Distractions

So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:3 NASB

Ring, ring...beep beep..vibrate...vibrate...

Distractions. We all have them. The question is how do we deal with them?

This past week Andy did a message about finding what your "one thing" is.  By "one thing" I mean - what is the one thing that must be focused on this year. The one thing you must achieve, conquer, beat, etc. 

In Andy's message, he used the story of Nehemiah. It's a fascinating book of the Bible. I highly recommend you reading it! Also, it would be great for you to watch the message online - http://northpoint.org/messages/this-one-thing.

Anyway, basically the message challenged me to rid myself of certain distractions. It can be people, projects, technology, habits, etc. So I'm working on that. I will definitely be easing off Facebook. It's always been a distraction for me. And G and I have implemented a no technology time at home. It starts when we get home from work and ends once Finn is down. I just love that time for the 3 of us. 

Nothing in this life is easy. But I know my "wall" is my family. "The days are long, but the years are short." I want to make my family my priority. My husband and children are the most important thing right now. Especially Finn and this baby on the way. The kids are G and I's mission field. We are raising up a generation for Christ. Talk about great responsibility!

I will leave you with this. Find out what your wall is. And then stay on it. Remind yourself as often as possible - "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down." 

A new year...

Today's Jesus Calling was so good. And I thought this was the best way to start a new year on purpose! Happy New Year friends! Enjoy some encouragement from this devotional. I pray that each person reading knows they ended 2011 well and will start 2012 with purpose. So my question for you - how will you change the world in 2012???

 January 1 

 Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely; My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence.


 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2 


 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” - Jeremiah 29:11

2008, a new year...

I just can't believe another year has come and gone. It's crazy how times seems to go by so fast! 2007 was a year full of benchmarks. Gregory and I both turned 25, we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary, we celebrated one year of living in this home. I walked 60 miles with Deana in the 3 day walk for breast cancer. God provided me an out of the mortgage business and I got an amazing job at the church. We lost a few things too. I lost the 15 pounds I had gained since we got married. We lost Carol Rudin to cancer. We lost half of my income when I switched jobs. But of all the benchmarks and all the losses, we gained more than we can imagine. We gained a stronger marriage, we gained better and deeper friendships, we gained a closer relationship with the Lord, and we gained more days of LIFE. I'm so thankful for everythign that we have. Even thought it was a tough ending to this year...all in all, we are alive and living for Christ! I got a new tattoo on New Year's Eve. It symbolizes a lot to me. It reminds me that God is Love, that He is always in my heart, and that he is the vine and I am the branches (I had alot of branches to remind me to produce many branches for Christ.) So as the new year starts I pray that you too can reflect back on the past year and look forward to what God has in store for you in 2008. Thanks for reading!
Love-
R

The last day of 2007

Ok so two amazing things happened at the end of 2007. My best friend got engaged and she asked me to be her Matron of Honor!! And also I got a tattoo that I wanted for a VERY long time! Now tonight...we're having a New Year's Eve party :) What a great day it is!! Can't wait for 2008 to be here!

It's hard to believe...

This New Years Eve will be 2 years since Gregory asked me to marry him!!! Time goes by so fast. I still can think of that night like it was yesterday. I found this video as I was going through a bunch of wedding folders we had on our old computer. So I thought I would share :) It's only a minute long. Short, sweet, and to the point! Have a look and listen closely for when the countdown ends. I loved that night. I have never been so surprised in my whole life.

So, a new year is on it's way...what's your new years resolution??