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Stepping

I was talking with a friend the other evening.  We met in the warm Spring air and mutual sharing, as I relaxed patting her kitty.  I observed how it was warm and 70º while just last week at our meeting it was 30º and snowing!  We had chosen to get together and share from the depths of our hearts for that time, in this place.  It was a choice.  LIFE.  It was talk over past sin, repentance and finding wholeness again.  And that other word, healing.  It was two friends, drinking joy from a full cup of support.

She made a comment to me that made me wonder, "that was just a little step for me".   I can't help but ask, isn't every step a big step"?  Are we minimizing God's glory?  Isn't every single step towards God life altering?  Each one has importance because it is taking us in the right direction.  Each step builds on the last one.  Like a set of stairs leading you upward each one stacks on top of the other.  Your steps are taking you somewhere.  Somewhere out of where you are.

Each step proves we are changing.  He is changing us!  Isn't that what we all really want, to be changed?  We want mercies new every morning!  We pray for Him to get into our heads, renew our minds, and fill our hearts.  So, what is a step really?  

A step is motion in movement while passing over space.  It's a choice.  Sometimes, it even has voice.  If you pay attention you can hear it in a surrendered crawl, a sprint, a stride, a gait, even at a leisurely pace.  It's movement, it's growth, and it's glorious change!  Even the season is taking steps of changing.

Do we understand now that every step is God's glory showing up in our lives, and inviting us to take a walk with Him? 

Life is constant choice, change and movement.  Keep stepping...

Today, watch for movement and ask God to show you a step in the right direction!
Feel free to share back in the comments below about a specific step you would like to take.  Thanks for sharing!

Psalm 111

Psalm 111 The Message

  "Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got-
   Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
   God's works are so great, worth
   A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
   Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
   His generosity never gives out.
   His miracles are his memorial—
   This God of Grace, this God of Love.
   He gave food to those who fear him,
   He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
   He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
   Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
   He manufactures truth and justice;
   All his products are guaranteed to last—
   Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
   All that he makes and does is honest and true:
   He paid the ransom for his people,
   He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
   He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
   The good life begins in the fear of God—
   Do that and you'll know the blessing of God.
   His Hallelujah lasts forever"!

I'm realizing more and more that life, is all about Him!  Don't hold any part of yourself back today.  Give it to Him, get to know Him.  Give Him everything you've got!  What He wants to give you today has eternal value, He guarantees it!  He is a good God.  Just like the pretty flowers above, go now and pick just as many gratitudes as you can find.  Today, is your garden.  This moment is your life.  Don't miss one flower.  Pick them up and hand them right back up to Him in praise!  To Him be the glory!  Have a great day!  

What is one way you can thank God today? 

Bread Of Life

  "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty".  John 6:35 NIV

Today, I am going to make my kids their sandwiches and use the heels from my loaf of bread.  No need to waste because there is need.  

There is so much need.  Need to be perfect.  Need to just breathe. 

 I'm discovering things don't have to be perfect to live. 

Life is here for the taking and the giving.  

Why do I usually skip the heels and toss them away as if they're not really food?  

Everything I eat doesn't have to be perfect, because He is.  What I really need is to taste more of Him!

To dip down and soak in His communion, just like the bread and the cup.

It is something that no one else knows how to fill up.

To find communion with the One who created community.

 The true filler of life.  My everlasting God!

If you come looking for Him today, you will find Him, simply because He wants to be found.
He wants to love you forever and fill the cup that only He can fill.

 "Taste and see that the Lord is good.  
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him"! 

Psalm 34:8 NLT
  
So, the question is... are you hungry for more of Him?
Share your comments below as you surrender and invite God and community in... be blessed!

Waters Flow

" Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!  For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart'."  John 7:38 NLT

 Have you ever stood and watched water?  It's one of my favorite things about this world.  Whether you are looking at a stream or turning your faucet on, one thing is always the same, water always goes down.  It flows down stream, continually looking for even lower places to go.  It cleanses as it streams through.  It washes over everything it touches.  It becomes a part of everything it flows into.

 It makes me wonder, should I be like water? 

Can I get lower, can I kneel down?  Surrender in waters flow.

Sometimes it washes over aggressively, quickly as it falls down a breathtaking waterfall.  Sometimes it moves slow, like a low flowing stream.  

Water is all over the world and yet everyone is still looking for it.  

Life giving water.  The flow of water that goes on eternally and flows in to change lives. 

What would it be like to let God's living water flow through, into every crevice of my life? 

 ^"Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." John 4:10 NLT 

  If you believe in Jesus, you have the gift of an invitation.  You have the opportunity to flow into step  with Him.  You get to drink the life that His Holy Spirit pours! 

