Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

Have you read this book? I am beyond excited to be reading it. It is a book I have always heard wonderful things about but have never read it for myself. I am doing a Monday morning study with a small group of girls and this is the book we decided on. We are all so excited!!! Here are my sweet friends who I will be taking this book journey with. (I always like to put a face to a name & since I will be referring to them a lot, here you go! ;)

Kali & her husband, Pat

Kristen (right) with her new bling ;)

Kelsey & her fiance, Brett

Okay, so those are the girls! As you can probably see the little trend, they are all either a) married or b) engaged. Awesome. Moving on. I am excited to be able to share with these girls and talk about what the Lord is doing in our hearts. I know I will learn from them & hopefully by being transparent with each other we will discover our heart's desires vs. God's desires. 

I have already read the first couple of pages & it has already made me think. My favorite few sentences so far is this: "While the world applauds achievements, God desires companionship. The world clamors, "Do more, Be all that you can be!" But God whispers, "Be still and know that I am God!"

How powerful and moving is that???

There are so many times that I fall into the world's trap and the world's desires. For instance, always feeling like I have to go above and beyond in school or planning my life in such an advance I don't even have control of tomorrow. The Lord tells us, actually commands us to BE STILL and know that He is God. He is the Almighty, giver of life, He will do anything according to His will and His good purpose. I am so guilty of this on so many accounts it's not even funny. 

So, have your read the book? What are your thoughts?

Everyone's a teacher...

You might think, there is NO way I am called to be a teacher. I can't wipe noses, listen to the tattling, teach a child how to READ!! No way!! However, you might be called to teach - teaching is your gift. I feel like I am called to be a school teacher. I adore children, I have a passion for their success, and quite honestly I like listening to the tattling. I think it is downright cute & if I am annoyed I take a ticket...easy as that! ;) I believe from the bottom of my heart that teaching is my gift. Give me a set of children and I will delight myself in their presence & do life with them because they are my passion, they are the future of this world, and I believe in them.

Now...moving on to a form of teaching that isn't so comfortable to me. That is teaching others about Jesus. Now don't get me wrong, my Bible study each week is one of my fav things because I can be vulnerable to people who understand what grace, mercy, and Christ's love is. I love talking about Jesus, what He has done in my life & talking about scripture with other believers; however, it is downright intimidating and nerve racking to talk about it with someone who is not a Christian or not exactly walking with Christ as they should. For one, I don't want to seem judgmental or come across as "I am better than you."  Do you feel me? Now you may not relate to this scenario because you feel comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics. Praise you!

No matter how I feel, I am called to have conversations with believers and non-believers about Jesus. We all are!! "Let the word of Christ dwell in our richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom." ~Col. 3:16. We are all called to be teachers. This verse is talking about the everyday opportunities that God will give each of His children on a daily basis.

I am encouraged to take these opportunities & become comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Psalm 51

This year I started reading Whiter Than Snow as my daily devotional. It's a great daily devo...I like it because it is not too lengthy but always speaks Truth to my heart and leads me to different parts of scripture that become all too necessary for my life.

This morning it was about Psalm 51. How convicting but refreshing at the same time! It talks about Jesus opening our eyes to what makes Him cringe, our sins. I came to the revolution that Satan tries to make our sins look "good" in our lives. Satan has a way to put a "mask" over our sins so to the human eye they seem okay; however, it is not pleasing to the Lord. Psalm 51 is very refreshing in the same sense. David confessed to God his sin: adultery. And the Lord granted David forgiveness because He loves David THAT much. There is no sin too big for God or too small. All sins are equal in the eyes of Jesus. But as believers in Christ we can't take that statement lightly. Everyday we must strive to live a life more like Jesus. We must spend time in His word, in prayer and in solitude with the Lord. David's story is very encouraging for me to read. David had the courage to confess to God his sins and the Lord graciously forgave David. I pray to be a David--to repent for my sins.

This year I bought a small spiral at Wal-Mart and I have been using it as my prayer journal. This year my goal is to not only pray for nouns (person, places and things) but also for my inner-self. I want my eyes to be opened to the things that make the Lord cringe. "Break my heart for what breaks Yours." I want my heart to be totally transparent so I can see the blemishes and pray about those blemishes to see transformations from the Lord. I also want to recognize the Lord's forgiveness and grace in my life. I want to understand that the same God who can bring life to the dead and heal a blind man is the SAME God who takes care of me.

Need Jesus, desperately.

Claire

Child Like Faith

I had the privledge of going to Mrs. Radka's first grade class Friday afternoon. The day before was 100's Day at school and for anyone that knows school age children this is a HUGE day! One of the activities Mrs. Radka had the children do was write about what they would do with $100 and draw an illustration. One little boy who is extremely smart wrote something that blew my mind and really challenged me.

