Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day. Every year on February 2nd, people all over the country anticipate the news of whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow, indicating when Winter will end and Spring will come. Well, I've got some news for you. *spoiler alert--Spring begins March 21st. Whether or not the groundhog allegedly sees his shadow, it is the same every year. It has been the same each year since God created the heavens, the earth, and the seasons. Yet, every year, this tradition holds steady.
As silly as this all may seem, we do the same thing in our spiritual lives. We stick to silly traditions. We look for signs and signals. We do the same things day after day, year after year expecting some sort of miraculous result. We've all heard the definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results." We try to do the right things, but our flesh wins out every time. We run around "serving", instead of sitting at the feet of Christ and expect that we will feel differently than Martha did in the same scenario (see Luke 10:38-40). We strive and strive, working in our own strength, and then get surprised when we grow weary. We chase after the cares of this world...vanity, vanity, vanity.
If we want different results, we have to do it a different way. And if we want predictable results, we have to do it God's way. Just like God created the seasons to come and go without fail, He has given us many promises that you can count on.

"Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord you God gives you for all time." Deut. 4:40

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4

"They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14,15

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

These are just some of the promises from God's word. You do it God's way, you get God's results. Don't let the groundhog fool you, Spring always comes March 21st.

Dawn

Tithing Time

Today I was listening to a message and the speaker was talking about the importance of spending time with the Lord in prayer and in reading His Word. I know that we all know that this is important and I sure hope that you do spend time with Him daily. I also have considered that we should give our first fruits to God in the context of not just possessions but time as well. But I had not really thought about the fact that since God gives us the specific number that should represent our first fruits--10 percent--that this should apply to our time just as much as it should our possessions. Now I know that God does not specifically require that we give him 10 percent of our time, but what if He did? Would I be able to trust that if I give Him 10 percent that he will take care of the other 90? I do it with my money, would I be willing to do it with my time? 24 hours in a day--10 percent is 2 hours and 24 minutes. Let's see...if I were to do my morning quiet time, my afternoon study, and my evening reading, I would be pretty close to this. If I added in some good solid (desperately needed might I add) prayer time, it would definitely amount to that much time. Problem is, I rarely actually do all of the things that I plan. And why not? Because I see other things that I think need to be done more. Shame on me for not realizing that just as I trust God with all of my money, I can trust Him with all of my time. Knowing that if we give Him our first fruits we can trust Him to stretch what is left and continue to give us an abundant harvest, we should be giving Him at least 10 percent of our time.

I am going to make this my goal for February-to give God at least 10 percent of my time--2 hours and 24 minutes every day. Does anyone want to join me?

Dawn

Recovering Perfectionist

My dad is a perfectionist. My sisters are perfectionists. And I am a perfectionist. I wore this badge proudly for the first 30 years of my life. I prided myself on being neat and organized and living by the creed, "if you can't do it right, don't do it at all." I can't tell you the number of times I have taken forever, got frustrated, or given up completely on a project because I couldn't get it 'perfect'. Though I know many women who consider perfectionism something to brag about, I have come to realize that this is not a good quality to have. No matter how hard I try, I will never be perfect. There is only One who is. For me to think that I could even have a small portion in perfection is simply prideful and foolish. Who am I to try to presume to be able to do anything apart from the Holy Spirit?! As Spurgeon said it, "You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself." Sure, God has given me some natural talents, and He wants me to use those talents for His purposes and glory. But, many years of striving to attain standards that just aren't humanly possible has led me to need the words that God spoke unto the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." and agree with him when he said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Think about that for a second. When I fail, God's power rests upon me. I can be closer to God in my weakness than I ever could be any pathetic attempt at perfection. Which is a good thing, because the more I try and try to attain it, the more I realize how much I fall short. But the really good news, is that there will come a day when I actually will be able to reach the level that I have been yearning for. One day I will be free from fault, weakness, and sin. Then and now, instead of pridefully looking for find perfection in myself, I will look unto the "Son who has been made perfect forever." (Hebrews 7:28)


Dawn

Serving with Gladness

I have been reading C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening since the beginning of the year. Today's evening devotion was so powerful to me, I wanted to share it here.

“Serve the Lord with gladness.”
Psalm 100:2

Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace his throne; he is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have his servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if he seeth that we serve him from force, and not because we love him, he will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, “It is sweet for one’s country to die,” proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing,“Make me to walk in thy commands,’Tis a delightful road.” Reader, let us put this question—do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.

This is something that I need to keep in mind every time I am tempted to complain about cleaning the toilet, or I feel the need to share how overwhelmed I am by all the ministry work I am doing. Lord, please help me to do every thing that you have given me to do with joy and gladness, like the soldier who marches forth in battle proclaiming it is sweet to die for one's country!

