Waiting...

Mark Mallett » Blog Archive » High Seas:
"Even Jesus Himself had to wait for His mission, growing in humility, wisdom, and knowledge.

But we want holiness now. Along with our food, videos, success, text messages, and nearly every other form of communication and gratification. As a result, we have slowly un-learned how to wait—'how to grow and become strong.' Instant gratification is one of Satan’s special weapons, for in bringing it to our times, he has made waiting and suffering almost unbearable, even to the modern Christian. "

Perhaps the biggest lesson that I'm learning right now is to wait on the Lord.

Beyond Measure

God Is Doing a New Thing: Chapter 3 - Going For Godly Goals - Part 1:
"PLEASE DO NOT USE THE BATHROOM SCALE AT ALL!!! I know this is radical, but you know how I have been singing the song 'Focus on the Lord Focus on the Lord?' The scale is THE BEST WAY TO STOP FOCUSING on the LORD and to focus on yourself and your supposed performance! PLEASE DON'T GO THERE! You and I both have done that before and has it served us well? NO!"

Well...when I asked the Lord for a new name for this blog and felt Him leading me to 'Loved Beyond Measure'...I didn't realize the full impact of what He was asking me. WOW. I'm taking Heidi's challenge and am going to be putting away the scale until the end of this study. This is a little bit out of my comfort zone...time to fly in His arms!

YouTube - Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand Lyrics

I was reminded just now of what the Lord showed me a while back...how it doesn't always 'feel good' to be carried...especially if we preffer to have our feet planted on solid ground. So...it is altogether possible that instead of enjoying being carried high in the Lord's arms, we find ourselves struggling to get back down. So sad when we look at it that way. For today Lord, remind me that when things aren't going exactly as I expected them to and I start to feel off kilter...remind me that I'm being held in Your loving arms and I just need to relax and enjoy it.

YouTube - Shine Jesus Shine

Watching the High Lights

Watching the High Lights : A Catholic Reflection:
"We have put ourselves in a position where we desperately need the Holy Spirit day by day, moment by moment, to keep us 'set aflame and burning bright' (Jn 5:35). Satan will tempt us to take a 'breather' by stepping out of the hot lights into the darkness (see Jn 3:19); however, stepping away from Jesus is the devil's trap. We must continually come to Jesus (Mt 11:28), and never move away from Him. Jesus will always give us light (Eph 5:14).
We must fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb 3:1), the Light of the World (Jn 8:12). 'Walk in light, as He is in the light' (1 Jn 1:7)."

Today's Gospel Reading

USCCB - (NAB) - June 9, 2009: "Gospel
Mt 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
'You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.'"

God created us for His glory. He wants our lives to reflect His joy, love, grace and compassion so that people will recognize Him in our countenance. The Bible calls this 'glorifying God'. You might say that we become advertisements for how wonderful God is when our lives display His majesty and wonder to the world." Thin Within p.27

Day 3: Going For Godly Goals

"As you listen and draw closer, you will hear God speak specifically to you about His plans for you--plans for a hope and a good future. And as you continue your journey, you will want your own visions, plans and goals to line up with His. Our sincere desire is for you to experience the freedom for which you were created and to catch the vision that God has for your life. Today we will focus on the purpose of life and the blessing of adopting Godly goals."

I'm a great fan of the book 'A Mother's Rule of Life' by Holly Pierlot...it has changed my life. It is an awesome tool to help with setting Godly goals. It shows us the five areas that need to be addressed...Holly calls them the 5 'Ps'. P1= Prayer, P2=Person, P3=Partner, P4=Parenting, P5= Provider. I have prayerfully and with the direction of the Lord set up my own 'rule'by examining each area of my life and seeing what needs to be done on a practical level to maintain it...it is so freeing to see it all in black and white and not have to re-invent the wheel each day on what needs to be done around here. While I'm 'waiting on the Lord'...instead of focusing on my stomach or being tossed everywhere by my ADD tendencies, I instead set out with the grace of God to just do the next thing on my 'rule' aka to-do list. I thereby live in the moment and that is where the Lord meets me...in my regular day to day activities...washing the dishes now becomes a wonderful dialogue with the Lord.