Tuesday, February 2, 2010

A Shift in Thinking




Just taking a few moments to share a few things with you, sharing where God has brought me to at this point in my life. I am 31 years old and was saved at the age of 6. I am amazed that I am just now getting some of this but so grateful to the Lord that He doesn't give up on us. I am grateful that He has placed me and my family in a Church with leadership that desires to see each of us grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Lord, and to truly know the Lord. I have much on my heart and so I will try to share a little of where I am.
In the past few months I have had a shift in my thinking. As a Church we have been learning about the grace of God, operating from a place of grace. I really didn't even realize the areas of my life where I was not operating from a place of grace, but the more I heard, the more I knew that I had been missing something. I prayed, I read the Bible, but honestly it was from a place of duty, a place of I had better because that's what Christians do.
Focusing on the grace of God freed me, not from praying, not from studying His word; but from my duty bound thinking. This has been a process but just recently, in the past week I realized that my thinking had changed. Praying became a privilege to me and not a duty, not something you just do because you are a Christian. We are privilege to get to talk to our Saviour, to pour our hearts out to Him. We are privileged to get to read His word and learn of Him and how He would handle things. I am doing the same things but more often, because my thinking has changed. God is not waiting for me to do something wrong, He loves me and cares for me and yes He does discipline His children but it's from a place of love, from a place that He wants to see us grow in Him. I do not have it all together, I have not arrived by any means, but by the grace of God I will continue to grow in Him. Why do you do the things you do, is it from a since of duty or a place of privilege. May I always be teachable, may I always seek His approval and not mans.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Our Stories


I was recently talking with a friend, actually more than one friend and we were discussing how "our stories" matter. The Bible speaks of there being a time for everything. Ec 3:1 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven". Where we have been doesn't matter as much as where has God brought us from where we have been. Our struggles; our trials; our joys; our victories...these things have a purpose. The purpose is not reflect ourselves but to reflect the glory of God as he saw us through. What did he do for you? You may be the very encouragement someone needs today.
For me, God took a shy girl, full of insecurities and hurts and He healed me. It was a process, just like most things, but the process was well worth it. Some things the Lord did quickly in me, others took awhile. My hurts are no longer hurts but victories. If I have my eyes fixed on Jesus, I will change, because my aim is at glorifying the Lord, reflecting Him not me. When I am going through a particular hard time, I try to remember that God knows what He is doing. He knows what it is in me that has to change, He can see down the road, He knows where I am going and what it is going to take to get me there.
Just recently I had the chance to share with our youth group part of my story. My trials and struggles will become part of my story, my victories in the Lord if I keep my eyes focused on the Lord. Maybe I will share my story at least in part with you. Be encouraged, my victory is coming, your victory is coming.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Thankful Heart

No, this isn't a Thanksgiving picture..per say, it was just a family dinner one day about two months ago..but in this picture speaks so much of things that my heart is truly thankful for. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ, for His saving grace that is mine. Jesus gave me my wonderful Godly husband. He gave me three beautiful children, whom I love with all my heart. Our home, provision for us all. A wonderful church home with friends and family that love me for who I am but also challenge me to grow in my walk with the Lord.
The Lord has been so gracious to me, leading me gently in to new places. I have just recently really started to know and understand what it means to give your burdens to the Lord. I have always known that is what you are supposed to do, sounds so nice to say :) But the Lord is showing me how to do this. I am becoming a less anxious person and more able to say, nope not going to give into worry, the Lord knows and knows how to best to handle it. I have enjoyed the sweet peace of the Lord, not because it's suddenly there and wasn't before, but because I realize it HAS been there all along. I am in a different place than I was a year ago, and for that I am truly thankful to the Lord. So much to think and reflect on this Thanksgiving week. I pray that this week you are able to ponder the things that the Lord has given you.

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with Thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Monday, August 10, 2009

Thoughts on Abiding in Christ


John 15:1-8 "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 prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will 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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown in the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

I look at this tree (a picture I took in Charleston, SC) and I see a very strong, viable tree, one whose branches are firmly attached to it's life source. I am not sure how long this tree has been around but from it's size, I would say it has been growing for some time now. It is an established tree, one that will not just be blown over by a mere wind. It can withstand probably some pretty powerful storms. The leaves give this tree beauty and shade for the people below. The leaves are simply a by product of the branches having the nutrients it needs for growth, without that the tree would slowly rot and die. It would lose the functions it has, and would be no good to anyone. Such a wonderful portrayal of our life in Christ. We can do nothing apart from Christ, we can try (and many have) but they will not succeed. To abide (dwell) in Christ we are feeding our spirit through a personal relationship with Christ. We desire to know the Lord more, we desire to spend time in His word. Our very strength, joy is in the Lord. Even if we are lacking desire and greater passion, all we need do is ask the Lord to help us, increase that in us, the scriptures says we have not because we ask not. One scripture that I use as a prayer often is Psalm 139:23 "Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." The Lord is so gracious and in his grace and mercy he is sure to lead us in His way, if we ask. In 1 John 1:9 it says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Let us Abide in Christ!

