:)

Well.... It's been what, a year?

Hopefully I'm back. For my children, I do hope I will make an effort to keep this up. I have no idea who reads this thing, but I need an accountability partner for this writing often deal.

So.... what's new? Right now my heart wants to instill in my kids the sermon I heard yesterday on wishes. What do you wish? There are countless things for us to hope for and about. The pastor touched on the fact that he feels wishes are based, across the board, on one of two things: frustration or opportunity. Then he posed the question "What does God wish?" and followed with scripture from Philipians2.

" 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." ....Paul....NIV

I guess I had never really thought that God would wish. I know that He is soverign and that He holds the universe in the palm of His hand, but the idea that He wishes...WOW, and that He tells us what He wishes had just not quite come together for my pea-brain. I know that He wants me to put others first....remember that acrostic?

J----Jesus
O---Others
Y---Yourself

I think Mr. Johnson taught me that in church training one year. Of course, I know that, but the word yesterday took on a different meaning for me when it was put into terms of what God wishes. I am sure now that He wishes a lot of things about me, like that I would spend more time with Him, that I would be more obedient, that I would pay more attention to what He is doing all around me, that I would notice His miracles, that I would be more thankful, and I could keep on going......

But, what I really believe in my heart is that although He does want all of this for me, because that is how I am blessed beyond belief, He loves me just the way I am. He created me and He alone knows my heart and its intentions. He loves me just like I love each of my kiddos, only He loves me more. I can not even wrap my head around that, because if you know me, you know I LOVE these kids!!!!

So, I need to figure out how to teach them that we need to always put others above ourselves. It is a decision that we need to make daily, just like deciding to live today for Him and pick up our cross and carry it each day. In that decision is a value statement about others and ourselves that is a direct reflection of who Christ is to us. Once again it all goes back to GRACE.

God did not send Jesus to die for me because I deserved it, or because He would gain anything from it. He was not selectively selfless or selectively generous. He put everyone before Himself, and what does He wish? For me to have that character, so that anyone who is in my life knows who's I am. Lots of teaching to do over here. Let me know if you have any ideas for the lessons. :)

I'm His!
Shae

Fwd: The Waiting | Encouragement For Today | Proverbs 31 Ministries

Look what came in my inbox this morning.  Not a good sign.  Waiting some more. But encouraging, I think for maybe some other day than today.

- Amy -

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Proverbs 31 Ministries" <devotions@proverbs31.org>
To: "Amy Sexton" <sextonamyj@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 10:15:03 AM
Subject: The Waiting | Encouragement For Today | Proverbs 31 Ministries

The Waiting 26 Jul 2010 Wendy Pope "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14 (NLT) Waiting: a virtue I aspire to obtain but often fail to achieve. How about you? In our hurry up, need it, gotta-have-it-now culture, we have been brain-washed into thinking there is something wrong with waiting and we shouldn't have to do it. Within seconds we can know the weather in southern Mongolia, order a cute blouse from a trendy store, or Skype a conversation with a friend on the opposite side of the country. We can instant message a friend or send a tweet to thousands in the blink of an eye; no wonder we believe waiting is hard to do. The author of today's key verse was no stranger to waiting and knew full well of its difficulties. O ut of nowhere, the prophet Samuel showed up at his home to anoint the next king of Israel who was to be chosen from his family. Only one of Jesse's sons would be anointed as God's chosen king for His beloved Israel. The son chosen was David. Scripture tell us the Spirit of God rushed over David and was with him the remainder of his days (1 Samuel 16:13, ESV). With such an anointing one would expect David to run to take his seat on the throne, but the only running David did was back to the pasture to do his job. Thus his wait began. In the wait, God prepared David for his seat on the throne. The only vocation David knew was shepherding. He did not know the ends and outs of kingly protocol or the rules of royal deity. David did not have the support of the people or armies to defend him as king. He was only a lowly shepherd boy. Instead of taking the position he was promised David waited for God to move him from the pasture to the palace. In the wait, God made David ready for t he move. David learned many lessons about waiting. By examining and applying these truths we can find hope in the difficulty of waiting and determine that waiting in the present is beneficial to our future. 1. Even though we are anointed and appointed we may still have to wait. David waited fifteen years to be king of Judah and even longer to be king of all Israel. 2. God's ways are not our ways; His thoughts are not our thoughts. After being anointed and appointed David was called to serve Saul, the king who was sitting on "his" throne. 3. God doesn't waste time; He holds it in His hands. He redeems it by using our experiences to prosper us in each season of life. 4. If we allow it, our waiting will bring us to an intimate knowledge of the Savior that we would not other wise have. Most of David's beautiful and poetic psalms were written while in caves, caverns, and the wilderness, waiting on God. 5. God does not ignore the cries of His children. David crie d out, and at times begged God for help, invention, and defense. God never let David down. He did eventually take the throne, didn't he? 6. Our waiting has a purpose for someone other that ourselves. It is not all about us. Just think of how rich our lives are today because of the wait David endured. We have the comfort, compassion, hope, and healing of his amazing poetry. What awesome instructions David gives for waiting! Waiting is less difficult and the future is brighter when we let God to do His work in our waiting season. When we let our guard and defenses down He proves Himself faithful to bring His plans for our lives to fullness. Dear Lord, help me wait. Help me wait well. I want to be still and allow You to bring Your plan in my life to its fullness. I can't do this without You. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Related Resources: What to do in the W.A.I.T? CD by Wendy Pope Visit Wendy's blog Streams in the Desert: 365 Daily Devotions by L.B. Cowman, Edited by Jim Reimann Come Along: The Journey into a More Intimate Faith by Jane Rubietta Lead Me Lord, a free resource, offers more insight into waiting on God Application Steps: Read more about David's life starting in 1 Samuel 16. Reflections: What is my first response to waiting? Do I grow closer to or further from God when I am waiting? Why? What has God taught me in today's devotion about waiting? Power Verses: Psalm 27:4, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple" (NIV) Isaiah 40:31, "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, t hey will walk and not be faint." (NIV) Lamentations 3:24, "I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."" (NIV) © 2010 by Wendy Pope. All rights reserved. You have signed up to receive this daily devotional email. You are subscribed as: sextonamyj@comcast.net To immediately stop receiving these emails, click here Proverbs 31 Ministries 616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Matthews, NC 28105 877-P31-HOME (877-731-4663)

