Light My Fire

How do we ignite that fire in each one of us, that propels us into a never ending desire to grow in Christ, that hunger for more, a closer walk with God, integrated into each of our lives, in everything we do?  How do we grow that desire?  That is what I want for each one of us, so that we turn to God for direction, and use the tools he has given us.  I do not want any one of us to look for truth to be passed down to them from one person, but rather I want us to have the desire to be searching for the truth, and to be able to find truth wherever God puts it.  With God being the center of our lives, I am certain we can find the way, the path God would like us as individuals to take.

It's NOT What You Think!

What if the world were turned upside down? Doctors and lawyers might be the ones who barely squeaked by and artists and musicians might make the "big bucks". Creativity would be respected and children would dream of being artists and writers.

What if love is God's art? Just like an impassioned artist wanting to share their painting with the world -- God doesn't want to gain anything by loving us, only to let it grow exponentially. However, someone else keeps promoting something that looks somewhat like love but then perverting it. Love, like art, is alive and you cannot fake it, but at times the world hasn't seen the real thing in so long… it just keeps admonishing the counterfeit.

As the brush touches the canvas… pen to page… or hands poised above a keyboard; there is a spark of magic, unique creativity that only exists within the individual is awakened and pours out. In this way we can relate with the Creator as we were made in His image -- so we feel a deep stirring to create as He created.

Just as a lover longs for the embrace of their beloved or a father or mother longs to hold their children, so God longs to embrace each one of His creation and bring us into a relationship like that of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If you ever questioned why Jesus came, see John 16:25-33 and all of chapter 17. Jesus continually admonishes the Father and His relationship and their desire that we would be joined with them in their love. I believe, this is why we were created. Not that we had to play out some role in showing the righteousness of God to answer to Satan! God does not answer to His creation for who He is… we were made in the image of God so we could share in their love, and we could not do that without having freedom of choice.

I am humbled by the oversimplifications my mind sometimes makes; but one thing I know is that Jesus loves each one of us and so deeply longs for each unique creation to be in a loving relationship with Him.

I highly recommend you listen to Herb Montgomery and the "Jesus Dialogue" MP3's or if you prefer video, the full series us up on YouTube. Click to play the video featured here to check out Herb's "Formal Apology". Trust me, it's NOT what you think!

Success, Motivation, and the Bible

Many motivational speakers and authors quote the following by Napoleon Hill from his best selling book, Think and Grow Rich.

"Whatever the mind of man can believe, it can achieve."

I have sat through sales motivation conferences with Omar Pereu and listened to audio books, podcasts, and read books by well known authors like Tony Robbins and Napoleon Hill among others in the motivational and success realm. But I always found something lacking and their words seemed empty although they seemed to work for most people. I always hit a wall where my value system as a Christian and the values the speaker/writer seemed to be speaking toward would clash. It seems that even if they refer to a "higher power" in their teachings, they ultimately cut out God and overtly deny any power He might have in our lives leaving only the power we have or can muster in our own being.

So this last month I stumbled across a book in a 2nd hand store called Success, Motivation and the Scriptures by William Cook. I wouldn't say the author has it all figured out but he makes some very compelling points. One thing I appreciate is the authors emphasis on the necessity of a relationship with God and he points to many verses in the Bible as support for his claims. I was immensely amused this morning to find that Napoleon Hill's quote above is merely a paraphrase of Mark 9:23 where Jesus is giving hope to the father of a demon possessed child just prior to casting out the demon.

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Mark 9:23 NKJV

If I ever thought there was any wisdom in anything man had to say, I would only have to compare the two quotes here and know that no wisdom has been given to man except through God. Moreover, in Hill's quote, he completely cuts out God or any idea that power could come from outside of you. Jesus speaks with authority from God and then in nearly the same breath casts out a demon!

May we be more like the father who cried out "Lord, I  believe, help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24 or as my husband prays frequently "Lord, help me to want, to want more of You" because the Holy Spirit will even help us in the areas where we lack the drive to move in the right direction. We are not meant to live this life and achieve all things in our own strength and self-motivation. Our lives are meant to glorify God (Proverbs 3:6).

So in my simple way of boiling things down, I was excited by the simplicity of the fact that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, new under the sun and there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed if we persistently seek Him. My salvation; my physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial security, even my psychological well-being can be found in a growing relationship with God.

Embarking on a Few Changes

A Little Context

As you may know, we have been struggling with debt since before we got married and even went through the Financial Peace University where we learned a lot of great tips and tricks for money management. After much prayer and hard work and some "less than pretty" transitions, we have the debt down to student loans only. Jonathan and I have long felt the stranglehold of the true cost of my degree (plus insane interest)! Jonathan's latest job offer seemed an immediate answer to prayer as he asked for deliverance from our slavery to debt.

The Point

So in a more intensified effort to clean up our debt, in the coming months (or for as long as it takes) we will not be going out to eat with anyone either as a form of celebration, entertainment, or even an excuse to get together, etc. We will happily meet for picnics-potluck style, or meet up for in-home dining or other activities. But we won't be treating others or ourselves for a while to commercial dining fare when we are perfectly capable of preparing food for our needs within our budget. We are seeking more relationship nurturing situations lately anyway. :)

Much Appreciation

There may be other changes that you may think are extreme or unfounded. That's ok, feel free to ask if you would like to know what is going on. Ultimately though, we are fighting toward our goal and with God's help we will complete it! We greatly appreciate the support and understanding of our friends and family.

Snowpocalypse Now!

View from the front window yesterday when it started.
Now there is more snow.

Although I haven't really posted in some time... I am doing well. I've been very busy with my new business and still trying to wrap things up with previous employers I still work with occasionally. I've been pretty exhausted the last few days but realized I am so lucky to have created a position in my life where I can literally go to work with a commute of a few seconds. I truly can work from home anytime I need to and most days I do.

Some surprising things popped up with the change of seasons, where did these extra few pounds come from? and where can I return them? Snow on one of the busiest weeks I've know in quite sometime! At a time when I would be out braving I-5 and 405 seeing clients or picking up materials from the printer, I groan and push all possible deadlines further into the future and work hard to get all that I can done without leaving the house. Of course, I am secretly happy for the blanket of snow that gives me no good reason to leave my PJ's and cozy warm home with fuzzy kitty. So all whining aside, I'm doing great!