Are you thirsty?

At the baggage claim

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

 Have you ever watched someone at the airport try to wheel, juggle, and carry all of their baggage in to be weighed, tagged, and put away for a trip?  

I have.  It amazes me at how much a person can carry.  How much they can have strapped to their backs like it was always there.  I have to wonder, is it always there?  

They hand it over, into someone else's hands, so they can sit and rest on the plane.  Their rest will end.  They will have to pick everything up again.  

It's such a burden to carry, when we continue to try to carry all of our baggage through life.  It's a hard pressure on our back, it weighs down our shoulders and our countenance.  Some of our baggage has been with us all our lives, it's becoming tattered and torn, and so are we.  

Truthfully, we all are born into baggage.  The question is, how long will we choose to keep carrying it?

God wants us to hand Him our baggage today.  Will you?

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you". 

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

  

Attitude Equals Gratitude part 2

" Create in me a clean heart, O God.

   Renew a loyal spirit within me".  Psalm 51:10 NLT

 In my past, I have spent a lot of time and energy de-cluttering my house.  I personally, have been known to get a small adrenaline rush from introducing "stuff" to my best friend, the trash can!  While that was all fun and good, I am starting to see my greater need.  Confession, I Amy Alves need to be de-cluttered!  Not my stuff, but me.

To be a passionate God seeker, I have to continually throw out all my grumblings and mental complaints!

Tip #1 The sin of unthankfulness runs through me every day.  I have to see it for what it is and throw it away!

  Tip #2  Don't let your complaints get stuck in your brain because you want to be a "good girl", because you don't want people to see your sins.  Let it out and throw it out!  "Good girls" aren't fulfilled girls.  Honest girls are.

This week I am continuing my Joy Dare, by confessing my ingratitudes so they can get replaced with gratitudes!

Tip #3  Get ready because when we take something out of our minds, we need to be prepared to ask God to replace it with something good (or the old thing may walk right back in)!  For example, if you struggle with complaining about your job every day, you can begin by asking God to open up your mind by making a list of each reason why you are thankful for your job.  p.s. God also would love to use you there to minister to and encourage others!  So, get ready for exciting things to happen!

I understand that this way of living might get messy at times, but I'm thankful for His endless abundance of trash cans!  I know that as I get ingratitudes out of me, I will be cleaner for it.  I will be different.

I am choosing to have faith in the One who knows how to clean up messes.... clean up me!   So, this week I'm de-cluttering me!  I am asking God, the best cleaner, to replace all of my "trash" with thankfulness and a whole long list of gratitudes!

What do you want to throw into God's trash can today?
Leave your answer in the comments below.  Lets see how many sins we can throw out today!

Attitude Equals Gratitude

During the past few days I have been working on a little project.  I've been practicing it.  Mulling it over in my mind, learning, and even testing it out!
I have been intentionally adding "things" to my gratitude list that I wouldn't normally think of as positive.  I am purposefully searching for thankfulness in all things. 

 1. crumbs all over the floor

2. dog waking me up in the middle of the night

3. Lilly losing it over her schoolwork

I literally have to look for the thankfulness in these things.  I have to lift it up, peek around it, shake it up a bit, then I spot it!  I see it.  And it turns out that these gratitudes, are just as good as all the "easy" gratitudes.  

1. got to talk to the kids about respect and consideration.

2. got to be awake in prayer

3. got to experience God's fruit of patience, and witness a change of heart in my daughter.

Sometimes in life, it's simply a matter of perspective change, attitude change.  "They" say, attitude is everything!

This gives me hope for something greater.  That even in the middle of a hard day, painful circumstance, or doubt and confusion, there's still hope for finding joy and gratitude! 

"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity."
2 Corinthians 8:2 NIV

Having a heart of gratitude even in difficult circumstances makes all the difference in the world!  It is possible.  With God all things are possible!   God knows about your life.  If you can uncover your own gratitudes today, those hard to reach ones, you will find that you are uncovering more of God!

What do you see in your life today, that you could change into a moment of gratitude? 

Share in the comments below...

It's Seasonal

I welcomed the morning with a run, as I entered into the fresh air with anticipation for a new day!  The first blessing that I hear is Spring birds chirping, and I smile.  I think to myself, I can hardly wait to get back home and write this one down in my gratitude journal!  They've arrived a bit early this year due to the unpredictable changes in the weather.  Facts that even an educated weather man can't predict or plan for perfectly. 

Things that are truly left up only to God.

I had forgotten what those sweet songs do for me.  The joy they bring to my heart.  I hadn't heard them all Winter, or at least I hadn't noticed them.  Were some of them still there?  

