Today's Manna

Reading in John, chapter 6, Jesus talks to the people and says, "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life..."

After reading this, the word MANNA was stamped on my heart the rest of the day. I know it was the Holy Spirit whispering to my soul to dig deeper. So I look up manna and it took me to Exodus 16. As I was filling up on "bread" I was interrupted more times than I would have liked.  But when my sweet boy came in and asked me to read to him what I was reading, I happily obliged! What greater privilege than to pour Jesus into your children?! I can't think of one. 

I'm going to give you a brief recap of what I read: so Moses and Aaron left Egypt, took the congregation out into the wilderness where they had to "go out and gather a day's portion every day," and they grumbled against Moses and Aaron. But it was to "test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction." They continued to grumble and Moses said, "Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord." Because they did not listen to instruction and brought back more bread than they could eat, by morning it had "bred worms and became foul."

It's always a good reminder not to live on yesterday's manna! We are so busy, rushing down the fast lane. But never too busy to stop for a bite to eat; whether it's fast food in your car or a home cooked meal.  We tend to not stop and spend time with the one who created life. The one who will give us eternal life. This life IS a test! Are you walking in His instruction?  We can't live on Sunday's sermon or Wednesday night's bible lesson. Don't let those teachings become worm infested and foul. Get your daily dose of "bread". Most bible apps will even read to you while getting ready or driving in your car.

Last year was different than all of my thirty-six-years of life. I opened my bible daily, meditating, learning, teaching, even mentoring. I prayed like I never had before. Oh, how the Lord is faithful!

I have always had a hard time saying no. Often feeling overworked, stressed, burned out and tired. I have never been one to set goals, much less a New Year's resolution. I always thought, "What's the point? No one ever completes their goal. So why set myself up for failure?" I could feel God's nudge to set one last year. So 2015, I started with the word NO. Do you ever get that feeling...when you're doing something and it just doesn't "feel" right? You don't know why, or what's causing it. I mean, you're doing "good works," right?  Well....last year my first response was always, no, at first.  Then it was, "Let me pray about it."

I realized a few months in I had not been on the path God laid out for me for some time, and that's why I always felt burned out. I wasn't being the wife or mother that God had called me to be, because I was preoccupied with things I shouldn't have been doing. But 2015, by saying that one little word, I was able to grow spiritually, invest in my husband and kids, and FINALLY feel like I was doing the Lord's work!!

Again, I want to encourage you; set a goal[s]! Find someone to do it with you, or at least hold you accountable! That makes all of the difference in the world! And remember PRAY! and show yourself GRACE!  Don't compare yourself to anyone.  Be who he created you to be!

A New Year

Wow! It's 2016 already!

Have you already made your New Year's resolution?  Have you already broken it? Two words the Lord put on my heart for this year: Grace and Truth.  We are to give Grace, but stand on the Truth. (Lots more to be written on this this year!) If you haven't made a resolution, I encourage you to make one. Start small. Don't try to run a mile your first time on the track.  Give yourself grace. But, stay true to yourself and finish your goal.  Find an accountability partner!

2015 has been one of the best years of my entire life. I'm not even sure I blogged once last year.  But I put pen to paper, I journal-ed all year. I let God work in me and through me in ways I didn't even know were possible!! How you might ask? Well, by drowning out the ways of the world. Prayer (and lots of it)!! Reading God's word, and meditating on it all day. By being submissive and following my husbands lead.

I don't know how much I'll be on social media this year. Seems to be less and less each year. It can be such a distraction and time consumer in an already busy, hurried life. I want, no, need- to slow down! It is so sad to sit at a restaurant and watch an entire family on their phones.  Family communication has gone out the window. (Oh, if you could only here Joel's version of "out the window" from Dumb and Dumber going through my mind right now. It is SO funny!) I see people posting their "good works" or spew hate from their fingertips on Facebook and Twitter, it's enough to make me want to unplug. This year I want to get back to phone calls or face to face conversations.  I don't want to read posts that blind me from giving grace to someone who God thinks needs/deserves it. I want the Holy Spirit to work in me!

Guess I better get to bed. It's almost one o'clock in the morning and I have this sleepy critter on me.

 Before I go:
I'm excited to get back to blogging and share with you guys what God is doing.  I hope to encourage, to inspire, to give Hope "through him who gives me strength." I will also be writing every other month for a friend's blog; a Glimpse into Lifeschooling Series. I'm pretty stoked about what's going on on her blog! She has put together a team of writers for a number of series. Go join her mailing list here. Here are a few of the different series going on at Beyond the Nook: Motherhood Matters, Building Strong Families, and Lifeschooling.

Happy 2016, y'all!! Get excited, call and tell me about it! Or better yet, come and see me. :)