OVERLOAD, A LIFE OF INFLUENCE & SETTING PRIORITIES

{From the Devotional Book : Devotions For Women}

Walking with GOD in the Quiet Places

{EMILIE BARNES}

OVERLOAD 

In all your ways acknowledge him, and

he will make your paths straight.

PROVERBS 3:6 NIV

Do you have the type of home where nothing seems to get done? Where each room would take a bulldozer just to clean up the mess? You rush around all day never completing any one job, or if you do complete a task, there is a little one behind you, pulling and messing everything up again! There isn't one of us who hasn't experienced these feelings.

When I was 20, our baby daughter Jennifer was six months old. We then took in my brother's three children and within a few months I became pregnant. That gave Bob and me five children under five years old. My life was work,work,work- and yet I never seemed to get anywhere. I was running on a treadmill that never stopped and never moved ahead. I was always tired and never seemed to get enough done, let alone get enough sleep. I was fragmented, totally confused, and stressed.

Then one day during my rushed quiet time with the Lord I read 

Proverbs 3:6:"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." 

I fell to my knees and prayed "Please, God, direct my path. I acknowledge You to help me, Lord. I want Your power and direction. Lord, I'm tired. I'm on overload with husband, home, children and meals. I have no time left over for me or anyone else. I can't even do any of us justice. Please help me to put it all together and make it work to glorify You and Your children. Amen.

The Lord not only heard my prayer that day, but He honored it as well. I began  a program that changed my life. I committed 15 minutes (at least) per day to my quiet time with the Lord. With baby Brad in hand, I got up earlier each morning. The house was quiet, and my Lord and I talked as I read His Word and prayed. 

Next I committed 15 minutes each day to the organization of our home, concentrating on things I never seemed to get done: the silverware drawer,refrigerator, hall closets, photos, bookshelves, piles of papers. I committed to this for 30 days and the pattern was set. God was directing my path. Our home changed dramatically. The cloud of homemaking stress lifted, and I had a new direction. The Lord redeemed my time with Him. I had more time to plan meals, make new recipes, play with the children, take walks to the park, even catch a nap from time to time.

Looking back now as a grandparent, I can truly understand the meaning of acknowledging Him in all my ways.

It's looking to God for help and comfort in all the ways of our life- our families, home, finances, commitments, and careers. God gives us a promise. "I will direct your paths."

Father God, sometimes I feel my life is truly on overload. There are days I am confused, frustrated, and misdirected. I come to you on my knees, seeking Your undying patience and the hope You so graciously give. I ask for Your direction in my life. Make order out of disorder. Thank You! Amen.

                                

   {Julie Clinton}

 A Life of Influence

In everything set them an example

 by doing what is good.

TITUS 2:7 NIV

You will influence other people today. What message will they get from you? Better yet, how will they describe you after today?

Whether we realize it or not, we influence other people's lives. Sometimes we intentionally choose to influence others, but other times we are completely unaware of our impact. 

The influence of both our good and our bad gestures and words is immeasurable. Perhaps God intended it that way to keep us humble. Often, the people we touch don't realize the effect we had until years later. But what matters most is that we are willing to make every day count by investing in the life of another human being. Make a plan to increase your influence in the lives you can realistically touch. Your investment in other people is the only thing that will outlast you.

You are the hands & feet of Christ, and others are influenced in their own walk with Him by watching you live out yours. To live in a way that lifts up Jesus and honors God is a mighty calling, but it's something we must do every day.

What message are you sending to the girl behind the counter at the supermarket? To your children? To your Coworkers? The question isn't whether you are making a difference. That's a given. The question is, what kind of difference are you making? 

Use my life, Lord, as an example of Your love. Use my hands to show your kindness. Use my tongue to speak praise. use my mouth to spread joy & laughter. Let all that I am help others to experience Your love. Amen

FEELING LOVED & BLESSED CELEBRATING MY 19TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 12-6-13

This pic is how we have celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary so far today. We found these beautiful Anniversary cards for each other at the Dollar Tree I made breakfast for my man before he left for work & made some cookies to share with him later when he gets home. We are low on funds, the medical bills are high, my man had to go to work and is still there & pretty much we just have the love in our hearts to give to each other for our anniversary. So I talked to the Lord today & got creative for our anniversary. I wanted to share my conversation with the Lord as maybe there are others out there that are in the same circumstances & are bummed they don't have finances to treat or spoil each other for their wedding anniversary etc or they are going through a season of illness. I asked the Lord how I could bless my man today today as he does so much for me 24/7 on top of working full time, handling our bills, paying our bills & handling all the domestic stuff around the house & and keeping up on the outside of the house as well due to 95% of the time just basic physical functioning is a struggle for me. The Lord said today you are having a good day & your hands are functioning pretty well, make him breakfast as he usually always does & wants to make his own & I said Lord I usually bake him banana bread every year when I can as it is his favorite but I have nothing to make for him and the Lord said don't fret you have a frozen tub of cookie dough that your daughter bought some weeks back & she won't mind if you bake those. So I said ok Lord but Lord he is often hungry late at night when he comes home and I can't eat a meal that late due to health issues and the Lord said well ask him when he calls to check on you and I said Lord I really don't have anything extravagant to make for him and because of my disabilities it is difficult for me especially at that time of night sometimes to function and I want to make him something special for dinner. The Lord said just ask him if he wants you to prepare something for him and leave the rest up to me. He called a few minutes later & when I asked him if he wanted me to make him dinner, I heard a smile in his voice when he said you can make my favorite Hamburger Helper if you want to & I can just heat it up when I get home. After we hung up I searched the cupboards & low & behold there way in the back of the pantry cabinet was 1 box of his favorite Hamburger Helper. I smiled and said Thank you Lord. The Lord said he loves you and he knows and understands how difficult it is for you to prepare food just for yourself most days or just to function and your desire to show your love by acts of service for him to bless him and show him you are thinking about him blesses his heart and makes him feel loved and appreciated and the fact that you push through all that you go through in your body on a day to day basis to try and carry and ease his load speaks volumes of how deeply and how much you love him especially when you know he doesn't expect you to cuz he understands that most of the time you don't feel good. But my child you show your love for him in sooo many other ways that you don't realize and he knows that it blesses you when he lets you push through and do these acts of service for him when you can, that it gives you independence that you don't have everyday and he knows that is a precious gift to you that is priceless and that you are grateful and blessed for those times that you can do them. Allowing you to be independent when you can is his gift to you. I said thank you Abba you just always know what I need and you always provide and you know my heart and you have given me a man that doesn't expect me to be perfect or super woman all he wants is all the love my heart can give him, someone to grow old with and be his best friend til death do us part. You have given us the best gift in each other Lord. Thank you Lord <3 :) (Feeling loved & blessed) <3 :)