31 Day Challenge

Okay so I have decided to join the 31 Day Writing Challenge given by The Nester. The challenge consists of blogging on one topic for 31 days straight. This is definitely going to be a true challenge considering that I am a new blogger. I'm thinking what better way to get started then to take on a 31 Day Challenge. Now the first real challenge was figuring out what was going to be my topic. It had to be something good if I'm going to blog about it for 31 days. After much thought I decided what better topic than...wait for it.  Sharing God's Love!!! 

This is definitely something that God's been dealing with me about for a while, so I think putting it to a challenge can only make it more relevant in my life. I'm already coming up with small ideas of how to share God's love with the Hubby, my kids, family, friends, and most importantly strangers. That's the part that I will give extra attention to because sometimes it's so easy to share love with the ones we already love. Sharing the love of God with strangers or even...get this... our enemies that's truly what God's Word calls us to do.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 
1 John 4:7-8

Now I haven't completely decided what sharing the Love of God will consist of, I do have just a few ideas, but that's the part I will be really praying on and letting the Lord lead, because only He can show His Love through me. 

I am excited about this challenge for so many reasons

1. This is going to really help me be more consistent with posting to my blog.
2. A challenge like this has to help me improve my writing skills.
3. I just know God is going to show up in my life just as he always does.
4. I am going to get the opportunity to share the Love of God with not only family, friends, strangers but those that don't even know Him. 
5. God is going to use me to bless others and I will feel totally humbled, and blessed as well. 

So now that I am thinking about it even more, this is going to be an all around awesome challenge! Please join me and check back tomorrow October 1st when Day 1 of the series begins.



Click here to see each day in the series. I will be adding them daily. 

DAY 1   DAY 2   DAY 3   DAY 4   DAY 5   DAY 6   DAY 7   DAY 8   DAY 9   DAY 10   DAY 11   DAY 12   DAY 13   DAY 14   DAY 15   DAY 16   DAY 17   DAY 18   DAY 19 DAY 20   DAY 21   DAY 22   DAY 23   DAY 24   DAY 25   DAY 26   DAY 27   DAY 28 DAY 29   DAY 30   DAY 31

Hello God is that you?

I've recently started a new bible study that teaches about discerning the voice of God.  Being able to recognize when God speaks is so important if we want to know God's Will for our lives.  Just as we desire to have a strong relationship with our husbands and children, having a strong relationship with God allows us to recognize His voice. That's the part that sometimes gets tricky.  I know many times I'm asking myself the questions "Is that God or me?" or even "Is that God or Satan?"

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 
John 10:27

In life we are the sheep and Jesus is definitely our Good Shepherd. According to His Word the way we hear His voice and know how to follow Him is by knowing Him, just as He knows us.

When my Hubby comes home from work one of the first thing I always ask Him is "Hi Honey how was your day?" Of course this question always comes with a big smooch. Now depending on the type of day he had I can get a variety of answers. No matter what his answer may be I continue to ask him day after day in anticipation of his answer.  My point is asking him this question everyday is my way of communicating with him.  Getting to know his day is getting to know him. God wants us to do the same when it comes to our relationship with Him. Just like any relationship in our life that is important to us we take the steps to keeping it strong and making it a priority. Take the time to talk with God. Pray to Him, as well as listen to Him. That is how we become familiar with Him, and that allows us to recognize His voice.

God speaks to us in various ways sometimes in prayer, sometimes through others, and many times through His Word.  We need to spend time reading and meditating on His word. This is also another way to get to know Him better. Many times we may be praying to God asking Him to speak to us. We may feel God is not answering our prayers, but if we don't make the time each day to pray and read His Word we may be missing Him. We are not allowing Him the opportunity to answer us.

So after learning all of this you would think that I would have no problems in this area "right?" "Wrong!" Just yesterday in a small way God had to remind me of this very lesson, and as a matter of fact it seems that He is reminding me of this very lesson on a regular bases. I realize I have a bad habit of hearing that small voice of God but ignoring it.  I always somehow seem to talk myself out of obeying exactly what I hear.  I will tell myself all these different excuses until in my mind I have justified why I shouldn't follow the instructions I just heard. This happens to me many times in such small everyday ways. Thank God I serve a merciful God because He always reminds me afterwards that no matter how big or small the situation, the most important thing is to completely obey when I hear His voice.

God I pray as busy wives and mothers that we make you a priority and take the time to get to know your voice.  Help us to then obey what we hear, so we can completely follow your Will for our lives.  In Jesus Name Amen!

My Story

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to Him through God the Father.   Colossians 3:17

Growing up I was the youngest of three. My siblings are eleven and thirteen years older than me, so I pretty much felt like I was an only child.  When I was younger I  knew that there was a God.  I just didn't know Him well.  I would go to church once a year to light a candle for my grandma who passed away, and that was the only reason I wanted to be there.  God seemed to always bring people in my life that would invite me to church like friends, or friend's family members. Now when I look back I can see those times where the beginning steps to my relationship with the Lord.

In my teenage years and early twenties I went through a lot of experiences that made me the person I am now, but I wish I had known the Lord.  I wish during those times I had a strong relationship with Him that I could depend on, instead of making a lot of choices on my own. 

At the age of twenty-two I became pregnant with my first son Amari. At the time I was experiencing one of the lowest points in my life. Even though I knew God was always with me I didn't have my eyes on Him. Thankfully God is SO faithful, and just as He always has done in my life, He used what was intended for evil and used it for His glory. I had to reevaluate my life. I realized I needed to change my life. So I made the decision to give my life over to the Lord. 

I began attending a local church with my Mom.  My Mom (who is Deaf) had previously given her life to the Lord a few years before, and had been praying passionately for me the whole time. God had truly changed my life and I began serving in my church and getting involved in various ministries. I even took the step to get baptized while I was pregnant with my son.

At the age of thirty God blessed my life once again, when I married my best friend, and the father of my son after our on and off relationships of twelve years. The Lord knew exactly where He wanted me to be.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

God completed our family by blessing us with a daughter named Sanai.  Since my daughter was born I have been on a new journey at home serving my family.  This was a blessing that I never even knew I wanted. Through being a stay-at-home Mom, and a helpmate to my husband, God has been working in my life.  With this calling God has shown me areas I need to work on in myself, as well as the wholeness I can have 
through Him.  

So here I am content in my calling as a homemaker and helpmate. Praying through the everyday craziness, and seeking to encourage other women with my life experiences. I pray my story has in some way inspired you to live a life for God, whatever He has called you to be. No matter your past experiences. They have only made you stronger. 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14

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