Resolutions ~ M & M Monday

*** This post contains some important T2 Women News at the very end that we don’t want you to miss!***

In less than 24 hours, we’ll be ringing in 2013. It’s time for those New Year’s resolutions. I’ve not thought about resolutions these last weeks though. Sure I could stand to lose a few pounds …. okay maybe a few more than a few! Exercising would be beneficial. Healthier food choices wouldn’t hurt either. Resolutions of the spiritual nature would be a wise choice. But as soon as I make them, I’ll break them. Failure abounds and resolutions are forgotten as the calendar pages turn over and over until it’s time to make those resolutions again. I don”t have the energy or time to think about resolutions no matter how good they may be right now. And that’s okay with me and it’s not because I’m giving myself an excuse to not exercise or eat healthier. And I’m not forsaking those spiritual disciplines that grow my faith and relationship with Christ. Yes, I’ll keep plugging away memorizing our M & M Monday verses but to make resolutions as this time of year dictates, it’s not happening here.

But there is a word that has been in the forefront of my thoughts these last months. A word that I will focus on walking in obedience to in 2013. Sometimes, well most times if we’re honest, we would prefer the circumstances of life to change but God’s preference overrides ours and we find ourselves having to surrender to His will – sometimes time and time again. I’m in one of those seasons in which I’d like a few things to change. I really should keep in my sights that these things are truly minor in the grand scheme of things but that doesn’t always happen when I find myself in the thick of things. Maybe this is your experience right now. Or perhaps those things that you wish were not are of a greater and more far reaching nature. Whatever the case, it comes down to following the example of Jesus and speaking those words of surrender our Savior did in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’m sure you’re thinking right about now that my word is surrender. It isn’t although it’s to be my – and your – constant mindset. Continue reading →

Lessons Learned Serving the Needy

Oct30

Saturday was Jesus Loves Memphis day, where members of about fifty evangelical churches came together all over Memphis to spread the love of Jesus to the people of this city. There were thousands spread out all over the community, but we were chosen to carry groceries to the cars of those needing them.

It was a cold, crisp morning, and just a day before it had felt like summer. A cold front had moved in over night and winter temps had set in. We had to search for our winter gear before heading out. John and I went over and collected our two oldest granddaughters, who had been up and dressed before dawn waiting on us, for they were so excited to be going to help today.

The work had already begun by the time we found the church.

Those in Need

The line was already long outside the door and we immediately got to work opening bags to be filled with foodstuff. Even John, who had already put in a full week at his job, was so energetic getting us all excited and ready to minister to all those the Lord brought our way.

Suddenly, Willie drove up to the door, ticket in his hand, and he seemed to know more of what was to transpire next than I. Having done this many times before, he began to instruct me.

Willie would be the only one to drive up in a wheelchair that day. His legs were long and lean and limp… useless. He was quite comfortable driving his wheelchair, so I imagined they had been acquainted for some time. I congratulated him for being our first “customer” of the morning, and that is when Willie explained that he had slept there all night to be first in line.

“All night!” I exclaimed “How did you keep warm, Willie?” I had heard my heat go on several times during the night while I was cuddled under the warm comforters, but Willie had been out all night waiting on one bag of groceries. “One bag! Was it worth all that?” I wondered. To him, I suppose it had been, for he was happy.

Helping Take the Bags to Their Cars

Others came who were over-weight; some would be considered obese. Our needy seem well fed in this country. Some came smoking and others smelling of alcohol and I thought, “Surely a carton of cigarettes cost more than this bag of groceries.” But as quickly as the thoughts were formed, I was convicted and felt shame… I am not here to judge my brother, but to HELP, and I quickly asked the Lord’s forgiveness and said, “Give me your eyes, Jesus! Cause me to see these as You see them.”

These Bags Were Replaced Four More Times

Suddenly, the need was so large! So much greater than a bag of groceries! All of a sudden these bags of groceries seemed like applying a tiny band-aid on a festering wound. I thought of the words of Mother Teresa, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the GREATEST poverty.” I realized the need was so much greater, and so I began to pray for each one. “God bless each one…Lord meet their needs especially their need to know Your love, the love of a Savior. May they know the love of the One who gave ALL for them.” They were completely unaware of what is being asked for them, but Jesus knows and that’s all that matters, for our God is ABLE!

