Two Months In

Hi, Friends! It’s been a while! I have so much to celebrate this year!! I wanted to pop on with a note of praise; and offer some encouragement and cautions.

My new year started out with a game-night party with my family…one in which I was up until 2:30 or 3:00 a.m.!! —so unlike me! I embrace—and even try to protect—my rest!! We ended the old year and started the new one with imperfections, good food, games, and some singing of old, familiar songs on Rock Band. (For those of you who have heard me sing, you’ll be happy SURPRISED to know that I actually scored really well on a song or two!!!)

By January Two, I was on my way to my (now) annual winter/new-year personal retreat. I decided on fewer nights this year. This time around, I wanted to do some planning for my upcoming venture/adventure, but I didn’t want to limit time to pray and hear from God. At one point during the trip, I felt that He helped me to know that the work was OK, or good…even necessary.

I love getting alone on these trips and seeing the beauty of His creation, and just resting and abiding in Him; seeking Him and hearing from Him; trying to be open to what He wants to teach me; and simply growing (forward) from the whole experience. [I highly recommend it!] I was concerned, however, that by staying less time, in addition to the work I was doing (planning and preparing), that I might limit myself also from hearing what God might want to teach me at the beginning of this new year. I never want to hinder Him, or His work, in my life…never do I want to quench The Holy Spirit in my life!

Thankfully, He did indeed show me areas where I was lacking and needed to mark up with His help. One thing in particular almost surprised me, or took me off guard. I became aware that sometimes when I am praying for something specific, my faith is weak. I was praying, or asking for something, but not necessarily always in faith believing. If you are like me, there are times that I am able to believe better, or easier, than others. Well, let me encourage you that He wants us to believe…He wants us to ask—and believe.

”Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.“
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.11.24.KJV

[…and our motives to be pure…]

”You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.“
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.2-3.NLT

[Side Note: No doubt, God gives us pleasure and desires, but seeking only that, and above Him is different.]

As I came away with nuggets of truth, and challenged to go forward, our church entered 21 days of fasting and praying soon after. I looked forward to spending extra time in prayer throughout the month to continue this start to the new year. We took turns taking a day of fasting. I continued to seek the Lord for areas of my life that I knew that I needed to improve in (while also praying for others and the church). Let me stop and encourage—or caution—you here as well…

Please, never embrace faults, failures, or sin in your life as just a part of who you are. There are too many scriptures that speak otherwise. More on that in a bit.

That brings me to the second month of the new year…I spent time preparing for some exciting news that I am about to tell you, and that I have been wholeheartedly celebrating!

While trying to keep balance in my life, celebrate Valentine’s Day (which I love!), and incorporate and continue to pray—and believe—for victory in my weak areas, I was preparing to fulfill a long-time dream of mine to open a shop!! I would have to look back carefully at my blog posts (since it’s been a little while) to see if I have related that to you in any way yet. If so, consider it repeated news!!

Over months of planning and preparing, I have learned to be patient and not push too hard; to trust God’s timing; and enjoy the season and the preparations. I am so grateful for how He continues to mold me. I have seen His hand at work teaching me, answering prayers, continuing to heal me in more ways than one, and giving me the desires of my heart.

On February 29th, I opened the doors of my little shop with a whisper. Several friends and family stopped by and supported. I got messages, cards, flowers, and so much love! I was exhausted in preparing. It felt kind of like preparing for a speech, and I wanted to get the initial opening over with, but it was spectacular…for me at least! I was open for three days, selling a few of my baked goods, home decor, sweets, etc.; and visiting with family and friends.

Today is Sunday, and I rest from my labors, and let me tell you that I have thanked God over and over so many times over the last few days, that if He were human, He may have tired of hearing me; but He is God, and He invites our praise, thanksgiving, and worship. AND, I believe, He enjoys our celebrations, especially when our celebrations are rooted in Him.

This year (in just two short months) has been a time of great realization, great growth, and great celebration. Things may currently look bleak in the world, so I caution you to also be careful what you soak in on the daily. Avoid things that bring fear or distraction. Keep your eyes on the prize of Heaven. Live everyday with joy and being ready for His return, or our day of departure because we do not know when either might be. But, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, and follow Him daily, you know that our God is in control, and we have a better home awaiting. Let your light shine with joy and thanksgiving…for ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.“ (James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

May we keep our hearts clean and pure (with His help by seeking Him)…and celebrate Him and His goodness.

”Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.139.23-24.KJV

”You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.“
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jer.29.13.ESV

”We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.6.6-7.NLT

”So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.6.11-14.NLT

”The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.11.NLT

Now, that’s shoutin’ ground, right there!!