Purpose Driven Life Devotional

If you don't already subscribe, I would like to recommend the Purpose Driven Life Devotional by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church.  I always wondered how people could say that God was speaking to them about a certain subject.  Now I realize that by being in the Word and surrounding myself with positive input, God can use the words I'm reading and hearing to make a strong impression on my heart.  It is amazing to be reading the bible and something so familiar will suddenly click!  God, let me have eyes that can see and ears that will hear.  

Obedience

I've just started a Christian Coaching class at my church.  We meet one Saturday a month for a year.  During the first class, God hit me with an amazing realization.  God uses our obedience as a vehicle to bless us.  Imagine God up in Heaven with an armful of presents searching for someone to give them to.  He looks down on you and studies your ways to find an opening to give you a present.  Are you being faithful in your finances... I will when I have more money.  Are you trusting God with your family... I'm just trying to make it through the day.  Are you looking outside yourself and seeking ways to bless others... I'd like to but I'm so busy with my own family.  Are you seeking God's word and will in your life... Well, I read my bible this morning.  God celebrates and gives you a gift!  God is so excited that you were faithful in that area of your life.  He honors your faithfulness and obedience with blessing.  He is searching your heart and your life and when He finds you obedient, He will be able to shower His blessings on you.  He can't do that if you aren't being obedient.  I've tried to obey because it was the right thing to do, but have really just made the connection that God can't bless me in my disobedience.  In following His will, I'm opening up my heart more and more to Him so He can pour out His blessings on my life and in return enable me to be a much greater blessing to others.  Praise God!

First and last or first of many?

This is the first of either one or many blogs that I will post.  I've often thought of doing my own blog, but have held back because I know myself so well.  My interests are very short lived, and though my intentions are usually good, well, you know what they say about good intentions.  

In case I am one day famous because of my amazing wit and wisdom, I will give credit to my brother-in-law Wes, who revived my interest by starting his blog again, and my mother who has been telling me for years to write down the crazy things that go on in my life. Drat, remembering that I feel really far behind.

But that reminds me, one of my non-existent New Year's Resolutions (I didn't actually make any but I did think this would be one of them if I had actually made some) was to take things in baby steps. I'm an all or nothing kind of gal, and I have been specializing in nothing for a long time now. Thank God (really, that is who I'm thanking) that I'm turning away from that life. I've been in a downward spiral for too long and I feel like I am finally on the right track in so many areas. I'm super excited about the journey and am happy for you to travel the narrow road along side me. Really, there is room for us both.
Blessings,
Blake