A One Thing Woman!

It is not rare to be busy. We tote our kids to and from activities, we busy ourselves with church activities, we overwhelm ourselves with schedules, plans, dates and appointments until we barely have time to sleep! But lately in the midst of all the Lord is calling me to, I have come to a place where my heart is crying out with David's in Psalm 27...

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple."

Amidst all the busyness of life, the Lord is beginning to open my eyes to the fact that if I would become a "one thing" woman all else would fall right into place. The tasks of my day, the errands I run, the chores, work and demands of fmaily, marriage and ministry can boil down to one thing:gazing at the Lord and seeking Him alone.

As I carry out all the Lord is calling me to today, I will gaze at Him through prayer and meditation on His Word until my soul is overflowing with the beauty of Who He is. Oh, how I desire to be a "one thing" woman for Him!

Full Circle

Today marks a closure to something my family has been going through since last spring. When this storm began last year the Lord opened my understanding and gave me comfort through the classic Psalm 23. It came to life in a fresh way.

Walking beside my man has he laid his mother to rest, the words, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" brought us much comfort. The last year has been a radical storm of relational ups and downs for my marriage, my man and my self.

Now we come to a new place of closure with his mother's belongings and the Lord this morning did not fail to make His Presence known to me. These are the words that He highlighted from this beautiful psalm...

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

With all the Lord has held us through in this season, the closure of it brings much healing as I can see a table before me in the presence of the enemy who has tried to mercilessly bring me down this year. The table is set to honor the King's daughter.

Right there where the enemy is watching, your God and my God sets a table of honor for those who love Him. He anoints His beloved one with oil and sets a cup overflowing with blessing right in front of you.

Where have you been with Him over the last year? Financial hardship? Marriage struggles? Relational issues? Personal pain? Celebrate His Presence in the midst of it all and KNOW Your God seats you in the place of honor with an overflow of blessing when you press into Him!

One Guarantee

Not many things in life are guaranteed. We can lose our health, our job and even our precious family. When we close on a house, we do not expect to one day have to foreclose on it. When we walk away from the alter as "Mrs." we do not expect to one day walk out of the courthouse as "Miss". Life is tough and there are no sticking promises...but one.

Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us,
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of His glory."

There is one guarantee that will NOT fail us! That is the inheritance our Heavenly Father has stored up for us. He has deposited Himself within us as a deposit to guarantee that inheritance. His Spirit is our seal within, but He has also given us an outward manifestation of His ownership over us.

Galatians 5:22-23 says,
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

When we display the fruit of the Spirit, we are presenting to the world an outward manifestation of His inward claim to us. This is a guarantee we can bank on.

Are we living like we KNOW this inheritance is coming our way? Are we a display of the fruit of the Spirit to those in our home, in our neighborhood, in our spheres of influence? Does the lost world around us know He has claimed us as His own and thus desire it for themselves?

Let's go make Him conspicuous in us today!

The Perfect "To Do" List

As a homeschooling mom...well, as a mom, I must say, it is certainly tough to face the day without a plan. You know, a "To Do" list. Of course, as most women know, our lists do not always have to be written down. We are always running several lists in our heads at any given moment. No wonder we know where Johnny's shoes are but can't remember where we put the keys...our lists are running together!

Praise God, He too has a plan...but He does not forget or run His perfect lists together! What an encouragement this truth was this morning as I read Ephesians 1:11-12:

"In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory."

Isn't that incredible? God has a perfect plan He is working out in conforming with His good and pleasing will. And that purpose includes me and you and those who believe to be for the praise of His glory! What a beautiful "To Do" list the Father holds in his holy hands. We can fully trust His plan today and praise Him in advance!

Wow..thank you!

How fun! Growing In Godliness is one of the Top 100 Blogs at Internet Cafe's Blessed Aroma. What an honor! Growing was chosen for "Pouring Proverbs 31"...that especially blesses me, since that is my MOST favorite passage of Scripture (as my readers know!) Thank you to all who nominated me!

You can check out all the Top 100 Blogs at www.internetcafedevotions.com/features/top-100-2009/


Be Blessed!
~M