What is the driving force in your life?

Golfing is one of my favorite sports, I enjoy the pressure and challenge of driving the ball in the right direction and trying to get to my destination in a reasonable amount of time! Now, when I golf with my husband he is more interested in finding every ones lost balls and this makes him feel like a winner at the end of our game! I get so irritated as he is golfing balls out of the woods or ponds. I am driven to finish the game and KEEP MOVING! The funniest thing happened about 2 years back on a beautiful fall day. We just finished the eighth hole and came along a path that went up a slight hill. The tee off for the ninth hole was toward the bottom of this hill so we could not see the destination until we teed off then proceeded to drive up the hill and hopefully notice the ball.  To our surprise when we came over the hill we seen about 100 golf balls and I panicked because I wanted to find MY PERSONAL BALL! My husband thought he hit the jackpot. It looked incredible at the top of the hill, a ton of white balls on a beautiful green. However, when we approached the first ball we finally realized it was cotton balls! OK that was a good joke I must say!

Anyway, I hope this made you chuckle this morning.

Our life is like a golf ball and we need to get that ball moving in the direction of our destiny. In the game the golfer wants to try his best to direct the ball closer to the hole. The golfer is DRIVEN to master his game.

Everyone's life is DRIVEN by something. You could be driven by a problem, a pressure or a deadline. You may be driven by a painful memory, fear or an addiction.

When we are driven by guilt, the mind is manipulating your memory and allowing the past to control your future. I have experienced this and God has taught me how to have a fresh start. God's purpose is not limited to your past, He will do amazing things with the rest of your life, He specializes in giving fresh starts. I love playing golf with friends that allow me to throw down a new ball if I get lost in the woods and not count it against my score! My own rules in golf, ha!  God does the same thing in the game of life.

When we are driven by anger we direct our life into the pond of bitterness. It is hard to find perfect peace in this mucky world but when we learn to keep our mind focused on Christ, He will release the pain through forgiveness. God finds us in the deepest swamps and lift us out and gives us a fresh start. He wants us to live life with a new purpose and this is the path to peace. I am grateful everyday that I can give my frustrations and anxieties over to God so that He may strengthen me for the days game.

When we are driven by fear we allow a traumatic experience to hold us back from venturing out. This is a personal prison that keeps you from Gods best. I am so grateful to have had the front seat in watching God work in so many lives this past year. We all have stories and God has allowed me to sit with many women and listen to their stories. I find it to be the highest honor to be able to help them place their life back on path and take some more swings. As we focus together on Christ the ball of life begins to move and head in the right direction. No longer being driven by the traumatic experience but drawing strength and playing a new game.

We are all driven by something, A woman's past will either make her bitter or make her better. Your past will give you permission to walk into places you've never dreamed you'd enter and it can change your entire Game in life. Of course I did not seek out the bad choices or pain that I encountered, but the past did not need to control my future. When the discovery of Gods purposes and dreams became a huge reality in my life I have been driven with passion to swing towards my predestined destiny. Daily I have to work on my swings but every swing brings me closer towards Gods will for my life!

What would your family and friends say the DRIVING FORCE is in your life? I encourage you to self examine and really ponder this question.


God loves you so much and He is jealous for you. I pray that you will allow God to drive your life and then I promise you will experience HOLE IN ONE moments.

Today's bible reading:
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts You.

Keep your eye on  Jesus and discover the "new" course  He has for you   

Keep swinging sisters,

I AM A WARRIOR AND THIS IS MY BATTLE GROUND

October 4th Reading

I want to give you something today that has been priceless to me. But first let me tell you why it's so important.

When I became a child of God I not only inherited God's blessings, but God's enemies as well. The Lord's foremost enemy is Satan, whose purpose is to destroy His work. Satan is a fallen angel and as such is only a created being. He is in no way equal to God, the creator. While satan is superior in intellect and strength to mankind, he is inferior to God in every way. Believers have the power of the indwelling resurrected Christ over them and protecting them.

