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!  

GOD STARTED OVER, HOW ABOUT YOU IN 2012?

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE DAILY READING

IF YOU CLICK THE LINK ABOVE IT WILL BRING YOU TO THE BIBLE IN A YEAR. FOLLOW WITH ME IN THE YEAR 2012. I WILL POST THE DAILY READING AND THEN I WILL ZOOM IN ON A PASSAGE THAT SPOKE TO ME. I WILL WRITE DOWN A PRAISE, PLAN AND PRAYER FOR MY LIFE ON THAT PASSAGE. WATCH GOD SPEAK TO YOU AS YOU READ THE LIVING, POWERFUL WORD AND BEGIN TO WRITE DOWN YOUR PRAISE, PLAN AND PRAYER!

 GET A JOURNAL AND START TODAY!

⁵ The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. ⁶ The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ⁷ So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

At this point in history, God decides it is time for judgment. Man has grown so hardened and sinful that there is nothing worth saving or admiring except Noah (by God's grace).

There is an important principle to be seen here:

 God desires from us the obedience of faith. Such obedience is not based upon our understanding of why we are to act as God requires, but simply because it is God who requires it.

The obedience of faith is based on our faith in God, not on our understanding of why God calls one thing good and another evil. Parents teach their children to obey on the same basis. You cannot explain to a young child why an electrical outlet is dangerous. You can only forbid them to touch it, because you said so, and because they trust your word.

 We say we desire to obey God, but we want to understand why we should obey Him before we do. We want to understand why God has commanded some things and prohibited others. When we fail to understand the reason, as quickly and easily as Eve, we reject God’s commandment.

“The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. And the LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them’” (Genesis 6:6-7 NASB).

 Ponder these phrases carefully: “The Lord was sorry” and “He was grieved.”

God’s grief is a sign of his great love.

The Lord is no robot. He is not some unfeeling God in heaven who sets the world in motion and then watches in benign disinterest while men and women destroy themselves.

 His heart breaks over the sin that covers the earth. He weeps over broken homes, broken promises, suffering children, and the wreckage of human sin that covers planet earth and turns it into a massive junkyard of pain, sadness, shame and guilt.

So now God decides to “uncreate” the earth.

 Think of what this means. Whole cities destroyed. Homes washed away. Roads covered. Buildings inundated. Whole villages flooded. Men, women and children vanishing beneath the waves. The whole earth under the waters of judgment.

Nothing like it had happened before and nothing like it has happened since. It was a catastrophic judgment that enveloped the entire globe and washed away every vestige of human civilization.

BUT
Noah Found Grace

And only one man and his family are spared.
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” Genesis 6:8. The word translated “favor” actually means “grace.”

Noah found “grace” in the eyes of the Lord.

Let us learn two important truths from this verse:

First, grace is available in the darkest hours.
 Even though the world was rushing headlong into judgment, Noah found grace. There is never a pit so deep that the love of God is not deeper still. Do not say, “I am too bad a sinner to ever be saved.” You don’t know that. Don’t say, “God could never forgive me.” Yes, he can. And he will, if you will cry out to him.
And don’t say, “My husband is too far gone to ever be saved” or “I’m going to stop praying for that person because she is a hopeless case.” You don’t know that. While there is life, there is hope. Leave the final judgment in the hands of the Lord.
 Keep praying. And if you do not know the Lord, seek him while he may be found. Turn to him. Come to him. Trust in him. This is the day of grace.
 Though a thousand perish at your side, though your friends and family turn away, there is hope for you and plentiful grace if you will only come to Jesus.


Second, grace is the only means of escape.
Was Noah somehow “better” than his contemporaries?
 No, he was a sinner just like them. But he found grace and was spared.
 He turned to the Lord and was delivered. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that “by faith” Noah saved himself and his family. What Noah did, you can do.
By grace we can be delivered even in the darkest days and from the deepest pit of sin. I admit that grace is a hard concept for us to grasp. I define it as God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. It is God coming to our rescue when we were trapped in sin.

