Challenge # 1 - Blessing Blitz

A Blessing Blitz is simply, blessing others! All over scripture it tells us to be encouragers. So the point of this challenge is not only to put into practice the the words given to us by our Heavenly Father, but to seek out the Lord in the process.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11




A Blessing Blitz can take on a number of different forms, but for this first challenge, we will approach it like this, for the month of May...

1. Choose at least one person each week that you can "bless rotten." So by the end of this month you should have blessed at least 4 people (one per week).
2. Come up with at least two things you can do for that person this week that make them feel loved and blessed. It is best if these things are spread throughout the week. This way they get a whole week to enjoy it, rather than just one day of blessing.
3. Please make sure to do the things you planned for that person that particular week.
4. Expect absolutely nothing in return. Bless for the sake of blessing and nothing more.

This challenge is not meant for you to go out and spend a lot of money. It simply means you think about that person throughout the week and do things for them that they would appreciate. For example, the person you choose might like getting cards in the mail, so one day you can send them a card. They may also enjoy a certain meal, so maybe you make dinner for them one night. Maybe they could use some help in their yard cleaning up from the winter. You can always drop them a text message, phone call or an e-mail. There are a lot of ways you can bless someone without spending a ton of money. Sometimes the best blessings are those that flow from the kindness of the heart rather than the wallet.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

I will be doing this challenge right along with you. I pray that your heart will be blessed as you bless others, and I pray that the Lord begins to teach you some things about yourself and about others. I pray that God reveals His character through you to those you are blessing each week. I pray that your light shines bright during this blessing blitz.

Challenges

I will be presenting you with challenges from time to time. They are not anything physically difficult, but for some of us, they may prove to be mentally difficult. and for others not so much. Some of these challenges are things that we have actually done in our own home to stretch the hearts and minds of our children. Some of these challenges are things that I have personally done to stretch myself in the things of God. I am only sharing each challenge to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. These challenges have helped my family to grow in our faith. The challenge are meant to be a blessing to you, others and to the Lord. Each challenge will bring about a new level of spiritual growth in your life, even if it starts out small. Each time I post a new challenge I will be doing the challenge myself, so you can rest assured you are not walking this walk alone! I will also be praying that the Lord helps you to grow in Him with each new challenge.

I pray that you take the time to do some of these challenges and that you will be bless as you walk out each one. I pray that the Lord uses each challenge to help you to grow closer to Him, to become more like Him, and to understand more of His character with each new challenge.

The Mirror Concept

I am so thankful that the Lord loves us enough to show us the things that we need to change in our lives.  God loves us too much to leave us as we are!  What an amazing thing because I know that there are so many things in my life that need the Lord's loving hand to change. God will also use many different avenues to pinpoint the areas in our lives that need some adjusting. One of these avenues God has used in my life has been my children! God has used my children to teach me so much about myself that I had never realized.


Our children are always going to be a good mirror for us as parents to look at, so we can gauge how we are faring as parents. Our children will copy the things they see and hear us doing and saying. My pastor always says, "what we do in moderation, our children will do in excess." So chances are, if we see our children is doing something and we don't know where it is coming from, it might be a good idea to consider if we are doing that same behavior, even if it is just in a small amount.  

Let me give you an example from my own life's experience. As I'm sure many moms would agree, dealing with stress can be a difficult thing at times. I'm not the best at dealing with it myself, and so often I wish I was. I have difficulty recognizing when tension is building up inside me and then catching it before it comes out. My children have proven to be an accurate thermometer in telling me when I have crossed the line. God has given my son a sensitive spirit when it comes to emotional things. He often apologizes for being the source of my tension and my stress, when in fact it is not him at all. It is the plan and simple fact that I let my emotions get the best of me. My oldest daughter's reaction is much different. She responds with the same level of emotion that I am putting out. I find she exhibits the same emotional feistiness as I do. So when I am stressed out, it directly shows up in my daughter's actions and attitude. How many of you find yourselves in this predicament, where your emotions can sometimes get the best of you?  I have been praying hard through this one, that the Lord will help me to exhibit self control in times of tension and stress, so that my children will see how to have self control. I want them to grow up knowing the appropriate way to respond to stress, and how to exhibit self control in those moments when most people would boil over with anger and frustration. The only way they are going to learn this skill is by mom and dad being a good example of controlling their emotions. Let's face it, there are many times when we can justify our anger toward others, but Christ is calling us to live above our emotions and react much differently then we want to react in times of stress.  