In addition, believers have been given the full armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil. Today, if you click the daily reading at the top of this post it will take you straight to Ephesians chapter 6. This chapter tells you how to stay strong in the Lord and the power of His might. This chapter also tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, principalities and rulers of the darkness of this age.

We live in a spiritual battle on a daily basis between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness, that is the enemy's territory. We all come with our own assumptions, misconceptions, and a level of awareness of this battle in our daily lives and in the world around us. Some of us are more aware of  what is called "spiritual warfare" than others, because of our life experiences, study of the Word, discernment, knowledge and faith.

I encourage you to open your eyes to the reality of today's present darkness. The enemy is creating havoc in your life everyday and many of us do not know we are in a war zone. Before I crossed the line of faith I had no understanding that the enemy was breaking down my marriage, relationships, my personal worth, self  esteem and dreams. I just wondered why I was taking major blows in several areas of my life and then I would ask God why He would allow this suffering. Suffering is a result of the curse of sin or mans free will, not from God. Sometimes, the effect of sin can be passed down the bloodline of a family for 3 or 4 generations(Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18), such as abuse, alcoholism, suicide or any form of addiction. Then enemy knows how to attack your personal territory.

Tonight I have to go to a special training at my church on spiritual warfare. It is required that my husband comes to this class with me. They will explain to us that the enemy works even harder on those stepping out in ministry. If my husband does not have the knowledge on this our marriage is the center target for the enemy. We will learn to get smart and counterattack.

The enemy does not want you to dream. He will blur your vision to keep you broken and struck down. He will make you chant "I give up", He is not interested in your destiny and certainly does not want you to grow in your knowledge of Jesus.

Tomorrow I will share how the Enemy keeps you distracted..... but let me end today with a prayer that was given to me from a dear friend and mentor that taught me how to push toward my destiny. This prayer was priceless to me and still is today. I say this prayer over my children, home, husband and my personal life.

I promise this will be a blessing, I am amazed how this began to work in my life. I encourage you to pay this prayer. God hears you. He knows your situation. He loves you and He will show you the way.

                                                                         RENUNCIATION
      
                                                                                 SATAN

I SAY TO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS, RELEASE ME AND MY FAMILY FROM ANY HOLD YOU HAVE HAD.

I TAKE BACK ANY TERRITORY I MAY HAVE GIVEN YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

I CANCEL ANY CURSE AGAINST ME OR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY

I CLAIM THE PROTECTION OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER MY MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT

I  CLOSE THE DOOR ON YOU SATAN---- NEVER TO BE OPENED AGAIN.

THIS I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN

CONTINUE TO ADJUST YOUR LIVES MY SISTERS, OBEY HIM, AND GOD WILL WORK ALL THINGS FOR YOUR GOOD!

Fighting the good fight,

Giving it all up

October 1st Reading

How hard is it to give it all up?  Some people do it rather easily, some people will take their last breath with it all on their lap.  I, for one, tried for far too many years to keep it all, deal with it all and inevitably I failed miserably every single time.  Sure, sometimes it would be sort of okay, but it usually meant that another problem had been created for me to deal with.  Not the smartest move I know. 

By nature, I am a fixer!  I want to make sure that everything has a solution, my solution, make sure that all of my friends/family are taken care, again by my standards, and make sure that all is fairly well in my life.  It drives me crazy for people to be hurting and not being able to make the pain stop.  Life is so unfair sometimes, however, a few weeks ago I took a HUGE leap of faith and God just about made me wait till the very end to answer my prayer one way or the other, but He took care of me.

