with hope ...

today was a long day - information overload ... i look forward to implementing this new information.

when i got home this evening, i began cleaning out my email box and read the devotion i received from Joel ... WOW looking forward with hope.

Greater Than the Past

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the LORD Almighty. "And in this place I will grant peace…" (Haggai 2:9, NIV).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria God wants to amaze you with His goodness! We are living in a day where God is increasing His favor. Maybe you have seen God's goodness to a certain degree. In reality, you haven't seen anything yet! God has favor in your future that will supersede anything that you've seen in the past.

The Scripture talks about how the glory of the latter day will be greater than the glory of the former day. That means what God did for your parents or grandparents, He's going to surpass in your generation. The blessing and favor of past generations was good, but we serve a God of increase! He has greater things in store for your future!

Today, I encourage you to get your hopes up. I encourage you to enlarge your vision. Be expecting God to bring opportunities across your path. Be expecting to meet the right people and get the right breaks. Prepare your heart and mind to receive the increase and blessing God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father in heaven, thank You for being the God of increase. I trust that You have great things in store for my future. I surrender every area of my mind, will and emotions as I wait on You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

- Joel & Victoria Osteen

The wait continues to build perseverance in me ... and for that I am thankful.

GRACE AND PEACE!

look at GOD!

today was a day only GOD could have ordained - love it when it is obvious!

The morning started with me making the attempt to mow the yard, the battery lasted only for three rows - that is the space between the sidewalk and the road in front of the house. I would have had just enough time to get the yard mowed before it would be time to head out to pick up the jeep. Instead, I learned that the batteries for the lawnmower were not getting a full charge, because the cord is not connecting flush. ugh - but at least now I know.

Aaron then took me to pick up the jeep that looks brand new :) I do not think I wrote about the crash I was involved in 2 weeks ago - but now the jeep is fixed, oh how I missed it.

Then on to meet a group from Northview Church for an activity that would take us to Fashion Mall. While driving to the mall, I was asked if I missed teaching ... the quick answer is not like I thought I would. What I miss is the people, the other teachers and the students. Thankfully I have been able to keep in touch with a many through facebook (I troll pages to see what people are up to - this is your warning if we are friends on FB beware!)

As we entered the mall, each pair (2x2) hit the shops with a list of challenges in hand. I was paired with Miss Janice from Childrens Ministry - our first stop the Apple store, with the explicit direction to enter the store and ask "how can an iPad help me do my job better". We had a plan and entered the store - before I could get to the iPad area I heard "beth beth" ...

A former studnet with her adorable little baby (almost 1) was calling out to me - first it is shocking to realize I have former students with children ... but second I had not seen Erica in a long time. She was one of my devoted jewelry students that spent multiple class periods for 2 years in the studio.

Then with tear filled eyes she filled me in on the recent nightmare of her life and how she had thought many times over the past 2 months to reach out to me ... you see in early June there was a horrible automobile accident - a limo with a wedding party on the way downtown to take pictures. One of the groomsmen was killed - her husband. Shocking, unbelievable, complete tragedy. My heart aches for her loss, and for sweet little Annebelle.

Only GOD could have ordained such a meeting - quite random for me to be in the mall on an ministry assignment ... to cross paths with a dear student, now mom ... now widow. I pray that she will find peace that passes all understanding.

We will work to get together soon, she has also connected with another teacher that I have maintained contact with ... that will be great. All I can do is shake my head and say, "look at GOD!"

GRACE AND PEACE!

yoga?

i did it, today was the first day i completed a full hour of yoga.

10 years ago, or so, i tried yoga, hated it.

it was sooooo boring. i fell asleep.

last week i ordered a yoga dvd, realizing how tight my hamstrings are was one of the main reasons and that it can help with conception. (oh yeah, aaron and i are working on creating a baby)

last week i did about 20 min, and it was doable. today, i completed the full hour. who knew that it would be hard - i made it, but not with out sweating and a struggle. i was not about to fall asleep, like i did years ago. well maybe at the end with the relaxing. among other areas that need work, breathing is a major one, i was concentrating on the pose in many instances that i forgot to breathe.

all in all it was great.

so regardless of if this leads to conception, i know my body will feel better for it.

who knew the "older|wiser" beth would enjoy yoga.

this is a good word:

Run Your Own Race

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…"

(Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJ).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria It's easy to be tempted to go through life competing with everyone around us. When we see someone who's more talented, better looking or has more gifts, instead of running our race and being comfortable with who we are, oftentimes we feel inferior and think, "I've got to catch up to them." The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it's a never-ending cycle. There will always be someone ahead of us. But, it's a very freeing thing when you realize, "I'm not competing with you. I don't have to have as big a house as my neighbor to feel good about myself. I don't have to keep up with my co-worker. I don't have to be a certain size. No, I understand that I'm not in competition with my friend, my neighbor or my co-worker. Instead, I'm going to be the best me that I can possibly be." Friend, that's an attitude God can work with. When you focus on being who God made you to be, that's when you'll rise up higher and position yourself for every spiritual blessing He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father God, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. I choose to keep my eyes on You and allow You to work in my heart and mind. I declare that I am free from competition today. In Jesus' Name. Amen. - Joel & Victoria Osteen

have a great start to your week ... i am!

GRACE AND PEACE!

