Summer Siesta Bible Study... Ruth...

I've just finished the first week's lessons of Kelly Minter's Bible Study... Ruth. I am loving it and already have learned some interesting things that I didn't know about the book of Ruth. This is a special season in my life where I feel like I'm just where I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Waiting on the next thing to happen in my life, but all in all feeling pretty stable.
That is not the case in a few of my friends lives. This week I have encountered three women who are at a loss as to what to do with their lives. Their marriages. Their jobs... My heart goes out to them.

This statement from the bible study just keeps coming to my mind as if it's my duty to meditate on it. It's a quote from Matthew Henry reminding us that fleeing our circumstances doesn't necessarily remedy them. "It is our wisdom to make the best of that which is, for it is seldom that changing our place is mending it."

I think this verse means that even if we find ourselves in a situation that seems hopeless, or desperate, or completely wasting our time, that we should learn to make the best of it. That changing the situation isn't going to fix the problem... Because, honestly, the problem we have with anything, be it another a person, a situation, a marriage, a job, a child, a sibling, a co-worker, a whatever, the problem is OURS... It's not anyone else's... And even if we leave that "thing" that we think is causing all our grief, we really don't leave it, because the problem is IN us... Unless we resolve the issue that we have a problem with in our own hearts and minds, we will always have the problem...

Honestly, if we leave one situation, chances are we'd just find fault in another situation as soon as we got involved because again, the problem is IN us.

We must choose to humble ourselves and lean not on our own understanding of things. Let God be in control of our comings and our goings. We have to turn to God for our daily bread. We have to seek him for our paths. Willful disobedience is a scary thing. It is choosing to not surrender to the Lord. It is trying to do things in your own might.. by your own willpower. God says that nothing is impossibly for him, and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... But it all must be done through Christ... Through a daily dependence upon Him. Oh, for those who struggle with depending on Jesus... If you only knew that there was FREEDOM through OBEDIENCE... It is for our blessed freedom that we learn to depend on Jesus...

It's not just enough to know God's will, but we must DO God's will. We must actually follow him along the path he has laid out for us. The Bible Study gave two examples of men who wept and was asked to do the will of God. One did it and the other didn't... Paul in Acts 20:22, 34-36 knew God was leading him to Jerusalem where he may have to suffer tribulation and possibly jail... but he went... The other example was the Rich man in Mark 10:17-22. Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, and then come follow him, but the man wept because he had a lot of money and loved his money more than God... He walked away from what he knew the Lord wanted him to do... Willful Disobedience... What a scary place to be in... This is where the hardening of the heart comes into play... Once we start saying no to God, our hearts will become harder and harder to hear his voice and to do his will... Oh, my friends... listen and head the voice of God today. Turn from the path of selfishness, and thinking of only yourself, and heed the voice of the Lord... Let him love you into the fullness of his righteousness and surrender your heart to him today.

Oh what peace we often forfeit because we don't trust and obey...

What a lesson for me through the book of Ruth... I can't wait to see what God is going to do next in my life, but until then, I will fill myself up with his goodness and grace...

Until next time,
Lea Anne

40 years of the good life...

I turned 40 last week and I have to say it's been a pretty good ride so far.



I've been reflecting on the things in my life that have developed who I am...



I've decided to put a few reflections down on paper and in no certain order so that I can measure my growth in the coming years. I believe the best is yet to come and I have a lot to learn yet.



1. 19 was way too young to have a baby... but 44 seems just right to have all adult children... Perspective is important.



2. What I know about God couldn't have been told to me at an early age, I had to live it to learn it.



3. Childhood friends last a lifetime...



4. You don't have to know what your career will be when you're 13... People change and likes and dislikes change also.



5. You get out of life what you put into it.

6. Faith is only grown when you trust in something bigger than your own ability to accomplish something.

7. Prayer works!

8. Attitude is everything. Talent is just added value...

9. Live... Laugh... Love.... there's a reason this is on plaques!

10. The joy of the Lord is my strength... Nehemiah 8:10

These are just few reflections that have gotten me through the last 40 years. Important ones...

Waiting on the Lord...

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/04/27/tuesdays-unwrapped-6/
I'm linking to Chatting at the Sky Tuesdays unwrapped


I am gaining a new understanding of waiting on the Lord. As I was reading in Isaiah last night I was reminded of this verse...