My whole jail situation was caused purely by me trying to fix a problem for my husband, and it back fired in my face horribly!  For your own personal information, do not ever, and I mean ever decide to commit one crime to help cover someone else in their time of need.  Soooooo not worth it!!!  On to God's blessing for me and my family.  Just about a month ago my husband was told that as of October 12th, his job was being farmed out to Canada and that, well sorry everyone would be without a job.  WOW!!!  That was a blow to the gut.  We had been arguing that day about some things that he had been doing, and my last statement to him was God will bring you to your knees and you will be the man that HE desires one way or another.  Needless to say, God made that happen that very day.  I wasn't wishing bad on my husband or dooming him, I just wanted him to know that I see so much in him and he is fighting back and forth with God for some unknown reason.  I love him to death and would hang the moon and stars for him.  I know he loves me too, his addiction just gets in the way sometimes. 

So off to work he goes and finds out this about his job.  He did not want to have to call home and tell me this news.  I so wanted to say I told you so, but that wasn't being a supportive wife.  Instead we prayed together real quick on the phone and chatted for a few and then he went back on to work.  I was convinced that God was putting me through this test to see what road I would take this time.  When my personal prayer came out, it went something like this, "God, oh man what is going on???  For one second do I think you have brought me and the husband and kids this far to just forget about us now.  I am laying this down for YOU to deal with, I do not have the time nor the patience to figure this out.  I am going to truly give it to you and I am not going to dwell on it or worry about it any longer,  if you want him to lose his job, fine, if you do not, then fine.  Whatever you have in our path is going to be what it is.  I will not step on your toes, I will allow your will in my life this time around."

Well that was hard for me, to give it up to God and truly believe that He would handle it the best way for our family. 

Isaiah 11:1 says "The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" 

After praying I did feel rested and peaceful, felt that God would provide and that we would be okay no matter what.

Isaiah 12:2 also states, "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." 


Trusting God to take care of things is hard sometimes, letting go yourself and allowing someone else to, even God, can be so scary for some people (like me).  We must know that God is so awesome and that He is going to provide for us in every way that we need.  It is hard to let go of your old self and have a new self that is pleasing to God in every way, it is hard to just the let the cards fall where they may.  It is so very hard for me to just let go and let God, but it worked!  My husband found out this week that he is being able to stay on with the company in another capacity and he will be making more money!  I never saw that coming at all.  My husband has gotten way more serious about his responsibility to me and our children.  I was told one time that my husband would never step up to be a Godly man as long as I was doing everything.  I stepped back in faith and said that I was going to stop working and just worry about my children and husband.  That has worked out wonderfully so far.  Sure we have a lot less money to work with, but I get all the blessings and happiness from being here for everything with my family.  Far more than the extra money would ever buy!  Now my husband is taking his rightful place as my man and that blesses me so much.  As you learn more about me and us, you will learn that our relationship has been a different one.  We would often say we had a love/hate relationship, we love hating each other and hate loving each other.  Sad I know, but it was the truth.  We have made great strides, we are getting better and I truly believe it is because I have decided to let God do His work instead of me thinking I knew what was or is better for my family.

I urge you all to find at least one thing this week that you are struggling with and really, for real, seriously, absolutely hand it over to God.  Let go and let God and just have some blind faith that He will not let you or your family fall on their face, He will not hinder you, He will only do what is absolutely best for you!  I have a big gigantic awesome God that does miraculous things.  Being overflowing with His spirit is so wonderful, I feel blessed beyond anything and it is wonderful.  I am more light hearted, not because my husband will keep his job, but because I really handed it to God and He took care of me, just like He promises to do.  I was far too hard headed, should have let go a long time ago!!!

Have a blessed week everyone.

Gave it all up and gave it to God,

Kari 

OVER AND ABOVE

September 30th Reading

I am still chuckling over yesterdays morning note that I found next to my daughters lunch box.
As I came down the stairs and into the kitchen so I could continue to organize each child as they headed out the door I noticed on the counter a note that stated "Mom, could you please write me a note for my lunch box today?" Next to the note was a clean sheet of paper and a pen ready for me to get started. Now don't get me wrong I do write the kids notes, but apparently Alivia really wanted a note that day. This made my day in a silly kind of way.

