Monday, January 27, 2014

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

The reading below was taken from today's bible reading, click the link above in the tool bar to follow the planned daily readings for the week! 

Exodus 16-18

New International Version (NIV)

Manna and Quail

16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”





At the very end of today's devotion I will share the step by step instructions to follow for your counter top make over! 
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To make today's reading very simple... God speaks through Moses to remind the people that he will protect, provide and supervise iF AND ONLY iF they follow the directions.

Same is true today.
 God has so much He wants to pour into our lives but we need to do things His way. Following directions can be very difficult because that usually means things need to CHANGE in our lives. 

Change is hard.

I personally have a hard time following the Godly outline but when I sit and grumble God will help me to realize that He only gives these rules so I can  experience the BEST in this life. He is for me not against me! 


 Instructions are given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. When they are obeyed our lives will be more fulfilling, less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear. We will receive the Lord’s promised blessings. 

He has said, “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”2
You have but one life to live. Keep it as free from trouble as you can. 
God loves us so very much and He knows we grumble about life and make mistakes but He loves us unconditionally and will try to reach us in our personal places. 
I always remind my teenage son that obeying God can be tough. However, No matter what God loves everything about you and He will find a way to reach you even if you walked away. 
Following Gods instructions seems stifling for a teenager. They cant party, swear, get drunk or sleep around or tell white lies. It feels like God has cut the fun out of their lives. Rules are imporatant and God only gives us basic instruction to save us from learning things the hard way. We all do wrong things and God is not up there waiting to Spank us around.
 He is truly up there pleading with us to obey and avoid a life of crashes and mess ups. God is not just a set of laws He wants to walk life out with you and me and help us steer through life. Could you imagine the roads with no traffic laws?
He provides His instructions out of love and the desire to rain down spiritual blessings. 
Focus on Gods real love for you and then following His law will come naturally.
God used Moses in today's reading to teach His people some of the reasons they needed to obey instead of grumble. God never walked away from them,  He continued to provide while reaching and yet teaching! 
I am glad God never gives up on me! I struggle with following directions from time to time however, I have seen the hand of God in my life and that Glory reminds me of His blessings and it gets me turning around every time! 
Following directions can bring about the greatest change! 
This devotion reminded me of a recent home improvement project.
I really wanted to update my old formica countertops in my kitchen without spending to much money. 
I bought a kit from home depot and followed the instructions step by step.
The instructions brought about the most beautiful transformation! 
Take a look! 


 So in the first step we taped off and created boundaries! Sometimes Gods law can feel like we need to tape off things in our life.



Shout out to my amazing husband! 


Following all the instructions! 






It's a beautiful transformation. If you purchase the GianiGranite.com
kit the instructions are so simple and you can do this! Just follow the instructions and enjoy a beautiful solid transformation! 
It has 3 easy steps and a video to help you see everything in full detail, the kit cost me 78.00 and covered 35sq feet! 
Enjoy and just follow the instructions! 
Blessings friends! 

Friday, January 17, 2014

WHATS "NEW" IN 2014

Happy New Year!

Do you think it's ok to still be blowing our New Year horns 17 days after the official Calendar day celebration?

 It's really ok!  God blows His horn of celebration all year long!

The shofar (שופר‎) is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, though it can also be made from the horn of a sheep or goat. It makes a trumpet-like sound and is traditionally blown on Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year

God is really up to celebrating the NEW on a regular basis
Learn to BLOW YOUR HORN this year!

 


I like how the verse says NOW IT SPRINGS UP!

We will all have a "NOW" season all through the year. We need to be alert and wise so we may perceive this NOW thing springing up!

I believe God is good and He will allow us to learn how to TRACE our plans along side of him.
Only if we follow Him and make a commitment to Him in 2014. He has plans for your health, ministry, gifting, children, marriage, finances and much more.

I want to perceive those blessings this year, how about you?

PERCEIVE:
TO BECOME AWARE OR CONSCIOUS OF SOMETHING, TO COME TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. TO LOOK IN A PARTICULAR WAY ON SOMEONE OR SOMETHING!

My first goal for 2014 will be to try harder  to create better habits when it comes to looking upon Jesus in a particular way.

 Jesus is the word and He became TRUTH and now dwells among us.

