Live with Intention

3-8"What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the
seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it
sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered
just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the
weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest
dreams.

18-19"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news
of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so
the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is
the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21"The seed cast in the
gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But
there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some
difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22"The seed cast
in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and
illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what
was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23"The seed cast on good earth is
the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond
his wildest dreams." Matthew 13 (The Message)

During my morning quiet time today, I read the parable of the Sower. (See above in the Message version) I find that even though I am a Christian and believe in Christ with all of my heart, I am not always "good earth." I think that often my life is filled with "weeds." The weeds are the busy-ness of life. There are so many things to do to manage a household of eight. Add to that the homeschooling, managing the apartments, church commitments, etc. and my life is full of so many things to do. The difficult thing is to figure out what things on my daily to-do list are weeds and which are the plants that will produce a harvest "beyond my wildest dreams."

Last night, as I was going to sleep and thinking about all that I need to get done, a thought came strongly into my head and it feels like it is from God. I need to Live with Intention. What does that mean? There are more things to fill my day than I can possibly ever get done. Living with intention, is intentionally choosing those activities instead of just merely dealing with things as they come at me. It is planning ahead instead of dealing with emergencies as they happen. Now, there are day that are just filled with emergencies and catastrophes that need to be dealt with, but I believe that by planning ahead, we can get less sucked into those things that SEEM like emergencies at the time, but are really not in the eternal picture.

So, my plan of action:

• Make sure that I have daily quiet time with God to be able to discern what needs to be weeded out each day.
• Make short manageable to-do lists and follow them.

The woman I AM vs. the woman GOD CREATED me to be

I have been doing some soul searching lately. I don't know about you, but periodically I feel the need to question who I am and what I am doing. Perhaps that is because I have this niggling from God that I have gotten off track, or because life is not running smoothly and I want to be able to do things better.

My life is very FULL right now. I have many things that tug at my attention and my time (and I am not just refering to my five kids ;-). I have many duties as a wife, mother, full-time teacher to my children and manager of my home. Beyond this, I have many duties as an apartment manager. Then there are the other things that I am passionate about. These are the things in the creative realm like my digital design work and photography. All of these are both literally and figuratively pulling at me constantly.

I was saddened to realize that from a financial standpoint, the work I am passionate about (the creative stuff) has very little value and the work that I consider a pure burden (apartment management) can gain me the most income. Of course, raising my children actually costs me. And although there ARE those days I consider it a burden, for the most part it is my first calling and my joy right now.

This realization hit me as I did my taxes this year. It was SO SAD to see how little the creative stuff earns me. Part of me says I should just give it up entirely and not waste my time, but part of me just can't. I am driven to create. It is part of my inmost being and I believe this is a God-given desire and therefore, He has a reason and a purpose for it. But, I need to focus more of my energies on the apartments. [sigh] I have gone along too long just doing the barest minimums in that area. I am crying out to God like a little child throwing a tantrum, "But I don't WANT to do that!" I know God must be trying to grow me.

Hence the title of the blog, "The woman I AM vs. the woman GOD CREATED me to be." I am trying to get some clarity of vision as to who this other woman is. I think that if I could actually visualize her, I could make better choices to become her. Does that make sense? I am trying to not look at what I want for myself but what God desires for me and from me. It is about giving up a certain amount of selfishness. I certainly have some work to do in this area.

Hells Best Kept Secret

Momma's Guide to Quiet Times in Loud Households

Sounds like the perfect book for me!

Clarity

I chose clarity as my word of the year or at least for a season. (See this post). So, I am tying to do a in depth word study of it. I have discovered after searching many versions, that clarity is not a word found in the bible, but I did find it here:

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

Exodus 24:10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. (New King James)

Acts 22:11And when I saw not, for the clarity of that light, I was led by the hand of fellows, and I came to Damascus. (WYC) (Paul after Jesus came to him in a blinding light)

Revelation 21:11having the clarity of God; and the light of it like [to] a precious stone, as the stone jasper, [and] as crystal. (WYC)

Revelation 21:23And the city hath no need of the sun, neither [of] moon, that they shine in it; for the clarity of God shall lighten it; and the lamb is the lantern of it. (WYC)

CLARITY defined:
clar·i·ty /ˈklærɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[klar-i-tee]
–noun
1.
clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.
2.
the state or quality of being clear or transparent to the eye; pellucidity: the clarity of pure water.

Honor Roadblocks

#1 Anger
Everyone needs to learn to be a peacemaker. Peacemakers seek to bring people together in agreement and look for solutions where everyone wins.

#2 Selfishness
Teach servanthood

#3 Foolishness
Acting before thinking

Conflict with brothers and sisters is a child's first class in relationships. You home is the classroom, you are the teacher, and honor is the curriculum. Each conflict situation is an opportunity for teaching children how to get along.

Honor-Based Parenting Skills

#1 Be firm without being harsh.
Talk less and show less emotion

#2 Express sorrow instead of anger.

#3 Use problem solving and decision making.
Involve children

#4 Enjoy children according to their needs and interests

#5 Envision a positive future for your children

Obedience does things well.
Honor does them beautifully.

6 Ways to teach honor to children

#1 Teach children to treat people as special.

#2 Teach children to do more than what's expected.

#3 Deal with a bad attitude.

