some things I've learned in 21 days

1.  I am a very selfish person
2.  I think I "deserve" certain things when in fact i don't
3.  Quiet is a state of mind and heart
4.  Who am I?
5.  Remain is in John 15 ?? times?
6.  If God's not speaking, he's preparing you to hear from HIM
7.  having a scale in the bathroom isn' always a good thing

What have you learned?

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

As I embarked on this journey of 21 days of Prayer and Fasting with my church, New River, and millions of others across America through a movement called The Awakening, I am excited about what God is going to do not only in my personal life but the life of our church, community and world.  There's something about a bunch of people joining together to say no to the flesh and yes to the things of God.  During this time I'm praying and believing for a true AWAKENING of the Spirit to the things of God, to the spiritual disciplines, to the will of the Father, to the responsibility of the church, and to the overwhelming love and mercy and goodness of God!

The Calling--My Calling

I am a minister.
I minister to the largest mission field in the world.
I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear.
My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical.
My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent.
My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine.
My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised.
And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope.
In a world of confusion, I offer truth.
In a world of immorality, I offer values.
In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation.
In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness.
In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted.
Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back.
I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration.
I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods,
normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision.
I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good.
I will move forward when others stand still.
I will trust God when obstacles arise.
I will work when the task is overwhelming.
I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God.
It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked,
too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge.
I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems.
And I know my God.
Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children.
This is who I am. This is what I do.

Thanks Roger Fields @ KidzBlitz

I Will NOT text and drive

Here's where I take a stand and make a commitment to break my HORRIBLE habit of texting and driving.  After watching this video Dying to text I was convicted and humbled beyond belief that I, my family and friends have been kept safe by the grace of a loving Father, who loves me enough to bring conviction and rebuking BEFORE it's too late.  I know that sounds harsh but that's where I'm at.  Every time I text and drive it's a gamble and one I'm not willing to make anymore.  Not only that but I have set a HORRIBLE driving example to my daughter and her friends who will be driving in less than a year.  So here's to 2011, to no texting and driving.  So if I don't text you right back, you now know why!  

New Year, New You

So this begins my journey...my year long journey to break old habits and create new ones.  To say no to my flesh and yes to God.  To quit saying and start doing.  To quit wishing I can and start believing I can.  To be healthy(physically), wealthy(spiritually) and wise(emotionally).

Now let me explain those last three:

Healthy physically because so many of the daily decisions we make are directly related to how we feel, and how we feel is directly related to our mental state and our mental state is directly related to our physical state.  I am committing this year to take care of myself physically by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, balancing work and play, and living in the fullness of HIS JOY!

Wealthy spiritually because what comes out is directly related to what we put in.  I want to fill my thoughts, words, ad actions with truth from HIS WORD.  I want to be useful for HIM.  I want to be living out what I'm teaching my kids and your kids to use the Word, read the Word and know the Word.

Wise emotionally because i don't want to spend all my emotional energy on people and things that aren't deserving and leave me depleted and running on empty.  I want to be wise in how I choose to invest my emotions and not let that be stolen from me.  I want to use discernment and give where I'm supposed to give, first in my home and then to the relationships the Father has placed in my life as well as my ministry.

So here's to 2011...what does your journey look like?