Writing in my Bible

Welcome to my quiet spot. Where I pour out my heart and soul to my Maker. Only my quiet spot is not so quiet. The corn dryer is droning away in the background, driving me crazy and reassuring me at the same time. There is a crop and God is good and this season too shall pass. 

I write in my Bible. I shout in my Bible. I circle and color and draw and put stickers and flags everywhere. Not for showing off. But for me. Remembering all of His promises and truths. And one day maybe my children will open up my Bible and know that in my quiet place I was shouting to the Lord. Sometimes praising. Sometimes begging. Always waiting. 

Father's Love Letter - Video

Blogging through the Bible

I need to figure out how to do all of those linky thingies and will update this post later with them :)

www.goodmorninggirls.org and www.womenlivingwell.org There are printables and a Bible reading plan.

But first, I need to write. To record what God has shown to me in the first few chapters of the book of Esther. I've read it several times in the past, even seen the movie. This time, I saw what God wanted me to see.

I have always focused on Esther's story, but this time it was Queen Vashti that made me think. Because I have been in her shoes. Where men have summoned me in their drunkenness to point out my beauty. To brag about what a great woman I am and then send me back to my "Chambers". In Esther 1 we have a king, a grand palace, and permission to drink unlimited amounts of wine by a royal decree. Throw into the mix all of the king's homies, if you will, and well, you get a drunken braggart.

She refused to come. Maybe she had been summoned too many times. Maybe she was tired of her beauty surpassing her brains. And I cried. It is a terrible place to be in when you are a woman owned by a man who drinks excessively. When the wine gives him liquid courage and love that is not present in the sobriety. God spoke healing words to me in that moment when she refused to come, knowing full well she would lose him and her position. She shamed the king in front of his party. She refused to be paraded about like a pony at the horse sale. And she lost. But, oh what she gained. Courage. Self worth. Freedom.

I can feel the contempt and anger in my own heart right now having felt the sting of alcohol making me desirable to a man. It hurts. Even though I am beautiful, it made me feel ugly.

I have one up on Queen Vashti however, because my King is Jesus. He will tell me I'm beautiful anytime. There is no doubt that He loves me. That my beauty is not what makes Him want me but my heart and soul. Jesus summons me out of love, not to show me off, but to reveal His glory in me!

So, girl, you shout to Jesus! Ask Him to reveal your true beauty. Even if you have never experienced what Queen Vashti did, you need to know you are beautiful. You are loved. You are free.

Love,
Carolyn

Words

"Put away from you all false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you." Proverbs 4:24 AMP

 

 

For the past month or so, God has called me to consider my words. I went straight to the WORD and in my daily readings looked for God to show me about my mouth. And He did. Some of it was convicting and some was uplifting.

 

The book of Proverbs is full of verses on lips and tongues and the mouth! And the consequences we must face when we choose to use our words incorrectly.

 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

Proverbs 18:21 KJV

 

 

Your words can kill. Period. They can destroy a moment. They can cause harm to your children that will last for generations. They can shame you. Words can take root and grow in another person and either bring forth fruit or cause a bitter heart. Jeremiah 12:2 AMP.

 

Your SHOUTING has power, my friend. Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity. Your words make a difference. Will you build them up or tear them down?

 

 

Be Blessed,

Carolyn

I had no idea...

that people were still reading this blog. I am humbled. To know that a few posts are inspiring that many people all over the world!

God's Blessing to you today, my friend. I pray that you are taking some time to just BE STILL. It's never, ever too late to start over. Take this moment to breathe in and know that you are loved. God is way bigger than anything you are facing. He has already gone ahead of you, preparing the way. And He is standing behind you to catch you if you fall.

And if you have unforgiveness in your heart I urge to SHOUT to the LORD and ask Him to bring you to a place where you can let go!

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ Jesus has forgiven you."

Bitterness can turn a woman into a hag. Trust me. No matter what the situation, it does you no good to hold on to hate and unforgiveness. You will yell at your babies. Hole yourself up in your house and ignore your friends. Treat your husband disrespectfully. And God doesn't want that for you. Not only because it's a sin, but because you cannot live the joyful and abundant life He has planned for you!

I am praying for you today. Use your voice and SHOUT to the One who knows your name!

Whoa!

Sloooooow down...me? I want to write tonight about what God has been doing in my life. Things I never would have noticed had I not QUIT everything. Yes, I quit. Quit signing up for everything. Quit yelling. Quit rushing from here to there and hither and non. (I always wanted to use the last two.) Quit every group, study and class. I QUIT. And was still and tried to be quiet LOL and listen to God. And I learned that I was not being real. I was a big fake. I was not putting Him first. It was all about me and what I could do. I didn't know who I was anymore. Wife? Mother? Teacher? Friend? Mentor? Farmer? Business Manager? When was I supposed to get all of this done? I hate rushing. I hate chaos. My life had no direction and I was out of control.

After a much needed conversation with my beloved Aunt K, I realized that it was not my "do" but my "who". I knew that some people in my life would be hurt and disappointed with my decisions. I knew that I would face indecision and discouragement as I tried to quit. I needed to make a clean break. And for the first time realized I had never once asked God what He wanted me to do! And, I have no answer yet other than to QUIT and be still. Maybe He told me to be quiet. So, I seek Him and wait. And quitting wasn't all that bad.

The Business of Life

...or should I say the "busyness" of life? I intended to write this days ago - even had notes made - but the business of life got in the way of my plans.

Yes, life is like a business. You have to have a game plan, a Boss, team work, deadlines...well, you get my point.

And, a lot of them time I want to hang up a "Going out of business" sign - but my Boss won't let me.

See, when I try and run my business myself and start thinking:
"I can handle this."
"Maybe tomorrow...for sure on Monday."
"It'll get better or easier and less stressful someday."
"When......."
"If only THEY would help."

Well, sistas, I hate to tell you this, but there are no "do-overs" in life. This ain't grade school. And if you aren't on the right team this time around,
you're O-U-T out!

Don't let your "busyness" keep you from your Boss. Go to His office, kneel before His throne, and ask for His direction. Consider that He may have plans.

"For I know the plans I have for you," decalres the Lord. "Plans to help you and not to harm you, to give you a future with hope." Jeremiah 29:11

So, here's what you'll need to set up your new business:
A Day Planner - it's called the Bible, use it, study it, memorize it. That's your game plan. Your "I can't live without it" Book. Download it to your I-Phone, your Blackberry, your PDA - whatever!
Subscribe to a daily devotional. I like www.proverbs31.org. Www.biblegateway.com is also an excellent resource.
Have daily meetings with your Boss. Ask Him the gameplan before you even get out of bed. Meet with Him throughout the day as needed.

Here's my guarantee - if you start your day out with time for Him - the busyness won't be so bad. I'm not gonna lie, it won't go away until the last child flies off on his own. Then, you will be all sad and lonely and empty-nesty. Which I am sure I will blog about someday, too.

So, go ahead, I dare you - I double dog dare you - write in some time with the Boss in permanent marker or crayon *lol*

I love you, and He does, too!
Carolyn