Thanks for BLUE JELLO!

Months and months have passed and I have not complied to my high hopes of doing this blog thing! Soooooo........here I am. It is POURING down rain right now, and I am not really sure why I like to tell you what the weather is like, but :) SMILE!

Today I started my day off driving in my car alone to get some things done this morning as a sitter stayed with my children. (This is VERY unusual, I might add) As I drove I began to pray and thank God for what all was going on this week. VBS started and the kids have been loving it at Celebration where they went to preschool and we attended church. VBS is GREAT there! It reminds me soooo much of how we did it when I was little. I talked to the Lord about how wonderful it is to see them so excited about Him! WOW!

I also thanked Him for blue jello and prayed that the 60 something boxes of jello that I helped mix up yesterday set properly for the "Surfing Serpent" snack today. They were learning about Paul and his encounter with a deadly viper.... one of those Bible stories I have not heard or did not remember, but brushed up on during my jello time :) out of Acts, by the way.

I also giggled with God about Peyton's telling me that "You know, Mommy, Jesus died, but He's not really dead. You know they shot Him, He melted, then He froze, they stuck Him on the cross (with glue she thinks), It killed Him, then.... they put him in the dirt with a big, fat rock on top. AND THEN HE JUST GOT UP, MOMMY! HE GOT UP AND HE IS ALIVE. Did you know that, Mommy? HE IS ALIVE!!!!!!!! And.....I am His favorite one." Big 'SIGH'

So, I asked her about the "got shot, melted and froze part" and she told me that "He went to hell, you know where it's really hot and He melted there. Then He froze to get unhot"... I decided there might be a little truth to that, but the most important part is that He did die on the cross for us because He does love us just like we are each His favorite. There is nothing sweeter.

I am sure that God by this point was just shaking His head thinking that I ramble on and on. So, on I went about the current Bible study that I am doing: 'Annointed, Transformed, Redeemed....the story of David'. It is WONDERFUL! I think that I have really learned more about myself than about David, which of course is the point. Today my prayer was this:

That He would bless me and you so that His NAME will be great! That's what David did and we all know the story...it just continues to unfold. So WATCH OUT! You never know what's coming next, but I can assure you it will be something GREAT!

Enjoy this fun time and soak in the Son!

While out with a friend, I had a close encounter with a pest. We met for lunch, and before my friend even arrived this older lady approached me about her ladies group that does stuff for charity. This particular weekend they were having a tour of homes. She wanted to sell me a ticket and a raffle ticket and she wanted me to sell to my friends. I politely told her that I was not interested. She continued on and on persisting that I buy or come or donate. Finally she went inside ( to have lunch.. I thought).

My friend arrived and we went in and ran right into that lady and a whole pack of her closest old lady friends. This time they attacked my friend. On and on they went with their science project sized backboard display of their club news and charities and.... Finally we thought we were free when the apparent owner of the lunch stop came and rescued us from them and sat us at a table.

Before we even got our food, the original lady was back asking me for my phone # to call me ahead of time for next year. WOW!

So.... earlier this week I was reading in my current Bible study about how often times we just throw in the towel before the game or situation in life is over. Have you ever turned off a ball game in the last 5 minutes only to find that your team who was so far behind they could NEVER win came back and won in the last 3 seconds? We are just like that in our lives. We give up. Not like this pest.

