Heart Clutter

I've been cleaning stuff out lately. Purging things out of my life that are just taking up unnecessary space. If we have too much clutter in our life it actually takes away from our life instead of adding to it. And it's not the big items- Like I have 14 couches or 8 beds.No. It's the little things. The more I get rid of, the more free I become. Papers, clothes I don't wear anymore, extra toys, games, etc.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Laying aside the weights that easily entangle me....
How many of us can say I've got the real big sins like, "I just can't stop robbing banks or I keep stealing cars, or..well, you get the picture. God showed me that we all have 'some' clutter in our hearts. And that we need to go through and start asking Gods help to 'purge' some things.
If we want to do great things for God, if we are desiring to hear His voice, if we want Him to use us, then we've got to get real honest. What is the heart clutter that is holding you back from being all that God has called you to be?
Have you ever watched a show from TLC's Clean Sweep or a special on hoarders? These are people who keep everything. It just started with a little clutter. Really, at first, no one even saw a problem. These people just continued to function (or somewhat function). But then, they collected more and more clutter without doing an evaluation on what they were taking in. And pretty soon they couldn't function anymore.
Today I'm asking that God does an evaluation of the clutter in your heart. It's time to take inventory.
Let me just tell you how good it feels to go through my house room by room and get rid of things that I really don't need. It feels like my burden is lifted, my load is lighter. I only want to try and keep things around that contribute to the life that I want to live.
Does that mean everything is perfect now? No. I'll be cleaning out the clutter for as long as I live! Why? Because my life is always changing. And so it goes with our hearts. There might be some clutter that Gods dealing with that we just need to get rid of. But it does not stop there. We need to daily ask God to take inventory.
Psalm 19:12-14
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Let this be the beginning of your Spring Cleaning! :}

I Don't Want To Go Through The Motions

This song has inspired me and challenged me. If you've never heard it, you really should look it up on ITunes. This is my hearts cry. I'm tired of going through the motions of life, I want God to come in and rock my world, I want change and I want to see change happen in the lives of others. It's not me anymore- But it's Christ who lives in me. My favorite line in the song: 'What If I had Given Everything?" Instead of going through the motions...

Song by Matthew West 'The Motions'

This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way

What's Your Mailbox?

I was walking my dog Latte' the other day. It's funny, he had already peed on our mailbox- But he continued to lift his leg at every mailbox we walked by! Sometimes he would lift his leg (with no pee coming out) and other times its as if he was just needing to sniff it out! He had trouble just walking by the mailbox so we could get a good walk in.
The Lord spoke to me during this time and said, "What's your mailbox?" Huh?! "What are the things that distract your 'walk' in life?" Oh, I get it Lord. What are the things that pull me away from walking the 'straight and narrow'?
For some, I suppose it could be television- that could be a distraction for sure. For me, it could be things like shopping, time wasters (on the computer too much). Even the other day I was in Nordstrom Rack and I hit the shoe section 'just to look' and I said to myself, this is my mailbox!!
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
Am I saying shoes are evil?!! Absolutely not! (Quite the opposite) But for me, it was a temptation because I knew it would be an impulse buy, and I knew I didn't need them.
With Latte' (my dog), If we are going to get anywhere I have to say "Ahh Ahh Ahh" firmly and tug on his leash a bit, and then keep walking. Ever since I've had this analogy in my head I catch myself saying, "Ahh Ahh Ahh"and then walking away.
So I have to ask you today...What is your mailbox? What is it that pulls you, tempts you, but you know it's not the best for you right now? Listen, when you find yourself in that situation, you just might hear the Holy Spirit saying, "Ahh Ahh Ahh"and tugging on you to keep walking.

Proverbs 4:25-27
25- Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you
26- Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm
27- Do not swerve to the right or left; Keep your foot from evil

Thought for the day: Sometimes it's going to take us a lot longer to get where God's trying to take us if we keep stopping!

