Making time

Lately I have been struggling with making time for my quiet time with the Lord. I have all the excuses in the book tied up. Sadly I can even make some of them seem legitimate. It has been weighing on me and I know I need to change the habits I have allowed myself to fall into. I recieve a devotional online every morning and this was todays. It hit the nail on the head for me and I thought I would share it. May it be a blessing to you as it has been to me.


Making Time by Rachel Olsen

"But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."John 15:7-8 (NIV)


Devotion:How can I find time to have a "quiet time" with God? Even if I found the time, how do I know what to do during this time?
Ever ask yourself these questions? I have. There was a time when these questions left me speechless because I didn't know how to answer them. I knew people who would spend an hour alone with God each day, and I wondered what their secret was. What was it that enabled them to do that? What kept them from falling asleep sitting there alone with the Bible? How did they know what to say, read or think about during all those minutes? How did they keep from getting distracted? How did they even manage to find an hour of free time each day? I kept waiting for a season of my life to come during which a block of time would regularly present itself and my spirit would drive me to God. I wasted a lot of time waiting for that to happen and I've learned it never will without some effort.
"Rachel, how do you find time to have a quiet time?" I was asked not too long ago. "I don't find the time," I answered. "I have to make the time. I can't expect to find time -- that'll never happen. There's always going to be something needing my attention, calling my name. I have to make the time, and that means sometimes I have to let other things slide. I have to be OK with letting less important things slide," I confessed.
I've come to realize it's a matter of choice, a matter of discipline... and a matter of active investment. E.M. Bounds wrote, "The lazy man does not, will not, cannot pray, for prayer demands energy." What a simple but profound statement. When I don't pray or spend time reading the Bible, it's because I simply don't want to expend the energy on it. Bounds is saying that people who do not pray much probably claim to be too busy or too bored with it, but in reality are too lazy to press into God. Wow. Ouch!
I believe we have to be earnest in pressing into God and this will bring glory to God as today verse says. In the words of a little shoe company called Nike; we have to "just do it." Let's carve some time in our days to be quiet before the Lord, to read His words and pray. We can trade a small portion of our time and energy for a large portion of His grace and power.
Purpose to stick to it for several weeks until it sinks into your schedule, and your soul begins to respond. If you want some help being accountable on this, or some ideas for how to start, visit my blog listed below and we can do it together for the next six weeks. I know we'll find it is more than worth the effort.

If you are interested in following Rachels plan her blog is rachelolsen.blogspot.com. God Bless and have a great day!!

Ashley walking and standing! all in one day

Raising them for God

Well I am not sure where the past year has gone so quickly! I must be getting older since the time seems to fly these days! Ashley turned 1 today, she is already becoming more her own little person and less my baby. It got me thinking about a conversation I had with a couple of good girlfriends last week. We are given such a sacred trust raising our children. I look at the world around me and I am often shocked about the things I see and hear happening. Not just globally but even here at home in my little neck of the woods. I look at my children so young and innocent of the ways of the world. Part of me wants desperately to always keep them that way but i know that that is not realistic. So... it is my job to arm and fit them for what they will encounter as they get older. Some how I think that the boys will require less of my input and more of Wayne's, although I know a mothers guidance is very important,there are certain things that I cannot teach them . How thankful I am to have a godly husband. I am blessed. I do feel the burden of raising Ashley to be a godly young woman. In a world where modesty and purity are thought to be old fashioned and out of date, I feel that they are increasingly important. I want my daughter to grow up to be a virtuous young woman who honours God in her life. How do we go about it though? Daily we are bombarded with images of what is "beautiful" or cool etc. I mean Ieven struggle with some of these things myself. The only answer that I have so far is to stay in the Word and pray about each step as we reach it. It would be handy if there was a manual though :)
Well i guess that is it for today! Happy first Birthday baby girl xoxo

