I surrender

I met with my mentor on Monday for breakfast at a small local restaurant. We ate and talked about scripture and our walk with the Lord. One quoted scripture by her which stuck out was 1 Samuel 15: 22 "So Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.'" Wow! Powerful words.

God gives us direction throughout His word on how to live. He makes promises of help; He is faithful to keep. He tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 He will direct are paths if we acknowledge Him in all our ways. All we have to do is be obedient.

Obedience is self-sacrifice, giving up what we want for what God wants. I personally have found that giving up my desires and self centeredness is easier when I am reading God's Word daily. God tells us in His Word, Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

What can I say to a great God who only wants my obedience!

"Oh my Heavenly Father God, before heaven and earth I give You my all. I surrender my will to Yours to serve You as your obedient daughter and servant. I praise You for the privilege to wait upon You for direction of Your perfect will. I give up my selfish desires and bend my will to follow You. Your love and mercy is greater then any I have ever known. I can't even begin to thank You enough for Your life giving sacrifice of Your son Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord of my life. Praise and Glory be to Your name God Almighty. Amen"

Princess's example of Surrender 

Snowy Days

The last five days has brought 18 inches of snow and we are expecting more. Most of the snow melts during the day and freezes at night. The majority of the animals are not bothered by the snow. My ducks especially like to be out in it.

Backyard snow

Maxine Cooling her feathers

Maxine says"here Kitty, Kitty"

Spot and Maxine had enough of the snow. Back to the Coop

Rockett is the only one who doesn't like the snow and stays in the coop and eats all day

Help comes from the Lord

I have been unable to perform my routine house cleaning with my injured leg for the last three months. I'm still limited by the Doctor's orders and my own leg strength. An unkept house is really frustrating for me. And the Lord knows it.

The Lord graciously laid it on a lady's heart, who attends my church, to perform house cleaning as a ministry. I was her first recipient. She, her children and my mentor came to my house and cleaned for three hours. What a blessing! I'm extremely thankful for the help which came from the Lord.

NKJV Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth

Clutter-Bug

 I have to confess, I am a 'clutter-bug'. I have a habit of obtaining and saving items I believe will be used in the future: quilts, books, 'Important papers', coupons, recipes and pictures to name a few. I have valid reasons for keeping some of the clutter but not all of it.

I have decided I need to deal with my clutter. We have a small 900 square foot house and two 8x12 storage sheds full of stuff. I have approximately four more months before I can return to work. I need to use my time wisely and organize accordingly.

Shed #1

I have read numerous blog posts and books on organizing. Most have the same recommendations. The suggestions I plan on using are;

1) To decide what I really want to keep and actually use. If I have not used it in over a year, I need to ask myself; What purpose does it serve? Do I really even like the item? If it is clothing, does it fit and is it in style? What value does it add to my life?

 2) Sort items into categories: recycle, reuse, yard sale, give away and toss.  Items such as glass jars, computer monitors and magazines can be recycled. T-shirts and jeans can be reused for craft projects. Dishes, decorations and good clothing can be sold in a yard sale or given to a family or charity in need. Broken items beyond repair, stained or torn need to be trashed. 

Previous De-cluttering. Overwhelming

3) Items kept for use on a regular basis need to be placed in cabinets or drawers according to their purpose. This will make it easier to find them when needed and ensure their use.

4) Items which have sentimental value or might be passed onto my son will be put into storage bins and labeled.

5) Seasonal decorations will be put in bins and labeled. Christmas decorations will be placed in boxes according to type, sentimental value and function. Christmas lights will need to be wrapped to prevent tangling.

6) Seasonal clothes will be sorted and packed in bins for future appropriate seasons.

7) Important papers should be kept in labeled file folders and placed in labeled document boxes.

Trying to find things

To keep on track with this project and not get overwhelmed, I will need to set limits (such as one hour a day and one section at a time). Alas, clutter-free!

Friendships

 I recently joined a women's mentoring program at the church I attend. It is a six month program which was developed to assist in meeting the needs of women in our church. It helps with growth in our spiritual walk with the Lord and female friendships. It requires members to be accountable to meet with their mentor/menttee on a regular basis, to participate in an activity which supports spiritual growth and to pray for one another.

The recent session began on a Saturday morning with an informational breakfast. Upon arrival the coordinators took our picture and provided us with a card to fill out with our name, contact information and what we were looking for in the mentoring relationship. I wrote my personal information and shared I was looking for growth in the Lord and a strong Christian mentor to learn from. I turned my card in, no qualms. 

Then realization set in, I was making a six month commitment of time, energy and vulnerability. Fears began welling up inside me. I felt I didn't take time to pray about the decision to join and it may not be the Lord's will for my life. I thought what if I stick my foot in my mouth, as I so often do, and offend or insult my matched mentor. But, the biggest fear of all was being vulnerable to another human being.  

Being vulnerable is not one of my best character traits. The fear of rejection is so strong in me. It is so much easier to be quiet, make small talk and not let myself be known. I have opened up at times to a small degree, but I knew the bar was going to be raised during this six month period. The Lord wants me to learn vulnerability to Him and to others. 