The Winter always feels long when you're in it.  

A new season is on its way.  I didn't ask for it.  I could never make it come.  It's planning on arriving when it's good and ready.  In its time.  

At times in life, you may feel as though Spring will never come.  You're waiting.  Waiting for a new season, a better season.  

The truth is, Spring really isn't here yet.  But I got to experience a hopeful glimpse of it this morning.  There is still snow on the ground and we still have to stoke the fire at night.

Don't miss the early Spring birds chirping.  Don't miss the new season spottings, don't miss the glimpses of His grace.  Your new season is on its way.  Your healing is happening.  

Wait for it, and keep living.

 "There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens".....
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

choosing wisely

It's approaching that time.  That time of night when my children are dreaming and I'm still awake.  It comes after the prayers are said and the three kids are tucked into their beds.  It's after I speak a blessing over them quietly in my mind, and exit the room they all share.

Honestly, my heart is happy for a break.  I need this recharge of my own self.  It's right about now in the night that I jump into something that I've been wanting to do all day.  It's just about this time that I don't think to ask God, what do you want me to do tonight?

I must say that I've become in the habit of being a little selfish, lets not even sugar coat it, just plain selfish, with my night time.  And "sugar coat" it I do, as I consume my bowl of ice cream instead of consuming the one who made me.

For a long time I've been pretty satisfied with my night time choices.  TV, icecream, repeat.  Every night is the same.   But tonight, I want to be different.  Tonight, I want to ask God what He wants me to do instead of mindlessly falling into my habitual ways.

It all comes down to choices, right?  Every minute of our day, we make one.

Seek His will in all you do,
      and He will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:6 NLT

My day doesn't end at night time... so, tonight I'm daring myself to skip the tv and replace it with extra reading, and writing time.

You may be wondering, what about the ice cream habit... lets just take this one step at a time!

What will you choose today?
I would love to hear about how God is changing your choices!

NEWS~My Makeover

Happy Monday to you ladies! I was doing some brainstorming over the weekend and had the idea to change things up a bit. I've been feeling as though God is doing a "makeover" in me. My desire is to let that shine out, onto my blog!

So here it is, the new name Full Her Life, and the new look. God is offering a Fuller life to those who seek Him! One of my favorite verses is John 10:10b "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full".

I'm overjoyed over God!

Have fun reading, exploring, and growing today!

p.s. A special thanks to my hubby for his "tech" smarts and his love!

My Joy Dare

"They" say that if you want to be a life long learner read, read, read!

I have been doing just that (in between taking care of the children of course). My new top 3 favorite reads are, the Bible (my renewed love), working through the book Flourish (with my small women's group), and discovering the book One Thousand Gifts (and Ann's great blog!).

My reading has been stirring some "thing" deep within me.

Like a simmering pot of stew on the stove, that I keep going back to check on, as it continues growing in flavor and readiness.

In my stirrings, I'm being inspired to see my life through different eyes. It's as if God is holding out more towards me.

How do I grab hold of more of Him? Where do I find His full, abundant life?

It's in me somewhere, deep inside, resting with the Holy Spirit. It has been there all along.

I believe it's time to wake it up. This life giving fruit of His Spirit!

It has many names. Gratitude, thankfulness, joy... and it births the two things that I want most. contentment, rest.

I'm plunging in deep and expecting a great God to show up and show off, as I continue to learn how to seek His face!

I'm taking the dare to reach 1,000 gifts this year! Here is the beginning of my 2012 list of God. My joy!

Do you dare to believe in God's joy again?

#1. quiet morning runs

#2. feeling God's presence

#3. white snow falling

#4. daughters giggling

#5. imperfect people meeting a perfect God (church)

#6. a friend

#7. the touch of a husband's hand

#8. a coaching class

#9. smiles

#10. the confession of sin

#11. writing

#12. children's laughter playing with their daddy

#13. chocolate chip cookies and milk

#14. hugging Lilly

#15. Bible Study with friends

#16. chatting with my Momma'

#17. coloring princesses, with my princesses

#18. fresh Winter air

#19. clean sheets

#20. forgiveness

#21. joy in my healing

#22. flourishing women

#23. pizza

#24. a new friend

#25. reading

#26. a warm fire

#27. homemade pancakes

#28. 3 kids happy noise

#29. communion

#30. blog brainstorming

#31. the tightest hugs from my little ones

#32. hands up in praise with a heart full of freedom

#33. mom's chocolate cream pie

#34. a full fridge

#35. comfy sweatpants

#36. Julio's letter traveling all the way from Peru

#37. kids all sleeping at the same time

#38. clean water to drink

#39. church worship

#40. joy in the morning

Welcome Home...