5 years ....

today Aaron and I celebrate the completion of our 5th year as a married couple. When I think about all the the Lord has packed into 5 years, my mind cannot even being to go where He is taking us.

The most fabulous part looking back over the 5 years, that the Lord has been in the center of everything and I have the guy that was created for me by my side. So amazing. What a perfect plan.

Thought I would also share the word from Joel ... it is fitting

The Most Blessed

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed"
(Proverbs 29:18, The Message).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria God wants His people to be the most blessed! He wants His people to constantly increase so they can be examples of His goodness. But, in order to partake of everything He has in store for us, we have to be open to what He wants to do in our lives. We have to have a vision for increase. We have to look for what He is doing and obey what He tells us.

If you're not expecting favor, or if you are just satisfied with where you are, then you are living below your privileges. But if you will get a vision for increase, a vision of who you are as a child of the Most High God and see what He wants to do in your life, then opportunities, favor and increase will open before you. Just like this scripture says, as a child of the Most High, you are entitled to be the most blessed!

I encourage you, today, to take time to focus your thoughts on God and His promises. Meditate on His Word and ask Him to increase your capacity to receive. Then, follow His commands and look for His goodness—and get ready to be the most blessed!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, I choose right now to set my mind and focus on You. I choose to look for what You want to do in and through me. I let go of any wrong thinking, attitudes or actions that would hold me back. I choose to obey You and thank You for Your blessing in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

- Joel & Victoria Osteen

I will keep my eyes fixed on HIM!

GRACE AND PEACE!

Creativity

This past weekend I felt a surge of creative juices flowing. I have some ideas for jewelry that are aching to be expressed ... i have not felt this in some time.

I sent out notes to multiple friends about hosting Beads by Beth custom parties - I am ready to get back in the creative game!

before I can get moving on the ideas that I have, I had to first attack Jeremy's room, the area that houses all my jewelry materials and had become a huge dumping ground for papers. To simply continue to move piles is not cleaning up. I had a major purge on Saturday, which in turn opened the creative flood gates wider!

This morning when I read Encouragement for Today ... titled Rediscovering Creativity, I knew it was worth sharing!

Rediscovering Creativity, Glynnis Whitwer

"But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers for them in the desert!" Isaiah 43: 18-19 (NLT)

Devotion:

There are days when my inspiration well is dry. Cracked and dusty in fact. On those days nothing is flowing, not a gurgle or a drip. Try as I might, I can't manifest a single creative thought.

Dinner? Will toast and peanut butter work?

Writing? See Jane ... uh ... run.

Daughter's history project? Let's see what we can make with lined paper.

On those days, I'm convinced I'll never again write a witty word and my family is destined for mediocre meals. Even more concerning is the worry that I'm raising children who will perpetuate my blandness. What depressing thoughts!

Yet on other days, I'm the Colorado River of inspiration. A little muddy at times, but fast and free flowing. Thoughts with tinges of brilliance (and far above my normal level of thinking) burst from my brain faster than my fingers can type. Relief seeps into my heart. Gourmet meals are just an hour away! I'm not empty after all!

I've experienced both these conditions. And it got me thinking about the circumstances surrounding them. I've realized there are certain patterns that foster my times of creativity. Because I'm designed by a creative God to be creative, I want to dig in deeper to these ideas and work them into my life in greater measure.

The first circumstance that breeds creativity seems to be a new or renewed commitment to a God-given vision. In the past six months, God has refocused my personal ministry. Last year I had a sense He wanted to do something different in and through me, and spent time praying about it and waiting. As I embraced what God was showing me, He rewarded me with exciting ideas, more than I've had in years.

Turning to this new vision has meant leaving other things behind. That was painful. But as I listen to God and obey, I'm energized for the future.

The second circumstance that sparks my creativity is getting out of my routine, and positioning myself around something creative. A simple trip to a book or craft store can jump-start my thinking. I love going to a gourmet or niche grocery store. Farmer's markets, art museums, music stores, concerts or a model home might do the same for you.

We all have creativity designed into us. Yet many believe they were shorted in the idea department, while others got an unfair share. Not true! Perhaps you've put borders around what you think creativity looks like. A mom who whips up an amazing breakfast her toddler will eat is just as creative as a woman designing a line of fashion. God blesses both - they just don't look the same.

Take time to pray about God's vision for you, and position yourself in a creative environment. Who knows what amazing new thing God will do!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making life beautiful and creative. Thank You for placing a bit of Your creativity in me so that I can enjoy You more. Help me to shake off the negative thoughts about my own lack and be open to whatever new thing You long to do in me and through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Through the purge, clean and re-organization the Lord is about to do something BIG ... I have my seat belt ready ... here we go!

GRACE AND PEACE!

checking in

i am still here ... just not blogging so much. a goal is to find the time to sit and write.

The Lord continues to move in mighty ways, I find it hard to keep up with all He is doing.

Life in ministry is beyond anything that I could have imagined. it is challenging - quite hard at many times ... but I am certain that I am right where the Lord desires to use me.

I am prayerful that I will blog more ... sharing all the wonderful ways that the Lord is moving.

I send out a weekly Northview Church Urban Ministry Praise and Prayer report - if you would like to be added send me an email to : northviewurbanministry@gmail.com.

GRACE AND PEACE!