Run Harder

I received a phone call from a dear friend who is also a pastor's wife. What a wonderful gift friendship is and how God uses it to sharpen us and shine His Light into areas of our lives.
The conversation we had impacted me as a result of one sentence that my friend said..."I can run harder"...meaning that she could submit to Him more. She felt God had been showing her this lately and since she said this to me I can't seem to shake it from my thoughts. The Lord has been showing me that I too can run harder for Him. He has shown me the areas of my life that I'm not running rather a good description would be a slow walk. Some areas I'm not submitting at all; I'm at a stand still.
So now comes the crucial part; I've been convicted and shown how I can run harder for Him in this race of life and now I must put what I know into practice and not just think about it but do it. Knowledge must produce action at some point or it is wasted. This applies to all aspects of life...sharing the gospel...spiritual disciplines...diet...exercise...etc.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Oh that I may run harder this race that has been set out before me.

Honesty: Silence Is Not Always Golden

Seeking God for personal revival requires a level of honesty that, at first, may seem quite threatening. Covering up our faults and failures is an involuntary reflex. At first glance, it often seems like the best option. We want others to think the best of us. However, humility-one of the first prerequisites for revival-requires the willingness to be honest with God and others about our true spiritual condition.

Quoted from: Seeking Him - - Experiencing The Joy Of Personal Revival, Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Tim Grissom with Life Action Ministries - pg. 41

We are to set aside falsehood and speak truth in love. It is a vulnerable place to be when we admit our true sin and our true spiritual condition before God and man. The cost of pretending to be something we are not is devastating. Denying sin hinders fellowship with God and cripples our relationships.
This is what I am learning these days and I'm so grateful for God's unfailing love and faithfulness to His Word.
"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Today has been a good reminder...

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:6-9
God is faithful.

What does it say when we have no interest or regard for Jesus' words?

"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching."
Jesus - John 14:23&24

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.
Jesus - John 15:1-8

And now let the routines begin...

It seems that the theme of my life these days is adjusting and evaluating my routines. Whether it is daily, weekly or monthly routines I am considering it all very carefully. Everything from devotional life to home management, diet, exercise, work, ministry meetings and friendships I am maintaining or cultivating I am weighing it all and very aware that apart from Christ I can do nothing!
I'm so thankful that He is the supplier of my "daily bread".

When A Book Connects...

I'm not much of an avid reader so when I do choose to read I'm careful about what I spend my time reading. Non fictional books are my choice and so I am finishing a book right now that has challenged me to the core as a woman. It has helped to explain behavior patterns I've seen in myself and observed in other women. Now the challenge is what to do with this knowledge and new understanding? Where it applies to things that need to change about myself I must not forget what I've been shown; that would be foolish. I must pray that God will change me and rely on His power to do so. In regard to dealing with other women; well only time will tell how helpful this knowledge will be but if it helps me in future relationships even a fraction of how the book has helped to shed light on past relationships then I'm very encouraged indeed. Quite the book to pick up for a summer read.

My Church, My Home

Getting back home after summer holidays has been so nice. I loved being away and connecting with family & old friends etc...but there is nothing like getting back home and settling back into the place you love to be.
The best part of coming home was getting back to our church. The combination of hearing the Word preached, embracing our church family and just being able to adore God together once again. It is a gift that I don't ever want to take for granted. I am thankful to be home!