This is my personal journal entry:

PRAISE: I am praising God for my personal relationship with Him, Just like Noah. When the world comes to an end will God KNOW you like He did Noah? God extends that same grace to you and that grace helps you CHANGE.
 I challenge you to trust in Him in 2012. Another judgement awaits us in the future. Will you be saved from that judgement? Don't wait until its to LATE!

PLAN: I desire to be more obedient in my faith in certain area in 2012. I know God has plans for me and my rebellious attitude gets in the way of His plans.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank you for working your plan through the destructive flood. Even when things never make sense you are always working upstream for our lives. After the flood came Jesus our SAVING GRACE. Now we have hope with our unrighteous selves. Thanks for saving me and I pray to share your GRACE in 2012.

I encourage you friends to write down your plan, praise and prayer from either my personal verse from today's reading or your own verse.

Blessings in the New Year

     

 

HOW CAN THIS BE?

ADVENT DEVOTION:
We have been talking  as a family this past week about the importance of the Holy Spirit, the POWER OF THE MOST HIGH. A very key component in the conception and birth of Jesus.

How is this same Power active in our lives? 
Is this component part of your life?

NO DREAM IS ACHIEVABLE APART FROM THE MOST HIGH! 


15 years ago I sat in the balcony of a church for the first time because I had a deep, dark hurt and a reality bigger then me that kept me saying,

 "How can this be?"

My marriage was struggling and my parents where freshly divorced after 27 years of marriage.
I felt lost, hurt and hopeless.
My parents both figuring out their paths in life and my husband left to go down his self centered path.

I remember so vividly that day when I anxiously made my way through the doors of a big white church. I sat pregnant at 34 weeks crying while asking God, "How could this be?


My reality was so Big, I could not even wrap my mind around any good possibilities that could come out of this. I was troubled, confused and scared. Scared that I would be delivering my second baby with no man at my side. 

This morning as sat reflecting over our past weeks advent devotions. This particular devotion stoof out and could change your life!  

I would love for you to travel with me to LUKE 1:26-35.
Please take a moment to read and wrap your heart around what was happening in that moment to Mary.

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.


This story pointed my family to a very important truth for this Christmas. I want to share with all my family and friends in hope it blesses you and then encourages you to be a "GABRIEL" angel in someones life this season.

Mary heard the news from the angel that she was Highly favored and blessed among women.

However,
She was troubled from the start with the angels greeting. The angel Gabriel continued saying to Mary... "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus!


Mary troubled and confused with this BIG reality exclaimed..

"HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH A MAN?"


The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.


"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.



KEY PROMISE:
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you."


MARY'S RESPONSE:
Mary took her eyes off the reality and placed her life with Trust in God. She just knew with Gabriel's encouragement that God was getting ready to BIRTH A POSSIBILITY IN HER REALITY!

Mary also did not try to ESCAPE her reality. She stood firm and let nothing move her. (1 Corinthians 15:58)


She allowed God to work through her reality to bring true JOY to the world.


Did you ever consider that your trouble will birth a possibility in an other's life? God will use you as He overshadows you and comforts you.


God cares about your "HOW CAN THIS BE?"

Allow Him to Birth a miracle!


I know the moment I asked God to Come into my heart, He began to show me the path of life and in His presence I found FULLNESS OF JOY (Psalm 16:11)

Do not allow your reality to steal the joy from your life. God can overshadow your "How can this be?"


The loss of a loved one
A broken marriage
Sickness
Loss of home
Loss of a job
Financial struggles
Ministry problems
Lost dreams
Sinful consequences

All these realities... the MOST HIGH can take over.

He brought HOPE and DESTINY back to my marriage!

My friend, I want to be your Gabriel today and encourage you with these words...
"Do not be afraid, for with God nothing will be impossible."

 You my friend are HIGHLY FAVORED!

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT...
Have you ever been asked to do something that didn't make sense?
Have you ever been asked to believe something unbelievable?
This takes a great amount of truth and faith.
In today's devo we see that God tells Mary she will do something that won't make sense and will have to believe the unbelievable.
Mary trusts His word and power. She allows God to shaper her life according to His plan.

