Say 101: Obedience-foundation to hearing

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Beginning to prepare for the Ladies retreat in two weeks. I've started Priscilla Shirer's study, "He Speaks to Me." We all want the Lord to speak to us...or do we? Do we want to be held accountable for obeying or disobeying when we know he has spoken? I'm not so sure that we do. You see, if I know God is telling me I'm over indulging in food and not exercising...thus not caring for His temple, and I continue to over indulge and not exercise...I'm choosing to be disobedient. Maybe the disobedience is ever so slight in my mind, but it is there none the less.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

My paraphrase based on the original meaning of some words is "To respect the Lord is the essence of spiritual understanding." Fear is respect and honor, and reverence...a spiritual fear.

Steps to my obedience... write down food for 1 week, turn off face book until the retreat is over because it is a distraction on several levels - I get distracted from QT and I could be walking instead. Walk three times a week...do at least 10 sit ups a day...get moving!

Lord,
Please help me to keep to my action steps in obedience to you. I don't want to hear and not do your will. May my obedience bring clarity to your voice.
Amen

Day 100! Faith

190

How appropriate! Faith. A simple word that is the foundation of our salvation...it is what we use daily when we push on the breaks of our car...but it so easily slips away for me in my daily schedule.

I'm under a huge time crunch right now with several plates spinning...I'm not complaining because it is all good...I just don't know how I will get it done. And that's the point that the online devotion reminded me of today! It's not about me!

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

It is about Christ giving me the strength to do all things according to His will.

I have the faith in you Lord

Luke 18:27 (ESV)
27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

I can do only what you see fit, Lord.

So, now I will put on my shoes, pick up my purse and head on out the door...whatever I accomplish today will be up to the Lord. I have faith that I will accomplish what He desires. I'll stay tuned in to him - my part - and he will guide my steps - his part.

Lord,
I commit this day to you. You know what I need to accomplish. I have faith you will guide my steps.

Amen

Day 99: Knowing

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he, Before me no god was formed nor will there be one after me, ..." Isaiah 43:10

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9


"You reign, forever your's is the victory...." Hillsong

"In my life be lifted be high ... " Hillsong

Oh Lord,
I long to bring you praise....to be your servant...Lord of Lords....You are so close yet I am so far from you at times. Oh, my Savior, Lord of Creation, My Lord, My strong tower, hear my prayers...I desire to sit close to you and know you more intimately. I believe you are in my life...you are hearing the prayers of my heart...you are responding, My Father....you are Holy! Several months ago I placed fleeces before you...oh, my Abba you are moving...help me not to run ahead of you...but to joyfully see the answers, see your hand. I love you, Lord. Thank you for providing and caring for our family. I pray that I will honor you...that I will come to know you in a more intimate fashion....That I will understand your will and your way...
Amen

"There's a stirring in my heart unexplainable, there's a calling on my days undeniable...and there's a fire in my bones...uncontainable....and it's causing me to burn...for YOU! I'll go anywhere...I'll do anything...at any cost for you my King!" Fee

DAY 98: Sickness

192

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4a

Lord,
You are at work all around me and yet my eyes have blinders. I am sick and should be using this time simply to be with you...I acknowledge my own spiritual laziness before you. I desire my body to be your temple. Help me to know how to do this moment by moment. To take a walk...go to bed on time and get up on time...half my portions so I'm not a glutton...eat when hungry; not when bored...to fast in order to spend time with you on behalf of those I love...to beseech your hand in their lives.

Forgive me for focusing on the women's retreat as a fun time...help me to communicate it will be a time for ladies to come closer to you and tune into hearing your voice...

Help my children to hear your voice...
James as he leads
Kelsey as she seeks a job
Michael in his future after graduation and in his present
Becca as she seeks your voice for her future
Lonnie and I as we wait patiently for your perfect timing for our future service to you
Those struggling now in relationships and those that seem far from you...

Lord, you promise to hold us close..help us not to forget that you suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually; therefore, we are experiencing nothing you haven't felt. Heal us Father of our sickness.

Amen

Day 97: Pride?

What causes me to want to lose weight? Is it really that my body is a temple, or is it my pride? After doing my Bible study this morning and studying the pride of OT kings...I must admit it is pride. I want to look good! I want to be skinny and look good more so than look like I have life of self-control and healthy living. It has been more pride than pleasing my Lord because I am His temple.

Father, forgive me of my pride. Help me to know when that is an issue in my eating. Walk near and close to me so that I can become the servant you desire... physically as well as spiritually. Amen

Day 96: 194 Pounds

Don't you know that you are God's temple...and God's Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

Well....

• I was an alternate so didn't get to deliberate.
• My first reaction was disappointment.
• My thought was, seriously God? You put me here and then scoot me off?
• I was relieved when the press reported the jury was hung, mistrial declared, and new trial scheduled.
• I thanked the Lord for not wasting two of my days.

• Healthy I am not...gallbladder attack and lingering symptons
• I weigh 194 pounds! There it is out on the web...Debbie Warren weights way too much!
• God is convicting me and I'm sensing - yet again - that this is a spiritual battle. I am a home ec major for Pete Sakes and I know how to eat healthy!
• I've paid Weight Watchers a lot of money in the past to loose 30 pounds...only to return to unhealthy eating and be right back where I am now. Money wasted.
• The money I would pay to weight watchers - primarily for accountability - I could contribute to an intern.
• God won't give me a piece about going back to WW.
• I am lazy and don't excercise...not even an evening walk with the dog. Pitaful!

I am doing Breaking Free by Beth Moore. This is my bondage...unhealthy eating...which produces excess weight and possibly gall bladder problems. I must depend on God to help me fight this and not man. I must be accountable to a God I can't physically see and not person I can.

For me, and only me, Weight Watchers is not what God wants me to do right now. I must depend on him.

I will sign into my blog weekly with my weight...that will be my accountability...I will see it.

Lord, help me to hold fast to you. Thank you for showing me this is a spiritual battle that I can't fight on my own. I need you to walk alongside me. For this season you are saying "No" to outside help. Be my helper. Be my supporter. Be my ultimate accountability. I am your servant and desire to serve you well with my whole body. Amen

Day 95: God of Tomorrow

El Roi ~ The God who sees me.

How easy it is to forget that God is a personal God and knows us personally. Recently I was reminded of how personally God knows my life and my tomorrows.

I was disappointed that I wasn't assigned an additional class to teach for LU. It would have meant an overlap of 4 weeks in terms which equals teaching 40 students at one time - on top of my ministry.

I realized the importance of God saying "no" to the additional assignment when I was selected to serve on a Federal case as a juror! From 240 people taking the questionnaire...72 called back...20 some dismissed on jury selection day...names in a tumble barrel...my name pulled out...both sides agreeing to me...I'm in the jury box for the next three weeks.

I know it is God that placed me on this jury and I desire to serve him well.

Thank you Father for not giving me what I initially asked for. I know ask for now and the finances to make up the difference.

I worship you, El Roi