Do you know Christy from Critty Joy? I’m fairly certain she’s my twin soul…She has started a new link-up called “As of Late” where we share what is stirring within – as of late.
Lately I’ve felt a nudge from God that my word for 2011 should be “obedience.” I know. I hear ya. It’s not what I WANTED to pick – don’t you think that’s ironic? HA! I have to be obedient in even just picking the word “obedience” to focus upon for the new year…
Lately I’ve felt incredibly close to God even though I have completely fallen off the bandwagon of getting up at 6 a.m. for time with Him.
Lately I’ve delved deeper into music that stirs my soul and makes me seek Him while I’m folding laundry or doing preschool drop-off/pick-up/doctor’s office visits/church meetings/Wal-Mart runs or cooking breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack/snack before snack/pouring Cheerios in a bowl…
Lately I’ve seen why God has been taking me through so many different conflicts since mid-October – He wants me to learn to deal with it in a healthy, Christ-like manner even though I’m bound by the flesh and want to yell and scream.
Lately I am loving my electric blanket.
Lately I think God is up to something that has to do with His plan for me but I can’t put the pieces together yet.
Lately I’ve been trying to be proactive instead of reactive – somewhat difficult for an emotional girl like myself.
Lately I’ve been cautiously reading The Shack and while I don’t follow/agree with some pieces of it, I’m loving how it portrays the intense love God has for us.
Lately I’ve been so moved by Matthew 14:22-33 and will be writing about it next week.
Lately I’ve not been buying Diet Cokes at McDonalds in my attempt to be a better steward of our resources this year and I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would.
Lately I’ve been wondering why we purchased new toys for Christmas when what my children REALLY want to play with are canned goods, spray bottles of water, laundry baskets, flashlights and couch cushions. Notice the Bigfoot doubled over in the corner? We SO wanted that not-so-cheap Bigfoot…
What have you been up to “as of late”? Please visit sweet Christy at Critty Joy for more “As of Late”!
I am so thrilled you are joining the fun sweet friend :o) Twin souls…LOVE it.
First…oh my goodness those photos are so cute! You know those can goods…one just cannot resist having a good time when those are around!
I cannot wait for your post on Matthew 14…
and the one about the purpose and not being able to put the pieces together yet…I so understand. Must be that twin soul thing.
<3
Wouldn’t miss it, girl!
Let’s assemble our puzzles one piece at a time and keep our eyes on Him to lead us? That’s all I know to do.
What a great meme – will be visiting everyone later today when my little people nap…:)
I love that I know all this stuff! I love that I know you went to walmart today and we’ve discussed canned goods and all this other stuff. I love that you’ve allowed me into your heart and have shared certain and special things with me. thank you!
Can I just say…refer back to your last texts from me tonight/last night and wow…that was a lot of P.G. :) If that is too criptic, you can text me.
Love you,
Erin
Likewise, sweet friend. I don’t know what P.G. is so I will be texting you once I can complete a full thought. :)
guilty – we had chik-fil-a today, it was so planned too – Crown Financial mega blush!
I love that you’re reading the shack w/ caution – so many people got up and ugly about that!! =\ glad you wrote that to prevent those comments!!
love this idea – as of late …
OH my do we love us some CFA. Hubs and I had to come up with that acronym because the little people would EXPLODE if we used the real name. Now they know the acronym. Ornery.
Praying for you!
interesting linkup! i might join you :)
i had to laugh at the BigFoot toppled over on the floor. it might make you feel better to know that my son got a not-so-cheap drum set for Christmas, but he has discovered it’s much more fun to use the drum sticks to bang on giant empty cardboard boxes from Costco. *sigh* :)
But OF COURSE…
I also read the Shack cautiously. Despite some things – the book was life changing for me. Highly recommend reading it:)
when we are open to what He wants our hearts to learn….
Finished it last night at midnight with tears streaming down my fave. I agree, Tiffini. It’s a beautiful book.
I love this! I’ve been listening to the local Christian station instead of talk radio while I’m in the kitchen… I can already tell a difference in my attitude. Funny. It’s not that I was a worse person, I would just get worked up hearing about “the issues”. Now, instead, I’m being encouraged in the Word… even if it’s just background noise, it is taking root.
Ummm…Where did you get that adorable shirt you are wearing in your photo? Our favorite store?