Let me introduce you to my dog, Maya. She has been in our family for 4 years and although she may occasionally jump up onto you she would never hurt a fly (on purpose anyway).

Today, my story is about her.

I was sitting reading Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts" when my oldest daughter, looking out the window, yelled to me "Maya's loose"!

First, you must understand that she is a Siberian Husky in breed and was created to run! Run long, run hard, run fast. Secondly, at times running is good, healthy, safe... other times it's not. Out of all the times she's gotten away from me, (about 40 in my mental calculator) today was different.

Today was memorable.

Looking through the window my eyes caught her white body in that white snow. I ran out the door! I clapped, called, watched, waited, using as many of my five senses that I could. I saw as she kept running, but (glory be!) now she was running to me!

I watched her.

My heart filled with joy, as she came racing over that snow home! Home, right into my arms. I turned my head to find my whole little family rejoicing right behind me (especially my husband, who is normally the one running after her).

They say, "there's a first time for everything."

Today, she is my prodigal dog.

Today, I was blessed by God, through a dog.

And for a moment, I sit and imagine that this must be what it's like when we come home to God. He is full with love for us, as He opens His arms. And all the angels in Heaven rejoice!

Welcome home.

Have you experienced God's love coming home?

My thoughts, His ways

I have to say, sometimes I don't like my thoughts.

They're a fickle mess. They can change the way I feel, what I want.

Who I think I am.

I have to remind myself every day that I am a daughter of the King. I am a child of God! I have to remind my mind, of His promises to me.

"We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ".
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLV

God is inviting me to walk towards a better way of thinking, a better way of living.

He loves me!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts". Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

His thoughts and ways are beyond mine. He is God!
He can help my thoughts. He can help me.
The best part is, He wants to!

Do you want your thoughts to be different today?

Let's get into His Word, let's get into His head... as we invite Him into ours, to begin changing our minds.

This verse has meant a lot to me during the last few days... it's a good place to begin if you're struggling through your thoughts today. Go with God ladies!

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things".
Philippians 4:8 NIV

Just A Cup...

"The generous prosper and are satisfied, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
Proverbs 11:25 NLT

Ahhh, refreshment... like a cup of cold water that purifies my soul...

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Matthew 10:42 NLT

I love the fact that we can encourage each other in the body of Christ! We all have the same Spirit, and we're working for the same God! Keep the eyes of your heart wide open today to see how you can share refreshment to one of God's children.

"Work for the things that make peace and help each other become stronger Christians". Romans 14:19 NLV

It may be something small. Something as sweet as a kind word, as contagious as sharing your joy, as thoughtful as a phone call, or as hospitable as opening a door... today, we are Jesus' hands and feet. If you feel prompted today by the Spirit to live love out, then go for it! Don't hold back, it's the best way to get refreshed!

How will you leave His footprints today?

"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”John 13:35 NLT

Super Woman!

Sometimes, I feel like a super hero! I mean come on, I'm a mom of 3, right? All I'm missing is the cape!

The superhero abilities that I want to talk about today go beyond being a hardworking mother. I'm talking about living my life as a part of the supernatural. I'm talking about living life in the Spirit!

It blows my mind that I have the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead living in me all the time! -Romans 8:11

God loved us so much that He gifted us with eternal life! The best part is, we don't have to wait for it! It starts NOW with the greatest power on earth, His Holy Spirit!

Let's think back for a minute together, and imagine being with Jesus as He prepared to leave earth. He told His followers,
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father". John 14:12 NIV

This is not a solo-mission. We get to be each other's sidekicks!

"All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it".
1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT

"A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other."
1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

"To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said".
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT

And love... Love is the greatest power in heaven and earth! Let's not underestimate this. I'm not talking about love as our society knows it. I'm talking about God's casting out fear, never fails kind of love! His love will literally change the world!

How will this change the way you live today?

Broken's Goodness

I don't like to be broken. I don't like to feel broken.

But I'm beginning to understand the purpose behind my pieces.

We don't break most things on purpose, we usually refer to broken things as accidents. But God doesn't specialize in accidents.

I am not an accident.

God sent His Son, Jesus, on purpose....
.... to break something, on purpose.
sin
when we come to Jesus with a repentant heart something supernatural happens...
our sin is broken into pieces.

We usually don't like it when something breaks. We're constantly trying to hold all of our pieces together. We try to control our lives.
We try to control our sin.

We can't see that our sin is controlling us.

