Day One

Today is day 1 of making rising early a habit. Although I was awake at 5:20, I did not get out of bed. G had to be up that early to get to Abilene, so I was awake to tell him I loved him. 

Then I drifted off to sleep while I was praying for him. This is not a fail for me, because I did get out of bed at 6:45 on a Saturday. 

I had a great hour and half quite time before A got up.

So far I am pleased. I know through the power of the Holy Spirit it will become easier, especially as my body adjusts to a new sleep pattern. 

 

This morning as I studied these women, I  found that each of them rise early. 

Proverbs 31:15 says, "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls." 

There is a reason she rises early. Because there is only 24 hours in a day. So in order for her to make use of the time given, and the gifts God has entrusted her with she knows she must rise early to...

1. Meet with Jesus

2. Plan out her day

3. Provide for her families needs

Because when those are done, she too, is out the door serving, working, supporting her husband and taking care of others. 

She is always placing others before her self. I want my life to reflect those same character qualities. 

Jesus you have given me a new day to rise early and meet with You and take care of my family. Those are the two most important gifts You have given me and I want to honor You and them. I know I will have days I struggle but I trust in Your strength and the help of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome temptations of laziness and selfish thinking. Thank You for this amazing privilege. Amen

GET UP! GET UP GET UP GET UP!

I am NOT a morning person, but I so desperately want to be one. Why? Because there are so many things I can get done, if I would rise earlier.

1. I could exercise in the morning rather than at night.
2. I could spend even longer with Jesus, of which you know I would do all day if I could.
3. I could get the house picked up before we all left.
4. I could visit with my hubby more.
5. I could get ready without being rushed.
6. I could have a healthier breakfast for my family
7. I could get a few loads of laundry done.
8. I could get dinner ready to be cooked when we got home.
9. I could spend more time in prayer.
10. I could spend more time meditating on my Bible Verse with no distractions.

My husband is not a morning person either, but he rises early anyway and I admire him so much. He is so strong mentally and well let's be honest, that man does NOT have one ounce of laziness in him. Sigh. And he probably still hears his dad's voice saying, "GET UP! GET UP GET UP GET UP!" (You have to say the second part fast, with a real deep voice and LOUD)  does not thrill me, loves, nor does it thrill my boys when G does it. But it got G out of bed growing up. For me growing up, I heard my mama and daddy's sweet voices, "Get up baby, you need to get ready." Along with some kisses. It's the difference between all girls and all boys. Jesus wake me up with authority, excitement, and sweetness. You know I function best that way:) (Squirrel, sorry)

So, here is what I have decided to do. I have began to focus on the attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman, along with some other women in the Bible. I am examining and learning how they managed their time, so I can manage my time better, and stop being so lazy!!

Jesus has given me life, and in return I need to be living this life the best I can for Him and for my family.

I also want to make use of the 24 hours He has set in a day and if I am sleeping, I am missing out on what He wants to do in and through me.

The first place I need to begin, is by listing out the top 5 priorities. These priorities are all 100% God centered. He has to come first before anything else can be done. So with that here are my top 5.

1. Spend time in prayer. For me this is our morning conversation. It's where He speaks, I listen. I speak and He listens. It's a conversation. Before I can begin to study His Word and absorb all He wants to teach me, I have to visit with Him and get cleansed and purified. I never want there to be any hindrances between Him and I.

2. Sit at His Feet and Learn-This is when I remain silent and listen as He teaches me. Right now He is teaching me the Book of Proverbs and about some extraordinary women.

3. Meditate-This is where I put application to what He just taught me. I do this by focusing on the particular passage I am storing for the week. I speak it over and over, then He and I visit about how I can apply it and ways He will allow me to use it.

4. Prayer-prayer for my family, the lost, my Sunday School Class, those who have requested prayer, and so forth.

5. Worship-this is the time I start wrapping things up and begin to worship the Lord through thanksgiving and praise. This is ALL about Him. I write them out, I speak them, I (attempt) to sing them, and I just allow my heart to be fully devoted to Him.

So those are my top 5! After that is where the prioritizing begins.

What things need to be done in this day. Starting with the morning.

 Keep in mind, my husband and I are so super busy with running 3 clinics, so a majority of my day is occupied with helping him do that.

So I always try to plan between that. My days run in segments time wise.

If I will rise earlier around 5:00 am. Then I will have from 5:00-6:30 with Jesus, and I need every ounce of that time. After that I can be 100 % devoted to my boys and G and making sure they have what they need to start their day off great!

I will be honest, I have REALLY struggled in this because like I said, I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON! Just the though of my alarm going off early makes me tired. :)

But, Jesus and my family are more important than my laziness and selfishness.