I love this idea – I try to do the same but listen to my iPod. I need to tune to the local station because I know there is much talk (30 second clips by Focus on the Family) that are so valuable for us mama folk…:)
Love how you said it’s taking root…It does so so subtlely (is that a word) and it’s within us even before we know it.
Grace on the 6:00 a.m. time with God. I’ve been there so many times…getting up early to spend time with God…exicted about it…petering out. I have so learned to live “where I’m at.” Kind of like you said…while folding laundry, during pick-ups, church meetings, Wal-Mart runs, and cooking meals. And when I do get that precious extended time, I cherish it. As a mom, I’ve learned to better walk with God all day long, rather than get that early morning boost (and NOTHING against the early morning boost…time with God to start my day is ideal…I’m trying to do that right now with quick little one minute read, a verse or something, to focus my heart and mind before I race off to start the madness!).
Have read the Shack…like you, I was cautious. There’s so much good in that book, though, it’s so worth the read. I love when a Christian author can shake up the way you look at things a bit, yet still present some solid truths.
And I’ve had the privilege of witnessing you handle conflict, and I can verify that you handled it in a healthy, Christ-like manner. A beautiful thing to see.
Blessings on your day, Friend. :)
Thank you, dear friend. You are SUCH a blessing to me. I got your FB message – we will have to look at next week if we can. We’ll talk.
Love you!
What a great post. I feel like I am starting to know you with just one heart-felt post. I love that question about why you bought toys for Christmas when the kiddos love the household “toys”. At least you know your kiddos are creative. :-D I’ll have to try to remember to come back next week for your thoughts on Matthew.
Hey! I’m new to all of you but joining the “as of late” party and i have loved getting to learn a little bit about all of you and looking forward to following all the blogs now! ;0) I loved your “as of late” about music…isn’t it amazing how music can stir such emotion in us and cause us to really reflect on Him, focus on Him and just worship Him no matter what mundane task we might be doing throughout the day! ;0)
That’s just weird…I was feeling that my 2011 word was Obedience too…ugh…haven’t even blogged about…cuz, yeah…I felt I got another word…Humility. Um yeah…silently freaking out and trying to trust God with that duo! Thanks for making me smile…about the serious stuff! You’re good at that!
I believe the word God wants me to hear this year is “Grace”. It seems to keep coming up. Yeah, not the word I was looking for either… I’ve always struggled with grace under fire (or pressure), so apparently that is what I need to work on. Even the other day, my youngest daughter asked “Mom, what can I have?” (in that way that implies — what can she eat before dinner). I was a little annoyed, but the answer that came to me (and the one I gave her) was, “Grace, dear.” Of course, she looked at me funny because she was expecting to hear something from the regular food groups, so she asked me again, and I told her, “Grace” (hoping I would also gain some in the process as I went back to the kitchen to finish dinner…).
And your pictures are darling. The best present a kid can get is a box (ask any of our parents). Plain and simple. :)
Darling pictures. Pretty sure my word for the year is “balance.”
And kids ALWAYS love the box more than what’s in it – at least after the first five minutes. And I don’t know ya (yet) but anyone who’s a soul sister of Christy’s is a friend of mine – and I can tell you’ve got a wonderful heart.
Joanne, what sweet words you “wrote” over me this evening. What a blessing. Thank you. Looking forward to getting to know you!
Loved The Shack! I read it personally and then we did a group study on it, too. I love the imagery.
And my 6 AM quiet times have been sporadic, but, like you, I really feel grace for that. It’s good to know we have and serve a merciful God, especially when we have kids!
Isaiah 40:11 – He gently leads those with young. :)
Loved it too – finished it last night in bed with tears streaming down my face…
‘Lately I’ve felt incredibly close to God even though…
Lately I’ve delved deeper into music that stirs my soul and makes me seek Him while…’
Hmm…think these two are related;)? well, that’s certainly how He finds me and I Him in my not even saying at this point I’ll get up earlier (though I ‘should’) b/c I know myself too well…
And you practically grew up on Captiva by Sanibel? We’re in Orlando and haven’t made it to Sanibel…*sigh* though i’ve heard amazing things…would love it to be one of the places we get to before we move, but?? oh well, Europe, though colder, is pretty cool too;) xoxo