For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him Isaiah 64:4

I received such a gift as I meditated on these words. God WORKS for those who wait on him. I have learned before that God is always at work. He is always aligning things around the unseen so that he can lay out the path for us to walk upon. At just the right time he shows us the next step. If we are listening and watching for the Lord to act, we are always walking along the path that he has directed us toward. He asks us to walk along, trusting that he has the next thing already in place, but that next thing might take awhile to bring to pass. The fact of the matter is, do we believe that God is always at work? I believe that he is. But the rest of the scripture is what impressed me the most in my meditation... "for those of us who WAIT for Him."

How do we "wait" for the Lord?

I wait by learning more about Him. I wait by praying for others. I wait by loving others more. I wait by being still and KNOWING that he is God. I wait as I tell others about what I'm waiting on. I wait by sharing my belief that God is always at work. As I wait, I am doing... Waiting is not passive... It is actively demonstrating my faith in the Holy God working on my behalf...

I was sharing this with Keelea yesterday and she got frustrated about the house and didn't want to even talk about the showings. She said the whole thing just aggravated her. This was an opportunity to share with her how my faith was being developed as I waited. Waiting for God builds character traits in us that only faith in the Holy Spirit can do... Patience... Long-suffering... Peace... Goodness... The fruit of the spirit is developed as we Wait...

If we were given everything that we wanted without having to wait for it, how would that grow our faith? That would make our faith useless and then we would think that it all depended on us. That we could bring to pass everthing we wanted. That's not faith... That's ego... That's not scriptural, it's self-empowerment. It's not believing in the One who orchestrates our life, it's just living by our own standards... Things do just happen and life does just exist... but without faith in the ONE TRUE GOD that works for those who WAIT for HIM, our life wouldn't have the same substance. It wouldn't be as astonishing for those that don't believe. There wouldn't be any meaning to life as we know it. It would just exist.... What's the meaning in that?

Our meaning and purpose in life is to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as the One TRUE savior. As the one TRUE source of life...

That's why we're here... To proclaim the goodness of God. That's what I get to do as I wait. I get to praise God for his goodness and mercy and love.

He's also been showing me about grace... That's for another post.

Go WAIT for God today and bring praise to him through your waiting...
Love
Lea Anne

Life passing by... one day at a time...

I've been thinking... or rather not thinking... I've let the whole day go by without much thought as to taking action... Taking responsibility for my tomorrow... I've just let the day pass by...

I don't like when I do that.

Life has a way of just happening without conscious thought. We don't have to even think about it and it just ticks along... second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour until you realize a whole day has been lost. That's how my today went.

I don't like when I do that.

Maybe we need a day to goof off... to not think... to not act... to just "be"...

I'm trying to grasp the meaning of why it matters so much.

What's one day to not be intentional about?

Every second counts. I get that. Every decision starts with intentional effort to change your current situation. Every day is an opportunity to do it better than the day before. To be intentional takes motivation and inspiration. It takes action.

I just have to forgive my wastefulness of today and decide to do it better tomorrow...

Only tomorrow is not guaranteed... we only have today...

I want to make the most of it...

Reflection is a good thing... It keeps us honest... It keeps us open to change... It helps us be better... Take stock of your life and decide what it is you need to do to grow...

I took a day off from life, but life keeps on ticking... I have to get back in there and remember my mission... Be intentional...

Lea Anne

Standing against the Wiles of the devil...

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:10-11


What is wile(s)

1. a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.
2. wiles, artful or beguiling behavior.
3. deceitful cunning; trickery.

He gets us EVERY TIME.... When will we learn that it is just the wiles of the devil playing us. He lies to us, wants to trap us, discourage us and snare us. He will do anything he can do with cunning satanic variety to weaken us and destroy us. He goes to work daily to produce discouragement, confusion, indifference and imbalance. He is our chief enemy, but deals in wiles and stratagems.

It always happens in relationships. That's where he gets us. Even when we have great marriages, or great friendships, or a great workplace environment... He always tries to get in there and mess with our emotions.

I fell victim to this attempt on Tuesday and it only took me a day to recognize that it was the "wiles of the devil". I refused to stay in offense. I refused to stay upset or defeated. I just overwhelmed the devils attempt to get me to stay mad or angry because I wanted peace and reconciliation more than I wanted to be right or indignant. Does that make sense. I wanted peace and I knew this wasn't about us.

For Ephesians goes on to say in verse 12: Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.

So you know what I did... I prayed for humility and put on the armor of God. Then I went and talked it out and got over it. Score 1 for Lea Anne; zero for the devil... this week!!

