Faith-Filled Steps

Hubs

2011-07-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

When my best friend flew out to visit me one year she had a layover in Dallas. It was really odd because she lives EAST of Texas and she was flying EAST of her state to mine. So basically she had to fly out west to fly east.

When you are flying from one city to another sometimes you have to take the long way by stopping in a layover city. The layover city is a hub to get you to the location you want.

A few months ago I read a blog post by Steven Furtick called "Hubs."

He explains that "there are very few non-stop flights to God's will." At times in your life, you're waiting in the hub. You're on a layover that will last a certain amount of time.

Sometimes, to us, it makes NO sense why you are still in the hub. But Pastor Furtick says, "there's a purpose to every hub God takes you to."

I'm still trying to understand the purpose of being what I consider "stuck in the hub." I've said it before -- I am not happy here. I am ready to start fresh somewhere else. Do something different.

And here I still am.

I know my next destination is ahead of me. I just don't know how long my layover in "the hub" will be.

Until then, my focus is to discern His will and DO it.

Going Back to God's House

2011-06-21T10:25:00.008-04:00

I quit going to church early last year. Wait, let me back up.

I quit attending my regular church because I realized God said it was time to go. There were many reasons for it, I just knew it was time to move on.

Hubby and I visited a few other area churches to see where God wanted us. Nothing "fit".

So we quit church. It's been over a year since I have been in church. Unless you want to count online services. {grin}

I know the reason why I never found the "right" place. I didn't want to. I got burned out on church. I spent a good five years working for (and attending) a few churches in town. I worked my tail off, gave my all and got REALLY hurt in the process. So I was no longer interested in doing the church thing.

I just wanted to show people Jesus. Be His hands and feet. I didn't want to get caught up in that whole "give ourselves a pat on the back for an awesome Sunday service" thing. I had been caught up in it. It was fun to be in a "cool" church, doing things outside the "typical" church way. But somehow, doing all that cool stuff made me loose sight of what church is supposed to be.

It's not about a trendy sermon topic. Or rockin' music. Or the jeans and t-shirt attire.

This is what church should be: ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common.⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

I think I am ready to go back to church now, on one condition. I need to get my feet wet again and just attend. I don't need to head back in there full charge and get so busy doing things for Jesus that I no longer have time just to be with Jesus. It doesn't take long for tunnel vision to set in and you get so focused on what you do for ministry that you forget why you are doing it in the first place.

May I never lose focus again.

Footnote: I used an awful lot of "quote marks" around words in this post. Guess that makes me "weird." :P

Incredibly Overwhelmed

2011-06-16T11:12:00.005-04:00

I'm going to start blogging on Faith-Filled Steps again. I haven't posted anything on here in almost 2 years. I don't know why the urge to come back happened. It just did.

I'm incredibly overwhelmed in my life right now. With a range of emotions from excitement that everything is about to change for the good to panic to anger to tears. And usually I hit all those emotions over a span of 10 minutes.

I'm ready for change. I'm ready for a fresh start.

Only, everything is SO confusing right now.

The only thing I know FOR SURE is that I won't be living in this town the rest of my life. I hear the doors closing to opportunities here. I see the windows closing on relationships here. I know this town is/was just a season in my life, I just don't know when I get to leave and move on.

We're in the process now of fixing the house up to put on the market. There's been a bunch of snags and the process is going s-l-o-w. I get so stressed and frustrated that all I want to do is stamp my feet and scream that I want it done NOW.

God's timing only seems to make sense AFTER the thing you have been waiting for happens. You look back and see why this had to happen so that could happen.

So I am back to being overwhelmed. There is packing, storing, painting and decorating to do. We still have to check out our cities of interest and pick one to move to. I still have articles piled up in my favorites folders to read. Crafts I need to finish. Plans I need to make. Decisions to sort. It goes on and on.

I'm hoping to use FFS as a place to vent and maybe help clear my confusion. I guess I am writing a diary...without a lock. {grin}

This is what happens when you are married to me…

2009-10-21T11:02:00.002-04:00

I love to throw special occasions for people. Especially birthdays. I love to throw together parties. The food planning, party supply shopping and decorating for the event.

So it is safe to assume that if you are married to me and have a milestone birthday approaching, I’m going to do this to you:

Yep, I threw him a surprise party. Now I know I said I love to throw a party, but SURPRISE parties are HARD to throw. Or maybe it’s just hard to throw one for your spouse. I did A LOT of lying and sneaking around to get this party together. But the best part: I TOTALLY SURPRISED HIM!!

