Yes to God... on whatever day it is

I cannot believe that it has been a week since I have posted. I think that all 5 or so of you that read this blog regularly must think that I have fallen off the face of the earth... but that is not true. This week has been quite an adjustment for me and my family.

Wednesday both my girls started to public school. I think that most of you know that we have homeschooled for the last 6 06 7 years. Wow!! This has been different.

I know that you think that without them in the house that I should have plenty of time to blog and read blogs... but I wouldn't allow myself to even log onto the computer until all of my chores were done. I know myself too well... once I start... I don't move until someone makes me move. I still haven't finished my chores... but I decided to take a little break to explain what is going on, and to write about the chapters in our book study; What Happens When Women Walk in Faith.

This book is awesome. If you haven't read it you need to run out to the store and get it right away.


Chapter Twelve Learning to Lead

At first I wasn't even sure that this chapter would apply to me since it is not my lifelong goal to be a leader... but with one simple comment Lysa put that theory to rest.

God is calling you to live out His dream for you, and part of the dream is to lead. As we seek to believe God like never before, We WILL set an example for others to follow.

That makes us leaders... like it or not... there are always people watching me... watching you... seeing if what we talk about it real. That alone makes us their leader. That is a big responsibility.

The next comment that really spoke truth to me is...

When you experience God working through you despite your human shortcomings, your confidence in Him and His abilities will grow more than ever before.

I can tell you that when I started having a little Bible study in my home on Tuesday nights that I knew that I was totally under qualified. From the moment that I invited the people that I wanted to come... to this very day... God has shown me that this is not about what I want... This is HIS plan. Not one person that I had hoped would be a part of this study comes to this study... BUT everyone that God wanted to be a part of this study group is here. IT is ALL about His plan. I have seen God work in these ladies lives like nothing I have ever seen before. I am awed every single week as He allows me to be a witness to His work. Even weeks that I am not prepared myself for class... God shows up and does His thing. My confidence in Him and His ability have grown unbelievably.

God has been speaking to me for a while about this next thing...

That reaction is the real litmus test revealing the condition of my heart.

Lysa is referring to the way that we react to stressful situations. It is easy to be obedient and godly when things are going easy... it is when the stress is turned up a notch that the real condition of my heart is revealed. YUCK!! I really hate that. Way too often my reaction doesn't show the part of me that I would like others to see... but it is showing the condition of my heart. I don't want to just act right on the outside... I want God to see right on the inside as well. It is never going to be enough for me to do right... I want to BE right with God.

Lysa really stirred up my heart with this...

Moses desired God's presence more that he desired to enter the promised land. In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses' secret desire to see God comes to pass. Though he only got to see His back, he saw God nonetheless. Once he saw God, everything else paled in comparison. Maybe this is why being excluded from the promised land didn't appear to rattle him.

Well... doesn't that just say it all. God's presence is far better than anything that looks good to the world. I would just as soon stay where I am and know God's awesome presence than to be rich in the world's eyes. I do pray that things ease up with our finances... but if I have to make the choice of seeing and knowing God like things are, or for things to get lots better and lose that... well... I am choosing God.

Okay... and how come I never realized that God did allow Moses to come into the land of promise?? At the transfiguration... He was standing in the promised land with Jesus himself. What?? How come I never saw that??? Thanks so much Lysa.

Lysa then pointed out...

The only thing Moses lacked from his Egyptian upbringing was a close walk with God. Moses' 40 years in the desert gave God ample time to remedy that situation.

Many times I feel like I have been taken out back of the woodshed by God to remedy a situation that I find myself in. His sole purpose is to help me walk closer to Him. It is all worth the beating or the detour that God uses to bring us closer to Him.



Chapter Thirteen Death Does Not Mean Defeat

Lysa tells us of a time that she felt like her world was coming to an end... only to realize that it was God's plan for something better.

The very things that feel like death are really a birth of something so much better.

What an awesome statement. I need to write that on an index card as soon as I finish this post. I need to remind myself of that every time I think things aren't going like I want them to. God's way may not be the shortest... but it is the ordained route. I love that.

I have truly loved this study. I really hate that I can't seem to get my post ready by Tuesday... but I will tell you that the truths of this book stay with me all week long. Check out the other ladies comments by clicking here.

I hope that there aren't too many typos or errors... I have got to get up and do the rest of my chores. Sorry....

With lots of love,