Little Jenna, just seven years old, stayed by me and followed me in carrying the groceries out to each car. She kept watch over the line and would report when it would go down and when it would grow again.

Kate Waiting To Pass Out More Groceries

Kate, already ten years old, took a spot at the table where she could collect each coupon and give each one the groceries due them. Little Kate, who often seemed shy with strangers, had set all her shyness aside and boldly ministered to the needy as Jesus would, making her grandparents proud until finally the needy stopped coming before even the food ran out and our work there was done.

We gathered our things and headed to our van. Katelyn, with a skip in her step, shared how very much she had enjoyed the day and asked several times when we’d be able to do it again, and I thought, “Lord, You are already raising up the next generation to be Your hands and feet. To God be praised!”

Linked to: Time Warped Wife, A Holy Experience, Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls, Deep Roots at Home

Are you weak? ~ M & M Monday

Oct29

What Scripture passage first comes to your mind when you hear the word contentment? Now I know that we’ve memorized Hebrews 13:5 and 1 Timothy 6:6-7 so maybe one of those verses was your first answer! But my first response would have to be Paul’s words to the saints in Philippi . “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:11-13) The context of this passage is clearly in the area of finances and daily provision. We may struggle with contentment in these areas but we know that we can learn to be content. Paul did. He learned the secret. I think it’s the same secret that the Psalmist shared when he wrote “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His presence continually.” (105:4) We need God’s strength all the time, don’t we?

But that is not all that Paul had to say about contentment. Paul had something to say to the Corinthians as well. His words here never really jumped out at me until recently.

Now I’ll be honest with you. I don’t really struggle with contentment in the area of finances and possessions. Oh, once in a great while, I may wish for more than I have but it’s not something I struggle with. I don’t desire what others have. The majority of the time what I have is enough. But to say as Paul did that I am content with weaknesses, insults, persecutions. Well, that’s a different story. I’m reminded of James’ words to count it all joy when we encounter various trials. I get that. Those trials will lead to my maturity but to say that I’m content with insults, persecutions, weaknesses…. Other translations use the words ” I delight in” and ” I take pleasure in” rather than the words “I am content with”. Hmmm… maybe I don’t quite get that counting it all joy after all.

In order to understand why Paul can state with such confidence his contentment in these various circumstances, we must look at the passage these words are taken from. We’ll start with verse 7 but feel free to read from verse 1 this week as you have opportunity. “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As I read this passage, I can see why Paul said that he is content. With his weakness came God’s sufficient grace and power. In his weakness, he received God’s strength. Remember Paul’s words to the Philippians! Paul experienced all kinds of insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. I’ll never experience all Paul did. Yet like Paul I can be content.

Are you weak? I am. I can’t possibly do all there is in my life during this season. But I try. Over and over again I try. I ask the Lord to remove from my life so that I can do it. That’s pride and independence. I’ll share what He has been patiently speaking to me over and over again. He doesn’t want to change anything but me. He shows me that I walk in my own strength and sufficiency and you know, I have no strength or sufficiency so I fail. He tells me to seek Him and His strength and His presence continually. So today, I’ll do as Paul did and “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What about you? Do you need to do the same? May God bless you this week as you meditate and memorize 2 Corinthians 12:10.

,, TN

The T2 Women

Join our Grouponline

scripturetyper.com

Linking with Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, Monday’s Musings, Spiritual Sundays, The Better Mom, The Beauty of His Grip, Inspire Me Monday , Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls , Deep Roots at Home, On, In, and Around Mondays

Thanks Naomi for featuring us on Monday’s Musings!

When At Wit’s End …Start Giving Thanks!

Oct17

Disney’s Interpretation of Eeyore

I’m sure you must know who this guy is. This is actually Disney’s interpretation of Eeyore from A. A. Milne’s famous book, Winnie-the-Pooh. They’ve cleaned him up a bit, changed his coloring and actually have him smiling. The image on the right, however, is more like how Ernest Howard Shepard actually depicted him in the original book. According to Mr. Shepard, he was supposed to be an old, gloomy, grey donkey.