The most amazing thing, to me today :), was it made me think about how God NEVER gives up on us. It doesn't even enter his mind. He also pursues us constantly and is NEVER EVER pesty, maybe some people are, but not Him. How is that? How can He desire us, love us, want the best for us, and not be a pest? He is sooooo good! I am so glad that He loves us like that. Heaven's going to be GREAT! Just good all the time and NO government! Only a soveriegn God who loves us with all His heart and all He wants is our heart! Wonderful! :)

This is John Eldridge's Daily Reading for today!

March 29, 2010
God’s Heart for Relationship
The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God’s vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God—that he yearns for relationship with us. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God” (John 17:3). The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart.

Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isa. 49:14–15)

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jer. 24:7)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37)

What a comfort to know that this universe we live in is relational at its core, that our God is a tenderhearted God who yearns for relationship with us. If you have any doubt about that, simply look at the message he sent us in Woman. Amazing. Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us. Oh, how we’ve missed this. How many of you see God as longing to be loved by you? We see him as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired.

(Captivating , 28–29)

He is Jealous

Today is BEAUTIFUL! God has reminded me of just how much He desires me (and you too). You know, He is always doing this....I just think I'm a block-head and don't pay Him a bit of attention. He did this with the Israelites too, they were just like me. Or.... I am just like them. ;0)

Exodus 34:13-15 (New International Version)

13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. [a] 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

15 "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.

The difference was that they were blatantly out in the open with their "other" gods. They physically created them out of wood and stone and iron and gold earrings. :) I read about them and think..."boy were they stupid! They had a cloud of smoke and a pillar of light to follow. They had manna falling from the sky. They had Moses, a burning bush, a parted sea, the 10 commandments. How could you make idols out of earrings that the Egyptians just handed over when there was NO doubt that God was with them. He gave them tangible evidence of His presence." And my wee little brain goes on and on and on about them.

Then it dawns on me that He would not have included all of the sad ridiculous stuff in His Word that they did, if it was not for me to read. You know, even though there is comedy in the Bible that is not the purpose. He put it in there to make me look in the mirror at how ridiculous I am. At least the Israelites did not hide there other gods. I sneak around thinking about chocolate, and spend too much time on the phone, or this crazy computer, on facebook, or I sit for hours in front of a box that pours out sin every single second it is on. I do all that in the privacy of my home. At least they were all out in the open about it.

How He is jealous for me, and oh, how I go through my life making Him long for me.

You know He is in total control of everything, except for that one thing, our relationship with Him. He initiates it and saves us and then it is on us to spend time with Him. WOW! And as I sit here listening to David Crowder sing "How He Loves Us", my eyes fill with tears, because I am so unworthy to be called His child. So very unworthy...... and that is what this beautiful time of year is all about.

Good Friday is in two weeks. This is what it is all about... relationship. He paid it all, everything. All I have to do is choose Him and invest time with Him. Absolutely nothing else is required, and like those crazy, stupid Isrealites, like Eve, I fall to temptation. Moment by moment I struggle. GRACE that sums it up once again. I think there is a pattern here!

Have a WONDERFUL, GRACE-FILLED weekend!!!!!!!
:0)

Artist: David Crowder Band
Song: How He Loves


He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Here Comes the Rain!

After such a beautiful few days of sunshine..... here it comes. The RAIN is here. I don't like days like this very much, but a wise friend tells me that these days make us appreciate the sunny ones. As I sit and really take it in, I think that the weather is very symbolic of our life here.

Think about it. We go on about our merry way in the sunshine.... breathing in that fresh air, playing outside our "fence" of protection often times, enjoying life, having fun, and eventually it must come to an end. There is a season for everything, right? The spring time gets me ready for that season of summer. It is like a glimpse of the goodness that is yet to be.

It's fresh. Fresh flowers pushing their heads up out of the cold ground, longer days :) of warm sunny goodness, leaves clothing the trees, baby animals, birds singing, the air just smells good. And with all of that comes the rain. Just like in our life, the storms come and we hide in our caves, put the covers over our heads and hunker down. Some storms aren't storms at all.... they are monsoons, hurricanes, tornados or tsunamis that tear and destroy. They toss us and shake us until all we can do is cry out.

And in all of it, there He is, arms open wide whispering in our ear "I'm here for you. I always have been. I would do ANYTHING for you. I want to keep you safe. I love you. You are my favorite." Only it took the rain, the storm, for me to notice that He is here. I was lost playing in the sunshine and I missed the sonshine, so the rain often times brings me back to where I need to be.

The rain refreshes, restores, cleans, and grows me. Without it I would surely die due to my own selfishness. So today I am remembering to be thankful for the rain. Maybe we should play in the puddles this afternoon!

And just think.... there would be no need for the promise of a rainbow if it did not rain. What a perfect promise!

:)