My Busy Day

Do you ever feel overwhelmed in life? Do you sometimes wonder how you're going to keep all those balls juggling in the air? And if you drop a ball- well, it won't be pretty. There are so many pressures for us as moms. Usually, we are the ones that keep up with the homework schedules, lessons, practices, games, lunches, meals, activities, cleaning the house, volunteering at our child's school, being balanced- not to mention those actively involved in ministry and some of us top it off with a little part time job- And have I mentioned if we dare try and pursue something like..oh, I don't know..a hobby or exercising!! Okay, I'm already tired!
Jesus promises in His Word that He will never give us more than we can handle. Now, if we've taken on too much, we can't blame Jesus for that one!
Today, my prayer for you is that you would stop before your schedule even starts, and ask the Lord for peace instead of stress, Strength instead of fear. And invite the Holy Spirit to give you what you need to do this day. And sometimes, we just be need to lower our expectations from our 'to-do' list.
The Lord knows what you have to do and doesn't expect you to carry it alone. He is with you. Ask Him to help you order your day, to give you joy in the mundane 'daileys' of life.

Psalm 16:5-11 (New International Version)

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Help! I'm Covered In Wax!

I was trying to light this candle the other day, and it would not light! It wasn't at the end, either.(You know where the wick meets the metal) This candle was still fairly new. The Lord showed me that the wax had built up and wouldn't allow the fire to burn. And that in my own walk with Him I had allowed some wax to build up in certain areas. And with that wax there, I was not able to fully fulfill the purposes that God has for me. You see the wicks purpose is to burn- but it couldn't fulfill that purpose by being covered in wax.

Definition of wax: A plastic, dull, yellow substance secreted by bees for building cells; beeswax; It is hard when cold and easily molded when warm- Used for candles, modeling, etc.
Love, love, love this definition of wax. Let me tell you why! It is hard when cold and easily molded when warm. Huh. Kind of like our hearts, huh?! When we are cold towards the things of God, we are not easily molded. But when we are warm..or even hot- watch out world because it's then, and only then that the Lord can shape us and mold us.

Psalm 97:5
The mountains melt like wax before the Presence of the Lord..

So here's the thing, we don't ever want to get legalistic about our walk with the Lord. Everyone has been called to walk their own 'walk'. So what is it today that's causing your wick to be covered by wax? Whats stopping you from burning bright for the Lord Jesus Christ? For some, you might just need to get back into reading the Word and letting the Lord change you through His Word. For others, you need to put Him first in your life again- and start setting aside some time in your week where you just turn on the praise and worship and sing a new song to Him. As we do these daily disciplines in our life, not out of obligation, but out out of a love for Him- We will notice (and others will notice too!) there's a light burning on the inside that can't help but shine out!
MATTHEW 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

He is the Potter, I am the Clay

Isaiah 64:8 Yet Oh Lord, You are our Father
We are the clay, You are the Potter. We are all the work of Your hand.

I have been reading through Jeremiah and the Lord has been speaking to me on the story of the potter and the clay. In Romans 9:19b the scripture reads "For who resists Gods will? (v20) But who are you O man to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
The clay is still made today the way it was back in the days of old. There is still the potter, the clay and the wheel. The potter uses the foot pedal (treadle) to make the wheel turn and control its speeds. He fashions the clay by his own hands. In Jeremiah 18 the Lord tells Jeremiah to go down to the Potters house and he will speak to him there. So he went to the potters house (chapter 18 v3) and he saw the potter working at his wheel. Jeremiah saw the clay being shaped and molded into a vessel. Here we see the first lesson that Jeremiah learned- God is the Potter and we are the clay, being made into a vessel for His purposes.
What's the second thing Jeremiah noticed? If there were any imperfections in the clay, the potter would crush the clay down into a lump and begin again making it into a vessel. How many times has the Lord seen my imperfections and had to crush me down and begin again? But what I love about this is that the Potter doesn't just throw out the clay and get some new clay- He just starts all over! When you feel the pressure of the Potters hand (and trust me, you will feel the pressure) do not resist it, but accept it. Then we can be a vessel used for His honor and His purposes.
The third thing that Jeremiah noticed was this. It was love behind the potters pressures. When the vessel was marred (blemished by injury; rough) the potter was capable of crushing it down, bringing it to nothing but a lump, and then molding it, shaping it again, and perhaps again and again and again- until at last, it fulfilled what God wanted. Look at this potter very closely, as He is at work in your life. You will see His hands and His feet that bear the nail prints, and that it is through His blood of the Potter Himself, that the vessel is being shaped into what He wants it to be.
What amazing lessons Jeremiah learned that day at the potters house. Remember, He has a purpose for you, and He will give you what you need to fulfill that purpose- No matter how many times He may have to start over again. It is His love for you that makes Him spend so much time working on you, His vessel.