Well today is a new day and I cannot forget to put that note in Alivia's lunch box. I know exactly what I want to remind her of today!

I came across my life verse in this mornings Daily Devotion. I was so excited because I have claimed this verse over my life about 10 journals ago and love to also speak it over the lives of others!

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY, ABOVE ALL that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."

My deepest desire is for my children to understand how BIG their God really is. Today's verse is a great reminder. Lets break it down in 3 easy parts.

1.HE IS ABLE. The strength of our confidence is the fact that He is vastly able above and beyond all that we might ask

What are you thinking today my friend? What do you need to ask? Please remember that HE IS ABLE.

2.TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY. Super-abundantly, overwhelming, over and above, more than enough.

Remember that God is completely creative, wise and powerful. He can only give you His BEST no matter how bad your situation looks. Will you allow God to do something over and above in your life?

3. THAT WE ASK OR THINK. Our highest aspirations are not beyond God's power to grant.

Will you allow Gods limitless resources to strengthen your present situation?

Maybe you need to write this verse down on a Post It and keep it close by. Alivia told me that she is going to collect all my notes from her lunch box and hang them in her locker so she can read them daily.  I know this verse will be a powerful reminder to her as she opens her locker!

Her God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly and above all more than she ask or thinks!


                      "Your influence is negative or positive, never neutral" Henrietta Mears

Blessings,

WAITING IN THE WING

September 29th Reading

I woke up this morning, made my coffee and opened a book. I never start at the beginning, I like to first sample a few pages in the middle and end before I start at the beginning. So on page 74 I read:
"For, you see, it is in pursuing our dreams that we move from becoming a half---person who is "waiting in the wings" for something---to a whole. We become the person we want to be. We become confident about the future .... and the power of our dreams."

Pearl Buck said, "There are many ways of breaking a heart. But what really broke a heart was taking away a dream---whatever the dream might be"


In times of change or broken pieces our very existence is "waiting in the wing" to become whole again. These times can often make us feel trapped and insecure with the future. However, God is creative, powerful, holy and completely faithful. He has a determined dream.

After reading a few page of the book I went on to reading the daily word for today. Again the bible reading for the day is listed at the top of each daily blog post! I strongly encourage you to take a walk through the bible and make it part of your day. I promise it will enlighten the path you have to walk for that day! Gods word never fails to bring a new sense of calm.

In Isaiah 7:4 it states some pretty powerful words, " TAKE HEED, and BE QUIET; DO NOT FEAR OR BE FAINTHEARTED."

In those "waiting in the wing" seasons it can be so difficult but Gods word brings us an important truth today for these times.

TAKE HEED- Pay attention to me

BE QUIET- Oh my this is hard! But I always need to remember to "give it to God" and allow Him to bring about amazing changes. If I am talking all the time I will miss His work around me.

DO NOT FEAR- It is easy for us to fear the unknown because we do not see the outcome. During the "waiting in the wing" times God will teach us how to believe and activate our faith.

DO NOT BE FAINTHEARTED- Do not quit!

What are you waiting on?
A loved one to come to know Christ?  The healing of a loved one that is suffering?  A personal victory? A clear answer to a direction God is leading you in?  A struggling marriage? A broken, bruised and tired heart waiting for an answer? A career decision?

We all have "waiting in the wing" seasons but Do Not give up girlfriends because God is in the middle of creating His masterpiece and whatever situation you are facing He is creating you to be a window box for a watching world.

Do you ever go strolling down a little street in a quaint town and admire the showcase in each window. I love to look at all the details that each window box brings. Your story is a showcase for a watching world. God will place everything in such a unique way that it will draw the interests of others. This is how He can then tell HIS STORY through your showcase!

Blessings in the waiting,

HOW COME I DON'T HAVE A DREAM? IS THIS WEIRD?

