.refreshed.

So this is post not like the usual ones with cuteness jumping from the page... this is one where i just share what the Lord is teaching me... hope you find this encouraging and refreshing!.

Last Monday night, I started a 4 week virtual conference with other staff wives from the Summit. Its called the JustOne Conference. It is put on by the writers for the Leading and Loving It blog. it is designed for pastors wives. It is awesome! So here are some thoughts and things that I have taken away from these past 2 weeks-

*Am i intentionally leading with my life? Hebrews 12:13 says, "and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed." is my life leading in a way as to heal and not throw things out of joint? and then 1 thess. 1:6-8 says, "and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in these places, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything." ----- in the same thought i think sometimes its so easy to get caught up in who is doing what in ministry and trying to imitate that, but realizing that the Lord has created each of us different and gifted us differently and the only way we are going to be most effective with proclaiming the Gospel is by leading/serving the way he has created us to lead/serve- and the only way then to know how we were created and gifted is to be spending time with the Creator. And when we are confident in our calling then we will be most effective- He has given us everything that we need! "God's work, God's way, God will supply" (forgot which lady said that)

*If God isn't pouring into you- you can't be pouring yourself out to others- I was so convicted of this- we have to be spending time with Him in order to be able to be poured out- in that same thought, its not that we need to be adding more things and creating a check list, but maximizing every moment! Having scripture posted around the house, listening to sermons, listening to music that proclaims truth and the Gospel, using the time in the car with the kids to speak the truth of God's Word to them. Also one lady said, "when you are shaken or rattled, what comes forth?" OUCH! Man, how I long for when I react instead of respond to Andrew, HattieJo, my students, friends, or whoever may it be a response that is filtered through the Gospel and the Word- only when i am spending time in His word and hiding it in my heart will that happen. "Keep your heart with all viligance, for from it flow the springs of life." Prov. 4:23 and Luke 6:45 says, "for out of the abundance of the heart a man speaks."

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." John 15:9