My husband and I are currently going through the Daniel Plan, which is a must read if you never have. In the book Rick Warren made a few comments that have imprinted themselves within me that have really convicted me and left me desiring to make the best with the gifts and time God has given me, because in Heaven, I want to be found favorable and even more useful than I was here on earth.

He says, "God is testing you on earth to see what He can trust you with in eternity. He is watching how you use your time, your money, your talents, your opportunities, your mind, and yes, even your body."

I don't know about you, but I want to be trusted with much when I am in heaven. In order to do that, I need to make good use with all I have here on earth. I have failed at this, and probably will fail again and again, but my heart is devoted and dedicated. I will keep going in His strength.

Please understand, it's not an earn your way agreement. It's a relationship. It's understanding your unworthiness and His holiness. It's knowing what He has done for you and what He has given you, that makes you pleasing in His sight. That gift is Jesus Christ and it's all about a personal relationship with Him. It's desiring to do all these things because of your love for Him.

Jesus I can do nothing in my own strength or willpower. I am quite aware of this. I have tried far to many times. So today, I relinquish all control. I am Yours. Every ounce of me. I need the power of the Holy Spirit within me. I need help getting out of bed in the morning. My mind is weak, yet so controlling and filled with self. Help me Jesus fill it with Your Word, Your promises, Your thoughts, that I will be able to overcome the lures to stay in bed, the lures to tend to my flesh. I know it will be hard, but I know it's possible. All things are possible through You. Amen

One Lost Person

Would you spend time praying for one lost person today. It doesn't matter whether or not you know their name or know them personally. God knows them. He knows them in detail. So just pray for them.

Intercede on their behalf with urgency and brokenness. Pray for them like you would a loved one. Pray with boldness yet fear because of who you are speaking to, God Himself.

Pray for them, not because you have to, but because you know what's at stake. Their soul! Pray for them because you know what awaits them if they don't turn to Jesus-Hell.

No matter where you are or what you are doing, pray for them all throughout your day. It might just save someones life.

Upcoming Bible Study-Don't Miss It

I am so excited about our upcoming Bible Study. It will begin March 24 @ 6:30 at my house. All in the Midland area are welcome to come.

We will be studying the book of Proverbs. So far we have a great group of women signed up to come and as we look forward to this day we are in prayer for all that God is going to do.

You are being prayed for and we want you to know you are loved and adored. Come just as you are ready to dive deeper into God's amazing Word.

We believe God is going to do great and mighty things through this study and we don't want anyone to miss out.

If you have any questions please contact either Lauren Hobbs @ law0184@hotmail.com or myself @ coffeeatthecross@gmail.com

You are prayed for and we look forward to seeing you.

For more details on how to get to my house, please email me.

The Establishment of Family

"Those who bring trouble on their families inherit only the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise."  Proverbs 11:29

In the beginning we see the establishment of family when God brings Adam and Eve together and then when Cain and Abel come along we get the fuller effect and importance of family.

God gives a clear picture of this verse and it's meaning when Cain kills Abel.

Because of Cain's jealousy and anger he brought trouble, hurt, sorrow and loss on his family when he killed Abel.

As a result of Cain's actions, God said, "You are hereby banished from the ground you have defiled with your brother's blood. No longer will it yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, constantly wandering from place to place." Genesis 4:11-12

Not only did Cain commit the first murder, he also became the first homeless man.

The establishment of family was to ensure we would have a support group, encouragement, acceptance, love, protection, and trust.

When we allow sin to come in our lives and begin to overtake us, we begin to separate ourselves from the one thing we should be clinging to-family.

What is causing you to separate yourself from your family? Is it jealousy, pride, anger, bitterness, shame etc.? Maybe you are doing it to please someone else.

Whatever it is, I pray you will turn to Christ and allow Him to heal you, restore you and your family, and bring healing.  Don't be the fool that inherits only the wind.

And don't allow Satan one more minute to make the wedge bigger or sink his lies even deeper within you.

Think about the cost. Is it worth it? Is your family worth losing?

The Search is Over. The Good is found in His Word.

"If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" Proverbs 11:27

It seems today, not many look for that which is good. Rather we hear and focus on our problems. 

In doing this we fill ourselves with things that tear us down, frustrate us, consume us and even destroy us. 

God says if we search for good we will find favor. 

I want that favor, but more so I want to focus and be filled with that which is good, life giving, hopeful, joyful, and promising. 

All those things are found in God's Word. He is good. His Word is good! His love is good! His promises are good! His mercy is good! His forgiveness is good! 

I want my life to reflect His goodness, so in return others will desire His goodness. 

