"Sit Still and Shut Your Mouth"

I am sure my mama said that to me a million times when I was little - God bless her, I am sure she never got a moments rest with me! I can sure talk!

This morning, I sensed that God was saying to me, " Sit still, Carolyn! Focus. One thing at a time."

Are you running yourself ragged? Do you need to "Sit still and shut your mouth"?

How many books are you reading right now? How many projects do you have going? How many meetings? Groups? Piles of papers? Unfinished prayers because you thought of something else you needed to do RIGHT NOW?

One thing at a time, sweet girl. Sit still and listen for that still, small voice of God. He may not be shouting your name, but He will whisper to you, if only you will be still.

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Ecclesiastes 8:5-7 (New International Version)

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him.

Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?

Job 3:26 (New International Version)

I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil."

Job 6:24 (New International Version)

"Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.

Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Maybe before we can SHOUT we need to "sit still and shut our mouth" and listen to the voice of the One who knows what is best for us. One day at a time, one task at a time, one prayer at a time...

Love,
Carolyn

Good Morning, Beautiful

Yes, it really is 6:05am and I am blogging to you! I get up around this time everyday - seriously. I read a book by Donna Partow (I am too lazy to go look it up just right now - coffee not in me yet!) but basically, one of her ideas was to go to bed and ask God to wake you up at the time He thought you should awaken. So I did and the dogs woke me up at 4:30 that first day. I said, "Lord, are you kidding me?" The next day I awoke at 5:30 and basically have been ever since. So, I sit here in the silence a little after 6am and enjoy this peace on a Saturday morning. I try not to be bothered by the mess around me. My kids get to clean that up later. I am here with my God and He loves me.

1John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us." God IS love. He is the author of love. He wrote the greatest love story ever told. Do you need reminded of that today? Beth Moore, a popular speaker and Bible teacher, challenges us to ask ourselves if we really love Him. Do you FEEL love for Him? Do you seek Him out? Is He the first thing you think about? Is He your all-in-all? Do you turn to others (or chocolate) to fulfill your needs?

Your challenge today is to turn to 1Corinthians 13 - and where it says "love" (or charity if you use KJV) I want you to say, "God" or "My ABBA Father". Go find a quiet place and let Him love you. And then my prayer is that you will be able to say, "God, I love you, too."

Love,
Carolyn

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Hold on Firmly

Hebrews 4:14 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess."


While we could get into a whole discussion about Jesus, our High Priest, I want to focus on the latter part of this verse: "hold firmly to the faith we profess."

A strong grasp...reach up and hold His hand. He will not let you go! even when you feel abandoned and alone, hold on, sister! Hold on to your faith - hold on to Jesus. Live boldly for Him.

Maybe you are saying, "Sure, Carolyn, this looks good in writing but it is not practical!" I am here to tell you that it is so much easier to live the life of a real Christian woman then pretending to be something you are not! Think about all of the times today you have caught yourself being fake, trying to please other people, making excuses, etc etc - are you catching my drift? Not yet? Did you give in to gossip today? Did you eat to satisfy your emptiness instead of turning to God? Did you pray, just to spend time with God? Did you study His Word?

I am not trying to make you feel guilty. I am the first to raise my hand and say, "Ummm...guilty." But I can tell you, dear friend, that living His way is so much easier. Trust me, hold firmly to that faith. Take it one day at a time - one minute at a time if you have to! Start thinking about your actions and motives and your words. When you speak, be speaking as if you were talking to Christ.

If Jesus left His towel on the floor would you nag at Him? Would you yell at Him to hurry up and get on the bus? Yep, you guessed it I am...ummm...guilty.

Hold firm to the faith you profess, and live the REAL life. Walk like Him, talk like Him, dress the way He would want you to dress, read what He would approve. Ooooh - are you thinking I am acting like a 1940s housewife? I am telling you - it really is EASIER to be strong and live boldly. Even if you are hurting, even if you are married to a non-believer, even if your kids are out of control.

Find yourself a Bible verse about strength and memorize it! Write it on post-it notes and stick it everywhere until it is in your heart. And keep on reminding yourself that God is your strength and that you want to be real!

For more inspiration, start studying Proverbs 31:10-31. We'll be talking about this passage a lot in the next weeks.

Know that I am praying for you. Hold on to the faith you profess, sweet girl!

Love,
Carolyn

I have found my voice. And my prayer is that you will, too. Be bold before the Lord. Be in awe of Him and revere Him, but live as He calls his daughters to live. Fearlessly. Learn to SHOUT
S isters
H aving
O ur
U nquiet
T ime

Yes, we need quiet time with our Lord, listening to what He has to tell us! But we also need to be strong women of God and boldly live the life He has called us to live!

My challenge to you is to find your voice. Boldly live for Jesus. Change your attitude. Follow your dreams by discovering your God-given gifts. (We need theme music to start playing here!)I promise you that it will all be worth it -

SHOUT to the Lord, all the Earth, let us sing! Power and majesty, praise to our King!

Love,
Carolyn

I've never been accused of being quiet -or dare I say demure? I can't whisper or contain my joy - and what a blessing it has been!

Join me on a journey of learning to SHOUT to the Lord of Lords - as we explore His Word together.

More coming soon...in the meantime I pray you will find your voice!

Love,
Carolyn