Today I have done something that I was not sure I was going to be able to do. I have had a new entry on my blog every day for the past 31 days. It was because I took part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge. It is amazing to think I found things to write about every single day. I have enjoyed sharing, remembering, feeling and writing about so many things our family has experienced over the years.
I want to be able to continue this journey. I know I have many more words, stories and posts to share. I have more pictures, recipes and homeschooling posts to share. I love getting the opportunity to record my thoughts to where years down the road, my children will be able to read them and gain insight into their mother. So even though the Ultimate Blog Challenge ends today. Tomorrow, I am starting a new challenge. I am beginning the NaBloMoPo November Challenge. Plus I am beginning the NaNoWriMo challenge.
The NaBloMoPo challenge will involve blogging every day during the month of November. So stayed tuned to see what topics come up. The NaNoWriMo challenge involves me trying to write a novel. I have tons of material to share thanks to my husband and family. So my goal will be to write 50,000 words by the end of the month. I have some ideas of what I want to write about, but we will have to wait and see what develops.
As my children grow up, I really enjoy sharing memories and stories with them. But more importantly I enjoy making memories with them. Every day is a blessing given to us by God. Each day deserves us giving our best
Today is not just the ending of the Ultimate Blog Challenge, it is also the final day of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study for "The Best Yes" by Lysa Terkeurst. I have learned so much from this book. I don't want to focus on "people pleasing" instead I want to focus on pleasing and honoring God. I want to spend time in His Word and in prayer. I want to draw closer to God. After all, He is God the Father. He is a father who willingly sent His Only Begotten Son to die on a cross for our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice. I need to give Him my best yes. This means I need to give my best yes in everything I do, say or think. I know I will never be perfect. As Romans 3:23 - 24 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
I want to strive to honor God, even if it means I give "small no's", so I save time to give my "Best Yes". It means I need to take time to listen to the sometimes small, still voice of God - even when it is not the answer I want to hear. I pray you strive to give your "Best Yes" as well. I pray you have enjoyed the journey this month. I would love to hear from you.
So today I say good bye to this past month and this past study. But I say hello to new challenges and around the middle of the month I will be saying hello to a new Bible study as we begin Max Lucado's book Before Amen and I invite you to come along with us for the journey. This study is all about prayer. And what better time to begin a study on prayer than in the month before we celebrate Jesus' birth. The best part about this study is that the conference calls are FREE! That is right for this study the conference calls cost NOTHING! So I hope you will join us.
So I am in day 7 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge and at the same time I am on day 2 of week 3 of The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands which is the current Bible Study being done by Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies and boy do I need this book. Being a wife, a mother, homeschooling teacher, FRG leader, member of a church, chef, driver (at times), shopper for all things needed in our home means I have lots of different hats and lots of different responsibilities all pulling at me at the same time. I feel like I am juggling a ton of balls in the air at the same time. But at any minute they could all come crashing down on me.
So I need lots and lots and lots of wisdom. I need to have the discernment to rely on God to help me make the right decisions. This means spending time in His Word and spending time in prayer. I don't want to make a wrong decision, but as Lysa Terkeurst puts it, I don't want to suffer from "Analysis Paralysis". You know what I mean, you get so caught up in the "what ifs" and worrying about them, you just don't make any decision at all. Or you get so caught up in believing the grass might be greener on the other side that you don't make any decisions.
A "best yes" means relying on God's wisdom to help make the right decision at the right time in the right place. It means not being afraid to make any decision at all. It also means listening to others around us who God may have put directly in our path. It is so easy sometimes to get caught up in what we want that we forget to put God into the equation. I want wisdom like God gave Solomon, but the only way to acquire wisdom is to focus on God. He has to direct our footsteps. He has to direct my path. Oh that God may grant me peace and wisdom to make the right decisions.
We are in week 4 of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study of "Limitless Life" by Derwin Gray. In the book he talks about going from consumer to contributor. We are a military family. Six years ago, we moved from eastern NC to western PA courtesy of the military. We knew no one in our new community, which meant we had to find a new church.
We started our search at the church that was directly beside our new home. My husband immediately became a contributor by helping with shoveling snow from the sidewalks. Then he started preaching when necessary - he is an ordained minister. The people were fantastic and we loved the church, but there were no other children for ours to interact with. At the time, my sons had activities they were involved in, but my daughter did not really have any.
So I started investigating programs for her and found out about Missionettes. So we visited our local Assembly of God church so she could see if she liked the program. At first just our daughter, my husband and I went, but we were told they had activities the same night for our sons, while my husband and I attended their Bible study. Soon we were attending the church and consuming the things they had to offer. But we are not ones who like to sit on the sidelines at church, so we began to find ways to help out. Dennis, my husband, helped with ushering and doing things he could. I began to help where I could as well. Before we knew what was happening, we were teaching a Sunday School class for the teens. All of my sons and husband were helping with ushering. Our family that sings a capella sang songs at various times. We also assisted with Vacation Bible School and various other festivals. I eventually became a Sunday School officer for a short time. On occasion, my husband filled in for the preacher. I became the leader for the Missionettes. We also assisted with services at Weatherwood Manor - a place for Seniors to reside. At this church, I saw my husband baptize our two oldest sons with our pastor's blessing. The church became our family and we were meaningful participants. We went from consuming what the church had to offer to contributors. It feels right to use the gifts and talents God has given us for His glory and honor.
So we are in week 5 of our Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies, and here we go with another blog hop. I know I am made for more, but boy do my emotions get in my way! If I am celebrating something, I want a treat! If I am sad, I want the comfort of food and crave items I should not have. I eat for tons of emotional reasons, and it is wrong.
I need to go to God when I have those cravings. I need to seek after His Word and pray to Him for guidance, direction and strength. God promises He will never give us more than we can handle. However, there is nothing in that promise that states we can do it alone. We need to rely on God's strength and guidance to reach the other side. When I spend time in prayer and in God's Word, things go smoother in my life. When I try to rely only on myself, I get chaos.
Of course, it also helps when my husband and I are on the same page and praying for and reaching for the same goals that God wants for us. I know that God only wants the best for us. But sometimes, we need to stretch and grow, which causes me to focus on emotional eating. But when I chose to put my trust, hope and faith in God, I avoid temptation and chose to dive into God's Word, prayer or spending time exercising. After all, I am#madetocrave God!
