The Bigger YES!

It's easier to say "no" when you have a bigger yes.


And right now my bigger yes is on mission with Historic Faith, and our commitment to have the courage for sacrificial generosity.


That's my Historic Faith lesson today.


It's handy it's also in today's devotional...I just think God has a wonderful sense of irony.


I knew I needed to do today's devotional study, but I wasn't in the mood.


Really I wanted dessert. Something fun too, like a quick trip to Dairy Queen for dilly bars sounded yummy...but that wouldn't be happening.


And then shopping seemed like the thing to do. For clothes specifically.


I know spring isn't here yet, but I have got the urge to splurge right now, and nothing is quite quenching my shopping thirst. I'm sure there's one or two of you out there in blogger-land who can agree with me.


However, we are working on our budget and have made our Historic Faith commitment and honestly, it's pretty tight, (if you're real quiet I think you can hear it squeak) so, shopping isn't in my near future...neither is eating out. (at least until the budget is ready)


So...while I was still in my "avoiding sitting down to read the devotional mood" I decided to go shopping anyway...in my closet.


And I have to tell you...I had a great time.


I dug through bins and the far back recesses of closet rods and dug out a couple of sweaters and even found an old scarf I shall be adding to my clothing rotation.


So...the shopping itch was scratched.


But, the dessert desire was still nagging. And then I had an epiphany (I get those a lot)...and I realized I could skip dessert, have an orange and maybe drop a few pounds in the process. So...maybe through this journey I'll have a couple of things to thank God for, including: less debt, more work in the Kingdom, a closer relationship with Jesus, a retro fashion look and a cute waistline.


Hey, a girl can dream, right? Jesus said not all things are possible with men, but with God all things are possible...and there's just no limitations on the ways He might choose to work in me.


And I thoroughly enjoyed reading tonight's devotional and thinking about a bigger "yes," when I had just experienced tonight's little endeavor.


I've got a bigger yes, and that makes it a little easier to say "no" to the novelties...yes, even shopping and DQ dilly bars.


Think what I'll find when I allot a little room in the squeaky budget to hit the Thrift store! :)


H =D

Week One, Day Two...Denying Me of Myself.

“If anyone would come after me let him deny himself and take 

up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23 & 24

So, today's devotional asks the question:

"What does it look like for me to deny myself and pick up my cross?"

While I am scared of the actual "picking up" of the cross, I'm actually concerned with the "deny myself" part a little bit more.

We've just started working within our budget.  

Honestly every time my husband mentions the word "budget," he might as well be saying, "Dear, back away from the dessert table, step out of the arcade, get out of the pool, put on a life jacket, don't forget your helmet...oh, and turn off the tv, 'cause it's time for bed."

Everything about the word "budget" says, "No more fun zone."  It actually screams it...wait, no, it doesn't raise it's voice because that might be considered in the "having of the fun" department.

Can you tell I'm not crazy about budgets?  Have I made it clear enough?  

So...sounds to me like "denying myself" is the actual cross I'm lugging around.  And I'm letting it get me down!  I'm letting this thing control me.  

I'm realizing how I've gotten it all wrong.

I'm doing the exact opposite of what Jesus says to do.  He promises that when I pick up this cross and deny myself, deny my desires and selfish ways, that I will lose my old life and gain life in Him in the process.  A life He promises is WAY better than this thing I've been calling the good life...running all willy nilly throwing my dollar bills wherever they land because it sounds "fun."

Goodness, I'm grateful for this devotional today.  

I've taken this whole day to process my thoughts on this verse in Luke 9 and finally had an epiphany from the Holy Spirit.  I realized that I have not been walking around with an attitude of gratitude, but rather I've been a grumpus sitting on my rumpus thinking of all the "not fun" things associated with this new 'budgetized' way of life.

Jesus promises He will save my life...and I honestly believe that He will, now it's just time to walk it out.  And I'll be heading out for a stroll in my bike helmet and life jacket "budget", hand in hand with Jesus, leaving that old yucky, grumpy me on the side of the road.  

Later Tater, me and Jesus have a date, and it just might involve some "fun."

Feeling free and it feels good!

How about you LIFERS?!

I'd love to hear what you're thinking about out there in bloggerville.

H :)

"Who do you say I am?"...Week One, Day One Historic Faith

So...Historic Faith is officially under way.


It's been a long journey for our church leadership to bring this to fruition...a year of praying, time spent seeking wise council, intentional planning, hard discussions...and of course God's amazing timing have ALL gone into this huge endeavor for our church.


We are talking about Historic Faith...a moment in time that has the potential to change lives, church bodies, and ministries all over the world! This is a HUGE adventure, and it's not to be taken lightly.