More like the Original Depiction of Eeyore

Eeyore was always my favorite character from the story. I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ve always found myself rooting for the underdogs and maybe I just felt Eeyore needed to be loved. Though in real life, if I’m honest, I tend to avoid people who are forever gloomy, down, constantly complaining and can never find anything in their lives to be thankful for. From all my observations, these types of people don’t tend to be super popular, so I imagine I’m not the only person who prefers to be around people who are for the most part upbeat, positive and grateful for everyone and everything! I’ve also recently discovered that God feels the same way!

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “God inhabits the praise of His people.” It comes from Psalm 22:3; “And thou art holy, thou that dwells amid the praises of Israel.” I looked up the word, “thanks” and found over 100 references in the Bible! Way too many to include here, so I picked a few of my favorites to share.

Psalms 100:4; “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” This is how we are to come into His presence.

I’d like to show you an incredible example of God inhabiting the praises of His people here in 2 Chronicles. This is when Solomon and the Israelite nation have completed building the temple, and they are dedicating it to God:

2 Chronicles 5:13-14; “ The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; His love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, ¹⁴and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”

And again just two chapters later, at the end of Solomon’s prayer and dedication:

2 Chron 7:1-3; “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ²The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. ³When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; His love endures forever.”

Imagine the priest not being able to enter or do the work required of them because God’s presence filled the temple. Do you need to see God at work in your life, especially over a particular situation? I’m beginning to learn that when we want God to be in the midst of our lives or especially a particular situation the best way is NOT to grumble and complain and feel sorry for yourself (Phil 2:14; Jude 1:16). The best way is to start praising Him and giving thanks in the midst of it!! The New Testament is also full of Scriptures encouraging us to give thanks:

Ephesians 5:15; “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul was one who could speak from experience! Acts 16 speaks of a time when Paul and Silas had caused a spirit to leave a slave girl, but once her owners realized that the spirit was gone and she would no longer be able to make any money predicting the future, they decided to drag Paul and Silas off to the magistrates of that day. While on the way, the crowd joined the men in beating Paul and Silas, and then again, once before the magistrates, they were ordered to be stripped, severely beaten and flogged and thrown into prison.

To be honest, it would have taken a whole lot less for me to begin to cry out to God that I hadn’t bargained on this kind of treatment when I agreed to dedicate my life to serving Him. I think I would have given Him an earful of my whining at that moment, yet notice how Paul decided to spend their night of captivity:

Acts 16:24-26; “When he received these orders, he put them [Paul & Silas] in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

What are you dealing with today? What appears to be out of your control, yet impacts your life everyday? How about finances, loss of a job or salary, chronic illness, wayward or disobedient child? Are there relationships in your life that cause you to lose sleep? Family members, co-workers, neighbors? How have you handled it thus far and how has that been working for you?

There has been something in my life that I have no control over, and for over a year I’ve prayed and whined and have repeatedly asked God to change things more to my liking, until finally the Lord reminded me of these truths. Since, I’ve been praising God that He is so much bigger than the situation and finding the things I can give thanks for, and so far, the situation hasn’t change, but my attitude and my ability to deal with it absolutely has! No more losing sleep. My whole outlook has changed! My heart is light as though it no longer matters, and life as a whole is so much better. I can praise Him and sense His presence much more clearly these days. I love where I’m at, whether He changes things or not. It no longer seems to make a difference on my countenance.

Paul’s final exhortation to the Philippians are ringing true in my life : “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will [mount] guard [over] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I want to encourage you, to start praising God and giving thanks for ALL things, and you too will be amazed by the peace that will mount guard over your heart so that though your circumstances don’t change your outlook will.

‘Til next time, sue

Linked To:

A Holy Experience , Women Living Well , Good Morning Girls , Far Above Rubie, Deep Roots at Home , Time Warped Wife

Simply Helping Him, What Joy is Mine

♥ 2 ♥ ~ Is it Enough?

Sep26

I have to share with you that this post has been sitting around unfinished for a few months now. The timing never seemed right to finish it until I read Sue’s post on contentment and covetousness.

I did something at work this summer that I had never done before. I didn’t know at the time why I had done it. My income is dependent on gratuities. I believe what I receive or don’t receive is the Lord’s provision. But I seemed to forget that in a split second when I returned change to a customer after he had told me that his check was “all set”. Let’s just say that his gratuity didn’t come close to meeting industry standards and the service he received wasn’t poor. When he reiterated that it was all set, I left it on the table anyway. I had never done that before. In my eyes, his gratuity was inadequate. And my actions surely conveyed that.