(I have added a song called 'The Potters Hand' by Hillsong on my music player at the bottom of this page to go along with this blog post)

Dreams

I can't explain it, but God has impressed something on my heart and it's been stirring in me for a few months. That 2009 would be a year of dreams becoming a reality. I see people pulling their dreams out, almost like they were taking out an old book they haven't read in years, full of dust and cobwebs. See, those dreams were given to you for a reason. Some of us just thought we must have missed it somewhere along the way. And that dream was gone. Or for some of you, God had placed such a big dream in your heart, that you thought to yourself, "no way, this can't be God". "We must have made it all up in our heads!" There is nothing that satan would love more than for us to think that our dream isn't really from God. There have been several different friends share what God has laid on their hearts. Dreams. God's been preparing us for what He's about to do. Have I made some mistakes over the past..oh, say..15 years? You betcha! I have learned many lessons because of my mistakes. Don't let that hold you back. It's kind of like my Body Pump instructor says when we are doing crunches.. "Let it marinate.. Marinate.." That gives me a visual picture. I feel like I've been marinating. I feel like I'm exactly where God knew I would be. I was going through some old papers the other day and I came across a file. It was an old creative writing class I signed up for while living in Palm Springs. As I went through it I realized just how much I use to love to write. Did I take that class for nothing? Nope, it's all just part of the puzzle. Did I take Homiletics (preaching) at Bible college for nothing? Nope, it's all just part of the puzzle. What about all that yucky stuff from my past that the Lord has so graciously healed me from?Is that it?! No way. Piece of the puzzle.
You see God has made us all unique. We all have different personalities, gifts, and talents- for a reason. I feel like God is going to be getting us out of our comfort zone in 2009- and that we need to step out in faith. It's either fear or faith. You see, some fear is normal. What if I fail, what if people laugh at me, what if I bomb, what if I freeze up, what if no one needs what I have, what if..what if...what if... Okay, I've got one for you. What if I step out in faith, what if I do it afraid?
Read the story in Matthew 14:22-32. Peter and Jesus' disciples were on a boat going to find Jesus. They saw Jesus walking towards them on the water! They saw this and were terrified- "Oh no, it's a ghost" they thought. Jesus immediately told them to take courage. To not be afraid. So Peter said, "Okay Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water." And the Lord told Peter to come (v.28-29). So Peter stepped out of the boat, walked on the water, and came towards Jesus (v.29). But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord to save him, and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Fear or faith?
It's time to step out of the boat in faith- not focusing on the storms around us, but keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. And I'm not talking about vain dreams to build 'our kingdom'. Not, "What can I do to get more things and money and notoriety". I'm talking about the dreams that the Lord has placed deep within your heart- that some of you even forgot they were there! I'm talking about the dreams that add to Gods kingdom and give Him all the glory. The dreams that add another piece to the puzzle, to make us, the body of Christ, complete.
Will you take courage (Matt 14:27) with me in 2009 and step out of the boat? Begin to pray. Ask God what is your 'baby step' towards what He wants to accomplish through you. And remember, if we do begin to feel ourselves sinking, like Peter- Cry out to Jesus and He will be quick to reach out His hand.
There is a song on my music player (at the bottom) that goes with this blog called 'Dreams' and although its not a Christian song, I have dedicated this song to Jesus!

The Meaning of Life

I have searched, like Solomon in the Bible, for true meaning in life- And this is what I have discovered-
As a young(er) person, I searched for the meaning of life through pleasures.
Ecc. 2:10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
I found that to live a life only in search to satisfy myself only left me empty on the inside- restless.
I searched for meaning through things. But the problem with material things is that they never satisfy. We always seem to want more than we can have.
Ecc. 5:10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
"If I just have _______________ (you can fill in the blank here) then I will be happy!"
In the past I searched for meaning in my position, my work. I worked at an upscale resort in Palm Springs and was very proud of that. I wanted to further my career in the hotel and restaurant industry because I thought that would fulfill me. The problem was that I was doing all this in hopes that it would bring me greater fulfillment. I tried to do it in my own efforts and abilities- but without God there is no lasting reward or benefit.
So what is the answer you ask to the meaning of life? Just ask Solomon in Ecclesiastes. He searched his whole life on a mission to find the answer. Solomon learned that it is empty to pursue the pleasures that this life has to offer. True meaning comes from pursuing and seeking a relationship with the one true God. The search for pleasure, wealth, and success is ultimately disappointing- If that is what you are seeking after. There is nothing in 'this world' that can satisfy the deep longings in our restless heart.
There is a God that loves you more than you can ever imagine. He desires to have a relationship with you. He doesn't care what your past looks like or the mistakes that you have made. He wants us to enjoy this life that He has made for us, living with Him- living life to it's fullest. He's waiting with open arms to be your meaning in life.
You see, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)

