Feeling Far From God?

When I am feeling far from God, it does not take long to figure out who moved. (It was not God.) I am not RUNNING from God, but I am not running TO Him either. Why? I get caught up in the day to day. Spending time with God is not a task, it is supposed to be a relationship. I WANT to spend time with God. Of course I still talk to Him everyday, more than once a day for that matter! It is an open dialog all day. Kind of like tweeting all day long just without the computer and followers. But that is just "updates." Does God just want my updates? No, He wants me to seek and to listen. He already knows what I am doing, He doesn't need a tweet!
Recently I have been inspired by so many people. Inspired and convicted at the same time. (Funny how that works!) A young man where I work came in and said "Guess what I did last night?" Assuming he was going to tell me something funny or crazy that he did I asked but turned to go back to the task I was in the middle of. He proudly boasted "I accepted Christ!" I was so happy for him. I stopped what I was doing and got all excited! I told him how wonderful that was and "welcomed" him into the family! I am so ready to see how God is going to use him!
Then my friend's son, who was going through a rough patch, came home from church camp with that camp high! He was (and still is) so on fire for Christ! I could see the change in him. He even invited me to read the Bible with him. I was honored. He read aloud and then we discussed what he was reading. Then I asked him how he was going to apply that to his life! It was amazing! I think I got at least as much out of it, if not more than he did!
Running...it is time to start running to Him. There are so many questions in my life right now. Money problems I am worrying about, trying to decide if past decisions were correct, if recent decisions were correct, what will happen next, what decision do I need to make now. I know I need to rest in His peace. I am not going to find it on my own.
Most people know Jeremiah 29:11. I encourage you to continue reading to the end of verse 13. "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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
God didn't move, I did. It is time for me to call upon Him and pray and to seek Him with all my heart.

Welcome to 2010!

With the new year here we have a chance to look back at the previous year and look ahead to the coming year.
Ecc 3: 1-8 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
In 2009 I saw many of these "times." I have wept many days, and I have enjoyed laughing with friends many days. I have enjoyed the time I got to dance, play, and have fun with my students. I have had to spend some time searching and I am still looking! I have enjoyed being able to keep old friends close while I had to throw away bad habits of the past. I have learned that often I need to be silent when I speak too quick. I have loved my family and friends, both old and new. I have enjoyed getting to know other educators that have encouraged and inspired me, even though we have never met face to face. I know that I should love more, or at least show it more. I know that my life has been in the mist of a spiritual war, but I enjoy the peace of God.
I look forward to the good times of the coming year, but I also know that I have to expect the hard times that will come. I know I need to lean on the Lord in those difficult times. I thank the Lord for the blessings of 2009 and thank Him in advance for the blessings of 2010. Please take the time to share your blessings of the past and your hopes for the future here!

New To Blog

Well this is my first blog! I have so many friends that share their thoughts on blogs I have decided to do the same. I may be asking some of you for help! Well as usual I am procrastinating so I need to get back to my task at hand for today. First I want to share my vision for a ministry that I came up with years ago...maybe this will be my starting off point!

PALACE Ministries: For Women
PALACE Ladies = Pursuing A Life According to Christ’s Example. Ephesians 5:1-2a “Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.Purpose:PALACE ladies pursue a well balanced life that includes personal time with Jesus, love for others, encouragement, goal setting, and evangelism in an attempt to follow Christ’s example.A PALACE lady maintains balance between her time with God, Family, Job, and Activities through organization.

There is more to it. If you really want to know I would be happy to share. My current desire is to share a Bible study online with some of the most AMAZING women that god could have placed in my life!

Gay has been there from the start of my Christian walk! Really. As a teen she and her husband were my youth ministers. I had gone to that particular church off and on in 7th and 8th grade. For the first 6 times in a ROW that I went to the church I was greeted with a "hello, is this the first time here?" Often by the same person and handed a card to fill out AGAIN! I stopped going. (This is before I was saved) I had been in church as a child thanks to my grandparents. I had a basic "knowledge" of Christ. I then went to YCW at SDC with a friend’s church and was moved by the message of the speaker. I prayed a prayer of salvation that night. I saw Gay and her husband right after that. I went up to speak to them assuming that they would not remember me, they were still new to the church and had only met me once. Gay said hello and asked how my family was doing since the recent death of my grandmother. I was shocked...not only did she know me, but she really cared. Anyone who knows her would not be shocked. She truly loves and cares about others. As I have grown up, she has become a good friend and wonderful mentor. She has an amazing heart and is certainly a PALACE lady! (Okay Gay, stop crying I am done! Love you!)

Amber is a fairly new friend! I have already learned so much from her! I love how she loves life, shows passion, cares about herself, her family, her friends and her students. Amber is a trusted friend! I enjoy reading her blog...sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, sometimes I am inspired!

Ashley has been there for me in many ways. She is a wonderful friend, she is a great person to talk to, she really listens, she gives advice and encouragement. She happens to let me rent a place to live too! She lets me stay in her house and watch her dish while she is not there too! Oh, and I feel like I have two dogs thanks to her. Her dogs think I am just a member of the family who lives through the other door to the backyard!

Jo, what can I say about Jo. Well I call her my "mom away from mom!" I don't know what I would have done without her and her family. I am truly a part of the family. I even have a pair of Orange Nike's to prove it. (The official shoe of the family!) I practically live at their house. I really did for a little while! I have a new love for soccer thanks to the family! I will NEVER be as loud as her, I can try though! It is rare for me not to be at the house once a week! I still do my laundry there and go over to watch NASCAR races and movies! She introduced me to a wonderful church that I may some day like to serve in some way!

Rachel has been the friend close to my age on the hall. Wow this year we will really be the young ones! Rachel has been a friend that shows me how to and encourages me to stay focused on God. I have been blessed by the fact that she used to let me stay at her house to save me from an hour drive that I did not want to drive late at night. She opened her house to me as well as her heart. She, like the other ladies of this group, have shown me what a good Christian marriage can look like.

Sarah is our social director! She lets us all hang at her house! If we have something going on it is usually at her place. We even planned a party at her place and let her know the day we were coming over! Sarah is a prayer warrior! She cares for us all and seems to know everything going on at school! She is truly a "handy woman!"

Tina is a counselor to me in more than one way. She is someone to talk to who will listen. She does not try to make things better she tries to help you figure out how to make things better. She shows me that things may not always go on our time table, but God's is always better!

I love these ladies! God has given me such wonderful mentors and friends!

Well looks like this first one was long!