Deeply Rooted

God and I had a conversation.  Not just one. He talks to me a lot about myself.  And I am so thankful, otherwise I would be in a mess.

Today I am thankful that He told me that He made me different. Not like anyone else. My ministry may not be that of a famous person, a scholar, someone who has traveled all over. But I do get to minister to my sweet love, to my babies, to those who have walked the familiar pathway I have.

Just a girl who loves the country, the outdoors, loves her man and teaching her babies about God.  I will remain deeply rooted in myself. And what matters to my family.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

Don't be an imitator of others - Be an imitator of Christ

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Ephesians 5:1

Fame

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

They have lived and now they have all died. Robin Williams, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Princess Di, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, and the list goes on.  They all have left their mark on this world.  It can be perceived to be good and bad. I have so many thoughts when person leaves this earth. The world erupted when Muhammad Ali passed into eternity.  As I read the comments scrolling the bottom of the screen after Ali's death, I just felt sad and hurt for the millions of people who found false hope in him.  He had supporter's from all over the world, people who believed in what he believed in, just like any other celebrity.  So many people rallied behind him in his victories and defeats, and in his private moral choices.  This is even true for the Elvis's and the Hitler's. Those with such huge fame. Those with large followings and people who lean in and truly love them and respect their opinions, beliefs and teachings.  The world mourns when a celebrity dies.

So I say all of that to say, I am saddened that we as humans rely so heavily on another human for our hope, entertainment, happiness, and beliefs. Yes, it hurts when someone leaves and enters into eternity, but my real point is not that they have died, but is that they lived.  Actually, it is what they did while they lived.  These incredibly talented, famous people were all created by God in his image. And while some used their talents is great ways, Joey Feek for instance.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27

They were created with a purpose, and with that purpose they have led so many away from Him, and maybe not even on purpose.  And that is something to truly mourn about. And my spirit is saddened.  What if - with their amazing gifts and talents, their platforms, their wealth, their audiences they would have used if for God's Heavenly Kingdom? How would the world have been impacted by their music, their comedy, smiles and laughter?

So my question to myself and to you is: What is your gift? I certainly have no huge audience, or large fan base, but I was still created with a purpose and with gifts.  Are you allowing God to you use your gifts? Your story and testimony? Or are remaining idle or isolated? 

We have been made to be set apart from the world. We are in it, not of it. (John 17:16)

 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.  2 Corinthians 6:17

Essentials for This Life

What are the essentials in your life? Besides the obvious...air, water, food. What do you consider YOUR essentials?

It takes me much longer to actually complete a book these days. And currently, I am only on page 34 of Greg McKeowns' book Essentialsm, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. It is already rocking my world. 34 whole pages in!!

This is our first summer in several years with a very skimpy plate.  No garden, the chickens are all dead, and the cows have all been sold.  So I'm just a regular working mom that gets to come home and love her family.  There is still house work to be done, meals to cook, fights to break up, a husband to love, oh, and a house to build! But I am ever so thankful and excited that this summer we have much less to do!

So leading up to Spring and Summer, I started to think and prepare.  What would I want my/our Summer to look like? Being the planner I am and having a wide open calendar, I started to brainstorm which led to Pinterest of course.  A Summer bucket list, weekly schedules, events at church, small groups, and no time for idleness or boredom.  Oh wait! Hold the bus.  I thought I was gonna have an easy free Summer!

So this takes me back to the book. Priorities. I had never thought of the word priority in a singular sense until I read this book.  We are so used to listing out our Top 5 or Top 10.  And being raised in church of course God is always number 1, right? 2.Husband 3.Kids.....and so on...am I right again? Or is this wrong?  Maybe our priorities have shifted to other things.  The word priority remained a singular word until the 1900's.  Its means the very first or prior thing.  When is it became plural, the term would now mean we have multiple "first" things.  So how can God, husband, kiddos, job, ministry, etc, all be first?   What a grand thought!

So back to Summer and my Priority! Love God. And when I Love God, I love people. By people, I mean my husband, my kiddos, my church, small group. etc.  God will direct my path and make it straight.  I don't have to have a bucket list of activities, a perfect vacation planned, a schedule, and serve at every event at church.

God is so gentle and good. And when I get so overwhelmed by my own brain, he gently nudges and reminds me that its all for His glory.

I hope your Summer is great!