2nd commandment

Exodus Chapter 20 verse 4 (Exodus 20:4)

"Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. verse 5 goes on to say...You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god?"

A few of the follow up questions or live it out questions in our study this week were/are these:

What idols have you created in your life? Have they performed as you expected?

How will you destroy these idols, and what will you replace them with?

This was and is a hard one for me...first of all I hated saying or referring to the things that I think about continuously talk about a lot...ummmm even allow my self to think about and talk about and dwell on more than God...as an IDOL...but...it helped me realize again something I already know...that even the things that you don't like, topics you hate, worries, concerns...can become or be idols in my life...even the things that start out good with motives pure and innocent can become idols...having children, raising children, friendships, getting married, work, ministry...if I'm really honest and take a look at my life and think about what I dwell on most, think about most, talk about most, sharing my passion for the most, spend my time doing the most...if I am unable to give God as the answer to each one of those I do have idols in my life...Ouch...

As for how will I destroy them and what will I replace them with...maybe the question should be will I destroy them and will I replace them with Christ?

We all know the correct answers to these questions...but will be do it...will I do it...well I hope so but I can say in all honesty...I haven't done it yet...

Funny little video:

Oooo La La

I love French Jazz it makes me feel happy, romantic, carefree and creative...
Enjoy...
Chow

A Glimps of Heaven...

I Love seeing God's people worship in free abandon...I love this song!!! It makes me want to stand, raise my hands and sing with all of my might and passion to the Lord God Almighty!!!! Praise you Lord...Worthy is the LAMB!!!!!

First Commandment

We are starting a series on the ten commandments in our life group tomorrow...I'm pretty excited about it...thinking back I don't think I have ever really done a study focused on the ten commandments other than in Sunday school when I was about 10...The first commandment is found in Exodus Chapter 20 verse 3 (Exodus 20:3)...1. Do not worship any other gods besides me...I found this video that got me thinking and thought I'd share it...by the way we are using a small group study called Liquid...It has a 30 min video with each study that you watch together and a participant guide/book that helps facilitate the discussion that comes with it...it's set up so you can do it by your self or with a small group...it's really cool...so far I highly recommend it...

Fruits of my Labor

Literally!!

I love to garden...not that I'm particularly great at it...I just really enjoy doing it...I'm not sure why...my dad says I take after my Great-Grandmother his grandmother that raised him...which I enjoy hearing...I don't remember knowing her and it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling that even though I didn't have the privilege of sitting at her feat with my chin on her knee learning from her profound Godly wisdom or wrap my arms around her fluffy frame squeezing her tight, because I'm sure I would have, or kiss her warm little brown cheek...a little part of her may have been passed to me...I just love the thought of that.

Sacrifice

The topic of my reading today is sacrifice…one of the thoughts I’ve had as I’m reading is:
What would my relationship with God be like if I had to go out in the back yard start a fire on my special back yard alter and find the best of something I had to offer to God so that I could commune with him…after yesterday I think I’d be going to hell…honestly could you imagine? What about if you wanted to pray to God to ask him for something…honey let’s ask God what He wants us to do about this and I think Colton is coming down with a cold we really need to pray to God for healing…well I feel like I’ve been out in that back yard all day lighting fires for this lighting fires for that…forget it lets just decide with out talking to God and Colton isn’t that sick it’s just a cold…I mean I’ve worked all day…I’m tired…It’s your turn to present the scarifies anyway…so if you want to do it go ahead I’m going to watch "So You Think You Can Dance" while I have a little time before I have to cook dinner…Oh how my God is teaching me about my self through this book…but I am so thankful…I need this…on a side note…when you pray Lord show me any displeasing thing in me…you better be ready to hear it…

Oh Lord thank you for grace...amen

Every 30

Well as you can see...I've got some work to do...and look I skipped 2 all together...I guess I was even too busy to make sure I set me alarm right? Oh Lord I'm so sorry...and honestly this small exercise has taught me so much...and it did exactly what I needed...confirmed that my priorities even done with the best intentions are lacking...every time my alarm went off I was amazed at how fast 30 min went by and at first my honest thought was...WHY did I commit to doing this I've got things to do...YIKES...now that's just shameful...but as my time progressed and as I prayed I became more cognisant of God in my day...I prayed more than I have prayed in a long while and I do believe by stopping at those times I felt impressed to pray for specific circumstances, needs and people...Oh Lord how much have I missed I'm so sorry...and then what happened...my life got busy as life often does and my God got lost in the mix...such a clear picture He has shown...although I know God doesn't expect us to set an alarm every 30 min for the rest of our lives...I'd try it just for a day and see what He teaches you...it's totally worth it!!!

Coffee Talk Book Club!!!

I Love book club...I really do...these ladies are fantastic and I count my self blessed to know them...I listen to them encourage one another...love on each other...and tell it how it is even when it's hard...I've cried with them and for them...we pray for each other and share life together...thank you girls for sharpening me for the kingdom...you are truly a gift from our precious Lord...

I love you so

The new book...