*By the way, if you would like to enjoy Spurgeon's writings every morning and evening, you can find them here:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library's Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon

Dawn

Spiritual Growth Plan

We all want spiritual growth. It is all well and good to say, "I want to read my Bible, pray more, walk closer to God." But these things can't just be wished into happening. Spiritual growth requires spiritual disciplines. So, a few years ago, I started myself a spiritual growth plan to include these spiritual disciplines on a daily basis. When I finish a book, I simply swap it out with another one and keep the system going. Here is what it currently looks like:

Morning:
Devotional-Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon
Prayer-family prayer requests, daily prayer subject (Monday-ministry, Tuesday-Paul, Wednesday-kids, Thursday-home and school, Friday-friends and extended family, Saturday-personal, Sunday-church and government)
Bible Study-R&R Hebrews
Parenting or Homeschooling book-Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel

Afternoon:
Devotional-Each New Day by Corrie Ten Boom
Prayer-intercessory prayer requests
Bible Study-2 Corinthians
Books-Living Water by Chuck Smith, The Joy of Marriage God's Way

Evening:
Devotional-Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon
Prayer-gratitude journal
Book Study-Loving God with all your Mind by Elizabeth George
Book-Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I encourage you to make your own spiritual growth plan. If all this seems overwhelming, start out slow with just one or two things and keep adding in more as you feel comfortable. As you put these disciplines into place you will see how God is faithful to use them to accomplish the spiritual growth in your life!

Dawn

© 2011 For I am Confident in This - All Rights Reserved

Committing your plans to the Lord

"Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."~Proverbs 16:3

I am one of the biggest list and plan makers in the world. I firmly believe that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. But I also believe the Scripture above, and that all the planning in the world is useless if you do not commit your plans to the Lord. The Lord God is sovereign above all and there is no thwarting his plans. Therefore the only way for YOUR plan to be successful is if you align it to HIS plan.

Here are some tips to help you commit your plans to the Lord:

1) PRAY. Ask the Lord for His direction. Ask Him to bless your ideas and dreams. Allow Him to shut doors and show you which opportunities to pursue. Do not proceed with any plan if you do not have the peace of knowing that it is in line with Scripture and what God reveals to you in your communion with Him.

2) Open your Bible. Read the Scriptures and continue to read them while making your plans. The Lord can and will reveal things to you through His Word to guide you in what goals you should make. Try to attach Scriptures to your goals and keep them visible. If your idea is not in line with the Scriptures, it is a NO GO. (to see the verses that are my inspiration this year, see my goals)

3) Seek godly counsel. Ask friends to pray for you. Ask them for their input and ideas. God often chooses to work through our friends or family to reveal His will to us. Keep an ear out for words of wisdom from those God has placed in your life and allow Him to speak to you through them. If you do not have any trustworthy acquaintances, you can always ask for counsel from your pastor or the leaders in your church.

4) Accountability. Surrounding yourself with like-minded, equally yoked people can help keep you accountable to reach your goals. If you start to get out of line from your God-given plans, godly friends can help get you back on track. If you are not already, get involved in a group Bible study or ministry team that can hold you accountable to keep God in your plans.

5) Pray some more. Continuously pray through your goals and plans. Ask for God's help to persevere and stay disciplined. Ask for God's vision for where to proceed. Thank God for His guidance in your life.

Commit your plans to the Lord and you WILL succeed.
"The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?"~Psalm 118:6
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."~Colossians 1:17

Dawn

© 2011 For I am Confident in This - All Rights Reserved

SMART goals

For those of you who are still working on your New Years goals, here's how to make your goals S.M.A.R.T.

Specific-try not to make your goals too vague or too big. For instance, instead of saying, "I want to be more organized.", you would want to make a more specific goal, like remove clutter from your home, put system in place for housecleaning, or don't miss any appointments.

Measurable-how are you going to measure your success? If there is no way to measure, then how do you know when you've accomplished your goal? Don't say, "I'm going to lose weight this year." A measurable goal is, "I am going to lose ______ pounds."

Attainable-attainable goals have a specific end. A goal to be more friendly does not have a specific ending point. It could go on forever. You need to know that you will eventually come to a point where you have attained your goal and can move on to something else.

Realistic-Above all else, a goal should be realistic. You should never feel like you goal is impossible. Better to make a conservative goal that will easily be accomplished, and then make another step from there, than to make a goal that you will never reach. Failing at a goal will make you feel defeated, but reaching your goals will encourage you to make further dreams and plan.

Time-based-WHEN will your goal be accomplished? Is it a weekly, monthly, or yearly goal? Often it is wise to have a long term goal and break it up into smaller pieces to make it more manageable. No matter how long, make sure to give yourself a specific deadline.

You can see my new years goals here

Dawn

© 2011 For I am Confident in This - All Rights Reserved