The Bread Bowl

How many of you out there just love a good bread bowl filled with warm soup on a cold winters day? The soup is good, but don't you just love it when you finally get to the bottom?! Sometimes you have to dig the bread part out to mix it in with the soup, but isn't it just the best?! And what about when you are just about done and you tear the sourdough bread off that's been soaked in the soup? Umm..Yummy! Hit's the spot!
Sometimes in our quiet times with the Lord, we can feel so dry. Just like the bread was, before the soup. It's like, "Lord, I know You're there, I just feel so..dry right now". And just like we do with the bread bowl, we need to really 'dig in' to get the good stuff! And just like the bread with the soup soaked in- we can walk away from our quiet time feeling like we too have been soaked by His presence.
The Word of God is your bread bowl, dig in!!!
Praying you will get to the place where you are soaked by His presence.

Jeremiah 29:13New American Standard Bible (©1995)
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Perspective

PERSPECTIVE

- My kids are screaming and fighting and driving me bonkers!
-My house is unorganized and a mess!
-Our finances are 'tight'
-My sink is filled with dishes to be washed
-My basement is covered with toys!
-Sometimes I just wish my hubby would help our around the house (Can I get an amen here?!)

PERSPECTIVE

- The Lord has chosen to bless me with 3 beautiful, strong, and active children!
-I am so blessed and thankful for our home and to live in gorgeous, mountain filled Colorado!
-Since my sink is full, I'm thinking the Lord has blessed us with good food to eat!
-Since my basement is filled with toys, I'm thinking the Lord has given us more than enough!
-All my needs are met, there isn't anything I 'have' to have!
- I have a husband who loves me and our kids very much
- I have been blessed to be able to stay home with my kids- what an honor.
- So thankful for friends and family who love me
- Thankful for a God who passionately pursues me...daily.

PERSPECTIVE

Is my glass half empty or half full? Do I get angry and fly off the handle every time something doesn't go how I think it should go? I heard a saying this week that has really stuck with me. It was from a man who had discovered that he had Stage 3 colon cancer. He said life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful! Wow. I am humbled.
Have any of you ever had those negative (poor me) conversations in your head? C'mon, you can admit it, I do. They sound something like this, "So and so's husband always helps get the kids ready, so and so's husband always cleans around the house, If I just had a maid like so and so, then my house would always be clean, why does my husband always have to travel and so and so's husband never does, life is so easy for so and so- why can't mine be like hers? And the negative conversations go on and on in our heads. Guess what we're getting our eyes focused on? US!!!! Guess what changes when we focus on our Savior and our many blessings? OUR PERSPECTIVE! I can either wallow in self pity (and don't get me wrong, we all go there from time to time- But let's not stay there!) or I can start to praise Him for what He's already done and for what He's going to do! Amen! You see, my God has PROMISED to meet all of my needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19)

Psalm 34:8 NKJV
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Ask the Lord to come and give you new Perspective today, to Praise Him for what he's already given you, Peace to know the He desires to meet all of your needs, and finally, Patience to handle each new challenge the day may bring!
Lord, I'm not where I want to be, but I'm thankful I'm not where I use to be! Amen!

It's Time To Clean!

I get so frustrated. I feel like every time I clean the house, within a couple of hours it's a natural disaster all over again! (anybody relate here?!) The Lord showed me something. Every time I clean up, I'm just putting stuff back on the shelves, back under the cabinets, back- where they can be pulled back out again! So the Lord asks me, "What about 'deep' cleaning?" When was the last time I have gone through the house and rid of some things? Or do I just keep everything? How is that working for me? It's the same way with our spiritual life. How many times has He asked us to get rid of something and we store it back on the shelf for later? What is it that we're holding onto? What 'in the world' is so valuable and important to us- that it slowly creeps back into our lives and unknowingly to us- has replaced our first love? It's time to clean house! As we're about tot start a new year, wouldn't it also be great tot start a new 'you'! Go ahead, clean out your closets this month. It might get a little messy at first. But when you're done- no, when God's done, your outsides will be sparkling because of how clean it is..on the inside!