So here is the book I'm reading currently during my devotional time...For The Audience Of One by Mike Pilavachi...FYI he is the pastor of the church Matt Redman comes from...I love this book!!! I thought I would share some of my reading with you today...Here is one thing that God is graciously continuing to remind me of and I'm so thankful He takes the time to do that...Mike is defining characteristics of worship and is saying how it must come before everything else....he says it like this...

That doesn't mean that we ought to have our ears permanently clamped between two worship-blaring headphones. What it means is that we need to have our hearts right. We are first of all lovers of God, people who are devoted to praising and worshiping Him, then our deeds will be powered by the right motives. When we get our priorities right and put the worship of God first, then everything else falls into place.When we put other things first even other good things: other good, Christian things then everything falls apart. It's as simple as that.

Man that is so true for me. At times in my life...not at times right now...things have felt off...you know what I mean...like my body is in the game but my head isn't...and this is why......I haven't first been a lover of God devoted to praising and worshiping Him FIRST in all that I do, think and say...in the choices that I've been making, the things I talk about, the places my mind and inevitably my heart dwell...living a life style of worship of worthship...what have I declared more worthy than my Creator...what has been worth more to me than the time I spend with Him...loving Him, adoring Him, pleasing Him...and then I wonder why things are jolty and jagged and askew...

Application: How will I realistically apply this to my real life...first I'm going to ask for forgiveness...and I think I'm going to do a practical exercise to remind my self to think on him continuously...I'm going to set my cell phone alarm today every 30 min from 7:30 this morning until 7:30 this evening and every 30 min I am going to take time to stop what I'm doing talk with God...remember Christ, ask myself am I living a life of worship right this very minute and for the last 30...I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow...

Thank you Lord for always being there for me...help me to live my life as a worshiper of you above all else...I love you with all my heart and soul...thank you for loving me...amen

Funny mud run inside info

The inside look:
As I ponder on the mud run there are some funny things I remember that I will post for you randomly...

Here is an inspiring and funny story...

So as we were waiting for the race to start the announcer informed us that there was a blind organization at the run and there were literally blind people who would be in the run with us...of course they had a guide and such but how cool is that...I mean WOW...a couple of seeing people in support of the blind participants strapped on swim goggles with duck tape and also ran the mud run blind...I couldn't even imagine...anywho...as I said before I was extremely panicked when we first started the race...maybe I'll share about that later...but...my sister assured me in my panic that she knew it was hard to believe but the further I got into the race the easier my breathing would be...and she's right I did find this EXTREMELY hard to believe as a gasped and fought for every breath I was taking and my mouth was so dry I literally was spitting cotton...I was rolling my eyes at her VERY dramatically on the inside...anyway...she was right...toward the end I think I got a little down right cocky...all this to say...back to my original story...a little more than half way through the race Erin and I came out of one of the many water/mud reservoirs and began to run once again when from behind me came a runner who ran into my sister who then flew into the jungle to her right and almost lost her footing...well instincts kicked in and I yelled...HEY!!! CAN'T YOU SEE...WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!!! Only to realize that... yep...you got it...it was one of the blind guys!!! Oh and No did I stop there...of course not...I realized in an instant after seeing my sisters face that I had made a terrible mistake looked and saw that he couldn't SEE or WATCH where he was going and yelled OH YOU'RE BLIND...THAT'S OK...SORRY...ahuh yep there ya have it...my sister died laughing and well I...I ...what else could I do...I just laughed my butt off!!!

MUD RUN!!!!!

Well I did it!!!! Victory is mine!!!! My goal was to finish the run and not to come in last and I accomplished both...6.2 miles later out of 4000 people I came in 2991 and it took me 2 hrs and 13 min...

I couldn't have done it with out my big sis coaching me the entire race!!! Thanks Erin...I love you and you inspire me to be a better me!!! This was absolutely one of the hardest things I have ever done...on purpose that is...I was scared to death in the beginning but after my sister talked me down of the ledge I truly was amazed at what my body could handle...I haven't been able to walk for the last 3 days but ohhhhh baby it hurts so good!!!! I will definitely do this again!

Go Angels!!!!

We took Colton and his buddy Clay to an Angels game for Colton's birthday present from us...what a blast!! First we went to Papa's and Memaw's house to spend the night...that's always fun!!! The next morning we were up bright and early to head to the game...what super a day!!! Happy Birthday Colton...We love you sooooooooooo much!!

Colton had a Birthday!!!

My baby boy is 10!!! We had a great party...they decorated baseballs, played a great game that Darin made up...there were 2 teams a very creative game board and pieces...first the boys got a pack of baseball cards then Darin would ask each team questions about the players on their cards and each question would be worth something...like a single, home run etc...the boys loved it!!! There were presents and cake a balloon toss and a wiffle ball game and lots of friends...what more could you ask for!!! Colton LOVED every minute...

Getting close to God

I need to get closer to God...I'm working on that...
I finished my book...I loved it...the faith of Ruth inspires me...
I did the mud run!!! Wow was that Hard or what...that was one of the hardest things I've ever finished in my life...I need to be better prepared next year...did I say next year...yes I did...Yes I am going to do it again...

I need to get closer to God...I'm working on that...

On that thought...I need to go to bed...
Good night...