I returned to my work station feeling sick in the pit of my stomach. Such a heaviness overcame me after I put that money back on the table. I had no peace. All I had was a nagging feeling; that feeling that comes from doing something that I shouldn’t have. We call that feeling guilt. I also call it the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I hate that feeling as I’m sure you do.

As I cried out to the Lord about this angst I was carrying around, He clearly showed me why I was carrying it. He is my Provider and I had just shunned His provision. I had clearly forgotten that He is the Sovereign Lord who determines all things. Besides that, I had acted less than graciously.

In that moment of recognizing my sin against the Lord, I was broken and repented. Instantly, the heaviness and angst were gone. As quickly as they had arrived, they departed. The freedom I felt was incredibly amazing. The Lord did more than just show me that night that I had shunned His provision. He provided something I needed much more than income. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Oh, how I needed that forgiveness and cleansing to restore my relationship with Him. How we all do…. Have you ever received His forgiveness for your sin and His gift of eternal life? Have you felt the freedom that His forgiveness brings? If you’re not sure, here’s something for you to read.

It’s time now to finish this post that has been incomplete for weeks. After reading Sue’s post, I realized that in a split second I allowed covetousness to rule in my heart and that’s why I did what I did. I wanted more. I wasn’t content with the Lord’s provision. What about you? Are you content with what He has given you? Is it enough?

Linking up with:

New Life Steward

Getting Down with Jesus

Women Living Well

Simply Helping Him

Don’t let the devil talk you out of a blessing!

Sep19

Has the Holy Spirit ever prompted you to do something and you didn’t listen? I can think of numerous times in my life when I was prompted to do something. Sometimes it wasn’t just in a little whisper but an almost audible voice. “Go help that person!” “Go invite that person to church!” “Go witness!” “Make that person a meal!” Unfortunately, I have let my fear get the best of me many times during my life. I think to myself, “What if the person isn’t grateful? What if the person doesn’t like my cooking? What if I invite someone to go somewhere with me, and she says ‘no’?” I constantly doubt myself and talk myself out of blessing others. It’s a little embarrassing to admit this–especially when I think of all the times someone has decided to bless me. God tells us in Philippians 4:13 that we can do “all things through [Him] who gives us strength.” That verse tells us that it is not through OUR power. It is through HIS power. So, if we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something, then God is equipping us to do it, and we should not doubt.

It’s not difficult for the devil to talk me out of something. My big weakness is that I’m very self-conscious and very hard on myself. It all started in junior high and high school. I was plagued by thoughts that everyone was more popular than me, prettier than me, thinner than me, smarter than me…I constantly put myself down. Even though I’m older, the devil still uses that to tempt me into not obeying what God wants me to do. My self-doubt, I’m sad to say, has probably caused me disobey what God has told me to do more than I’ve obeyed.

In the past year, God has showed me that I need to start meeting others’ needs even if it takes me out of my comfort zone. I’ve realized that I need to look at every person and recognize that every person has a need. The way that he showed me this was through a marriage conference. My husband and I were going, and God had laid on my heart to invite a couple of my friends. They kept coming to mind, but every time I thought about them, I would think to myself, “They don’t even go to my church. They are going to say no. Their marriages are fine.” Well, I went to the conference with my husband. Lots of marriages were saved and strengthened. It was a lot of fun, and we all learned so many strategies for making a marriage work. About a month later I noticed that something was wrong with both of my friends. I learned their marriages were actually in serious trouble, and I was left with the guilt of knowing that I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something, and I refused because I was too afraid of being rejected. Who knows what kind of difference it could have made? I started questioning: “God what am I doing? When did I start letting my fear be bigger than Your power?”

Since then, I’ve resolved to make a change for the better. I’m certainly not perfect, and I know I will fail again, but I refuse to let my fear take over me. In the several months, I have made it my mission to find ways to intentionally bless others. I’m certainly not saying that to brag. I’m telling you this because when you obey God, great things happen, and YOU end up getting the blessing.

Last year we moved into a new neighborhood. Our new neighbors seemed very nice. They were my parents’ age, no kids, but they didn’t have any family in this state. And God prompted me prompted to ask them over for Christmas dinner. I kept second guessing myself. “It’s Christmas. Who wants to spend Christmas with people you don’t know well? What if they think my kids are too much? What if they say no?” But, I obeyed, and to my surprise, they said yes.