Altar Sunday

It doesn't matter where you are at, at this very moment, God is present. He has never left your side. Take time to praise Him right where you are. Take time to worship Him and be with Him.

God just wants your attention and love. You don't have to be inside the Church walls to spend time with Jesus.

God made that possible when He gave you Jesus.

Brought to Life

"But blessed are those who trust in The Lord and have made The Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

I was instantly reminded of this the other day when I saw these two trees. 

How perfectly they described this passage. I love it when The Lord brings Scripture to life through His creation. 

What passage has Jesus brought to life for you this week? 

Spring Break Get Away!

This is one thing my hubs and I LOVE doing. Fishing. And competing while we fish. 

I won't mention who won...ME! Not by the number of fish caught, he smoked me on that. But I smoked him on size. 7lbs!!! That fish is not pictured! 

Pops came in third, and did it gracefully. G got his love for fishing from his dad. And all three of us always have a blast. 

How Do You Make Use of Your Time?

How do you make use of the time, money, gifts, and abilities God has given you?

Do you use them wisely or foolishly?

Jesus knew how you would use all He gave you before you were ever born. "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:16

What's so great about Christ, is He gives us the opportunity to make wiser decisions with what we have been given. But we first must know Him. We must also have a desire to please to Him. "While we live, we live to please the Lord." Romans 14:8

 Moses says in Psalm 90:12-"Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." The more we grow in wisdom the better we will be at using our time, money, gifts and abilities wisely.

We can get a good glimpse of how we use these things by evaluating our lifestyle.

The Beauty We Seek?

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears The Lord will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30

A woman's beauty is found in the image of Christ.

The more Christ is seen within her the more beautiful she is.

The more she clothes herself with His Word, the more radiant she becomes.

She is aware that her physical beauty will disappear, being remembered no more. So she seeks to leave the lasting beauty of Him, His love, His joy. For those she knows will last forever.

Which beauty are you seeking to obtain? That of the worlds or that of Christ?

Your time, actions, focus, speech and investments will reveal the truth of the beauty you seek. 

To See as You See

37 

"Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word." 

Psalm 119:37

These eyes don't see as You see. 

You see His blood. You see perfection through Him. You see a soul You love, have rescued and belongs to You. 

You see things with a wider lens. You see with compassion and gentleness.

Your eyes never grow weak, they never close. 

These eyes, let them see what You see. 

Fill them with the same vision of Your Son.

May they not focus on anything other than You, Your Word, Your truth, Your promises, Your love. 

Change the vision in these eyes to see the lost as You do. To see the broken as You do. To see the widowed and orphaned as You do. To see those in slavery as You do. 

Change the vision in these eyes to see me as You see me, loved, saved, valued and adored. 

I Am Yours

"I am yours; save me! For I have applied myself to obey your commandments." Psalm 119:94

Jesus teach me to let go of me, so I can be filled with You. 

Teach me true surrender. 

Teach me how to lay my willpower down and pick up the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let Your work of transformation begin within me.

Purify me. Cleanse me. Revive me. Fill me. Use me. Shape me. Mold me. 

Jesus I want nothing more than for You to have complete control, for then I can know for sure that my every move, every thought, every action and reaction, and every spoken word will point and reflect You. 

Make even my blood flow with godliness, truth and love. 

Jesus I am Yours! 

Altar Sunday

Go to church to be changed, not just for a pep talk. 

Live a life "That is"

What if...more people liked me?

What if....I was prettier?

What if....I was thinner?

What if....I was more godly?

What if...I read my Bible more?

What if...my marriage was better?

What if...I was married?

What if...I had more money?

What if...I had a better job?

What if...I fit in more?

If I could be more like her/him, then I would...

If I could just have more money, then I would...

If I could just look like that, then I would...

If I could get my kids to be more like theirs, then I would...

If I...

It goes on and on. It's a vicious cycle. 

And one I believe Satan likes a little too much. 

He loves that we question our worth. He loves that we compare ourselves to others. He loves that we are believing his lies.

He loves to hear us doubt God's promises and truths.

Satan loves what if's. 

Jesus on the other hand loves those who walk confidently in His truths and turns all those what if's into actions.

Your beauty is found within.

Your health is founded on God's strength, not your own willpower to be healthy or thin. 

Your godliness is found in your obedience to Christ.

Your desire or lack of reading God's Word is a reflection of your relationship with Him. When that grows so will your desire to read the Word.

Your marriage is a reflection of your marriage with Christ. If He comes first so will your marriage.

Richness is found in Christ. There will never be a greater or longer lasting wealth.

Your job is the one you do for Christ, not man.

