Our Highest Priority

Have you ever noticed that when you purpose in your heart to do things for the Lord, such as being consistent in devoting daily time to the Lord, that all these obstacles fly up, trying to prevent you from achieving what the Lord so clearly desires for you? I've been determined to not let these obstacles keep me from my time with the Lord. Nancy Rollinger once talked about how she had such great anticipation each day to spend time with her Savior and how she treasures those moments above all else. She conveyed such love, joy and longing for that time. I pray that we will also have such a deep longing for the things of God that our hearts might be renewed and changed and that our time with our Savior might be protected, as a great treasure.

On Rachel's recommendation, I've been reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. This book is focusing on finding intimacy with the Lord through our devotional times, reminding me not to look at these times as a requirement from the Lord to appear "more spiritual" or another task to check off my To-Do List for the day but as a time to sit at the feet of the Lord, to really get to know Him and to be changed because of it.

"I must make a conscious, deliberate, daily choice to sit at His feet, to listen to His Word, to receive His love, to let Him change me, and to pour out my heart's devotion to Him.

When I get into His presence, the whole world looks different. When I draw close to His heart, I find mercy where I know I deserve judgment; I find forgiveness for all my petty, selfish ways; I find grace for all my inadequacies; I find peace for my troubled heart; I find perspective for my distorted views. In Him, I find an eye in the midst of the storm. Oh, the storm around me may not immediately subside; but the storm within me is made calm.

And so the Father-Lover heart of God continues to call us into a relationship with Himself. He is seeking lovers. He is always thinking about us, always desiring our company and our fellowship; He longs to hear our voice and see our face.

Not until we make pursuing Him our highest priority and goal in life will we begin to fulfill the purpose for which He created us."

--Nancy Leigh DeMoss--
A Place of Quiet Rest

How old are you??

I had the following conversation with my 3rd grade Sunday School student:

Student: Kelly, how old are you?
Me: How old do you think I am?
Student: 30.
Me: You're close. Why did you guess 30?
Student: Well, you're too old to be a "young adult" and you're not old enough to be "middle aged."

Zachary Scott

Announcing...

...the arrival of Zachary Scott

Arrived: Sunday, 1/14 at 7:28
Weight: 7 pounds 12 oz
Length: 18.5 inches

Zachary is a cutie pie!

Mom and baby are doing well!

Kate is in shock!!

Snow Day!

Today was the perfect day to have off work! Really, any day is a good day to be off work...I have so many projects that I wish I had the time to do and ideally think I will accomplish them on my day off! Especially a day like today, where the weather is less than ideal to be out gallavanting. Of course, instead of working on any of those projects I figured it would be a good idea to stock my pantry in case any of the weathermen are actually right this time...I'd hate to be stranded at home with no food!! In the process of heading to the grocery store, I found myself at Mardel, doing some book shopping...everyone needs some good books on those snowy/icy days! Books can really be a downfall for me...I LOVE to shop for books and I think a person can never have too many books! The good news: I kept myself restrained today and left some books for other shoppers to buy AND I got every one of my books on sale! One book I bought is off of Rachel's recommendation...A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leight DeMoss. I can't wait to start reading it!

Missed Blessings

II Kings lesson cont...
In the midst of Elisha promising abundant food to the Samarians, the king's officer expresses doubt that this will take place. Elisha tells the officer that he will see the food the next day but will not eat of it. The next day at the gates of the city, the officer saw the food that was promised but was trampled by the people and died. He never got to participate in the blessing of partaking of the food. What a great loss for that officer of the king! Am I missing out on blessings because of doubts that I have? Am I really taking the promises the Lord lays forth in His Word and staking my claim to them? Or do I hold doubt in my heart and I miss blessings in the process?

In a few weeks, I will find myself in a rather undesirable position...having to work 5 days a week! I know, you're probably thinking to yourself, "Don't most people work 5 days a week?!" Yes, they do. But, it's something I really don't prefer. I like my job for many reasons, one of them being that I can fit my work into 4 days, not 5! But, over the last year I've hired a nurse, lost a nurse, hired a nurse and now lost a nurse again. And, when I am short a nurse it means it's my responsibility to fill in and cover..which means 50 hour work weeks again. I must admit...I really struggle with 50 hour work weeks. I don't have the ability to make it through those kind of weeks and keep up with my responsibilities at home and at chapel and remain emotionally intact. (It gives me a huge appreciation for all those men out there, supporting their families and being great husbands, fathers, fix-it men, Bible study leaders, Sunday School teachers, etc.) But, as I look back on my last episode of 5 day work weeks there is something I can rest upon...the faithfulness of the Lord to give me the strength to complete the task ahead. I look over the last 6 months of working long hours and not giving up on my chapel responsibilities and the Lord has sustained me physically and emotionally. And, He has not only given me the endurance but has blessed me richly in the process! If I had doubted His ability to carry me through and given up on Sunday School or the young adult Bible study, I would have missed out on so many blessings. I know that if I draw strength from the Lord that He will help me to get through the long hours and days ahead just as He has in the past. The key to my survival is to keep the Lord pre-eminent in all that I do and He will sustain me.