And with that thought in mind, we all have to remember to do OUR part. Prayer and working through our daily devotional book is one great way to start owning our own slice of this movement.


So, here we are...week one, day one. Let's take it one day at a time, one step at a time, one prayer at a time.


This day we are reading through Luke 9:18-27. Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say I am?"


Peter is the only one who responds correctly, he says that Jesus is the "Christ of God". Today's devotional asks us to take it personally. Who do YOU say Jesus is?


My husband and I woke up early and prayed this morning. I'm stealing a lot of today's blog post from our discussion and his prayer.


As I sat in our quiet living room this morning with wet hair in a towel and lovely coffee breath my husband and I talked to our Father. We prayed, "Father, the passage in Luke is difficult to think about... "who do you say I am?". Father I know you are the creator of everything; that you are all powerful, all knowing...and I can't believe you're going to use me on this journey. I struggle to feel valuable enough to be a part of your plan. But I am, because you say so...so Lord please help me to remember that while I have a small part, it is still a significant part. I'm humbled to bear some of this burden Father, but excited for the journey."


So, that's where our family is beginning this adventure...acknowledging who God is and owning our part.


How did you sit with today's devotional LIFERS?


Who do you say Jesus is?


Looking forward to some good thoughts over the coming weeks, can't wait to travel this journey with our church family!

The listening place...

I had a thought I felt like discussing.


Between this next month's church newsletter on marriage and family, and our small groups going through several studies on the book of Exodus, my brain's been on overdrive.  I was reading back through the beginning of Exodus and this verse struck me:

The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering." 

- Exodus 3:7

So I read that verse and thought through the rest of the book of Exodus, and how God did something in response to their cries.  And just as He did for the Isrealites, he does for us today: God hears our cries...he knows we suffer and are in trials...he understands, he listens and he responds.


As an adult I understand this concept...I cry out to my Father, and I know He will respond, and I'm okay with whatever His will is for me.


Trying to help my children understand this concept...now, that's a different story...


When the kids were babies, it was pretty easy to respond to their cries.  Generally they were hungry, tired, overstimulated, or had a diaper disaster.  As a parent, you hear the cry and you respond.


My children are getting older; no longer babies, and their cries have changed.  Their cries now are over hurt feelings, frustration, bumped knees and fear.  Lately, they have both been struggling with nightmares.


Last night they both awoke (at separate times) upset and afraid of bugs crawling all over them.  My husband rushed to their beds in the middle of the night ( I was knee deep in dream land ), comforted both kids and helped them get back to sleep.


This morning, my son woke up irritated and afraid.  He was still struggling with his dreams last night.  I went upstairs, helped him out of bed, reassured him there were no bugs in his room, helped him find clothes and then escorted him to the bathroom.


Somewhere in the shuffle he said, "I don't understand.  We prayed last night for God to keep the bad dreams away...how come He didn't?"


I said, "I don't know why you had bad dreams buddy.  Let's look at it a different way: even though you had a bad dream when you prayed you wouldn't...your daddy came up and sat with you,  your bed and room are warm and safe, and I'm here to talk with you about it this morning.  Last night didn't go the way you wanted, but you're still blessed buddy."  And with that he seemed moderately satisfied and went off to scrub the morning sleepies off his teeth.


Now, as I am up and conscious, I'm thinking about last night's events in their entirety... a warm shower and a cup of coffee are helping with the clarity too.


So...here's what I'm thinking about: God hears MY cries as his child; I cry out and I know God is responding (sometimes his response is silence), but helping my children understand how God chooses to work, means I have to be even more intentional in how I respond to my children.  It isn't just about nightmares, and preventing bad things from happening...it's looking through the bad things and intentionally responding in a way that they can see God at work.


My children have heard of Jesus and of the holy power and goodness of God their entire lives.  But as they sit in their beds at night...scared of what could be lurking in their closet, they cry out to God and are frustrated that God isn't keeping their little minds safe.


And I guess that's where mom and dad really come into play.  I know that God is sitting at their side, hearing them cry, but it's daddy who rescues them.


I think that's the most overwhelming thing in this whole thought.  They are crying out to their Heavenly Father as their daddy comes to the rescue; and they aren't putting the two concepts together.


I think that's the discussion that comes next with the kids.  While they are scared and not understanding how God is working, they need to understand that He is at work...through us...their parents.


It's our job to show them how God listens and responds.


I pray I have the words to help them...and as I pray I know God will hear me...so Lord, let me hear my children.


How about you?  Any thoughts?


H :)


P.S.  Stay tuned for more good stuff on marriage and parenting from our newsletter next week!