How Soon We Forget- New Faith Community Announcement!!

Recently my family and I took a hiking trip to the top of a high mountain called Chimney Rock. The trail said strenuous but we ignored that part and off we went. Now I should start by saying that we are no where near "in shape" nor do we hike often at all. But we wanted to do this. About a quarter of the way we realized what we had done. We had gotten into a hard situation. We stopped often, we complained and we huffed and puffed along with extreme sweating. This was the one set of stairs about half way up the trail. It was tough.

Life Is NOT a puzzle. It is ....

 I HATED this toy growing up! My grandmother on the other hand would sit around and mess with this thing for hours. She finally got tired of messing with it one day. She pulled all the stickers off and re stuck them back on the cube so it looked like she had worked it. She didn't deny what she had done, she just simply admitted, "I got sick and tired of messing with it and the blocks never lining back up." Now I know there are people out there in the world who can truly work these toys but I am most certainly NOT one of them. Not only am I not one of them, but I don't even understand what makes one want to work them. Why? Simply because I can't do it....why try? Then one day I realized, why am I trying to live my life like it is one of these puzzles?

Sidetracked

Sidetracked. I am a master at getting sidetracked or as some people call say, "you can't focus". I start with laundry, then before I have a load fully started I am sweeping the laundry room. Then I start cleaning the boys rooms and before you know it I am sweeping the whole house. Go figure. Well the same is unfornaturally true of my spiritual life. 

I realize what I should be doing and I start out of the gate like a bullet. Then I get sidetracked. AHHHHHH!!! Pull out my hair, shut the front door! AGAIN!!???? I started this blog in February 2014, man time flies, and I have KNOWN this is what I am called to. I LOVE to write but then I get sidetracked. I KNOW I am called into ministry, then I get sidetracked, usually with the realization that I am the most unworthy person on the planet to do this. I KNOW that I LOVE to connect with you guys, and then again I get sidetracked, usually when haters wanna hate and cause problems.

However, when I get sidetracked I start running toward something else, looking for happiness. Happiness that doesn't last because it is not what I am called to do. See other things in our lives besides God, things that keep us from our relationship with Him are idols or another word we don't want to use is a drug. Anything can be a drug. Literally anything. For me it has been exercise. Allow me to explain.

Is Waiting An Answer to Prayer?

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

Am I really willing to wait?

Prayer! Plus free printable

 Prayer. I wish I could say I was a mighty prayer warrior but the truth is no matter now much I pray at times, it never seems to be enough. All around us we hear of hurting people. With social media now a days we hear of all kinds of things. But what do we do with that information? Worry? Gossip? Become anxious? I say we do something else.

On the Go Prayer Travelers Notebook

You have done it, I have done, we all have done it: said "I'll be praying for you" and we forgot. Yikes! For me over the years my prayer life has taken different forms. Before 4 kids I could remember everything that I needed too. Post kids, well, that is a different story. Now if I don't write it down, it vanishes into thin air. Now, I MUST have a system.

#18- Fervent Online Bible Study (Your Relationships & Amen) Final Video

Can you believe we have made it through 6 weeks together! Time has flown. I feel that God has done great things during our time together. But before we are finished it is time to review the final two chapters in Fervent by Priscilla Shier; Your Relationships and Amen. Keep reading.

#16- Fervent Online Bible Study (Your Pressures)

Go here, go there. Groceries, bills to pay, pick up dry cleaning, put gas in the car, get oil changed, take kids to practice, run to social group, and on and on and on. Where does God fit in all of this? In a 5 minute slot weekly if your lucky? Or is it the only day the Bible is cracked open is in church on Sunday morning where we walk out and leave God in the church because He SURE isn't involved in our everyday lives? Did you know busyness can even be a tactic of the enemy? Keep reading...

#15- Fervent Online Bible Study (Strategy 7: Your Purity)

Purity. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Perhaps you think of keeping yourself from sexual sins. Perhaps it means staying clean. Fact is there are MANY areas of our life that can demand the attention of a purity "magnifier". Purity can refer to our speech, our actions, our attitudes, really anything in our life. It all comes down to is anything in our lives impure in God's eyes? Keep reading..