Trust-Not Fear

Through vulnerability I believe God will teach me about trust. God desires for all to trust in Him. Psalm 33:4 NKJV tells us,  "For the work of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth." God is truth and He is righteous. He will not lie to us or lead us down the wrong path. Even when I feel alone and far away from God, I can open His word and find Him. He promises in Hebrews 13:5,  He will never leave us. Having been hurt in the past, makes it hard to trust and believe in others. I put up guards to keep God and others at bay because of my past experiences. God has an answer for my self-made protection and worldly thoughts. In Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV God tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Marriage-Ultimate Mentoring Relationship

 The second thing I believe God wants me to learn about; is Him, His word, and how to live. I can learn about God by going to church services, reading His word and interacting with others.  Proverbs 27:17 NKJV. "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."  When you have a one-on-one relationship in mentoring, you become vulnerable and accountable to another. You learn from each other's knowledge and experiences. It wasn't an easy decision to be vulnerable to others, so I have chosen to trust God to make me and my mentoring relationship all He wants it to be.

Spot meeting Prince's  need

Lastly, in my mentoring relationship I believe God is going to allow me to learn to accept support and offer support. I always had the attitude I could take care of myself. I didn't need anyone's help. My attitude has definitely changed due to my fractured knee and being limited in what I can do. My mentor has seen my limitations and provides support by offering to help. Today she met a need by making me a cup of tea and bringing donuts to satisfy my sweet tooth. She was a perfect example of Galatians 6:2 NKJV,  "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." I personally have found that not only does it feel good for me to receive help but also to help others.

It has only been a month since I started my new mentoring friendship and I have so much to look forward to, as we both grow together in our faith. I know it will not always be easy, but my desire to know my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, far outweighs my fear of vulnerability. 

Simple Micro Farming

I am finding there are many aspects to simple living to explore and try. One area I have been exploring and expanding on for about two and a half years is Micro-Farming. For me Micro-Farming involves growing and canning my own food, having chickens for eggs, and owning other animals for manure and/or companionship.

1st Batch of Chicks

I have found many reasons to begin my farming adventure. I started by growing my own food and having chickens. This allowed me to know what I was actually feeding my family. When I moved to California four years ago I took a job in a government public health agency. I was amazed at the numerous food recalls related to contamination of food and the subsequent illnesses being reported.

Dinner Time!

After I started growing food and watching my fluffy chicks grow up I found out how much fun it was.  I had seen baby chicks and full grown chickens before but never had the chance to watch the process of them growing. I was amazed at how my baby chickens developed their own personalities! I never realized chickens could be curious, aloof, friendly, feisty, fearful, or "talkative" while following me around. All the chickens I had seen before steered clear of humans. Maybe my chickens consider me the "chicken whisperer". 

My home grown food and fresh eggs are fun, safer and taste better. and Financially, they are a frugal option for living a simpler life.

Spot and Maxine Ducks in the garden

Simple Life and Priorities

It is still strange to me how much my life has changed over the last two months. How something that I believed insignificant, (a fall with an unknown fractured knee, that I was able to walk away from) could change my life. I didn't realize at the time that it was a gift from God.  A chance to begin living a simpler, slower life and to align my priorities with God's priorities. God tells us in Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" NKJV.

I am finding that as I adjust to God's priorities life is just plain simpler. So many things that I believed  mattered are not as important now. God's priorities are relationship based. With the first and most important  relationship being with God. God wants us to put Him as number one in our life. Exodus 20:3 "you shall have no other gods before Me" NKJV. Anything that stands in the way of us having a relationship with God is idolatry i.e. choosing another item, person, activity or anything we make more important than God.

The second priority that I believe God has for me is the relationships I have with my family, my husband and son. In the book of Ephesians God provides us direction on how to treat our spouses 5:22-23 "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church and He is the Savior of the body." 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" NKJV. Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward" NKJV. As I read God's word I am so amazed at the blessings my husband and son are. When I was running my fast paced life I didn't have time to be with my husband or even give him a chance to be the head of our home as Christ is the head of the church. This of course led to a lot of conflict between us and a relationship that was lacking in the closeness we both desired. As for my son, I overflow with joy at the thoughts of him. He is a true reward to me.

The next priority from God I believe is the responsibility of employment and our relationship with our employer. I view employment as a form of commitment.  I believe God wants us to work and be productive whether at home or at a job. If at home we are working for our families to assist with meeting their needs. If we work outside the home we are working for another to meet their needs and to support our families financially. I Thessalonians 4: 11"that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands" NKJV.  Psalm 31:13 "she seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands" NKJV. The quoted scriptures basically reveal to us how we are to present ourselves as an employee, to be willing to do our job and to mind our own business.

The last priority I believe is service to the church body and community. I know no other way quicker to get over feeling depressed or having self pity then to serve another. When serving someone else I find that I don't focus on myself or my situation but I am providing for someone else's need. Usually someone who has needs greater than mine. Romans 15: 1-2 "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification" NKJV.

As I walk on this journey I am in awe of what God is teaching me, leading me toward and providing me.  By learning more of His priorities and learning to live them, my life has become so full of love, joy and closeness to my God and family. I can't even begin to express my gratitude to the Lord for the changes in my simple life.