What part of the Christmas season NOW brings you hope and joy?

Joy to the world,

ADVENT=LETS BREAK BREAD TOGETHER

LETS BREAK BREAD

OUR ADVENT WREATH!

AND YES WE LIKE TO DRINK OUT OF JARS!

OUR MANGER

Advent is an active waiting. 

 Christmas comes to those who wait for the whisper, who look for the little, who seek the small signs of the every-where presence of God.


The only way to see the Savior this Advent is to see the small and wise men find ways to slow the season down.

I want to share another friends Blogpost with you today. She does not put Christmas presents under the tree for the family. Wow, this amazed me a bit.
 
 Her post title stated this:
"When Christmas Gets Radical: Whose Birthday Is It Really?"It’s been over ten years of nothing under the Christmas tree here.

I will be honest, I struggled with this and felt like a terrible christian compared to her to be brutally honest.
Take time to read this post today and then stand amazed and maybe a little convicted over the culture of  Christmas.
I sit today pondering the our families personal Christmas and ask God how I can CHANGE our Christmas each year to bring in more of HIM. I am sad at how selfish I have become.

Click below to read the post, she is an amazing author!

Anne Voskamp 


Last night our family Advent devotions was focused on this verse:

"shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him…” Isaiah 11: 1-2

JESUS HAD ROOTS AND WE CAN TRACE THEM ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE.

Out of the broken off and impossible, a shoot sprouts.

The beginning of my roots with Christ came from a broken, amputated season in my life.  My roots do not go way back into past generations but truly started when me and my husband accepted Christ. We pray to pass our faith along.

God buds from the impossible.

Our Savior comes as a sprout from a stump.

Our salvation comes by way off the small, breaking through the dead ends.


Last night around our advent wreath we talked about the roots of Jesus and His family tree. We read together Isaiah 11:1-3 and then discussed our family tree and the importance of the future family members and their roots.


Trust me, as cute and nice as this devotional time sounds we are still 100% normal. The kids got in an argument, dad had to raise his voice, mom was trying to keep everyones attention and my youngest started to cry over something.   YIKES!


But my point is...we still got the devotion in and managed to have some great discussions. We all walked away understanding God is wanting to do great things with our family tree and roots. We need to anticipate the coming of Gods presence in our family. That is the spirit of advent.


What are your families Christian roots?
What would that family tree look like?
What Christian traditions do you celebrate at Christmas to make Jesus the reason for the season?


God always can make a shoot from a stump. It is never to late, God wants you to grow strong branches and bear much fruit.


MAKE THIS YOUR PRAYER TODAY:
Dear God, when we find our hearts distracted by the busy-ness of this Christmas season, enamor us with the glory and joy of your presence. Let us understand why the birth of Jesus was "good news and great joy." Help us to find our roots in you. allow us to nourish our roots by the watering of your word so we may grow strong personally and grow the faith of our families.

BE REFRESHED FRIENDS,

HIS VISION, IN HIS TIME

Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about'" (Gen 22:2).


Have you ever wanted something so bad that you would do almost anything to get it? Have you ever gotten so close to fulfilling a dream only to have it disappear right before your eyes? Such was the case for Abraham.

I have been desiring something for a long time and believe God has moved my family the past year to line me more up with my dreams and passions. I left a great place to explore something bigger and better. During the exploring stages it can feel as if the DREAM has died but I promise you that GOD is at work in the secret places!

God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. He would have a son. However, Abraham panicked when Sarah aged beyond child bearing years and tried to help God by birthing Ishmael through Sarah's servant, who was not the promised son. Eventually, Isaac was born, who was the promised son.


However, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son on an altar to demonstrate his obedience to God. Truly, this is one of the hardest instructions given to one of God's people in all of scripture. It compares only to the Heavenly Father sacrificing His own Son. God intervenes and allows a ram to get caught in the bushes nearby, symbolizing the Lamb of God as a prophetic sign of what is to take place in the future.