September 27th Reading

Today I want to share a question that I received from a special blog follower. The Lord has kept me on the topic of personal dreams and destinies for the past few weeks. I want to address her question and use today's daily reading to answer it.

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? IS THIS WEIRD?

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 be.
                  An addiction or stronghold-imagine a clear picture without the addiction.

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 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?

Please let me know by leaving a comment also let me know if this helped you to identify your dreams!

I love when my followers ask questions. I will always turn to God and get back with an answer! So Fire away if you have any more questions! We grow from each other.

Take a few seeds today and  SOW them. God is waiting to position you,  give a more detailed purpose, along with a designed plan and then show you promises as He teaches you to pray. The discovery of your destiny and/or the destiny of others is behind door number __?__.
When you begin to dream, you will then discover "The Door to your Destiny!"

I sowed a dream many years ago because of a calling I felt in my heart. I know God placed this desire in me. He then allowed me to imagine and sow. Today I am seeing things begin to take root in the soil of my imagination. 

God is working out His purposes in me after much praying, preparing, planning and seeking. In a couple short months I am thrilled share with you http://www.heatherbaxter.com/

A ministry with much to offer. It is my passion and highest honor to share my faith and your purpose in Christ!  HBministries will lead women to the door of their destiny through an adventure with faith!

Sow a dream seed today,
  

September 25, 2010

September 25th Reading

Happy weekend.

GIVE UP YOUR PLATFORM

The last couple weeks we talked about how God places God sized dreams into our hearts. He has a specific doorway for your personal destiny. When God drops this personal dream  inside you, He is really showing you something good and requires you to act justly, love with mercy and walk humbly with your God.(Micah 6:8)

This past July I attended the "She Speaks" conference in North Carolina. This conference was for speakers, writers and other women ministry leaders. Most every lady that I had the privilege of meeting came to the conference with a God sized dream in her heart. The entire weekend was packed with dreamers gathering information  to sharpen their God sized vision.

For those just getting to know my heart, I am a BIG DREAMER and love to encourage women to discover the doors of their personal destiny. Not because I chose to want this but because God has chosen me and gave me this overwhelming passion to share my faith with others.
Dreaming is the only time in which you buy something really big and then grow into it. I would never go buy a pair of jeans 3 sizes bigger and desire to grow into them. That would be a girlfriends worse nightmare! But this is a great visual of how God works. The dreams He places in our hearts are huge and we need to grow into them.  How we grow into the dream and take ownership of what God is giving us is very important.

Today in the christian market we have so many amazing speakers and writers. I  had the opportunity to meet with several of them. Every one having a specific dream and platform.

The word platform really struck me this morning.

God kept reminding me this morning about my personal platform. I am in a huge transition stage with ministry and my personal calling. Within the past year God has asked me to lay down the dreams and all ministry past and present. This is hard for a dreamer with a lot of energy but God has been up to something bigger!  He transitioned my family to a new area and new church. During this time of change, which I liken to the season of fall, God is striping away and preparing me to grow into something NEW.  God given plans always change taking on new purposes, training experiences, relationships and destinations.
                

Today's reading states in Galatians 2:6 "But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows no personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed "to be something"  He added nothing.


We can get so preoccupied in our personal platforms, plans and ministries that when God begins to do something new we will not recognize God at work. Everything you are trying "to be" or "think you are" is becoming nothing to Christ!     This is a dangerous spot!

It becomes fatal when we take ownership of a platform of dreams that God created. We need to hold on to the dreams loosely because when God decides to pull things away or interrupt our plans it means He is about to bring change, we may end up taking things personally and we could end  up with damaged dreams and broken platforms.

 If I hold on to past dreams and personal platforms, I will miss the bigger dreams. God sometimes uses your past experiences to partner with the next. Do not keep a tight grip on things that you are passionate about because God often "changes" those things.

