L3 Challenge Day 28

When the day has been long and dreary, my challenge: make something warm to fill the insides.

And then savor the smiles around the table.

Food for the body may warm for an hour, but food for the soul warms for eternity as the memory of the filling causes warmth to renew even on the coldest days.



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L3 Challenge Day 27

When life is painful and the day itself is a challenge: make something warm. Like these headbands. A focused mind on a practical task keeps my hands busy and my heart free to be poured out before the Lord.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.


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L3 Challenge Day 25

Come By Here (With Ann Voskamp) from Shaun Groves on Vimeo.


As you probably noticed, I have been reading a lot by Ann Voskamp. This song really ministered to me, and as I face my challenges both self imposed and otherwise I hope to see God in each moment of my day. Thanksgiving in both the beautiful and ugly things in life.

L3 Challenge Day 22

"Set a strong guard about thy outward senses; these are Satan's landing places, especially the eye and the ear." -- William Gurnall

"All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." Ecclesiastes 1:8 ESV

It's striking to me to remember how much my senses are assaulted by Satan. To protect my faith, purity, priorities, family, etc. I must be on the guard. What makes me weary? Trying to satisfy my eyes and fill my ears. Yet, to live life to the full I must constantly exercise self-control. Discernment. Discipline. A strong guard.

My challenge for today is to be tough. Saying no to the atmosphere of this world and to say Yes to Jesus Christ through prayer and the Holy Spirit's leading. Every activity, hour, attitude of my day is either a choice to let the world, Satan, and sin into my senses or a surrender to the Holy Spirit to control what is let in and how I respond to it. 

L3 Challenge Day 20

They lose their air. Fall to the ground. Taking a different shape.

I've been taking a different shape lately. Trying to adapt when I've lost my air. Steam. Drained.

What do you do when this is the status of your day and it's only noon?

Taking a different shape.
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L3 Challenge Day 18

Being lead by the Spirit doesn't always make sense at the moment. Some leading requires boldness and others require humility. Some require immediate action and others require patience or abstinence of action.

What does this have to do with a bathroom?

Obedience.

I was lead to clean it. And I mean no disrespect by talking about such a room with relation to obedience to the Spirit, but it's been the progress of my spiritual life lately to seek to listen constantly to what I am to do for Him. For today, it was this. Serve my family.

Right now. Stop what I was doing. On my knees. And worship the Lord for meeting me there as I obeyed.

I sang and scrubbed. It was beautiful.

{Here is a bonus for today: these printable scripture cards are attractive and practical!}
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/10/abc-printable-scripture-cards/
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L3 Challenge Day 16

Rescued by clothes on the line.

Rescue from failure, even just the feeling of failure. The chores pile up, kids call to play, books pile on shelves, days committed before they even begin: responsibilities multiply when I'm not looking, and then when I least expect it - I'm rescued.

The clothes washed and on the line, floors swept, kids bathed, and I no longer feel like I'm defined by what was left undone. It was done for me. It was a gift.

The gratitude that burst forth from receiving fuels me to give in the same way.
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