Words of Wisdom

Every once in a while I have moments of great brilliance in my words. :) You can all stop laughing right now! The "right" thing usually comes to me hours, days, weeks later that I should have spouted off and come across as down right well...brilliant. I had one of those moments today.

Never knowing the correct way to respond when people ask me about how to get into the word or how to get closer to God. I usually give the standard answer of "Pray and the Lord will show you what you need to do." Of course that is the correct answer but there are other things that a person can do to get more involved in their relationship with Christ. This week I got faced with this question from someone who I have known a long time. Someone who I thought knew me and would know the real me. (And call my bluff) The person I still see myself as sometimes. I think I fooled her good. I joke because for her to say that I am a strong-christian-woman took my breath away. No way~you have the wrong girl.

I only share this correspondence between us because after I re-read my response I thought to myself there was no way I wrote that. I don't even remember 95% of it. And I just wrote it this morning! It was before I headed off to church so I felt rushed and was so hoping that she didn't think it was spur of the moment or not heart felt. But after re-reading it I realized that I didn't write these words. God did.

Keri,
I want to ask you a question if that's ok. I know that you are a strong christian woman and I want to know how to be that way to. I want to be closer to God and make Him my number one. It scares me how lost I feel and not knowing where I am supposed to be. I'm not sure if there are any good books to read or bible studies to go get.Thanks for your time.
Superstar (Names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Ha! Superstar I think I have you fooled! Although it might appear that I have it all together I don't girl. :) I am flattered that you find me to be strong. I do work at it and struggle daily. But by the grace of God I am finding that not only is He loving and blessing me daily I am working harder to please Him and show my love for Him as well.
As far as what has made me this way. Hmmm... I have a ton of contributors.
1. A good church home. Cameron and I church hopped for years trying to find which church fit our criteria. When we finally stopped shopping for churches like a new car and started looking into how we could join in and become an active part of church our lives were transformed. There were many opportunities to serve and do God's work and I didn't have to come up with any of them. I just joined in. That got me on the road to serving and finding my spot in the church.
2. Read one Proverb a day for a few months. There are 31 Proverbs and you can just read one a day for a month. This is an easy way to get into reading the Bible and it is full of hope, peace, wisdom that we all can put into action within our lives.
3. Start talking about God with your kids NONSTOP. When I finally made the decision to incorporate God into my words, conversations, daily life I felt more and more confident in my walk. Example: When I talk with Gracelyn about why not to do something I tell her it is because God doesn't want us to. Obviously I can't say this when she is asking for another cookie but if she is wanting to use a particularly colorful word I tell her that God doesn't want to hear her say those things. When I transitioned to using God as my source of information she started to automatically think that God was our GOD and we are here to serve Him. When she does something particularly wonderful I always praise her and say that I bet God is smiling because of what she did.
4. Pray with your kids and have them repeat after you. I know this is soooo simplistic but it is what got my prayer life on track. Listening to Gracelyn pray is heartfelt and pure. Can't get better than that.
5. There are several Bible studies that are good. I just finished up a Beth Moore study called Stepping Up. An Ascent Through Psalms. It was good but intense so it might not be the best one to start out with. Priscilla Shrier is good as well. If you have a Christian bookstore nearby just go browse the isles of stuff that pops out at you. There are a ton of bible studies on being the best mom you can be. Getting your life on track. etc...
6. Pray with Rockstar (Superstar's husband). It is soooo awkward at first. Cameron and I laughed and tried hard to out do one another on whose prayer was more heartfelt and heard better by God. (Good times!) But very quickly we saw God working and together we were able to rejoice in the differences together. God had always been blessing us we just never gave Him the credit. We played it off as luck or coincidence. There is no such thing girl. It is all God. But back to praying~when you are in a praying relationship with your husband there can't be anything better. It can only improve something that is already good.

I by no means think that you can start all of these things come Monday morning. But you just start finding ways to do 1 or all of these over the next month and see where the Lord takes you.

Superstar, I hope that you know I will be praying for you. I have been in your shoes. I have lived a relatively normal and uncomplicated life this far but when I finally got serious about my relationship with Jesus I realized just exactly what I was missing all these years. Living in His light is glorious and will fill your life completely. I can't imagine hard times without the ability to fall at my Father's feet and be in His presence. I find great joy in knowing that my Father is rejoicing with me in my earthly triumphs.

Again I want you to know that I have been right where you are. Wondering if there is more to this life than just existing and living day to day. There is Superstar and it is so easy to obtain!Blessings to you girl!
Keri

The only reason Superstar thinks I have my stuff together is because she sees what God has done for me. I haven't done it. God has. He is a mover and shaker so to speak and I am all about that. I know that I have much, much, much more moving and shaking to do. Praise God for that! I have successfully surrounded myself with people who show me God's love and what I need to do in my life. I am so blessed. It has taken me many years to get to where I am right now. It didn't happen over night.

I want Superstar to know that although it seems bleak at times living in the light of Jesus Christ is never dark and the answers are always there to be found. God has something up his sleeve just for you sweet friend!
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.