God often births a vision in our lives only to allow it to die first before the purest version of the vision is manifested.

  This is the story of my own journey.

 Oswald Chambers observes, "God's method always seems to be vision first, and then reality, but in between the vision and the reality there is often a deep valley of humiliation.

 How often has a faithful soul been plunged into a like darkness when after the vision comes the test.

When God gives a vision and darkness follows, waiting on God will bring you into accordance with the vision He has given if you await His timing. Otherwise, you try to do away with the supernatural in God's undertakings. Never try to help God fulfill His word."*


When God's vision is finally birthed, nothing will stop it. Our job is to allow God to birth His vision through us His way and in His timing.

keep dreaming friends!

CATCH THE DREAM AND DO THE SOARING

Todays mentor moment

Isaiah 40:31
31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S ENTIRE DAILY READING!

Isaiah records an inspiring vision for anyone looking beyond or above their current circumstances, of life or heart: "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (40.31). That's a passage that has lifted my heart a lot of times, especially when facing uncertain times or in some personal griefs.

But inorder to sore like eagles we need to DREAM!


Dream. Dream up new thoughts that put us above lifes trials and give us the ability to sore in the storm.



Remember, no one else can do the soaring for us. The way a dream or vision becomes reality is when you and I take wing with it, no matter what anyone else does or doesn't do about it.


Start dreaming up ways for change. We do not want to face a trial and say "Will I make it through?" we should say "How will I make it through?"
 Don't wait for someone else to dish up hope or change.
 Dream up ways to bring your dream to reality.


And whatever you do, don't let anyone dump on your dream


 It'll never work. You don't have the resources. You don't know where to start. You don't know what to do or how to get there. You don't, you can't, you won't. 
 So what if you don't know what to do?
Neither do most other people who have an idea, vision, or dream; they set out anyway, and discover it all, or make it up, as they go. 


It's not that it "can't" happen; it's just that we were counting on someone else doing the soaring, when it really always happens from us. YOU need to catch a dream, a vision, and do the soaring.


No dream has died, or fallen flat out of the sky, or in any other way been squashed. It's actually still as alive as we are, as alive as we want it to be, and it can stretch its wings and head toward takeoff any time we're ready for it to.

Dream up what you can, talk with other people who dream, watch the examples of people who have brought their dreams into reality (or are still in the process), join ranks with likeminded dreamers, join hands and link arms and band a lot of those dreams together to make a broader dream for more people. Nobody changes all at once, of course; they just keep figuring out a step at a time. Nobody sees a whole plan or vision at once, or draws up plans for a building at one sitting, or plans anything else in one step, let alone does or builds it in one step; every dream is a kind of construction project. The world has always changed ... for better or worse ... on the power of ideas and dreams, and every dream is a process, not a sudden event. But don't let someone else do the dreaming ... unless you catch it yourself, spread those wings, and really make that dream yours now~

 Yes, of course every person's circumstances and resources are different; but different, that's the point. It's not as if there's some magic formula, where life has to line up in a certain way for some vision or dream to unfold; people, whoever they are, with whatever is at hand, speak out, stand up, draw others together, make their dream contagious, and in whatever way they can dream up, they do something about it. And keep doing it, and learning how to do it as they go.

Start dreaming today, spread your wings and meet me in the sky

Blessings,

ARE YOU ROOTED?

OCTOBER 10 DAILY MENTOR MOMENT CLICK HERE!

the Lord brought my attention to a passage that continues to shape my life as a Christian.


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:6-8 NIV

Aspen trees are connected though a central root system and are the largest living organisms on earth. Like Christians connected to Christ and through Christ to one another. Supposedly the roots are representative of the branches in a 1:1 ratio. So as I grow deeper, being deeply rooted, there are more branches of my life which will bear fruit.


This is how I desire to live as a Christian, connected with deep roots to Jesus and to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Deep roots are going to lead me to an abundance of fruit and an abundance of fruit is characterstic of the abundant life of Christ.


