Being Real with You!

Just to be real honest, I have had to slow down on my reading and sort of apply what I have been reading!! James 1:22 -25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says. 23)Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25)But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." I will confess that when I say I am going to do something , like reading this book and blogging about it, I tend to be very ritualistic about it and instead of taking it at a pace where I can learn and apply I think I have to read and conquer. Meaning I said I was going to read a chapter a week and blog so that is what I have to do. However, this mindset at times hinders me because I am just reading to be able to blog not reading to learn and apply.....Does that make any sense???

Looking back at the last several weeks there have been times when I (we as a family) have been "off track". We have gotten busy, we have not been as thoughtful toward the other person, I have been moody or whatever. Those things are the path that I am on and I have to stop and realize that through that path we are on I will have obstacles and detours but my goal and my destination is still the same - to love God with all my heart, to love God's word and live it out, to love God's people and lead them to love Him and His word because we are a Kingdom Family!

Making the choice to be Proactive is easier some days than others I must confess. Having the tool of a "pause button" is some times easier to use than at others. I not only have to remind my family to use their "pause button" but they have to remind me to use mine and to be honest I don't always like it when I am reminded. I am thankful that they do remind me when the situation is all said and done with. I am also thankful that God's mercies are new every day and when I totally bomb one day or even in one minute the next day and even the next minute God says in a still small voice, come on you can do it Darla, I am with you, my grace is sufficient, my joy is complete, trust me, don't rely upon your feable thoughts for you are weak and I want to be strong in you. Again there are some days for me this is easier than others and I have to really walk around saying in my mind over and over, "My grace is sufficient for you", "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength", "let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing unto you oh Lord my rock and my redeemer". Do you get the picture?

I know I am not alone in this daily walk called life and I just want to encourage you that you are not alone either!! I pray that you will be encouraged today to know that God is on His throne ALWAYS. He is on His throne in the good times and in the bad, on the rainy days and the sunshiny days. He truely is and I want to be able to be Proacitve enough to base all my decisions on the truth of this principle not on the feelings I might have in the moment of my frustrations. My prayer is that I will take my days and moments and allow God to really order my steps and when the unexpected interruptions come then I say ok, Lord you are in control, help me to walk in this detour that You have allowed in my life, help me respond as You would have me to, not as I in my flesh would do. I pray for those of you who read this entry you would be encouraged.

Striving for more Authentic Families!
Darla