In Romans 6, Paul shares that the truth of the matter is we are "slaves" to our sin.

Jesus is not like us. He is not afraid of the mess. He is here today to break your sin and set you free! The truth is, we need Him.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 NIV

To Him, broken is good. Broken is His invitation to run in, rescue us, and begin picking up the pieces! In our brokenness, we are made whole. In our weakness, He is strong!

He doesn't waste a piece of us.

I have to be broken, to be fixed....

Broken is good.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Extra-Ordinary!

Do you ever get tired of the same old same old? The mundane? The ordinary? If we're honest, we all answer with a resounding yes! For me, it can be the pile of dishes, the laundry, the changing diapers, that can get to feeling a little... well, ordinary.

Even if we are beginning to learn how to flourish in the ordinary and to live lives of purpose, we can still relate to feeling unfulfilled by our ordinary lives at one time or another. At times life can feel like there aren't many "special" days. Sure, you might have your favorite holiday that gets you excitedly waiting with anticipation. You even might have that annual family Summer vacation that you always look forward to. Maybe, like me, you're waiting until you save enough money to renovate your kitchen. Or, for a lot of us it's Fridays.... always wanting the weekend to get here!

How do we celebrate the ordinary, every day?

How do we grasp onto "the full life" and enjoy each moment?

The elusive present moment.

We can't keep on living for some "thing" to change in our lives.
If we continue to wish away our ordinary days, we will wake up one morning and realize that our life has passed us by. We will discover that we have lived a life of "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence".

What are you waiting for?

Dear God, Transform this ordinary day into an extra-ordinary day! Not, because some "thing" has changed, but because YOU have changed me!

John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. NIV

Ecclesiastes 5:18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. NIV

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. NIV

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. NKJV

Mr. Clean

I cleaned my bathroom today (insert, praise to Amy here)! Am I the only one who enjoys walking into a sparkling clean, bathroom? I love entering into it, and seeing no dirty distractions around me anymore. A clean bathroom feels good. It speaks relaxation to me. I can spend my time in my happy, clean bathroom with ease. Have I mentioned it's the one place in the house that I can lock the door and not feel guilty when little hands knock, singing out, "Mommy, mommy"... and I say, "Don't come in!"

When it's not clean, I tend to go in only when it's absolutely necessary and rush out as soon as possible!

What if I enjoyed a good cleaning from God just as much? How would that change me? What if the very first thing I do when I walk into my time with Him, is to ask Him to clean my heart? Just like my clean bathroom, I know that my heart would sparkle in His presence. I would sit longer, and enjoy my visit with no distraction of an unconfessed mess. God is so good! He loves a clean heart just as much as I love a clean bathroom... okay, bad comparison, He LOVES my clean heart much more than I could ever imagine loving my clean, anything!

I don't always enjoy the scrubbing of the tub (it's hard, messy work) but over time I've learned that in the end it's worth my energy and effort.

A clean bathroom feels good.

A clean heart feels even better!

It might be uncomfortable at first, but as you learn that you can trust Him, you will see that God is the best, most patient, most caring cleaner around!

Psalm 51 NIV
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Clean out my heart, clean out my house...

Take out your longest broom to reach over into the deepest corners of me!
With your softest sponge of grace, scrub away my spots and stains.
Rinse away all my dirt from years of being used and make me like new again!

AMEN!

Your Love Letter

Read along, and take this into your heart, this is what God has laid on my heart for you. I don't know how many women are going to read this, but I hope that each of you gain another level of closeness with our living, loving God today! God with God girls!
Love, Amy

Dear Daughter,

I am going to give you what you need. I am going to give you comfort so you can rest and recover. I am going to replace your pain with my joy. Take one day at a time and I will show you how I can overflow your days with blessings. I know everything that is going to happen to you in your life, and I have already planned a way out for you. I will not waste any moment of your life, I will pour purpose into every part of it! You are my beautiful daughter. I died for you because I love you. No one can love you the way I do. Walk with me and you will never be hungry again. Look up at my face and step into all my love and promises.
Love, Jesus

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"

Amen
~ Ephesians 3:16-21 NIV ~

The Other 364 Days?

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins".
1 Peter 4:8 NIV

So, tomorrow is Valentines Day and I am beginning to feel a little strange about using a special "date" on the calendar to celebrate love! Technically, I already have 365 "dates" with my husband every year with endless opportunities to show love! So, is it just me, or does picking one day seem a little odd to you too?

They say, hindsight is 20/20, so now I get the chance to look back and notice something about myself on previous V Days. I act different. Sometimes, I even start a day or two before the big day, with hopes that that's what my husband will remember. I carefully put on my best behavior, my best outfit, my best makeup (which means I actually put on makeup), and do my best to say some nice things to my husband. I have found only one problem with all of my self observations, they're all about me!