#4 Create honor lessons in life.
Listen with both eyes.
Whoops and Ahhhh game - Whoops for dishonoring speech (i.e. arguing, boasting, whining, complaining, talking too much, being bossy)

#5 Model it.

#6 Appeal to conscience.

Honor

HONOR
Treating people as special,
doing more than what's expected,
and having a good attitude

OBEDIENCE
Doing what someone says,
right away,
without being reminded.

"If you want your children to fly straight, teach them obedience. If you want them to fly high, teach them honor."

from "Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes..." by Scott Turansky

Desert Wanderers

That's what we are - desert wanderers. We are just like God's people who were rescued out of Egypt. If you are unfamiliar with this story, it can be found in the book of Exodus in the Old testament of the bible. God miraculously led his people out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt and was leading them to a place of rest - a land he had promised their forefathers that he would give them. But they were faithless. Hebrews 3:10 says, "Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways. God became angry with them and announced that none of these faithless ones would enter His rest. God was true to His word. They wandered the desert for 40 years until all of the original people rescued from Egypt were dead with the exception of Caleb and Joshua. These were the only two that remained faithful.

As I was reading Hebrews 3 and 4 this morning, I realized that our lives are very much like the nation of Israel wandering around in the desert. When we decided to believe that Christ is our Savior and put our faith and trust in Him alone, God rescued us from the bondage and slavery to sin just like God rescued the Israelites from bondage and slavery in Egypt. But just like the Israelites had to travel through the desert to reach the promised land and enter into God's rest, we too, need to remain in the world and travel through it before we enter into God's eternal rest. It is during this time that it is SO important that during this time we REMAIN faithful to God. As it says in Psalm 95:7-8, "for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert,"

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. Hebrews 3:4 (KJV)

Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone,
rolls virtue around on his tongue.

Psalm 37:30 (The Message)

I love the word picture that the Message creates with this verse!

Online Bible Study Tools

I thought I would share some of what I use to do online bible study.

My favorite site for looking up verses and doing bible searches is:
Bible Gateway
They have a wonderful search function and MANY bible translation available.

Lately, for my daily bible reading, I have been using:
Crosswalk
because I like their "Bible in a Year" feature. It has the entire bible broken up into daily readings. Each day includes Old Testiment, New Testiment and either a Psalm or Proverb. If you register on the site and allow them to place a cookie on your computer, it wall keep track of your progress on a calendar which is nice. They also have several translations to choose from.

Both of he above sites have several study tools as well as commentary.

Another site I like to use when I am really digging into a particular verse is:
Blue Letter Bible
This site is strictly King James version, but I like that you can see the text in it's original Hebrew or Greek. Along with this, each Hebrew/Greek work is defined and every time that particular word is used throughout the bible is listed.

God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my
act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I'm alert to God's ways;
I don't take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I
try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I'm watching
my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my
heart to his eyes. Psalm 18:20-14 (The Message)

This really spoke to me today. I have been feeling a bit under the weather and there has been SO much going on. I feel like my life is full of SO many pieces that I can't keep them straight. I am craving the feeling of being "put back together." This is a reminder that I need to bring all these pieces to Him every day and "review the way he works." I need to keep my focus on Him and all the pieces will fall into place.

Bible Translations

I am often amazed at how differently passages of scripture will speak to me in different translations. I have been using the Bible in a Year tool at www.crosswalk.com of late for my daily bible reading. I normally an an NIV (New International Version) girl, but a while back I started reading the passages out of the Message bible. It is definitely a very paraphrased version written in a modern day style. I have REALLY been enjoying it. It kind of puts a fresh spin on things for me.

For example, part of today's reading was Psalm 15. In the NIV it reads,

"1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken."

I love verses like this. They tell it like it is and how we need to live. But listen to it in out of the Message:
"1GOD, who gets invited to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?

2"Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.

3"Don't hurt your friend,
don't blame your neighbor;
4despise the despicable.
"Keep your word even when it costs you,
5make an honest living,
never take a bribe.
"You'll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this."

Love this, too! Gives it a totally new twist, doesn't it? I like this. It is times like this that I wish I knew Hebrew and could read the original. If you want to try your hand at that, check this out: Blue Letter Bible.

Here's a link to an awesome challenge!

His Love Endures Forever!!!

Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the desert, His love endures forever.
17 who struck down great kings, His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel; His love endures forever.
23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever.
25 and who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

No matter what happens - His love endures forever!!!
He will keep providing good things - His love endures forever.
He will always protect us - His love endures forever.
He will continue to guide me - His love endures forever.
He IS my strength - His love endures forever!!!

What Gods says about...

the dark side...witchcraft, psychics, etc.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:20

20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. Rev. 9:21

23The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 24In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth." Rev 18:23

8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Rev 21:8

15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Rev 22:15

18 "Do not allow a sorceress to live. Ex 22:18

6 " 'I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people. Lev 20:6

9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Deut 18:9-13

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." 1Sam 15:23

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, "My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever." 5 In both courts of the temple of the LORD, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 2Chron 33:1-6

12 I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. Micah 5:12

4 all because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft. Nahum 3:4

17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19:17-20


22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Have you come in peace, Jehu?" "How can there be peace," Jehu replied, "as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"
2Kings 9:22

17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in [a] the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 2Kings 17:17

6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 2Kings 21:6