to address this thing... the dark valleys and the mountain tops.  Some would say I just hit a mountain top, so of course I'm praising.  I have learned that I must continue to praise believing for the mountains.  This reminds me of my reading of Hind's Feet- I highly recommend this to anyone.  It is an a...

 One of the most frustrating things a parent experiences is an ungrateful child.  We go all out for Christmas, but didn't get that one gift... or we give them a treat, but they're never satisfied.  Have you ever given 2 or more children a cookie just to see them counting the chocolate chips, griping over who got more or who's is bigger, and barely even enjoying what you gave them?  When my children do that I don't feel good at all for the giving, and I'm not especially thinking about the next opportunity to treat them.  I might even take away what was given because they're not grateful.  On the other hand, if they are excited about what they got- gifts or treats- and don't compare to what someone else got, I am thinking about the next opportunity  to treat them.   Do you think God might be the same way?  We do it in the big and little things too.  When we compare what we have, our gifts, talents, abilities, houses, jobs, and we...

Our conversations reflect our faith.  What we see in others and choose to dwell on reflects our submission to God as not only our God, but theirs'.  When I choose to submit to the God who created me for good things and that my life would be long and prosperous, I live on mission, with excitement,  joy and peace that I can extend to others.  When I'm stuck on performing, grasping for control, and looking to my left and right in comparison, I will feel the struggle, discontentment will fester, and I won't see my mission or the blessings the Lord wants in my life.  Read Psalm 73 : Asaph starts with a statement of faith, then confession, that he had begun to compare himself to others, and in his jaded perception, God was overlooking their faults and allowing them to enjoy prosperity (verse 3-14).  He was letting what others had- become his focus instead of the mission God had him on and his relationship with God.  If he had gone on to speak slanderously o...