Isn't love about giving not getting?

.... "Love each other deeply" ....

Isn't love about imperfections

.... "Love covers over a multitude of sins"....

They're covered, you can't see them anymore

I know my husband better now than I did 10 years ago...

We're living through the good and the bad together.

Today I pray, while I put on my best outfit of patience, my best makeup of forgiveness, and my best behavior of respect... that I will love him deeply.

This year on Valentines Day (and the day before) I propose an idea. That each of us women observe ourselves, look at our love meter, and see not at how high we can get it, but on how much of it we can give out.... every day!

Do you act differently on Valentines Day?

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7 NIV

Enjoy Valentines Day, just don't forget to show your husband that you love him just as deeply on all of those other 364 days this year!

It's in the sitting...

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5 NIV

Raise your hand if you think you're too busy! Nod your head if you have most of the days filled up on your calendar for the upcoming weeks ahead! Give me an "amen sister" if you think you need help managing your life!

You may be reading this right now and feeling like you have no time to rest! Or, that you are avoiding moments to rest because you are scared of what you might find in those quiet places in your mind.

I think one of our natural tendencies as women is to complain about our lives (our schedules). We can easily forget, that we form our lives by all of the little choices we choose to make each day. We desperately need to learn to check in with God and follow His Spirit in us before we give our yes or our no.

And we won't know how much we need to do that until we understand how much we need Him!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Wouldn't it be nice to have a place to sit, just you and God? I heard someone say once that we are spiritual beings living a human experience (not the other way around). If we truly believe that, we will take the time to invite God in to show us how to sit, and nurture our souls... to give us rest through the inside out.

My soul needs rest today, and I know just where to find it! My prayer for you is that you join me in the sitting and invite God in to renew your mind, so your soul can have rest today!

Go with God girls!

My Extra Favorite Verse

"No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us."
Romans 8:37 NIV

This verse has been my favorite for the last few years. I mean come on, it's just one of those verses that can get you pumped up, you know! But lately, God is shining an even brighter light on it for me. The longer I live, the more I have to forgive (and be forgiven), the more experiences I have, the joys and the pain. I am beginning to see that through all of these things I WILL be Christ's conquering woman! Talk about a, "you go girl" moment! Hard times WILL actually make me stronger because I am learning to line myself up with God's love for me! This verse is coming alive right before my eyes, I can touch it and taste it, and it means more to me now than ever! Nothing can get in the way of God's love for me!

So, I guess now you could call it my extra favorite verse!

What's your favorite verse?

The 11 Letter Word...

"Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

~ author unknown ~

Forgiveness... a big, 11 letter word.

Recently in my life, I came to the strong conclusion that I can't forgive. I know this sounds awful, but I'm inviting you in to see one of the most humbling thoughts I've ever had in my life. There are many reasons why I can't forgive... anger, time (too little or too much has passed), a broken heart, (insert your reason here), excuses, why I as a woman, can't forgive. But, I am learning that the number one reason I can't forgive is because I'm human. I'm simply not God and there is nothing simple about that. I look at Jesus' example on earth. I think about His chosen torture, death, and His three day separation from God as He accepted punishment for the sins of the world. I understand that I can't forgive like Him. He loves me perfectly. For me, forgiveness is like a battlefield! For me, it's all about acknowledging in that moment of honest words that I can't win this war... it's not in me. That is just about when God starts running in to rescue me...

I can see .... compassion taking ground and forgiveness is not far behind! The battle cry is, "praise God". Send me your whole army! Fight for me! Fill this warrior princess up with as much FORGIVENESS as her armor can possibly hold!!! Make her armor into the finest of steel so nothing but FORGIVENESS can pass through!"

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results". James 5:16 NLT

There is freedom found in repentance and forgiveness! They're the best of friends... they work for you and for me, side by side, in our battles! If you are willing to fight through the pain you will find hope on the other side. We will experience healing. The pain still visits with me. But I am purposefully choosing to trust God to hold my pain. I can honestly say, I haven't won my battle... but I do know one thing... God is fighting for me!

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 NIV

Have you experienced the power of forgiveness in your life?

I had the privilege of hearing Michael O'Brien at the American Association Of Christian Counselors World Conference last year. He opened each morning with a few worship songs and I enjoyed it immensely! I hope that as you listen to his song, you can take a few minutes by yourself, to be quiet before the Lord.

In this manner, therefore, pray:Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
Amen.

Go with God girls!

It's time to go shopping...