After everyone left that night, my neighbor came over to me in tears and said, “I can’t thank you enough for inviting us. This is one of the best Christmases we’ve ever had. This is one of the hardest holidays for us. My father died ten years ago on Christmas morning, so we just don’t celebrate on Christmas anymore.” I was in complete shock! I had no idea…but, God knew!

Since then, she has also told me that she feels that God moved them to their house for a reason. She always wanted children and couldn’t have them. She even volunteered for years in the Big Sister program before they moved to our state, and it just so happens that I have three girls. We are now like family. She and her husband are like grandparents to my kids. If their garage door is up, my kids are in it. They take my kids out on their birthdays, and they are great babysitters! Now I’m left to wonder: What if I hadn’t obeyed? What would I have missed out on?

I have learned that when God says—Do it—He’s already planned the resources necessary for me to complete the task, so I don’t have to fear!

There is a song by Matthew West called “My Own Little World.” It’s about a guy who was living a life only concerned about himself until God showed him that there was something more to life. There is a part in the song that says, “Father, break my heart for what breaks yours. Give me open hands and open doors. Put Your light in my eyes and let me see that my own little world is not about me.” My prayer is that God will break my heart to see those who have needs so that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Linking up with:

New Life Steward

♥ 2 ♥ ~ Waving the White Flag

Sep7

I’m waving the white flag. Again. I’ve been here before. It would have been much better if I’d waved it a few days ago. So it’s been a rough few days. I’ve struggled, fought, complained and disputed with our Father. I’ve been far from possessing that gentle and quiet spirit that is precious in His sight. Oh how the verses we’ve been memorizing have crept back into my life and convicted me. I wish I could say I won’t be here again. I live in this body of flesh and the struggle will always be there but I pray that next time I will wave the white flag, bow my head, bend my knee much sooner.

I just want things to change. I look at this season in my life and find it so very hard to walk in the priorities that I know the Lord desires I walk in as a woman. How can I do it all? Now sometimes as we evaluate how our lives measure up to the Lord’s priorities for us, we have to step back and say no to what is interfering with doing His will. But there are those times when there seems to be hardly anything we can remove. I’m in the midst of such a season. I’ve asked Him what to remove and the answer is always nothing. I’ve stopped asking. But I haven’t stopped trying to convince Him that it is impossible. I haven’t stopped pleading my case. I know He doesn’t desire to change my circumstances to accomplish His will in my life. I know that He wants to change me. But I’ve not given up the fight. I have periods when I’m surrendered or seem to be and then I find myself where I was this week. I just want things to change so that it’s easier. None of it makes sense but He knows what He is doing. I have to trust Him.

Through the battle this week, He’s been right there. From start to finish His hand has been upon it. Wherever I turned, there was His message. I’d love to be able to say that I immediately embraced it wholeheartedly. But my heart was hard; my anger overflowing at being in this place. Truly as I look back there are a lot of worse places to be. How silly my fight.

His message came through my husband. He reminded me that God’s power works best in my weakness and that God satisfies our desires in His time.

It was the sharing of the word surrender by a friend who had no idea I needed to hear that.

I was admonished to consider Him as the surrendered servant and Savior and reminded I have to give up my right to complain. Remember Philippians 2:14-15 from a few weeks ago. I was disputing and complaining to my Creator and to others about His will for my life.

Next I was reminded of words I had read from Wayne Grudem concerning a gentle spirit. He said that gentle means ‘not insistent on one’s own rights’ or ‘not pushy,’ ‘not selfishly assertive, not demanding one’s own way’. In the KJV, the word meek is used for gentle. I found this at blueletterbible.org: “Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.” Gulp…

And if that wasn’t enough, I received a list of resolutions in the mail from The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer this week. The first resolution is “I do solemly resolve to embrace my current season of life, and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit of contentment.”

In this battle, the greatest benefits have been seeing Him. I am thankful that He has been faithful this week. I am thankful that He is patient and longsuffering. I am thankful that I can honestly pour out my heart and feelings. I don’t have to pretend that all is okay within me. He knows. But I do need to turn and embrace Him and His will for my life. I am thankful that He forgives me with I repent.

