Some Random Thoughts

Here are some of my reflections on the last week:

-Even though i spent 5 years studying to be a high school English and Drama teacher, I'm not sure it's what I want to do anymore. I'm applying to get my master's in counseling at Providence Seminary next year.
-Sometimes I have to say no! to the sweet treats that are placed in front of me. If I don't my jeans will only get tighter.
-Nothing is my own. God gave me all that I have and I want to take on the role of a steward more than an owner. It's tough.
-I want to start volunteering an evening a week somewhere. I'm not sure where, but it's something I'm looking into.
-Writing a book takes a long time. And as soon as the words are down on the page I feel they aren't sufficient to express the experiences.
-I love my husband and want to be a better wife.

A New Direction

Well now that I'm home from Australia I decided it's time to take my blog in a new direction. Lately I've been thinking a lot about the future and my hopes, goals, dreams and primarily, my calling. How can I be moving forward in a way that brings me closer to fufilling the call that God has placed on my life? One of the things that I've always wanted to do and plan on doing is writing a book. Last year I started my first book which was going to be a devotional book. However, this past month, our computer hard drive crashed and nothing can be retrieved from it - thus ending the life of my devotional book. However, rather than becoming discouraged about it, I figure it wasn't what God wanted me to write. He has something else in mind. So I've decided that this blog will now be a place where I share the little lessons that God has taught me in the past and is continuing to teach me, in hopes of being an encouragment to others and also gaining practice for the future. So with that in mind I thought I'd share something I learned today.
James 2: 14-20
Check out this passage in The Message version of the bible on www.biblegateway.com

Here's what really stood out to me. The passage talks about how faith without works is dead. If we're just talking about how much we love God and believe that He is who he says he is, and we aren't doing anything about it, our faith is dead. But the reverse is true as well. If we are doing all of these great and wonderful acts and they are not rooted in our own intimate relationship with God, our actions are dead as well. So really we are stuck unless we are willing to go after God's heart on a regular basis. We can no longer hide in empty, religious talk. Nor can we depend on our service in the church, community or to our family to carry us.
Faith - Works = Death
Works - Faith = Death too
So where does that leave me? Why get out of bed in the morning unless it's to go to the throne room of the Father and hear his voice and be filled with His love and His purpose for my day. I think James would say there is no point without that.