The day before I go to the grocery store each week I take the old, (sometimes moldy) bad food out, to make room for the new, good food. I can't eat and grow from the old food, it would make me sick. But my problem is, I don't know how to make all this good food that I need on my own. I have to go shopping!

What if you found out that there is someone who can (and wants to) replace your bad with His good, would you jump at the chance, or would you sit around in your comfortable complacency and choose not to clean out your fridge?

What if I told you that He is offering to replace your worry with His peace? What if I shared with you that He is inviting you to experience gratitude (thankfulness) instead of your complaints? What if I told you that you can experience joy instead of discouragement? I know, that His store has the freshest fruit available because I've tasted it!

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."Psalm 34:8 NIV

I want to encourage you today that there is someone, a very big someone, who wants to bring you shopping (at His store)! He paid the highest price so you could get His food for free! If you invite God in to clean out your fridge, He won't leave you empty....

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

TODAY is a new day, now is your chance, accept His gift to wash you, to prepare you, and to fill you up with good "food"!

"This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones". Proverbs 3:8 NIV

One Step At A Time...

There have been moments in my life when God has whispered to me, "just take one step at a time, Amy". In order to share one of these moments with you, I'll have to take you on a trip down memory lane, back 6 months ago...

I was getting ready for a short term missions trip to Guatemala... I had just received the "green light" to go the night before, and now I was out on my morning run. But I was distracted, I knew I only had 3 weeks to pull all the details of the trip together... yikes! I got to the point in my run where I needed to decide if I wanted to keep going or cut it short and head for home. Lord knows, I had so much to do, plan, and pull together in such a short amount of time! p.s. Not to mention that I had never even traveled outside of the country before (when you live in Maine, Canada does NOT count!) But then something in me changed, God suddenly overwhelmed me with His presence. It was as if he smiled and whispered into my ear... " don't worry, take one step at a time". I think it was then that I felt a burst of energy, and peace come over me, and my run turned into a sprint! And guess what, I didn't have one second of stress planning that trip after that moment! Over the course of the following weeks, it appeared almost effortless how God provided more than enough money for our trip... one donation, one prayer, one step at a time (not to mention a few hundred pair of shoes, underwear, socks and even a few soccer balls donated by so many generous people). I got to leave and go with 3 girl friends to Casa Bernabe' Orphanage in Guatemala, on July 27, 2011! I was excited! We spent 8 days there. It was 8 days packed full of hard work, babysitting, gardening, devotionals, and well... trying to learn a little Spanish! Also, I got to experience a little shopping in the beautiful and historical city of Antigua. Casa Bernabe' Orphanage is packed full of God's love and 160 orphans! I can't even describe to you what it's like to go into a different culture, but I'll try... it's eye opening, it's beautiful, it's inspiring... it gave me a new perspective on how overly protected I am here in America, and how little I really "depend" on God! If you want to know more, start by visiting the orphanage at their website at foce.orgWHAT A PLACE! Thanks to my husband for the excellent video, and to my daughter Haley for singing the sweetest song for me... watch and enjoy a piece of my journey!



"We can make our plans,but the LORD determines our steps" Proverbs 16:9 NLT

One step, towards Faith... One step towards Trust... One step towards thankfulness...One step at a time!

Have you experienced a situation in your life when God has guided you one step at a time?

Practicing Gratitude...

Have you ever thought about practicing gratitude? It doesn't seem to come "natural". I know for me, I have to ask God to change my mind, to train my mind, to renew my mind. And I have to do this every day! p.s. DON'T WORRY, it's a fun thing to do every day!!!

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts". Colossians 3:16 NIV

Practicing gratitude every day is making a big difference in my life... and in my mind! Here's a little of what I've been up to. For the past few weeks, I have gotten into the habit of speaking OUT LOUD,

"This is the day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it". Psalm 118:24 NIV

I am amazed at how this starts my day off with a smile! I also, am enjoying working on my own list of "gratitudes". I have been writing down 3 gratitudes in my journal each night before I go to sleep. I have noticed that I fall asleep at peace and that I have been waking up with more joy! Here is my list of gratitudes from last night. Some are little (sometimes it's the small stuff) and some are big. I choose to write down whatever comes to my mind!

1. I am thankful that my children were happy and healthy today!
2. I am thankful for a peaceful and refreshing run this morning!
3. I am thankful for feeling God's presence and direction in my life today!

"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7 the message

What are some small ways that you can begin showing gratitude in your life? I would love to hear your ideas and what is working for you!

Make the decision today to live with gratitude!

Be The Nourishment!