Monday, June 29, 2009

A Sure Sign that they're growing...

Lydia on her 8th Birthday reading one of her cards, yes she sure has grown......


Hannah having a play date....is she old enough for that :)



Hannah having another play date....





Hannah finally getting the hang of drinking from a sippy cup........reaching that next step





Here is Hannah eating a teething biscuit.....another big step :)




It seems that life changes so quickly. Things grow and change, trees, plants, and yes even we change, at least I hope I do. Although the changes and growth that I want to see in myself are no longer physical. I pray that each year I grow in my knowledge and love of the Lord, that I make the changes necessary to be more like Jesus. That my passion for reaching the lost deepens. Just some thoughts I have had lately. Just as we want to see our babies reach that next level in their development, that next milestone, we should desire to see our self and our fellow Christians go to that next level in their relationships with Jesus. I am sure that it will look different for each person, for we are all at different levels. May challenge and encourage those around me to always seek Jesus, for in that we will all grow.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Ladies Mountain Adventure

A Saturday afternoon spent with some amazing ladies and we took on a 6 mile walk. It was so beautiful. Our walk was leisurley spent, talking, laughing and taking some awesome photos of God's handiwork. I came home physically tired but completely rested and relaxed, yes, sounds weird I know but it's true. I am looking forward to going again in the fall. Here are some pictures from our day and at the bottom is two very short video's from that day. Enjoy :)


Looking at pictures taken
Sisters......read below and sing along :)

Sisters, sisters...there have never been such devoted sisters...come on sing with me...any White Christmas fans out there :)


3 Miles down, 3 to go ....



At the half way point, we did it :)




Breath taking





A photo taken as we were walking and talking :)




A Family photo


Sheila posing for a picture



Our walking trail


Enjoying the scenery



Looking thru the trees



A beautiful stream coming down the mountain





Hannah was busy taking photos and so I made her stop long enough to get a picture of her




Beautiful rushing waters




The Women's Mountain Adventure is about to begin...ready, set, walk :)


ONE, TWO, THREE, SMILE..OH WAIT JUST KIDDING ...LOL


video




THE SOUNDS OF THE RUSHING WATER


video


















































Thursday, June 11, 2009

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Just thinking the other night as Matt and I were talking about how quickly time goes by. Hearing other parents talk about when there kids were young, their last vacations as a family before kids are gone to college, married ect. It made me stop and think and really want to enjoy my kids in the age and season we are in. Yes, the having to stop what I am doing and go see what's up in the next room because some prized toy has been taken by the other siblings, can get tiring but alas, this to shall pass :) So come with me as I stroll down memory lane. We start on the evening of December 19th, 1999 as my beloved Husband Matt purposes to me.

Our Engagement night


One of the best days of my life, marrying the love of my life
May 27, 2000

Our flower girl Abigail (who is now in our youth group) and Matt's
nephew PJ (who is also in the youth group) wow, how they have grown



Pregnant with our 1st baby



Going home from the hospital with our 1st born
Lydia Nicole Bailey 8lb. 5oz.
Born on her daddy's Birthday June 26th, 2001



Our precious daughter
who will be 8 in a couple of weeks






Here is my cousin and me both showing off our
pregnant bellies :) Baby number 2 will be
here soon.






Baby number 2 is here
Named after his Grand-dad
David Benjamin Bailey 9lb. 1 oz.
November 3, 2003




Family photo at the church with our Pastor, Tim
and his wife Sheila
November 03








2 1/2 year old Lydia with her 7 month old
brother David








Family photo December 2007










Pregnant with baby number 3, picture taken
day before she was born
September 2008












Family photo at Harvest Church with our
Pastor, Tim and his wife Sheila
September 2008












Hannah Grace Bailey
7 lb. 14 oz.
September 9, 2008












Matt reading a story to his babies :)














On Vacation in Summerville, SC
May 2009














Beach Vacation
Lydia 7 yrs old David 5 yrs old.















Hannah Grace 1st time at beach
8 months old
And there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed strolling down memory lane with me. Obviously I have only hit a few key moments in the span of 9 years but some of the most precious times in our lives. God has so blessed me and my family. I give Him all the Praise, Glory and Honor. Thanks for going with me.