My Word for 2014

 

Intentional- done in a way that is planned or intended.

This is my word for 2014. I was thinking a few days before the new year about my life and the past year. I wrote a previous post about the good and bad of the year.  

I took a two day break from Facebook the two days leading up the January 1. It was actually nice. I was more focused on the important things in life. I decided to not log in onto Facebook through my phone during the day. I used it a lot on my phone. It was just so convenient. I posted a lot of pictures and re-posted a lot of inspirational pictures with quotes or scriptures. Still I was on it too much. I decided I would try something new. I am going to try and not use Facebook on my phone,but use the computer for browsing Facebook. I don't get on my computer as much since I actually have to sit and stop what I am doing.

God was impressing upon my heart to be more intentional with my life and the things that it is filled with. I want to be intentional with my husband,even more than I am now. With kids it is much harder to just spend time alone. I have to be intentional about it,just like being intentional about taking a bath. It sounds silly,but with all the distractions of today's world we have to plan,plan,and plan for the important things. If my husband is important to me, I will look at him while he is talking or put down the phone when we are having a conversation. I don't want to look back and wonder what happened? How did we drift apart? So many couples do that and they say I don't know him/her anymore. That is not what God desires. I want to continue to get to know my husband as he changes each year and I desire him to do the same.

I also want to be more intentional with my 3 boys. Oh, this one is hard. They want everything I have and then more. Some days I just feel like I have none left to give. BUT if I limit the sources draining my energy and put that energy into things that matter, I have found I do have what they need. Some days I want to just give them whatever they want that will make them happy so I can read or write or just enjoy quietness. That is not what God wants out of me as a Mother. I have to be intentional and not to my benefit. If that means putting down the phone or computer and playing army men, monster trucks,hide and seek, or reading to them, then so be it. I am a big supporter/proponent of set bedtimes. When the kids go to bed I have my time to read,write,browse,or do things that I need to concentrate on like grocery lists or meal planning. I have to be intentional about getting them ready for bed so by 8:30 I can kiss them and hope they fall asleep soon. That only gives me an hour or so,but it's better than nothing. I don't want to look back and regret not being present for my boys. I have found out you can give them all they want and they still desire one thing: you. They want you to play,read,or do something,but they want you doing it with them. They want us,Mothers and Fathers too. 

In general I want to be more focused and intentional. I get up earlier than the boys to do my Bible study/prayer and then look at what has to be done that day,this helps me a lot. I know I need time to myself and need to refreshed,so I must plan that time. If I focus and get things done it leaves more time to play with my boys. I want to focus on the important things. I want to be able to write more and read more. When I read I am inspired to write,so I  must be intentional about reading. What is this life about? What is most important? Not necessarily to me,but to God. Faith in Him,family,and friends. People. We are important to Him. So for me this year will be about being intentional with everything in my life that God has given me. My family,my home,my faith,and others- the people God has placed in my life. 

What is your word? What word has God been speaking to you about?
 

From Missions to Motherhood

When we let God change our hearts and desires it really is amazing. Sometimes He does it without us even knowing it, I think. Sometimes He does it and we resist and rebel.

I really didn't know He was changing mine. Looking back on the pas 6 years I can see that He did. He did not necessarily take my former desires away,but He put other ones in me that take priority over the former ones.

I longed to be in foreign missions after I went on a mission trip in 2003 to Honduras. It was my first time out of country and I was excited. I had no clue what it would be like. It was heartbreaking. It was inspiring. It was hard. Seeing people so in need of things that I had taken fore-granted every. single. day. Seeing children with no one to care for them and no where to sleep. Seeing very young men in prison or detention centers that were so hardened towards anyone. It was an eye opener for me, a young high school graduate, that came from a land of plenty. I had family who loved me. I had food galore. I had clothes,a bed,a home,and I had Jesus. It shook me to the core. It radically changed how I looked at things once I came back to America. Like a believer set on fire for the first time I wanted to run,to go,to help. I wanted to go live there and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I prayed and prayed for that country. I had a heart for the people.