Here's the secret weapon!! Ephesians 13-19
That is why you need to put on God's full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.So stand strong, with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One. Accept God's salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God's people.

We get to choose whether or not we will live in victory or defeat... Every day we get to choose. It doesn't matter what we did yesterday. Choose today to live in victory and stand up against the Wiles of the devil...

Standing strong.
Lea Anne

The Excitment of a "First"

This morning when I awoke, my first thought was about how anticipated this day has been for many people. For almost 2 weeks, our state mainly, but the whole nation has been waiting for the big playoff between the New Orleans Saints and that other team... Who is it again? Oh yeah, the Colt's. I've seen more Black and Gold for sale around town this past week than I've ever seen before. I have firmly resisted buying a "Saints" shirt but that's not to say that I won't buy one after they win today... just saying is all... Okay, back to the thought...

The Superbowl is probably the only game in a year that I actually watch and I always enjoy the event, but this year it's a little different. This year is a "FIRST" for me. This year is the "FIRST" time that the New Orleans Saints has made it to the Superbowl.

What is it about "FIRSTS" that are so appealing? Just think about how many "firsts" have already been experienced in your life...

First day of school..

First boyfriend/girlfriend...

First kiss...

First job...

First paycheck...

First car...

First house....

First child...

First fight in a relationship...

First love...


So then I thought, is it the actual EVENT that is so exciting? Or is it WAITING for the event that is so exciting?

Why is a first "thing" so anticipated?

Is it because we SEE others have it and we want it for ourselves?

Is it because we have HEARD about it from others and we can't wait until it's "our turn?"

What is it about "firsts" that make us almost crazy for the experience of it?

1 Cor 2:9 says 'No Eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him'. This verse was quoted from scipture in Isaiah 64:4 that ends it by saying "A God like you who works for those that WAIT for him!"

Who "WAITS" on HIM...

I think it's the WAITING that is more exciting than the actual EVENT. The WAITING is the fun part... Once the event happens, it will just be the "Next" time for that thing... not as much fun as the waiting on the first time... and sometimes the thing you waited for may not be what you expected. Some "THINGS" have a way of disappointing us that way.

So...What are you waiting for? I hope you are waiting on the Lord. I pray that you are seeking HIM before you act... Remember, once you take action on that "First" thing, whatever it is, it might not be as exciting as the waiting was. Don't place your hope and faith on the EVENT...

When we place our hope in the Lord and wait on Him, on His timing, on His guidance, on His go-ahead, we won't be able to imagine the goodness He has prepared for us.

Have fantastic, fun-filled, expectation fulfilled day today.
Lea Anne

Neglected...

I feel as if I've neglected this blog page for the new Facebook craze and I'm sure there are a lot of you that might read this that don't have facebook, so I'll try to do better.

I wanted to share just a brief note on feeling neglected. I have recently heard that one of my couple friends of almost 20 years, has just seperated. It was a shock. It got me thinking that I don't want to take my marriage for granted and I've actually been meditating on this matter for the last few weeks.

It started when I watch "Nights of Rodanthe" It was a romantic, tragic love story but the intimacy between Diane Lane and Richard Gere was something that I wanted in my own marriage. I realized that I had the ability to have that same kind of intimacy with my own husband and I decided to implement a few of the moves that I saw them perform... Needless to say it had the desired results I was looking for. And this opens up the opportunity to write about how we neglect the things in our lives that we want the most. Intimacy, desire, seduction, affection, you name it, I'm sure all of us have felt it. I just want to say... You can HAVE it. All these things... You may have to initiate it, but you can be the leading lady in your own life, in your own marriage, in your own dreams... You don't have to watch from a distance. You don't have to imagine what it would feel like. You have permission to explore your sexual side of your marriage. Tell your husband what you want or what you like. Don't be shy.

I hope you aren't neglecting your husband. I hope you are meeting his needs. If you do, you'll be amazed at how intuitive to your needs he'll be. I can bet you that he will respond if you start a little romancing in the bedroom. You don't have to wait on him, you take the lead.

I don't know why I felt the need to write this, other than it's been on my heart for a few weeks now. I want you to have a fulfilling life. A fulfilling marriage. A fulfilling sex-life. It's amazing how good marriage can be when that part is in place. I hope this hasn't embarrassed anyone, because I just wanted to share my own experience with you.

Have a Happy night!
Lea Anne