The mirror concept can be applied in so many different contexts that we can observe with our children. It doesn't just have to apply to things we see that are negative.It can encourage us in the things we are doing well as parents. Let your children teach you how to be a better parent by observing them. You never know what you might learn about yourself by watching your children.

I pray that as you observe your children this week, the Lord will give you wisdom in handling the different situations that may arise.  I pray that the He shows you the hearts of your children, as well as giving you a glimpse into your own heart. When God allows us to see what is truly in our hearts, it is in that place that He can begin to do a deep work in our lives and make us more like Him.  

You Are A Masterpiece (Part 2)

"For we are God's masterpiece created anew in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)

By His very nature, God is an artist. He formed you while you were still in your mother's womb, and each day that you live, He is molding and forming you to become this beautiful piece of artwork. You are a masterpiece in the making!  

"Yet you, Lord are our father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." 
Isaiah 64:8

God takes His time with us. When a sculptor is in a hurry during the process of forming the clay and he rashly throws it into the fire, it will explode because the time had not been taken to go slow and work out all of the air pockets. Those pocket of air can't take the extreme heat. God wants to work out all of our "air pockets" in our lives. God wants us to be able to walk through the fires of life and not get burned. He wants us to come out the other side as something beautiful, something with purpose, something with great value, something that was worth the time it took on the potters wheel.

He is not in a hurry to get you finished because he knows that when we hurry, mistakes tend to happen. Things tend to get overlooked and forgotten. God does not forget to do things. God also does not have the mindset of mass production or a copycat mentality. He is not in the business of making you just like everyone else. This is the beauty of our Heavenly Father. He has enough creativity to make you unlike any other follower of Christ. You are unique. You are specially designed for the purposes God has for you. You are specially designed for the the people God has placed in your life. You are specially designed for the work he has prepared for you!

God Does NOT make mistakes! I want you to think about a woman in your life that you most admire. The one woman you wish you could be like, someone you find yourself comparing yourself with. How often do we find ourselves saying, "she always seems to have it all together." I am guilty of comparing myself with some truly amazing women of God and it is not a fun place to be. It is not a place where God wants me to be. All it does is bring about insecurities and self doubt in me. If there is one thing I have learned it's this, we were not designed to walk another woman's walk. We were not designed for her purpose in life. Even if we tried to emulate everything she did, we would find that we were not comfortable in your own skin. Why? Because God did not design us to copy someone else. God's plan is unique for you, especially designed for you and you alone. Embrace that, seek out the plans God has for you to do and when you are walking in his purposes for your life, you will find yourself satisfied!

I pray that this week that you seek to find your true identity in Christ. I pray that you become comfortable in who God has made you and that you don't look to emulate others, but that you look to emulate the one who made you. You are so precious, a true masterpiece in the making!  

If you have not already read part one, please visit "You Are A Masterpiece."

