Harvest Time

My mom found this short writing and shared it with me. I was immensely blessed reading it as it was during a time of struggle and frustration for me. Hope you will be blessed and encouraged as well if you are trying to remain faithful in your walk with Christ but are disheartened not being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“In  harvest time, more than ever before, you hear from God, you enjoy His presence, and you’re led by the Spirit. Blessings begin to chase you down the street and joy and calm and delight become your normal mood.

Are you tired of waiting for harvest time in your life? Are you frustrated, crying out, “when, God, when?” Then you need to understand that God’s timing is often a mystery. He doesn’t do things on our timetable. Yet, His Word promises that He will not be late, not one single day. But these things He plans won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3.

God causes things to happen at exactly the right time! Your job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that you won’t give up until you cross the finish line and are living in the radical, outrageous blessings of God! The more you trust Jesus and keep your eyes focused on Him, the more life you’ll have. Trusting God brings life. Believing brings rest. So stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God in your life.”

Helpful Resource in Memorization

Memorizing Scripture had always been a huge part of our life during our “growing up” years….especially the years of our homeschooling. Mom would often gather us kids together and we would pick portions or chapters of the Bible to memorize and then as a help we would put the Scripture to specific hand motions. As we got older and more creative, many times our practice sessions would turn out to be more than hysterical. For instance, when we were memorizing Romans 12 and reciting the verse about a living sacrifice…..Stephen (the “littlest” at the time) proved to be the example by stepping forward and dropping backwards having full faith in the other boys that they would catch him and lift him up. And yes, let’s just say there was a time of “oops”!

I’m grateful that my parents stressed  the importance of meditation and memorization. Even though, I may have forgotten certain verses and can’t recite them off the top of my head, I believe the special truths are hidden in my heart.

It can be a hard and difficult task to memorize Scripture – for some more than others. Our family found that by using used hand motions it helped us learn faster but another means of memorization can be through song. We came across a wonderful resource, first through the Revive Our Hearts program by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and then by finding the main website of Shepard Music Company, that provides an easy way to memorize the longest chapter in the Bible Psalm 119.  Susie Kimbrough has diligently put together a CD with beautiful melodies and vocalists singing Psalm 119 word for word from the King James Bible. There is also an accompanying songbook available as well. So if you are looking to start the new year off right by putting an emphasis on Scripture meditation, you may find this resource to be very beneficial!

You NEVER Marry the Right Person

I came across this article the other day and thought it portrayed some very good thoughts and truths that singles can often forget as they “wait” for or (in a man’s case) “seek” after that ‘one and only’.

The article starts out by stressing that our culture misrepresents compatibility and we often put too high of an importance on making sure that man or woman fits into our criteria list. “For marriage, being [the enormous thing it is] means we are not the same person after we have entered it. The primary challenge of marriage is learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married.”

Head on over to Relevant Magazine and read the article for yourself! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed….maybe just a tad surprised!

Bad Hair Day!

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonour.

Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

Resolved, always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.

What will you RESOLVE to do and be in 2012?