How can we be having a snow storm in April? Craziness! Yesterday I was outside under a beautiful blue sky without a jacket on. Today we have at least four inches of snow. My only consolation is at least it is actually a good storm. If it is going to be cold it might as well be worth it. The picture above is of Nemo watching the snow fall.

This weekend is a pretty quiet weekend for me. We have a Jr. High Retreat out at the camp this weekend so the rest of my family is involved with that and the house is quiet. I am getting a lot done. Today I cleaner my room, organized the pile of paper, books, and receipts on my desk, printed my kids activities portfolio and put it in a nice folder, did schoolwork, took a nap, read a book in the tub, and answered a few emails. Tomorrow should be just as productive. Hope you are all having a great weekend as well.

One of my goals for 2009 was to read 52 books in 52 weeks. Here’s how I’ve done so far.

1. Priced to Move (Jan. 4-10)
2. Set Apart Femininity (Jan. 11-17)
3. Persuasion (Jan. 18-24)
4. Stepping Heavenward (Jan. 25-31)
5. Charade (Feb. 1-7)
6. Do Hard Things (Feb. 8-14)

I am about 4 weeks behind. Time to do some extra reading.

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I’m amazed at how much I get done when I get up at 6 am. That is one of the things I have been trying to be really consistent about… getting up at 6 am to do a quiet time with God. It sets me off right on workdays and on days when I’m home it really jump starts the day.

Got up at 6am.
Took a bath.
Made coffee.
Quiet time.
Ate breakfast.
Finished book.
Washed face.
Brushed teeth.
Ordered books for class.
Completed reference for friend.
Sorted through receipts.
Went to the bank.
Mailed reference letter.
Balanced checkbook.
Made eye appointment.
Commented on Facebook.
Deleted emails.
Added Friend Connect to blog.
Blogged.
Now its 12pm.

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Now to start off with I have never observed Ash Wednesday or Lent. Last year however my pastor and a few friends decided to observe the season of Lent which is the 40 days before Easter. I thought this was really cool and a good remembrance time of what Christ did when he died on the cross for my sins and looking forward to Easter and the celebration of his resurrection. So this year I decided to observe Lent. There are three traditional things observed during Lent; prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (just towards others). With the fasting in mind I will be giving up pop and sweets and also will not be purchasing anything online for the next 40 days. Prayer and focusing on serving others will also be main focuses during this time.

Today has been a really good day. I set my alarm and got up at 6am for my quiet time with God. I got a lot of schoolwork done. Some of the stuff I got done were assignments that I would usually put off until the end of the week and finish under the looming deadline. I went for a walk again and remembered to bring my camera. It was colder than yesterday but still pretty nice and I got some great pictures. Finding the time to post on my blog is always a bonus during the day. One of the items on my list that I have been procrastinating about got worked on. All in all a good day which will be even better with a new episode of Lost to watch.

Today when I went for my walk down the road I decided to go farther and go up the hill since it was such a nice day. I am so glad I did! Being up in the hills was lovely. A little muddy but it is hard to beat the view looking down at the camp nestled in the valley from the top of the hill. With just a sweatshirt and my gloves and headband I was comfortable and warm. I know the warmth can’t last but it makes me long for spring and take the extra time to enjoy it when it is here. At the top of the hill I even spun around from the pure enjoyment. It was magical and a gift God made just for me.

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This weekend was packed full of good stuff. Friday night we went to see the one-act plays done by a high school in the area with friends. Had warm chocolate desert with the same friends at midnight after the plays. Celebrated my mom’s birthday on Saturday. I got her a new set of our current obsession… Monk. We currently have seasons 2-5. Season 1 we got from the library which started the obsession. Sunday there was church and then the youth service at the church in town. So many good things. It was a great weekend.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” -Anonymous

Disciplined in What? Obedience.

Jesus replied, “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.” John 14:23

The Christian life is a call to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and follow, to be a living sacrifice, to take self off the throne of our hearts and bow down to the King of kings and Lord of lords. How can be possibly do such grandiose things? Not by our own strength or power. Only by crying out to him and saying, “I can’t, but you can,” can we find power to follow and obey.

Christ several times says that obedience is love. How often do we try to put love before obedience? When I feel that I love God then I will obey. How fickle are our feelings! Never are they the same two days in a row. It is by obedience that I learn to walk with my Lord; by waling with my Lord I learn to love the one who gave up his life for mine.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:9-14

True joy is found in obedience and remaining in the Father’s love. We have been called to bear lasting fruit in this world through obedience. We store up our treasure in heaven were if reaps great reward.

Often times I feel like I take one step forward in obedience and three steps backwards. Why can’t I do the things I want to? The grace of God is so great! He loves me just as I am. Whether a saint or a sinner he loves me the same. But, He loves me too much to want me to stay in the filth of my sin. so He beckons me through one step of obedience at a time to follow Him.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

February 15, 2009

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“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.” – Anonymous

Dedicated to what? Truth.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. (John 18:37-38a)

What is truth? The ageold question that seems especially prevalent in our culture today. Sadly even Christians seem to be struggling with this question. A Barna study shows that when asked a series of questions about Christian faith only 8% of people in the United States truly have a Bible-based worldview. And when the same questions were asked of only professing evangelical Christians only 9% had a worldview that was aligned with the Bible.

One of the reasons I believe that we have gotten away from the roots of our faith is that we are afraid to proclaim the truth. We are afraid to take sides. God is the author of truth and Satan is the father of lies. Truth vs. Lies is the battle that has been waged from the beginning.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Transformation comes by the renewing of our mind. We expect our hearts to change first or some spiritual awakening to happen suddenly in our lives. First we deal with the mind and the heart will follow. What do we renew our minds with? The truth of God’s word. With renewed minds we can be wary of the subtle – or not so subtle – deceptions Satan attacks us with. And with renewed minds we are also discerning of what God’s will is.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test a approve what God’s will is, his good pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

February 14, 2009

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