blessings

Do you ever have those moments that you wish you could freeze in time? Something so beautiful that it takes your breath away? Well I have been blessed to have many in my life but especially the last few days as I watch my family. Watching Wayne lovingly teach the boys a new skill. Patiently guiding them along until it all comes together and they get it. Then watching the pride they feel at accomplishing what Daddy has taught them to do. watching the boy's, especially James with his little sister. He is so rough with Andrew sometimes ;I wonder how he has survived this long :) But then Ashley brings out another side of him and it is just so sweet. She loves her big brother and he draws her out in a way that no one else can. She even crawls over to the door when he comes home and claps her little hands as he comes in the laneway. It is official I am very blessed!
The last week has been a little messy, since we have had a little trouble with the flooring we ordered being damaged and having to wait for more to be ordered. My first thought was what now..... my kitchen is apart I have no dishwasher..... ( I know whine whine :) ) what good is going to come of this.... well leave it to my hubby to see the silver lining. We are painting, or more correctly Wayne (love that guy) is painting, and it looks amazing! I thought it looked
ok before but now it is wow! A couple new light fixtures and we are all set! Total face lift. And I was worried what we would do.... silly me :)
Well I am leading Bible study tomorrow and having the girls for lunch so I guess I better get busy and help so we can have it all tidy:)

Sunshine :)

Well today is not going as planned, I look outside at the sunshine and i just cannot get upset about the thing that are not going right. In fact all i can do is wonder how the Lord is going to make this work. I know that He is in control and the plan has been in place for all of eternity. So..... I move on to the good things and count my many blessings. Like... the fact that Ash finally has a couple of teeth so hopefully she will be able to slep a bit better. they were really bothering the wee girl. Also I am thankful that the cut on her head was not as bad as we thought and she may not have a scar. these are just little things though. On a much larger scale I am thankful that we are all healthy this winter, I am thankful for the Pharmacy continuing to grow and for My wonderful Hubby who works hard for his family so that we can have our beautiful warm home and many other blessings. I am thankful for friends both near and far who encourage and challange me in many ways, polishing up the rough spots :) Most of all though i am thankful for the free gift of Salvation. I recieved Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at the young age of 8 and have never regreted the choice. And He did not just save me eternally but he protects and guides me through each day I live. So whenver your day does not go just right remember to look up and count your blessings. And remember, we are not really in charge anyways, God is. He knows what He is doing so you are in the best of hands!!

sadness....

I was really all excited to tell you about this amazing book I am reading, but when I turned on my computer and the msn home page popped up I saw some sad news. I do not follow hollywood that closely anymore, but I saw the news that Heath Ledger was found dead in his NYC apt. today. Aside from the fact that I love the movie a Knights Tale, this is a great loss. He had a young daughter who is now fatherless. On a larger scale this saddens me because it is a represenatation of what our society is becoming. These "famous" people who seem to have it all yet are miserably dissatisfied with their empty lives. They try to fill up the emptiness with friends ,drugs alchohol and things. But these will never satisfy them. They become more desperate and yet the dispair grows. As Christians we know what they lack to bring meaning to their lives is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY one who can bring peace and true happiness into our lives. If you are someone who is feeling this emptiness and unhappiness I implore you to seek after Jesus. No matter where we have been or what we have done He is there waiting for us with open arms to come to Him. In Matthew 11:28 it says" Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I WILL give you rest...and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." He will accept each of us when we come to Him. There is no other remedy that will "fix" our society, nothing else that will fill up the empty place we all have in our souls. I pray that you will give this some thought if you have not already had this life changing experience. If you have, give the Lord some extra thanks and praise tonight for what He has done in and for you! God Bless

here I go...

Well, i have decided to give this a try. I am a journaler by nature and this seems like a good way to share with others. I look forward to sharing with my friends and reading theirs as well.

We are reading in the book of Phillipians right now at church and i have found my heart very encouraged. Mitch ( my brother in law ) gave an over view of the book in ministry last night. He did an outline pulling on verse from each chapter.
Phillipians 1:6 He who began a good work in you WILL complete it
2:13 It is God who works in you
3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ 4:19 And my personal favorite; God will supply all our needs according to His riches.

Mitch made a really good point here that when God gives us a burden, but does not just leave us sitting there wondering what to do with it. Little by little he reveals to us what He wants and then gives us the tools we need to accomplish it. I found this an encouraging reminder that the work each of us has to do for the Lord, is just that... His work, not mine. I hope you don't mind me sharing these scattered thoughts with you, but i was so encouraged i just needed to share :)
I have heard Wayne say many times, see a need, have a burden, do the work. It is my prayer that as this year unfolds I will be someone who does not just see the need, or ignore the burden, but one who does the work that is put before me by the Greatest of Masters God himself.

I look forward to sharing more of what i learn as the study progresses.