 Deep roots of knowing the truths of God’s Word intimately and being obedient to them will protect me from being swept away by the struggles and sin that will entice you in this life.


I look forward to my weekly small group and weekly church service because as a believer and I have been working to sink my roots deeper and deeper into God through his word and his ways.
I am big on the Bible. I am persuaded the WORD changes me!


 As a Christian, not only do I need to have one but I need to read it and study what’s in it.


 Stay rooted.  The tree that survives through drought, windstorms, and floods is the tree that has its roots down deep.  Even so, those of us who have our spiritual roots deeply anchored in Jesus will come out ahead!

Where are you rooted? do you have a good church home?
Do you have a small group? Do you attend any bible studies?

I had a friend tell me last year when she was going through some storms... that the "church" stuff was not her thing. My response was "You cannot afford for it to not be your thing!"

People are rooted in so many areas like our careers, sport teams, relationships and social networks yet some never invest in their faith! I know its easy to get off track in these areas but I have noticed that Gods word keeps me on track.
Take time to let today's word stir your heart to move toward change.

BEAUTIFUL COLORADO ASPENS!

-Stay Rooted Col. 2:7-

YOU HAVE A PURPOSE

Many people go through life feeling discouraged about themselves and thinking they do not have a purpose in life. But that's not true. Whoever you are—whatever your life experiences, talents, physical ability, or role—you have a purpose.

Let's take a look at Today's mentoring moment with a verse in the Bible:


For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:1).



Notice two points in this verse:




1. God created you. You are not an accident.




2. God has a plan for you. You have a purpose in life.


You are created to know God.

One purpose in life is to get close to God. You can do this through Jesus Christ.


I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3).






I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).




If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9-10).



You are created for God's glory.


One purpose in life is to glorify God in this world.


Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made (Isaiah 43:6-7).


You are created to praise God


You are created to grow the fruit of the Spirit.


One purpose in life is to grow in character.


The type of person you become is more important than your successes and failures in the world.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).


You are created to spread the Gospel.


One purpose in life is to tell others about Jesus' love for them.


You are created to use the talents God gave you.


One purpose in life is to develop your gifts.


Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:4-8).


Do not minimize your role.


Live life as an adventure—wherever you are.


All Christians collectively form the body of Christ. The body is formed of many different parts (Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). All are important. It does not matter what part of the body you are


Overcome jealousy or bitterness.


Don't be upset if you do not have a place of prominence, for, as you read in the above verse, God gives special honor to people with "less honorable" roles.


Do not downplay the value of what you do.


Don't compare yourself to others or give up if someone seems to do a better job than you. Of course there are others who have more talent! If all the evangelists or witnesses or teachers in the world decided to stop trying because someone else did a better job, where would we be?


What counts is that you be faithful.


God gave you talents and abilities. He expects you to develop them. Study Matthew 25:14-30.


Personal application


Have you felt purposeless in life? ___ Yes ___ No


How will you use the above information to live a more purposeful life?

Your next step: Live life as an adventure.

If God designed you with a purpose in mind and you want to go on the adventure and discover that purpose, I would like to suggest a GREAT study you can do on your own!
click HERE and see!

My friend in ministry wrote this book, I promise it will lead you into the adventure in which God created! 

SOW THE POSSIBILITY

DAILY BIBLE READING SEPT 27 "CLICK HERE"

When somebody asks me the question that I am about to share, I personally explode inside and every fabric in me wants to help them understand this reality.






QUESTION: HOW COME I DON'T HAVE A DREAM? OR A VISION?



Let me first answer the last part of the question. No you are not weird for thinking that, but you are WIRED my friend with many dreams and visions.


Lets now answer the first part of the question.


Most individuals think a dream is a "High Calling" of some sort, they tend to think of high profile people like Olympian athletes, Doctors, Lawyers, Authors, speakers and Big Owners that started well known companies or businesses. When we partner these high details into our mindset we will have misconceptions about our "own" dreams. If we have the wrong picture of a dream then we will never discover "our" dreams!


