Up for the challenge?

I had such a good time with you ladies on Monday! I left with a renewed sense of anticipation for what God has planned for us this semester. I know it's only been two days, but I'm wondering if any of you have sensed a more clear direction throughout the day because you began the morning with the words "Yes Lord, TODAY I will follow You!" I hope that over the next few weeks you will remember the Invitation: "Come, follow me" (today!), the Promise: "I will make you what you aren't" (thou art....thou shalt be!!) and the Challenge: "What's your boat?"
Remember, I signed up for the challenge too! I'm fasting something that I will miss on a daily basis so that I will be reminded to ask God to reveal to me what my "boat" is. What is it in my life that I need to walk away from, to leave behind, in order that I may be a fully devoted follower of Christ? I want nothing to stand in my way! I don't want to breeze through this life and miss out on what God has in store for me if I will just follow Him.
I'm asking God to do amazing things among us this semester. I'm asking that He shake each of us awake from our spiritual slumber and His hand be so evident in each of our lives that we can't help but to be stunned and respond with Radical Devotion!!
I want to encourage you ladies to share your personal journeys with each other this semester. By sharing and hearing about one another's walk with Christ, we can each learn and grow. Let's tackle this challenge together!
I love you ladies and am praying for you!

A Party in Your Honor

Imagine you're planning a wonderful surprise party for someone you dearly love. You've made the plans, invited all the guests, and decided on an exquisite menu. You can't wait for the big moment when all the guests yell, "SURPRISE!" and your loved one finally joins in the festivities. You know she'll understand just how cherished and adored she is when she sees everything that's been done in her honor.

Finally, the time for the surprise arrives. All of the guests are waiting in anticipation at the front door. You see your loved one pull into the driveway, and you hear her car engine turn off. As she opens the car door, you see the interior lights come on while she gathers her things. Your heart races as you see her heading up the driveway. Suddenly, she makes an unusual turn and heads to the back door.

You quickly make your way to the back door to redirect her. Your cheerful greeting is met with a halfhearted smile, and your attempts to send her to the front door are brushed aside. She insists she is tired and will look at what you want to show her tomorrow. Only you know that tomorrow the guests will be gone, the leftover food will be stored away, and the party will be over.

How sad for the guest of honor who missed her own surprise party! And how disappointing for the party planner who orchestrated the event.

God must feel the same way when we miss the "surprise parties", the divine appointments, that await us each day. How it must disappoint Him when we don't hear or don't listen to Him redirecting us to the front door. How it must grieve Him when we walk through our lives oblivious of His activity all around us. How it must break His heart when we brush aside something that not only would make us feel special and noticed by God, but would allow us to join Him in making life a little sweeter for others as well.

How many times have we missed our own surprise party?

~ excerpt from Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst ~

Ladies, life with Christ is not meant to be BORING and MUNDANE. If that is our experience, then trust me, it ain't Jesus' fault and it doesn't have to be that way!! Beginning Monday, January 25th, come join us for a fresh look at the RADICAL DEVOTION of the apostle Peter. His life with Christ was FAAARRR from boring and mundane!!! Let's walk in his footsteps for a bit and get a taste of what life with Christ is meant to be like FOR US. Let's start experiencing some SURPRISE PARTIES thrown by the King of Kings in our honor!!!

Are you contagious?

Last night I headed to bed before my husband. This is nothing new because I like to get up at the crack of dawn therefore I like to go to bed...early! My husband usually stays up later than I do. After I kissed him goodnight and told him and my dog how much I loved them, I left him alone to enjoy a movie he had found on tv. I'll admit, I have seen this movie and it's not really one I'd choose to sit through again, but Jake loves it. Thinks its hilarious. As I was walking up the stairs, I heard him let out a big belly-laugh. I love when Jake laughs like that. Oh, I can get him to laugh on a pretty regular basis, I doubt that we have ever gone all day long without sharing a laugh, but those belly-laughs are awesome. I mean, the man was really getting tickled at this stupid movie. By the time he let out another one, I was laughing at him laughing. Then he heard me laugh and he laughed at me laughing which made me laugh at his laughing... you get the point. By the time I made it to the top of the stairs, I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard! Good times, Good times. :-)
I'm thankful that our laughter is contagious. But you know as well as I do, sometimes so are foul moods. Every been perfectly happy-go-lucky till you get around that certain someone who walks around with a permanent growl? Like the cartoon person that always has a rainy cloud over their head? What happens when you are around that person? Is your sunshine contagious or do you allow their rain to get you wet?
I want to strive this year to spread the laughter. I hope that there will be many moments of holding my sides and tears of laughter streaming down my face!
Happy 2010 ya'll!