Good Morning Girls

I have been enjoying the Good Morning Girls site and the new study of Ephesians. I forget sometimes just how rich God's word is. I am thankful to have this resource to begin to dig into the word of God and learn His promises, His character. I love Jen's post from week one that picks certain words in the first chapter and how she ends with the fact that
God has given us everything we need for salvation and also everything we need to lead a holy life.

http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/

Return

I am not a real blogger....its obvious from the fact that my last blog post was 9 months ago ;)
I hope to return to this with the new year. God has been laying out fabulous opportunities to me to be at home more with Jacob and return to my new hobby! I am also taking the January challenge over at GoodMorningGirls.org for gentleness. Happy New Year!!

Gratitude

I have discovered Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. She had a challenge to make a list of 1000 things she is grateful for. The book and her blog are both great inspirations to joyfully serve. I have started my list but honestly I am not as far as I should be. I recommend getting her book asap! Some things from my very short list include:
32. bathtime splashes
41. modern medicine
Voskamp also states that we feel first and we can replace a negative feeling with JOY...we get to choose and choosing joy first, before anger and selfishness, shows our self control.
I just love the revelations of God through other humans' eyes. I guess an appropriate
44. Ann Voskamp for getting us started

Will you start your list?!?

Privilege

As I have been thinking and reflecting on my word for the year a thought entered my mind. I should not focus on the difficulty of my word but on the awesomeness of getting it! I actually 'heard' God speak. As believers we hear from God and communicate with Him. What an awesome privilege we have to be open with the creator of the world. So not only did I ask God for a word He responded, loud and clear. Some days I do better than others, just like everyone else, but I keep trying. Praise be to God for He alone is good!

Serve

I am brand new to blogging! I really got started because I wanted to follow a few other blogs, not to blog myself.
After listening to K Love (a Chrisitian radio station) I wanted to join in with their 'word for the year'. Instead of a new year's resolution you seek a word from God to guide you through the year. I got SERVE. Really, are you sure about that God?! See I have a baby and I have served, I'm still nursing (over 8 months now) and fulfilling his every need plus a grad student plus running the house plus, plus, plus...
God just waited, He said- Do I really have to repeat myself? I will if you make me.
Ok, I got serve, develop a servant's heart.
"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" Philipians 2:4
Now do I have to share my word? What if nobody else knew? If I tell I have to be held accountable. This is not going as I planned. Can't I get a cool word like encourage, inspire or just be. Nope, got to start at the basics...serve. Should be an interesting year ;)