Today's daily reading partners with today's amazing lesson, I know this passage of scripture can bring many lessons about. But I would like to focus on the area of "sowing a dream"


Galatians 6:7 "For whatever a man SOWS, that he will also reap"




A dream is the (seed) of possibility planted in the soul of a human being, which calls him to pursue a unique path to the realization of his purpose.

I am a visual learner so follow me with this picture in your mind. If a seed is the dream then the dream needs to be planted or (SOWED) into soil. Lets pretend the soil is the imagination that brings the dream to life~ its all about the soil girls!


God wants us to learn to dream because He is a BIG God and wants to do BIG things in our personal lives!


I want each of you to take a personal look at your life and imagine some things with me. I will guide you into some areas of thought and then let your imagination take off.



Do you have an area in your life that leaves you frustrated, brokenhearted or even angry? Can you take that situation and imagine in your mind a picture of "what should be." If we are dissatisfied with the way things are then allow your mind to grab hold of a clear picture or idea of what could or should be!



Examples: A broken marriage- Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be.


An older child that is struggling in life-Imagine a clear picture of what should and could be.


An addiction or stronghold-imagine a clear picture without the addiction and how life could and should be.

A ministry calling- Imagine what it could and should be as God uses your gifts. 







I only listed a few heart broken situations but the point is we may have a passive concern that may need a sense of urgency!

here are a few other areas:

Examples:

 Career-Imagine a clear picture of what you may want. Do you want to become a nurse?

Finances- Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be

Spouse-Imagine a clear picture of what should or could be

Children-Imagine....

Ministry-Imagine....

Special Talents-Imagine....Do you want to pursue a Photography business?



Now I am going to share a few ways I have been personally preparing the soil of imagination in specific areas in my life. I have multiple dreams I am sowing and some are clearer then others. So let me share in hope that this will be a help in shaping the dreams in your heart.


Finances I would like to see myself LEARN how to save and handle money better. This is a very weak part of my life. My husband is not happy with my spending habits and I know he has a good picture of what could and should be. I will not allow my weakness to get in the way of our marriage. I have begun several planning steps and I will learn Gods providential will in the area of finances. I have a dream of what should and could be. Now I have to go after that dream! A dream brings about change for the better.

I dream for my children and Gods will for their lives.

Benjamin, Brittni and Alivia.

I study their talents and gifts and I ask God to help me understand his plans for them. I know my son Benjamin can play the guitar, sing and write music. I have already dreamed a clear picture of him traveling with mom someday as I speak. I also believe He will be part of the worship team in church someday, writing His own songs. I also remind him daily that GOD has a huge plan for His life.

I encourage all the moms today to get a journal and begin to ask God for a clear picture and wisdom on your child's dreams. I promise He will lead you. It may not be easy because the enemy does not want those dreams for your child, he will steal, kill and destroy them any chance he gets. So be ready to fight the enemy in your child's life! If you do not dream and believe with your child then you have left him prey to the enemy!

The key is to ask God to show you His will and help you dream and direct the children accordingly!



Lastly I am dreaming big about my personal calling in ministry. God is calling me to new places and He has placed a clearer picture in my mind of what should and could be. I am now in the planning and pursuing stages and the steps of that dream.

Do you have an area of ministry, a career that you want or a talent that you may need to start pursuing so God then can allow a clearing picture to rise to the surface?
 Once you begin to imagine then you will start to investigate. The dream will then take root and energy mixed with passion will take over. No matter how difficult the situation may look your passion and clear picture will keep you motivated till the end!


The soul is always thinking and it never thinks without a picture.




Begin imagining today in some areas of your life. We all have expectations and it may not be our reality at this time. However, do not let the gap between your expectation and reality bring disappointment. Keep imagining and sowing because you will reap in the end.


I am grateful for a healed marriage, ministry dreams coming to pass, children's talents being discovered along with strategies to move them forward. All because I began to imagine and then Sow.

If you never imagine bigger then your situation you will never reap. God uses everything we SOW to teach us about faith and believing!



Now let me ask you,.. Do you have a dream?