I never got to go do what I wanted. I never had an open door to go back there. I ended up going to Bible college,a small Baptist college in North Mississippi. I married the love of my life and we moved to the big city. I haven't forgotten about Honduras or missions. Life just took me a different course. I thought is this really what I should be doing? What about the children,the women,the people? Where are they? God heard my prayers those days in my dorm at college when I asked Him to mold me and shape me into the image of Jesus. Oh boy did He. He gave me 3 precious boys,who have done so much for me.

I fought it at first. I didn't want to be just a Mother. I mean, I sit at home all day taking care of children who have no clue how hard it is. I wanted to do something big for God. Something important. Changing diapers? Fixing 3 meals a day,not to mention snacks? Important? Yes,very. Jesus washed the nasty,dirty feet of his disciples. He got down on their level,He served them. I am being the hands and feet of Jesus when I care for my children and husband. God began to speak to me about my children being those in need of Jesus. Just because they are born here in America doesn't mean they know Jesus. No one does until they are told what He has done for them. It was my job to rear these precious children and guide them to the Lord in all that I do. It struck me. It was a glorious eye opener. It was like I had my own mission field in my home. I could literally pour so much of the Word into these boys that they could be so full of God like I wanted the people in Honduras to be. It was amazing.

I can look back and say I still long to do mission work overseas,but for now I am so passionate about my boys. I love them with a fierce love and it's not me at all,t's all the Lord. I want them to know more about Jesus,God, and the Word that they will impact their generation at an early age. God put His heart in me for my children. It isn't easy and it's a lot of blood,sweat,and tears. It's a lot of praying and crying too. But these are my little lost souls that I am I responsible for. I have to plant seeds so the Holy Spirit can move upon them and draw them to the Living God. I pray daily that when the Spirit draws them they will come and they will surrender. I want them to be radical for Jesus. I want them to love Him so much and live for Him in every detail of their lives. What we do with our children is so important. It's so vital. They will have to make decisions we are making today and that is important work.

Mothers we have a mission field in our own home!! Don't forsake it. Embrace it and draw your strength from the Lord. He will uphold you with His mighty right hand.

The work of the Holy Spirit is so amazing. It's so sacred. God loves us so much and wants to use us,if we will just open our hearts to Him.What desire does God want to put in you?


Linking up with Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife for Titus 2sdays.

Redirecting and Making Goals

I have been doing some thinking about my blog. I am able to dedicate more time to it (for now). Things could very well change anytime with children,but as of now I feel like I can write more and read more. I started reading Blog Mom by Christin Slade and that also has been a big help. I want my blog to serve a purpose,not just be somewhere I write. I want to encourage others,particularly women, in their walk with Christ. I thought about starting a new blog directed to parenting,but that isn't the only thing I want to write about. I want to write about whatever the Lord leads me too. So I decided to just change my name back to the original name it was a year or so ago. This name was inspired by a blog called At The Well. It was a blog encouraging women to become and be Titus 2 women.

So I changed the name and will hopefully have more of a schedule. I do 2 link ups during the week with 2 other blogs. I want to start doing a post each week called Weekend Links where I publish articles or posts that I read during the week that were very worth sharing. I also want to have guest bloggers. I have one lined up hopefully for this coming week. Reading Christin's book (I'm not finished,but already have learned a lot) help me figure out some goals for my blog. I wrote down goals,passions,hobbies,and some other things. If you haven't read the book, I recommend getting it. I have a passion for being a Goldy woman,wife,and Mother. I have a passion to love my husband as God has commanded me too. I have a passion to teach my children all I can about our Lord and pump them with the Word of God. I have a passion for encouraging others,especially women.

I hope to find out who is still following me and who is not. It's hard to tell really. I don't care if just 1 person reads my blog, I hope they are encouraged. I also hope they will comment so I can know who is following me. I'm not some profound writer. I haven't got it all figured out. I am a woman who fails daily,but is striving to be more like my Lord. I just want to share the things God has used to mold me,refine me,and humble me. I want to share the miracles He has done for me and my family. I want to use it for God's glory.

If you would spread the word about my blog, I would appreciate it very much.