Always remember the platform belongs to HIM. All our past privileges and present positions are with Christ. When you begin to think your platform is personal and exist all because of "you" then  remember what Paul said to the leaders in the region of Galatia. In Galatians chapter 2:6  Paul explained to the leaders  that they "added nothing" when they thought they "were something."

I was reminded this morning to be grateful for the NEW platforms that God is allowing to enter my life. However I have to stand on this platform humbly and allow God to add everything.

I want to share a prayer that was given to me from another great writer. This is priceless to me and will remain part of my life. I pray you take the words and make them your own.

Abba Father, King of glory,God of heaven's Armies. You are the Author of Life and my crucified Savior. You are the Light of the World, and I praise Your Holy Name. You are the Living Water that quenches my thirst and the Bread of Life that feeds my soul. You are the Most High God, and I kneel before You today as your servant, as your child whose name is engraved in the palm of your hand.

Father, if there be anything within me that will hinder my ability to serve from the platform you created please expose it now. Give me a heart of humility to see my sin, my pride, my selfishness. Search my heart and make it tender to receive your loving discipline. Cleanse my heart, Oh Lord. Make it ever true. Cleanse my heart, O Lord, and make it more like You.

Father, help me to love You with absolute abandon. You birthed me with a plan and purpose. I desire with all my heart to live it out. Father, give me ears to hear, eyes to see, a mind to conceive and a heart to receive every Word You speak. Fill me with the fullness of your spirit; saturate me with your love and consume my mind with your truth. Equip me with everything I need to preach, to teach and to lead from your platform.

Thank you father for choosing to pour your Love and your Light into me so that I can be a beacon to others. Make it my fervent longing to be a flame of fire continually glowing in divine service to you. Help me make a difference in this world utterly disproportionate to who I am. Thank you that You will be faithful to finish what you started in me.
Amen

Blessing servants,
heather@hbministries.com

DEAD FLIES IN SWEET PERFUME

September 22nd Reading

Before I dive into this hysterical story I want you to know I received full permission from my son Benjamin to post this. I knew this morning after I did my bible reading for today that God wanted me to share this with you.

School started back about two weeks ago for my three children, and for those just joining me, I have shared in past posts that this has been a huge transition time for the entire family because we just recently moved and we are all experiencing different degrees of change.

My son, Benjamin, was going to be starting a brand new school. He is 13, and going into 8th grade so this is a BIG DEAL! Social life is top priority and he was about to embark on all new friendships! First Impressions are important.

Well he is 13 and of course the body is doing its CHANGE thing, He hinted to me that he would like to get rid of the "fuzz" on the upper lip before school starts tomorrow. Yes friends, he asked me the big question..."can I shave this mom?" well, this is where I thought I was about to give him the best mom wisdom ever!

I explained that his skin was so tender yet and shaving may not be the safest route. I suggested getting it waxed! Ben went on to ask if I was absolutely sure about this? Ben has established a pretty good trust relationship with me and He trusted my WISDOM.

We decided to go to the nearest salon and get the quick fix. However, when we walked up to the door we noticed a row of girls his age all getting their back to school pedies! He looked at me and said "I am NOT going into that place!" I gave him my mom wisdom again and said "I agree."

We then hit the local Walgreen's and purchased a kit that removes hair instantly and pain free. School started tomorrow so I suggested he did it now and the little redness would be gone by the morning. Ben asked me one final time...."Should I just shave mom?"  I said, "No your skin is too young!" Again he trusted me. My husband still laughs today when he thinks about what I told him "skin to young?"

Well let me tell ya folks he was not liking me Monday morning. First day of school and he looked like he drank RED POP!  He was having a heart attack before my very eyes! He said "Mom I trusted you and now I look stupid!" I had tears in my eyes and felt like putting some dust over me that would make me escape the reality of this situation! I have NEVER let my son down for the most part in life! This was going to be a BAD WEEK!