#14- Fervent Online Bible Study July 5 (Strategy 6: Your Fears)

Fear. It is such a dreaded four letter word. So much that over and over again God felt it necessary to record "Do not be afraid" or "Fear not". Yes I think that God knows what a problem we have in this area from time to time. Keep reading to watch this weeks video.For me the first time I read this book, no fears came to mind. Nope not one. BUT if you would have handed me this book about 6 months ago to a year, I was OVERCOME with fears and worries! It was defeating! If it was possible to be worried or fearful in the situation, I was, plus some. God and God alone delivered me from that road. But this time as I read the chapter God shown light on another area where I was fearful but I didn't even know it. How about you? What will God show you in this area?

#13- Fervent Online Bible Study- July 1st

Your Past...... hummmm..... is there some things back there that you wish were not back there? Yeah, me too. I used to allow those things to make me feel ashamed, useless, condemned and more. I used to hide from "those people" who never thought they did any wrong, why? Because I felt so dirty. Perhaps you have been there too, or maybe you are there now, but I have good news for you. God doesn't want for you to feel that way anymore. Keep reading to see why.

#12- Fervent Online Bible Study- June 28

Man! Wasn't this a good chapter?! Strategy 4: Your Family was AMAZING for me. The first time I read this chapter I took away a lot about covering my family with prayer but as I read the second time, it was more of a conviction. A conviction that I wasn't giving my family my best. What did you get out of this chapter? Keep reading to watch this chapter review video and to get in on the discussion.

#11- Fervent Online Bible Study- June 24

Wasn't Strategy 3: Your Identity AMAZING!!?? I think that this is an area where our enemy tries to attack us a LOT. As we review this chapter and look toward the upcoming chapter I hope that you are seeing that the enemy tries to keep us distracted most of the time. Keep reading for this weeks video and resources.

#10- Is Reading Your Bible and Prayer Really That Important?

Do you REALLY have to read your Bible everyday? Prayer, is it over rated? Oh I'll just do it when I get some free time..... Does any of this sound like you? Here is the truth about these two Christian disciplines...

#9- Fervent Online Bible Study- June 21

Who are you? No really, who are you? Not who YOU say you are but who does GOD say you are? Do you have thoughts that are bad about yourself? If you are a believer in Christ, you have a new identity! It is time that you remind the enemy of who you NOW are. This coming few days will help you do just that.

However, before we jump into the next chapter, what did you learn with Strategy 2: Your Focus? Where has your focus been off? Are you NOW focused on what God wants you to be focused on? Watch the video and let's see.

Enemy Attack or Personal Responsibility

At what point is it an attack of the enemy and when does it turn to personal responsibility? I hope this helps you!

Fervent Online Bible Study June 17

Well we made it through our first week!! Stay strong on into next week and the 3 weeks after that! Here is your video for today!

How to Create a Prayer/War Strategy

When it comes to prayer there really is no right or wrong way to pray- just do it. However, you can throw around emotions and words all day long but if we do not have a strategy or we do not pray according to God's Word, we will not be very effective. I am tired of the enemy trying to take away what God wants for my life and from now on I WILL be going to war in my prayer time. Here is how I create my prayer strategies and how to pray Scripture. Keep reading if you want to be on this journey as well....

Fervent Online Bible Study June 14 & FREE Scripture Cards Pack 3

First three days of our first week.....DONE! Way to go guys!! I can not wait to hear about all that has went on in your life. I apologize this is so late in the day being posted but the enemy has been trying to destroy this post all day (and yesterday too!) But guess what?? PRAISE GOD- I STILL have it in before the end of the day! Thank you Lord for all of your help. Keep reading for todays video and Scripture War Pack #3!

Fervent Online Bible Study June 12-14- PLUS FREE PRINTABLE #2!

Here we are! It is finally time for us to officially start this study! I am so happy that each of you are here. When I started this I told God, "If you want people to do this study, then you get them here," and here you are. You know what that means? That God Himself wanted for YOU to be here! I wonder what God has in store for your life as you go through this study. I guarantee that it is going to be something amazing.