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. v23 Let us hold inswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised IS FAITHFUL!!!

The Perfect Egg

As I was making eggs, sunny side up i realized that I almost always break the yoke when I try to turn the egg to soon. I get impatient and think surely the yoke must be ready by now. And quickly I flip it and the yoke has broken.But today I waited. And perfect egg yoke! Not 1 broken.
How many times have we tried to rush God or rush what we want only to find it's not God's time yet. And sometimes we end up broken. Like the broken egg, our impatience can make quite the mess!
And don't get me wrong. The egg tastes "okay". But had I waited the egg would be full of yoke and rich with flavor. God doesn't just want us to settle for "okay" in our lives, He wants the best for us. He wants our lives to be rich and full of flavor- not just "okay".
Today, if it's not yet time to flip the egg, just wait. It will be time and if you wait patiently on the Lord He will make you a perfect egg!!

Life Is A Gift, Enjoy it!

I had been given a chocolate espresso candy from a friend. She got it from the Broadmoar, so it was very special! And it was too cute to eat!! So I put it in my drawer and saved it for about a week. And then I said to myself, why am I saving this gift just to look at? Why not enjoy the gift. So I ate it and truly enjoyed it!! My grandmother use to wrap everything in plastic that people would give her and put it away. She didn't want it to get messed up. But she never really got to enjoy those things. And now she's gone and those things she had been given have been sorted through and given away- but they were meant for her to enjoy.
Jesus has given us life as a gift. How many times do we just look at the gift from a distance- But never open it and enjoy?
Today, my prayer for you is that you would take this gift, this life that God has given us and truly enjoy it!! Don't waste one more day not wanting things to get messed up! Just go out and enjoy it!!

Coffee Devotional

I love coffee. I love to wake up to the smell of hot, fresh coffee. When I'm feeling tired, it gives me energy to make it through. Nothing compares to listening to my waterfall, lighting my candles, grabbing my favorite snuggly blanket, reading a good book, and of course, drinking my coffee! No matter where I travel, there's always A Starbucks nearby, calling my name.. Celeste, come and drink!
I'm not sure if you have ever compared the two, but just like coffee, God is always there. He wants to be our comfort, our source of strength. He calls to us and says "Come, come to Me and drink of my water and never thirst again". Just like we can always find a Starbucks, God is always right here for us.

One of those mornings!

It was one of those mornings! I got all 3 of the kids out of the house and off to look at some local thrift shops for ski pants for our whole family. The kids were a bit 'active' but did okay, until Noah and Hope decided they wanted the same toy! And then there was a break down (Noah) so I said thats it, we're leaving! ! Noah flipped. Joel was crying and Hope quietly followed. Noah begged to go back in the store to which I replied "no". He was full of snot, and tears and his face was bright red. Some nice lady said "I don't know how you do it". I thought well, today I don't feel like I am "doing it"! So I held Noah down and strapped him in. I have to say at this point it truly would have been so much easier to just say ok, but be a good boy and we'll go back in, but I knew that this was one battle I just had to win. I think sometimes we just give in because it's easier (for the moment!). But what are we saying to our kids? That if you throw a big enough tantrum, I just might give in. It's so hard sometimes. Then we moved on to Walmart- oh yeah, that's fun with 3 little ones. I remeber saying out loud, we're almost done, as the kids we're getting restless. Then there's the infamous "check out". Noah and Hope water but they each wanted to be the first one to drink from the water, Joel wanted out, and I just kept thinking we've come this far, just let me check out and make it to the car!! Ran home, made lunch, got Hope ready for kinder, loaded up the car again and off to school we went. Dropped her off, put Joel down for nap, and then read to Noah and layed down with him until he fell asleep. Ok, now its my time- or at least for about an hour :). Sometimes I just pray, Lord, please help me not to mess them up! Thank you Lord for my 3 little blessings from above, who although know how to press my every button, they are truly a gift from above. I know I can't 'give' life to them until I have recieved life from You. Everyday- fill me that I might pour out to them and to my husband. Wow, I feel much better, this Blog thing is kind of cool! Celeste