I promised Ben that I had some magic make up called bare Minerals. This stuff is the best and I begged him to trust me. I told him it would tone down the red. Ben humbled himself in front of me and said "Just get it over with and put it on" He is not a fan of wearing make up!  LOL

The week went on and the redness slowly went away and the skin began to heal. His upper lip was so burnt that I then came to the conclusion that shaving would have been wiser!

Today I got up to read the daily reading and I laughed when I read this verse.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor."

The presence of a dead fly in perfume will turn its sweet smell to a stinky odor. In the same way ONE FOOLISH DEED can ruin a persons reputation. It takes years to establish a good reputation and that reputation can be destroyed in a moment- Rebuilding that reputation will be a bit harder the second time around.

Ben has always trusted my advice and the outcome always ended up being perfect for him. The advice I gave him for his lip, left my reputation to have a stinking savor. It definitely did not turn out like the box promised.

Removes hair instantly and pain free!  I think not!

This negative occurrence produced a disagreeable effect which put the presence of dead flies in the middle of our sweet relationship!

It is now three weeks later and our relationship is just fine "THANK YOU JESUS, EXTRA GRACE WAS REQUIRED", we laugh at this story together now. However, this is the best part, last night I heard Ben ask his dad if he would help him shave. I listened to both of them behind the bathroom door and chuckled while thinking to myself... this is how "it should" have been!

Ben is adjusting well in school these days. That first week I prayed for the spirit of bravery, courage and extra favor over him. That was the least I could do. I know my prayers worked.

The possibility of failure is always present. Wisdom involves using brains and I guess my brain was off that day! The lesson I was reminded of in this verse is that we can have a good reputation, but one mistake or foolish deed can bring a horrible smell to something sweet.

Ask God to help you daily in all you see, say and do. Ask for knowledge, wisdom and discernment.


Blessings friends!

Adding One to Another

September 21st Reading

Have you ever struggled in life to find the right answers?  Do you ever take your experiences in life and try to add them all up and find a good conclusion to your story?  We can add one thing to another to try to find the right reason but in the end our soul will still be seeking.

I experienced a HUGE gap period in life trying to figure out what the meaning of  my life was really about.
At the end of today's blog I will give you the two things I had to learn to add together in order to find the right sum. "Sum" or final meaning of the human life.

We cannot mix our human wisdom to figure out what God is doing. The character and essence of God are far above the character of man. With all of our human wisdom, positions and power we will seek but never find.

We will never find any one who is wise enough to understand God and His plan for man. In today's world many people claim to be able to "tap" into the spiritual world and gather up some quick answers. This is a scheme and will leave you empty and still seeking in the end.

Ecclesiastes 7:27 "'Here is what I found,' says the preacher, 'Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason, which my soul still seeks but cannot find. Truly this only have I found: That God mad man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."'

We can only glimpse at a portion of what God is doing in our lives and the lives of others. There is an inevitable gap of understanding.

However, God provides a way to bridge the gap in two ways. I promise if you add these two together you will get the sum of life!

1. He has given us the Bible, the "Word of God"  I believe it's our handbook for life. It consumes all the answers and many questions and the beginnings of many understandings. But how many people really take the time to read and learn about this handbook? I encourage you to find a small group in a bible believing church. This will help you learn and grow as God begins to add everything up in your life and give you the answers!

2. God also gave us the Holy Spirit. If you believe and trust in Jesus Christ, then pray and ask God to reveal the meaning of "scriptures" (the writings in the bible) through the understanding of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is your personal teacher!

God is not concerned about giving you the quick answers, He desires to mold and shape your character.
God will change us deep down inside where it counts. Only God can do this!

I encourage you to stop trying to figure out the reasons in life. From my own experience, I can say it will leave you more frustrated and disappointed. Desire to pursue a fresh NEW relationship with God and I promise you will see answers!

Have a great day! I am off this morning to my small group meeting. We have small groups starting next week! I am so thrilled to watch God work and reveal many answers to life's questions!

Blessings,