Don't desire to fit in, desire to be different. 

Let Jesus set you free from the what if's. Start living a life that is. 

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Stern

Sometimes being stern comes across harsh, mean and unlovable. And yes, sometimes if our intentions are just that, then yes it encompasses all three of those things.

BUT. When our sternness is done out of sincere love and to teach, then I believe it expresses love.

Jesus was stern. His yes meant yes and His no meant no. His rules were His rules. His laws were His laws, and when those were broken or misconstrued, He meant business. His rebuking and teaching was stern, not because He demanded His way, but because He loved us and loves us. He wants the best for us and from us. His sternness is intended to purify, cleanse, renew, remind, and redirect us from that which is sinful, wrong and displease the Father.

The Pharisees and Sadducee's displayed the opposite kind of sternness. They were harsh, mean and unloving. Their intentions were always selfish.

When times call for sternness, be sure your heart's intentions are aligned with the Word of God and the leading of the Spirit.

It's never easy to give or receive, but if we will allow it, it will teach us and help us grow.

So as you study God's Word today, remember this, "For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." Hebrews 12:6

Food for the Soul

Are you seeking healthy, life long nourishment that feeds your soul?

If so, seek to be filled with kindness. Kindness that not only nourishes you, but nourishes all those around you.

"Your own should is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel." Proverbs 11:17

Jesus clothe us in kindness. May we pour it out just as You have poured it out upon us. Amen

May They Become the Desire of His Heart

We pulled up to the house and Dax said, "Mommy, do our neighbors go to Church?"

Me, "I am not sure baby, we should invite them."

Dax, "Ya, because they might not know Jesus, and that is not good!"

May his heart grow more and more with a passion to share Jesus. May the lost become the desire of his heart. 

Be Different than the Norm!

Ladies, if there is anything we can learn from the Word of God, it's that true beauty is found within. All to often we compare ourselves and envy women who we see as prettier, smarter, more put together, etc. But the truth is, that prettier, smarter, more put together woman, could be an absolute disaster on the inside. She could have a heart of stone, yet is able to portray a false outward appearance. She could be the most broken woman, but hides behind her physical appearance, success, or earthly possessions.

We have all known women that we believed had it all together, until we really got to know them. Their actions and speech revealed something quite different.  We have also know some very beautiful women who had worldly hearts, and we have all known woman whose love for Jesus makes them radiate with indescribable beauty.

As women, who claim to be "true" followers of Christ, let's not pretend to be more than what we really are, sinners saved by grace, daily in need of Jesus.

Let's be women who are found beautiful inside because of the love of Jesus in us, not the love of the world and physical appearance.

Wouldn't you rather be known as the woman who reflected Christ, loved others, was real and honest, rather than a woman who reflected the world, was fake, broken, and pretended to be someone God never intended her to be in the first place.

Ladies, God has entrusted us with the opportunity to set a Godly example for young women. Don't lead them astray, or lead them to believe their physical appearance is greater than their heart for God. Tell them, that though this has become the norm for women today, for those in Christ, its not the norm. Encourage them to have a relationship with Christ. Encourage them to clothe themselves in His Word, His truths, His promises, for then they will truly be clothed in beauty.

Let's be women who encourage and build one another up, who challenge one another to be all they can be for Christ, and who hold one another accountable because of our desire to honor and please the Lord.

If you find yourself constantly comparing, constantly feeling insecure, constantly striving to look pretty outwardly rather than inwardly, constantly finding yourself jealous of others. Run to God's Word and let Him remind you who you are in Him. Let Him wrap His truths and promises around you and let Him remind you it's about what He thinks, not what another man or woman thinks.  Stop letting Satan convince you and fill you with lies.

The more you know Christ, the more you will desire to please Him, to be your best for Him, to honor Him and serve Him. The more your relationship with Christ grows, the less it will be about you and the more it will be about Him.

Who are you investing more in, Christ or yourself? Who are you trying to impress, Christ or man? Who are you comparing yourself to, Christ or others? What are you trying to fill your emptiness and void with, Christ or the world? Let these questions help guide you daily as you do all that you do.

Ladies, be the woman that stands apart from the rest. Be the woman that allows Christ to be seen. Be the woman that clothes herself with the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Be the woman that exudes honesty, humbleness, and selflessness.

Be the one that lives out, believes, and clings to the promises of God. Be different than the norm! 

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands." 1 Peter 3:3-5

Altar Sunday

Spiritually there are many of us having an affair. Who or what are you cheating on Christ with?

Today you have the oppurtunity, better yet everyday God gives you the oppurtunity to return to Him. 

Will you give your heart back to Him?