Lets look upon the WORD and realize something NEW  together throughout 2014.

I personally want the word to CHANGE me.
 
I desire to become aware of my personal surroundings so that I  may PERCEIVE  the NEW sketches that God is beginning to TRACE  in my life and those around me.

I want to notice his presence faster and become aware of His happenings.

May we together: BEHOLD
                                   DISCERN
                                       DISCOVER
                                              DISTINGUISH THE DIVINE
                                                    FEEL
                                                        GRASP
                                                              LOOK and MARK OUT
                                                                 OBSERVE AND SEIZE
                                                                          RECOGIZE
                                                                       SPOT AND SPY
                                                                              TAKE

What will be NEW here for 2014 to help you GRAB hold and perceive?

My goal is to create a virtual community in which we come together and commune over Gods word. Unpacking the TRUTH taught that day so we may become aware and discover all the
" NEWS" in 2014.

I encourage you to join my READING PLAN for the year.
(This is what you will see when you click the READING PLAN above)
I encourage you to print the page and stick it into your journal.



Jan 16: Gen 39-40; Matt 11
Jan 17:
Gen 41-42; Matt 12:1-23
Jan 18:
Gen 43-45; Matt 12:24-50
Jan 19:
Gen 46-48; Matt 13:1-30
Jan 20:
Gen 49-50; Matt 13:31-58
Jan 21:
Ex 1-3; Matt 14:1-21
Jan 22:
Ex 4-6; Matt 14:22-36
Jan 23:
Ex 7-8; Matt 15:1-20
Jan 24:
Ex 9-11; Matt 15:21-39
Jan 25:
Ex 12-13; Matt 16
Jan 26:
Ex 14-15; Matt 17
Jan 27:
Ex 16-18; Matt 18:1-20
Jan 28:
Ex 19-20; Matt 18:21-35
Jan 29:
Ex 21-22; Matt 19
Jan 30:
Ex 23-24; Matt 20:1-16
Jan 31:
Ex 25-26; Matt 20:17-34


 
 


 
This plan has a bible reading from old testament and new testament for you each day of the week all through 2014. Please grab a journal and make notes on what the Word is saying to you. God will make words jump off the page and He has a way of making you observe the truth, recognizing and distinguishing a divine truth meant for you and the plans you need to grasp and discover. The word is the way you begin to trace and perceive the DIVINE in your life.

My brightest and most glorious months, days and years have been when I was the most committed to studying the word. Its easy to get sloppy in life... this will have to be another topic for a blog this year!

Each WEDNESDAY I will be writing a devotion and unpacking the truths for that days verses.  I hope you join me and also share what the word has spoken to you on that WEDNESDAY or anytime during that week. Place your thoughts in the comment section at the end of the post or by emailing me at Heather@hbministries.com .
I would love to  share in the following post how others are beholding and perceiving Gods word!

When we mix GOD + FRIENDS = COMMUNITY
 
LOOK WHAT ELSE IS NEW:

In the FALL of 2014 my first book/ workbook study called "RUN" will be launched~

The #RUNPROJECT will be amazing, so fresh and well "NEW." It will be launched for the fall studies at my home church Northridge. I am grateful for the leaders and friends within my church that God has placed in my pathway to help get this project running is Gods direction.
I pray God opens doors for RUN to be apart of other churchs!
 I would love to come and encourage your ladies to RUN IN SUCH A WAY and leave you with a great 7 week study with 7 DVD teachings!
Hey lets plan a Conference or a retreat for 2015!

See God is always up to NEW and exciting things!
May our divine paths cross as we study and perceive Gods word together.

Lastly, I would love to share something else NEW with you!
My youngest daughter Alivia has decided to start her own blog community.

Alivia's Blog

Girlfriends = Giggles and Glitter and a whole lot of God now that's a community!

Take a look at alivia's first steps in learning how to blog and create community. she is such a spunky blessing.

http://aliviabaxter.blogspot.com/

                                              BEHOLD GOD IS DOING A NEW THING!

Do you want to Perceive the NEW in your life this year?
 
If so then Xerox off your reading plan, get your journal ready and lets get busy! sign up to receive the blogs daily in your inbox!

Thanks for allowing me to motivate and  teach you how to  discover truths from Gods word, this will be a great year!