My Testimony

I was born and raised in a Christian home, and while this alone did not guarantee a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it sure did go a long way to establishing a foundation for my faith as I came to making that personal decision for myself. I grew up with a great support system both through my youth group, and close friends during my teenage years. I was one of those goody two shoes type of teenagers, keeping my nose clean, and for the most part staying out of trouble. I was even pretty good about having devotional time on a regular basis. As I was looking to go off to college I began to worry that I might be influenced to walk away from my faith and this was something I certainly did not want. I asked God to help me make a decision about college and help me to stay rooted in Him as I made this transition. As His word promises, He is faithful! The Lord directed my steps as to which college to attend, and He also surrounded me with a group of believers that supported one another through some challenging times. I only have God to thank for getting me through my college years in one piece, because left to myself, I would have been broken and left in a corner somewhere. I am thankful that Lord had better plans for me. During this time I began to seek the Lord more. I learned that there was a part of God that I had not opened my heart up to. I learned that God was so much bigger than I had ever allowed Him to be in my life. In learning this, I began to ask God for a greater understanding of Him. I asked God for more of Him in my life.

As I asked, God began to deliver. He began by tearing down walls I had put up in my life, walls that limited Him from moving in my life. I had only allowed God to go so far in my heart and no more, but when I realized that He was bigger than I had given Him permission to be, it opened up a whole new understanding! As the walls came down, He began to flood my heart with His love, joy and peace. He became Lord of my life, rather than just the God of the Bible. From that day on, I have seen my Lord in a whole new light. Not that I have a complete revelation of God, because in our humanness we will never be able to grasp the fullness of Him, but I realize now how easy it is to block the Lord from moving.

I still struggle with things along the way, life is not easy, but I am so humbled that the Lord will take me by the hand and lead me through the tough times. I am not called to walk alone. I have a Father who loves me more than I can even imagine and for that I am so thankful! I count it a true privilege to be apart of the kingdom of God!

If you do not have a personal relationship with the Lord, my prayer for you is simply this, that you make that decision today. Ask God to come into your heart!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

There is no magic words to say, or magic wand to wave in order for God to come into your heart. All it takes is a heart that is willing and humble before Him. Then all that needs to be done from here is to simply ask. God promises that when we seek Him we will find Him. If you are worried about what words to speak, please know that it's not about the words we speak, it's truly about the attitude of the heart. I have know people who became a Christian and yet never uttered a word with their lips at all, but their heart's cried out for the Lord. This is what our Heavenly Father desires, a heart that longs to have a relationship with Him, no more and no less. If we seek, knock and ask, He is faithful to answer our call.

My prayer for those of you who know the Lord is this, that you come to a place where the Lord becomes Lord of your life, and not simply just the God of the Bible. I pray that God reveals Himself to you in a greater measure than you have ever experienced!

Lord, I thank you for each person reading this today. I pray that you hear their hearts and answer their cries. You know each and every need. You know exactly what situations they face today. Meet them in a very real and supernatural way. Meet them in such a way that they can not deny your healing power. You are an awesome God who cares so deeply for us. I thank you that you hear our cry's and that they do not fall on deaf ears. I thank you that you long to have a deep, intimate and very personal relationship with us. Help us to grow to know you more with each and every passing day.

You Are A Masterpiece

"How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!..." Song of Songs 4:1

Song of Songs is a love letter, and if we read it as if the Lord was speaking it directly to us the entire book of Song of Songs takes on a whole new application to our lives.  The Lord finds us beautiful, not in a sexual way that we may initially read through this book, but He finds us beautiful because we are His masterpiece, a work of art formed by His own hands. He is proud of His masterpiece. He is proud of you and loves you so very much!

As women, we struggle in this area. We look in the mirror and see only our flaws and the things that we don't like about ourselves. We tend to focus on all of the things we would change about ourselves. However, when God looks at us He sees something beautiful, something He is so proud of. He sees our true beauty. God is not looking at the reflection in the mirror that we are staring at. He is looking beyond our physical bodies. When God looks at us, He sees beautiful!  

"...People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Much like Van Gogh and da Vinci painted masterpieces that by today's standards are considered priceless, so has God made you a masterpiece, priceless in His eyes. Can you imagine saying to Leonardo da Vinci "Hey, your painting of the Mona Lisa is so ugly and worthless?" More than likely he would be offended by your statement, and yet this is what we do with God. For many of us, every single time we look in the mirror we make these kinds of statements. We are insulting not only the masterpiece, but the master Himself!

