Life Verse

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me"

Psalm 51:10

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Hello Mornings Goals







This is my first Hello Mornings Challenge.  I am NOT a morning person.  Am I usually up by 6? Yes, but not  by my choice and I'm certainly not awake or in a happy mood.  I am usually up because my dog needs to go out and be fed and then Buddy usually comes shuffling in looking for breakfast.  Buddy gets 30 minutes of PBS while I try to wake up.  I usually sit in a fog with my coffee while mindlessly watching the news.

My goals for this challenge:

1.  Spend time with the Lord before anyone else gets up.
2.  Be in a joyful mood.
3.  Try to get in at least 15 minutes on the treadmill.
4.  Don't get sucked into Fox and Friends for an hour!(unless I'm on the treadmill)
5.  Make sure all schoolwork for the day is organized and ready for the kids.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Patience






When I was in college, I had a little page a day quote calendar.  One of my favorites was, "With patience and a cow, grass becomes milk."  I have struggled with being impatient.  I want things to work out NOW.  God has taught me patience through the years.  He sure knew what I needed to work on!  I have had to be patient through chronic illness, infertility, waiting for my husband during his 3 tours to Iraq, waiting for our adopted son to come home to us from Guatemala, feeling friendless, countless moves, difficult family members...the list goes on.  It is a daily struggle for me, but I feel that I've been conditioned by my life experiences to slow down and wait.  Waiting on the Lord is always the right answer.  Ask him for peace.  Know  that He will provide--In His Time.  It is a hard lesson to learn, but He is ALWAYS right and right on time.  If you call on Him, He will answer.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:4-5 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Reading Goals for 2013

Spiritual Growth
Book of Luke (Good Morning Girls study)
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Sons and Daughters by Brady Boyd (my awesome pastor)
Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

Parenting/Discipling
Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware
Disciple Like Jesus for Parents by Alan Melton and Paul Dean
various Autism related books(any recommendations?)

Homeschooling
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay Clarkson (this is a yearly read!)

Homemaking
The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer
A Life that Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

Fiction
Bailey Flanigan Series by Karen Kingsbury
Troubled Waters by Rene Gutteredge

Autobiography/Missions
Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis
Peace Child by Don Richardson