"The lips of the righteous nourish many"....
Proverbs 10:21a NIV

Are you a fruit salad or a dozen doughnuts? Are you a warm bowl of oatmeal or a package of twinkies? Are you a bran muffin or a brownie? Are you beginning to wonder where I'm going with this post? This is not a post about what you're craving... or, maybe it is?

Do you bring "nourishment" into people's lives when you're around them?

So many times we can complain about how bad the world is around us instead of choosing to bring to the world what we hope to see! So, the next time that you feel a complaint exiting your mouth, choose to serve up a colorful crispy salad instead!

"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~ Ghandhi

Because of the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, we can bring good into our world today!

"So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up." Romans 14:19 NLT

What's love got to do with it ~ Part 2

Self Check! Sometimes, I have to do a self-check... OKAY, let's keep this real! A LOT of times, I have to do a self-check! What are my motives? Most of the time I do "good" things to get something back for myself. How often do I do good things when....

"But I tell you, LOVE your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44 NIV
.... when that happens?

I live a very safe and sometimes overly protected life living in America. For now, as a Christian I am not being imprisoned or tormented in any way. I get to come and go, in and out of my church building without being challenged. But I wonder, have I breezed over this verse too easily, thinking that I didn't need it... enemies, what enemies? I don't even know what persecution feels like. Let's break this verse down and see how it applies to me. Who are my enemies? I will boldly say my enemies are any one that I hold judgement towards. People like this pop up in the strangest places! The grocery store, the highway, even my own home! A lack of love can rear up it's ugly face and rest right on mine without a moment's notice! I do have enemies. I seem to be very good at creating them on my own actually. My enemies don't attack me physically, they get to me in a much more subtle (deceptive) way, they get in through my mind. My prayer today is that God gives me a vision of what His love looks like. It's EASY to "love" someone I like!

Seek God on purpose and ask Him to show you more about love today!

Let's look at what LOVE IS...
Love is PATIENT ~ Love is KIND ~ Love rejoices with the TRUTH ~ Love always PROTECTS ~ Love always TRUSTS ~ Love always HOPES ~ Love always PERSEVERES!
Now let's look at what LOVE is NOT....
~ Love does not boast ~ Love is not proud ~ Love does not envy ~ Love is not rude ~ Love is not self seeking ~ Love is not easily angered ~ Love keeps no record of wrongs ~ Love does not delight in evil.
LOVE NEVER FAILS~ taken from 1 Corinthians 13

my in between...

"Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."Philippians 4:11-12 The Message

When I look back at my childhood one of the things I remember is that I was always excited to get to the next big thing! A trip to the playground, a McDonalds treat, a friends sleepover, a dish of ice cream (okay, so I still look forward to my dish of ice cream with Ben and Jerry). I think back and feel like I can't remember half of my childhood and I just have to wonder if it's because I was rushing through most of it... anxious to get to the next "thing".
So, now I am 30 years old and I am feeling more comfortable in my own skin than ever before! I am learning that the journey down the road is just as important (sometimes, more) as the destination. It's in this kind of moment when I get a glimpse of what real peace and contentment tastes like.
So much of life is living the "in between" time, the middle time... the waiting... these are the moments that we are truly meant to learn how to LIVE! I am learning that God is not a wasteful God. He loves to use all of our moments, the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, in my waiting I can wish for something more or I can ask Him to fill me with a knowledge and sense of His love just sitting, waiting.

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God, may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."Psalm 143:10-119 NIV

We always have a choice to make. When discontent creeps in we can say, "welcome, come on over and sit down with me" OR we can say, "no thanks, I don't want any".

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21 NIV

More God, anyone?

Sometimes, I feel like I am tapping into only a small part of God! This has been the consistent thought rolling around in my mind for the past week... and it's not going away. I believe that the Holy Spirit is patiently persistent! I think God is trying to tell me something...
I am now at the point that I have heard this little voice in my head enough times that I am ready to start doing something about it. But what is a girl to do? I have been a "Christian" since I was a little girl. I have had almost 30 years of time to "tap" into Him more. When I look around me at the condition of the church I wonder, what's wrong. Why is God not bigger in our lives?
First things, first. Be still my soul, I say. He is my center...He is the creator of me. He gives me the confidence to get up and go for it today! ... in me, there is a part of Him.

"So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 NLT

He created us to seek Him, to want more God. Today I repent of any sin or stronghold in my life and invite God in to every part of me... not holding anything (anyone) back for myself. I have great expectations of a great God to show up and make Himself known today!

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

In a way, I pray that I always feel this way... a longing in my soul, to know Him more.

More God, anyone?

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation". 1 Peter 1:3 NLT