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)

I admit I am just as guilty of looking in the mirror and the first thought that comes to mind is something I don't like about myself. Yes, we as women have a tendency to be so harsh, but I am so thankful I serve a God who can do brain surgery, and lasik surgery. No, I am not speaking of actual physical surgeries. I am speaking of a spiritual change in my mind and in my eyes, in the way I see and think about ourselves. It starts by seeing ourselves through the eyes of our maker. Since God sees us beautiful, we must believe that we are beautiful and not by the standards of this world because they are looking at the outward appearance. The beauty God sees in us runs so much deeper than skin, God is looking at the heart.

I pray that you allow the Lord to work on your eyes and minds this week. I pray that he does some spiritual surgeries on you if this is a need in your life. I pray that you come to an understanding that you are a masterpiece in the eyes of the Lord. I pray that you truly lay hold of the understanding that God finds you beautiful!

To read more on this topic, please visit "You Are A Masterpiece (Part 2)"

Recovery Road

As I shared in my first post, I found myself on a difficult road these last three years, and it has been one I do not care to repeat. But in the same breath I must also say this, I count it a blessing that I have had the opportunity to walk this very path. I know that may sound a little crazy to some of you. How many people can say they are thankful they suffered a stroke at the ripe old age of 31? However, I have found that the Lord has used this situation in my life to bring about more than I could have ever learned by walking an easier road, one with less mountains to climb, and less rocks in the way. If the last three years had been a cake walk I am quite sure I would have missed out on some beautiful workings of God in my life. It truly has been amazing! It's funny how the Lord will use difficult circumstances in our lives to allow us to see Him for who He really is, and to open our eyes to things that we have never seen before.  

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you will be made mature and complete not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Throughout the past three years I have had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of those who obviously have experienced a stroke and have had to recover from that. I have walked in the shoes of those who live with chronic pain. I have experienced the depths of depression. I completely understand those who live at the mercy of the side effects of their medications just so they can manage through each day. I have experienced what it is like to completely rely on another human being for your livelihood. I have also experienced the depths of love and friendship.

I am so thankful for the love that has been poured out on me during this season in my life. The Lord has blessed me with a husband who literally did everything for me in a time I could do nothing for myself. I saw the most beautiful side of a servant's heart flowing out of him. This is a side of him I had not seen before, a side of him that has made me fall more in love with him then the day I married him. I saw a sacrificial, servant type love. It ministered so deeply to me in those early days of recovery, and it still does three years later! Also during this time, our church family rallied around us and helped us to keep moving forward in a time when it would have been so easy to stop trying. They made meals for us for six months after my stroke and on top of that, they came to clean our house each week! Our family came to our aide countless times to help with our children, my appointments and so many other loose ends. Just as I said, I have experienced the depths of love and friendship.

To this day I experience daily pain since my stroke. The stroke is not the cause of my pain, but rather what triggered my stroke is to blame for that one. Due to the extensive number of medications I have tried over the years I have truly lived at the mercy of the side effects of each one. Those of you who have experience in this department will know that your body is no longer under your control. I had mentioned depression, this was one major thing I faced and it was a side effect of one of the medications I was on. I never understood depression until I walked a mile in those shoes. I didn't understand how someone bubbly and happy go lucky could find herself wanting to stay in bed or not wanting to leave the house. I felt a constant cloud of heaviness hovering over me as if it was going to fall and crush me. I am grateful to the Lord that the cloud of heaviness has since lifted, but what a challenging time it was!

Those of you who are walking in these shoes today, I pray that the Lord places his hand upon you and lifts your cloud of heaviness from you. My heart hurts for you because it feels like such a place of loneliness and hopelessness, but the Lord does not desire for you to live in such a place. He desires to set you free from the chains that hold you fast. The Lord desires to free your mind, to fill you with love, joy and peace. I pray you will find a peace in the Lord that passes all understanding and will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus this very day!  

"And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7