"This is a day of good news"

This was our Sunday School lesson for my 3rd and 4th grade class this week. I'm really enjoying it and it's challenging my heart so I thought I would share these treasures with you:

Passage: II Kings 6:24-7:20

Samaria is surrounded by Syria and they are in the midst of a famine. The famine is so severe that they have exhausted the livestock and have turned to cannibalism. Elisha is sought by the king and promises abundant food to the people the next day (and thus keeps his head on his shoulders).

The Lord answers this prophecy of Elisha by some unlikely persons--4 lepers that were sitting outside the city. These lepers began to talk amongst themselves and decided they had 3 options:

1. Do nothing and thus die of starvation
2. Go inside the city and die of starvation or
3. Go to the Syrians, be taken prisoner but also be given food and live

They choose to go to the Syrians and as they are approaching the Syrians hear what sounds like "the noise of horses--the noise of a great army" (II Kings 7:6) and they flee thinking that the Israelites had hired the Hittites or perhaps the Egyptians to war with them. The 4 lepers come upon an empty camp where food is left as well as treasures and valuables. As they are hiding the valuables and eating they stop and say:

"We are not doing right.
This day is a day of good news,
and we remain silent...
now therefore, let us go
and tell the king's household."
II Kings 7:9

The lepers recognized that they had the key to saving the people of Samaria...they knew that the Syrians had fled and that there was food for the starving people of Samaria. How could they keep silent when they knew so many would die without this news?

And yet, how often do I keep silent with the good news that I have, the good news that though we are sinners, Christ died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so that we all might be saved to an eternity in heaven? The good news that is the key to saving souls from an eternal death??

II Kings lesson To be cont...

Resolutions & New Beginnings

So, today is the start of the year 2007...an opportunity to reflect on what sort of new beginnings we want for this new year that is full of hope and opportunities. Some might like to start the new year by coming up with a list of resolutions, but I am always a little gun shy with resolutions. Even though I know resolutions are good, to me the term "resolution" always seems to be synonymous with "something I really intend on doing but never seem to accomplish." So it seems to me when I write resolutions that I am already defeated in my attempt to be successful at accomplishing the desired goal! Or perhaps it's just a reflection of my own inability to be disciplined enough to follow through on my good intentions. It reminds me a bit of a passage from Romans...you know, the one that goes a little something like this:

"For what I am doing, I do not understand.

For what I will to do, that I do not practice;

but what I hate, that I do....

For the good I will to do, I do not do;

but the evil I will not to do, that I practice."

Romans 7: 15,19

These verses say in words exactly what I see when I look in the mirror. I truly want to do the things the Lord desires for me to do and yet I find myself not only not doing the things I should be doing but it actually says the things I should NOT be doing I am practicing, I'm repeatedly doing them! "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death." (Romans 7:24) Aren't we glad it doesn't end there? We have a hope..."I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" It is through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have victory over the power of the sinful nature in our lives!

How can I be successful at this year's resolutions?

So in the spirit of this first day of the year I was thinking of what I can do to help myself be successful at my resolutions. First, make goals that are truly obtainable or at least break bigger goals down into stepping stones to make the goal attainable and in bite size portions. Half the battle of keeping a resolution is not being defeated before I even get started! (And, I've found it helpful to make my goals specific so they can be measured objectively...you know, so I know that I really did accomplish my goal!) Second, keep the goals in a visible place for frequent reminders of what I hope to accomplish for the year. Third, sharing my goals with others helps with accountability in achieving them. Last, but certainly not least, commit these goals to prayer continually because I know that outside the Lord I can achieve nothing that is good or profitable.

My Resolutions for 2007--

1. Memorize the book of James-The kids in Sunday School are doing this and they are way ahead of me! I'm trying to teach them good memorization habits but am having a hard time being a good example to them.

2. Read the Bible in a year- I'm joining Eryn and Shawna in this endeavor! Got any suggestions for good reading schedules??!

3. Hospitality-The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful home and I want it to be used for Him. I have other activities going on in my home throughout the month and sometimes get distracted from having others in for fellowship. So, I want to make it a goal to have others in my home at least quarterly for fun and fellowship!

4. Take the GRE this spring/summer

So, those are my goals! I hope you all hold me accountable to these so I can finally say I accomplished my Resolutions for the year! How can I pray for you this year as you work towards your resolutions?