Had I turned right away when the word surrender crossed my path, my week would have been much different. Battling is such a waste of time and effort and truly leads to walking in a depressed state. It affects not only us but others. There is hope. It’s just a wave of that white flag as we surrender our will to His and repent. Do you need to wave it today?

Making a Commitment

Aug16

I have often found myself being prodded to memorize Scripture. I know that it’s an important spiritual discipline that God instructs us to engage in. I know that the benefits to hiding God’s Word in my heart are immeasurable. I’ve often thought what if one day I didn’t have such easy access to God’s Word as I do today? That surely seems highly unlikely in this technological era but nothing is guaranteed! Or what if, in my later years, my eyesight fails and I’m unable to read the Word of God but have only what I’ve stored within? So I’ve made the decision to memorize the Word. Over. And over. And over again. I start off strong and then fall away. Each time I make the commitment and fail, the harder it is to commit again. The excitement that accompanied that first decision to commit to memorizing has long since disappeared but the proddings to memorize and the reality that making such a commitment is beneficial remain. So I begin again – right here, right now as the ‘M & M’ Monday series begins here on the T2 Women blog.

I really didn’t expect to be making this commitment right now. But this I do know – the Lord is calling me to make it and in obedience I’ll walk forward knowing my only victory will come as He enables me to commit to memory His Word and to stick to my commitment.

How about you? Is He calling you to begin again to memorize His Word? Then why don’t you join me this coming Monday.

Run with endurance

Aug16

While I have been watching the Olympics, I am reminded of the verse Hebrews 12:1 (NLT), “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” During the Bejing Olympics, there was a runner that quit giving his full effort a little over half way through the 100m race. This bothered me greatly. Why would you not give all you have to set a record that might remain for years, decades, even a century or more? Why slow down just because you are going to win? This brings about a reflective question. Why do we as believers not run full force for the Lord having all our efforts, time, dealings bringing Him the utmost glory? Why do we slow down or put in less than our best (with his grace and help most assuredly)? I have been thoroughly challenged by this thought. Shall we give our all and run the race the Lord has set before us to our fullest ability and His ultimate glory? What a legacy we could leave for the generations to come!

Random Acts of Kindness

Jul25

Have you ever received a letter in the mail that was just meant to lift your spirits? Has someone ever prepared a meal for you because your children had been sick and that person thought it would just be a nice thing to do? Have you ever walked into a room to see handpicked flowers with your name on it? I have been the receiver of many random acts of kindness over the years. They don’t happen often, but that feeling that I get when someone thinks of me is enough to keep me going for weeks! Recently, I found a Facebook page devoted to random acts of kindness. These members spend their birthdays doing one random act for each year they’ve been alive. How cool is that?! Seeing this post got me wondering how I could start practicing my own random acts of kindness.

We all know that God wants us to be nice to others. We know we are supposed to put others before ourselves. The Holy Spirit even prompts us to do things for others, but do we always listen? I can think of numerous times in my life when I was prompted to do something. Sometimes it wasn’t just in a little whisper but an almost audible voice, and I still didn’t listen. I have let my fear get the best of me many times during my life. What if the person isn’t grateful? What if the person doesn’t like my cooking? What if I invite someone to go somewhere with me, and she says “no”? I constantly doubt myself and talk myself out of blessing others. It’s a little embarrassing to admit this–especially when I think of all the times someone has decided to bless me with her kindness. God tells us in Philippians 4:13 that we can do “all things through [Him] who gives us strength.” That verse tells us that it is not through OUR power. It is through HIS power. So, if we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something, that means God is equipping us to do it. We should not doubt.

This weekend I finally obeyed. God had put on my heart to meet the new families in our newly developed neighborhood. So, I decided to bake cookies for each new family. Who doesn’t like cookies, right? Well, the devil still plagued me with doubt—what if they aren’t home? What if they are allergic to wheat, nuts, or milk? You name it, I thought it. But, I didn’t let him win!

We made it a family affair. We baked, packaged, and delivered the cookies as a family. My girls were so excited when they got to hand over a plate of cookies to each family. And as expected, each family was pleasantly surprised.

I wish that I always listened when God put someone else’s need on my heart. I pray that I not only listen, but act when prompted to encourage others. Acts 20:35 says, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Seeing the smiles on my neighbors’ faces definitely gave me a huge blessing! I’m excited to see what else God has in store for me.