Thoughts on being a wife a mother and a friend

I was off camping on day 7... I had the pleasure of reading out in the beautiful mountains! Day 7 It's all for Him For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. Romans 11:36 Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory? I can be more positive about life, where I'm living, the blessings that He has given me. Also in the hard times and trials I can trust that God is in control and I can bring glory to Him by the way I handle the situation. Day 8 I was planned for God's pleasure The Lord takes pleasure in his people Psalm 149:4a What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus? One reminder I loved from this chapter about worship was, 'Worship isn't for our benefit! We worship for God's benefit. When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not ourselves.' (pg. 66) It is so easy to get distracted and forget that worship, whether singing, cleanin...

Day 6 This world is not my home So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now? -In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life-longings that will NEVER be fulfilled on this side of eternity. (pg.50) I love this quote because sometimes I can get caught up in making this life comfortable, but it's not supposed to be. So I think I will want to in a weird way desire being uncomfortable, living for God is not easy, but it is very satisfying. I will accept where I am living and I'll be okay with it. I now seen the bigger purpose!!!

Day 5 Life is a test and a trust Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. Luke 16:10a What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me? Being a 'Pastor's Wife', something that I don't ever call myself, is a test though. I need to hold a higher standard in the things I say and the things I do. Whenever hanging with the girlfriends I am careful to watch what I say. That is such an ongoing test. I believe that some of the greatest things i'm entrusted with is my marriage and my little girl ( and other kiddos when they arrive :) ). How I treat my husband reflects my love for Christ and how present He is in my life. Raising Ella to love Jesus and have good character is such a big deal and a TON of responsibility, that can only be done with the help of Him.

Day 4 There is more to life than just the here and now This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. 1 John 2:17 Since I was made to last forever, what is one thing I should stop doing and one thing I should start doing today? Ahhhh... that is such a hard question. Giving up something is always hard... while I think I want to share some other things that stood out to me today. Whenever the topic of eternally being with Jesus if you are a believer, the fact that those that don't believe and trust Jesus as their Savior will spend eternity with out Him, in hell, is talked about, it makes me want to scream it from the roof tops. We can joke about it, make light of it, not want to ruin friendships by sharing too much to make them uncomfortable, but at the same time, I don't want to just do nothing, I totally agree with lifestyle evangelism, but am i saying enough? I have been wanting to hone in better on what my p...

Day 2 I am not an accident I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Isaiah 44:2 I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept? As i sit and ponder this question... i am very thankful that this is something that i don't feel is a hangup in my life.(i am not an accident) Obviously there are things that bug me about myself, but nothing that holds me back from trusting God and serving Him, sometimes i may doubt that i am capable or worry about saying something challenging... or not saying enough. I am very confident in who God had made me and just they way He has made me. Day 3 Living on purpose is the path to peace You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want to be? I hope they would say a godly wife and mother, who always wants to gr...

ok. so i didn't get very far with into the 'Power of a Praying Wife'... my excuse is that i went on vacation and lent my book to a friend.... so i'll have to do a 'take two'... anyway. Our church is doing 40 Days of Purpose in our small groups so i figured i'll journal it on here! Day One: It's not about me Everything got started in Him and finds it's purpose in Him. Colossians 1:16b (msg) In spite of all the advertising around me, how can i remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? Lately it seems so easy to get caught up in my purpose at a wife and mother, and not a daughter of Christ. I really need to refocus and start my day in prayer and reading the Bible. What are my goals? Or what would God want me to make top priority? How am i using my time? Is it eternity minded? I will be pondering what i am spending my time doing or not doing this week.

Praying for Hubby's job. This is one area that I should pray for every day...being that hubby is working in a very time consuming and sometimes emotionally draining job...I pray that every day God will reveal Himself to hubby in a new and refreshing way, and speak through him when counseling others. day two.. success!!

I've been thinking alot lately... life has been crazy busy. I feel like I am home long enough to pack for the next trip, the house is a mess, and I'm not doing the best job that I could be as a wife, mother, and friend. Since all this thinking has caused me to make sure I don't settle for meritocracy in my life, aka, relationship with God. I've decided to sit down amidst the HUGE mess and pick up, 'Power of a Praying Wife', by Stormie Omartain. I am going to attempt to read each prayer every day... but I figure this is a good start and hits '2 birds with 1 stone', relationship with God and hubby. Today it the first day. I forgot how amazing this book is... and butt kicking ;) I love how it starts out reminding us wives that we need to start with our own heart being in the right place... we aren't going to be praying, 'Lord change him', but 'Lord change me'.... and at different points in my life that is harder, right now it doesn't...

It seems as though every night when I kiss Ella goodnight I get this feeling... it's overwhelming... sometimes it feels like a happy bubble that wants to burst out of me... and sometimes it's so heavy like my life depends on it... I still can't believe she's MINE! I get to keep her! I don't have to give her back or even share her. I don't have to ask permission as to how her day is going to be or what is best for her... Don't get me wrong, I realize that she is a gift from God and that she is really His, and that I do share her with Phil and we are in this parenting thing together... but all my life I've enjoyed being apart of everyone else's baby's/child's life, and now I have my own. Phil and I are in charge of raising her to know God...that's a big task. But right now... while she is young... I am just enjoying the snuggles, how she follows me with her eyes and head around the room... how she responds to my voice.. how she smiles at me...

Today as I was cleaning my house I was thinking about a friend and some of the opinions she has about life. I found myself sad because I don't believe they are how God would want us be thinking... then it became somewhat judgmental... then this Bible verse that I learned way back in AWANA came to me. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galations 6:7 It challenged me in a couple ways. I need to guard my thoughts... if I'm just 'sowing' negative thoughts about others I will become quite negative. Also, it's not really my problem to worry about the opinions she has. God is not mocked....

Why do the best people move? Throughout my life I have made many friends. And throughout my life many of them have moved away for one reason or another. It never gets easier. Some I've been good at keeping in touch with... others are just a great memory. Until 2008 I have never been the one to move away. Moving has been such a hard thing. Making new friends in a whole new area is different than being the person who greets the new one in town. I have struggled with still 'living' in my old city. In my mind it's still the best place to live and that's where all the best people are. I know it's not right or fair to my new friends, but that's the truth. Making real friends has been even harder.. which brings me to my original question, why do the best people move? I was just getting to know a friend here even better, and tonight she was at my house.. and I was thinking, 'Wow, I really want to get to know her even better. She has such a love for God and great...