And this is probably the look you would give me too:

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY

DAVID!!! I LOVE YOU!

I am a “Kept” Woman

2009-07-02T14:30:00.001-04:00

Got this in an email and thought I would share here.

I Am a "Kept" Woman.

You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, but GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go no longer,
but the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15)

At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong, but the LORD kept my mouth shut. (Psa. 13)

Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough,
but GOD has helped me to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid, etc.., (Matt. 6:25 -34)

When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up.
When I thought I was weak, HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)

I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!

I'm blessed to be "kept."

Don’t Choke!

2009-06-22T11:56:00.001-04:00

John 15:1-5

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesso that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Another lesson from my blueberries. One morning I was weeding the area around the blueberries. Tough weeds and tall grass had grown all around the base of the bushes. It was a mess and it almost seemed like they were choking the bushes. As I began to clear away the weeds, I realized we need to clear away our "weeds" at times too. Before we choke.

I started out thinking about worry choking me but you know, other things can choke. Worldly distractions such as too much time watching TV, or blogging or Twittering or even crafting (oh how I love my beading!!) can choke your time with God.

The weeds were being a burden and distraction to the life of the blueberry bushes. They will stop producing fruit if left unattended. It chokes the plant.

Not spending time with God and worrying about "what's next" is a burden and distraction to the life of a believer. They will also stop producing fruit if left unattended. It chokes you.

Are you being "choked"? Is your fruit being left unattended?

Quotes I like…

2009-06-16T21:49:00.001-04:00

These are quotes from notes a local pastor wrote down when he was at a conference. When I read them, they really clicked with me.

1. Mark Batterson

The bottom line is that our dreams are too small. We should repent of sin, but we should also repent of our small dreams. Instead of drifting into left brain (memory), we should fight to do ministry out of imagination (right brain)

2. Vince Antonucci
We’re reaching people, but we’re not reaching LOST people.

If we say we are going shark fishing, and catch a bunch of grouper, then we haven’t really been successful.

If we are not close to people who are far from God, then we are not as close to God as we think we are.

3. Mark Dever

Say what you want as a preacher, but the church will show the world what you mean.

4. John Burke
Stay connected to the vine.

When you are connected to the vine, fruit grows naturally. Perhaps the reverse is also true…if fruit is not growing naturally, then maybe you’re not really connected to the vine.

Stay connected…fruit happens.

Spiritual growth happens when you are intentional about being connected. Discipleship happens when you intentionally help others stay connected.

Storms and Yummy Fruit

2009-06-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

Last summer had a doozy of a storm one night. It was so bad I was worried about my blueberry bushes. The winds picked up and the rains came down hard. Those blueberry bushes were taking a beating. I worried that they were going to lose a lot of their berries in the midst of all that turmoil. After the storm I checked on them. Not a berry was lost. In fact, they looked like they weren't even in a storm. In spite of the chaos around them, they stood their ground to continue producing yummy fruit.

So I began to wonder...do I stand my ground during the stormy chaos of life and produce yummy fruit? Umm, no would be my answer.

During my storms I panic and worry and wonder why God is letting me go through it. It rarely occurs to me that I am safe and secure in the palm of His hand. Well, during the storm it doesn't occur to me. Just when it safely passes and things turn out the way I wanted.

I need to learn to be like my blueberry bushes and "go with the flow" in the storms of life. Just as God watches over my berries He will continue to watch over me, protect me, and nurture me into producing yummy fruit.

What is your Birth Verse?

2009-06-08T10:26:00.001-04:00

I found a cool site that gives you a verse according to your birthdate. Check it out at Birth Verse.

Here is mine for June 7th:
Ephesians 6:7 NIV
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

Puuuurfect Love

2009-06-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is Tinker. He is a stinker.

Teehee…channeling my inner Dr. Seuss. LoL

Tinker loves to lay on my bed. Well, on my clothes actually. The CLEAN clothes I have sitting on the bed waiting to be folded and put away. Tinker loves to get on the bed at 3 a.m. and get as close as possible to Hubby’s face while sleeping. Then he loves to sleep on top of my head purring the whole time. LoL

Tinker’s love is perfect. He loves me for who I am, not who I SHOULD be. When I mess up, he still loves me. He just wants to be near me.

The same goes for God. His love is perfect. He loves me for who I am DESPITE not being who I SHOULD be. When I mess up He still loves me. He just wants to be near me.

Thanks to Tinker, I have that constant example of God’s love for me.