"If I had 100 dollars I would give 90 dollars away to the poor. Because Jesus said it is easyer for a camel to go throgh an eye of a needle then for a rich person to go to heaven. And I would spend the ten dollars on things I need like food and chloths the end."

When I read this I felt so happy that a child understands what the Bible calls us to do as believers. But I also felt challenged to quote scripture more in my writing, conversations, etc... A first grader just took a part of scripture and WROTE about it!! This little boy understands the importance of giving.

Teaching is my mission field and I am so excited to begin my career. I will forever be blessed by this little boy. I thank God for children and their child like Faith. I am positive they will teach me more than I will EVER be able to teach them.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

~Romans 5:1-2

Be Blessed,

Claire

"Yes, Lord. I will wait eagerly for You."

Well it is 2010 and I can hardly believe it.

I am now 3 semesters away from graduating and this is just the beginning of the fast roller coaster that will end before I can blink. I sit here on my bed, in my room of my house and think to myself of what I think my year will look like. Now I can tell you it won't turn out how I THINK it will look so this is where I must turn to my Creator, my Planner, my One.

I have many wishes for this year. I am about to start the busiest semester yet and as I begin to prepare my body and stamina for what is to come I also want to prepare my heart. I am in school to be a teacher, as many of you know. Teaching is my mission field. I love children with my entire heart and soul. I believe in these kids and see something so great in each of them. I pray this year that I am an INFLUENCE on their lives. The days will get long and the weeks will get longer but I pray for strength, rest, joyful spirit and patience. I also pray I get sound teaching this semester. I am eager to learn how to be the best teacher I can be. I am praying for helpful mentors who are overflowing with tips and tricks.

My 5 goals for 2010:

1. Intentionally seek the Lord in all I do.
2. Pray first then seek wise council.
3. Run at least 5x a week--complete another half marathon.
4. Quick to listen and slow to speak.
5. Volunteer regularly.

I am excited about 2010. I know I have many exciting adventures ahead of me. I can't wait to see what doors will open and even close. I hope to grasp a better understanding of grace and forgiveness in 2010.

Lastly, my motto for 2010; "Yes, Lord. I will wait eagerly for You."

When I think of my motto I begin to sing "...as I wait upon you Lord." And this is exactly what I am going to do..wait! I am going to be patient, calm, intentional and wait upon the One that loves me more than anyone else here on earth, the One who knows me better than anyone else on earth and the One who knows my two years from now when I begin to worry about two years from now. He is enough.

All my love,

Claire

Blessed.

I love my church here in Stillwater. I go to Life Church and have been extremely blessed the past few years. Craig Groeschel is a man of God's word who speaks Truth to the church. I leave church each Sunday overwhelmed by what God is speaking to my heart, but today probably surpassed them all.

Church began with a "Baptism Bash" and we worshiped to the song 'Healer' by Hillsong. This song brought tears to my eyes as I sang the words:

"You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease.

I trust in You

I trust in You.

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my portion

I believe You are more than enough for me."

As I worshiped to this song I felt a great sense of comfort knowing that my Lord holds my world in His hands. I am encouraged to Trust in Him and know He is all I need. He is my healer when I am sick or broken. He is my portion when I feel inadequate or discouraged. Life is complicated. Especially with life decisions being made and coming near the end of college and trying so desperately to figure out the life I am called to live. The fact that my Lord walks through fire with me and calms my raging seas is more than enough for me. This song spoke right to my heart and I am thankful.

Today, Craig preached on Generosity and what the Bible states about generosity. Craig believes there are three types of mindsets: The Bag Mindset, The Basket Mindset and The Barn Mindset.

The Bag Mindset; Not Enough

"...You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes." -Haggai 1:6

The Basket Mindset; More Than Enough

"The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock...Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out." -Deuteronomy 28:4-6

The Barn Mindset; Infinitely More Than Enough

"The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to..."

-Deuteronomy 28:8

My heart was convicted. All too much in my life I have the bag mindset. I want more for me....all too often do I purchase something unnecessary. I pray that my mindset becomes more like a basket or even the barn, especially during this Christmas season. To blessed you must bless others. This sermon really hit home and I am thankful.

Thanks for letting me share my heart,

Claire

Humble

"For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

- Luke 14:11

I drove home to Oklahoma tonight to finish up the semester and this verse was said on the radio. I was humbled the minute I heard it. There are too many times during the day that I want more, expect more, need more, desire more, etc... This verse makes me realize I need to be content where the Lord has me. I must believe in His perfect timing and relax. This verse is all too real in my life and my prayer is I will humble myself and let the Lord work in my life, rather than making all these plans that I think are sufficient, when at the end of the day my plans will get me nowhere.

Thankfully His,

Claire