And Now A Message From Our Sponsor......
Good Morning Girls! We will now interrupt this mornings broadcast of The Love Dare to share a special message from our Sponsor.
This morning I woke up at 6am. I didn't have to get up early today. I knew I was going to be writing about Day 34. I knew I was going to work out at the gym this afternoon. I had a lazy morning planned. So when I woke up at 6am I said "Lord, did you wake me up? I'm not sure so I will lie in bed for a few minutes, if I am still awake I will get up". Well, I dozed on and off for almost two more hours.
So, some of you are thinking "So, it obviously wasn't the Lord who woke you up." Well, let me tell you another thing. The two hours I dozed off and on I had dreams and thoughts intertwined about how unmotivated I have felt lately. How I feel like I am going through the motions in most areas of my life. How I don't have much on my plate right now, which is good, because the few things I do have, I just can't seem to commit to or be excited about. I also kept thinking about how I missed the Lord.
"Missed the Lord...what does that mean?" To be honest with you, even though God is proving himself faithful once again as He works miracles in my marriage, I feel further from Him than I have in a long time. "How can this be?" you are asking. It's simple, I strayed away from His personal love letter to us. I strayed away from his Word. No, I have not backslidden and returned to old behaviors. I have not given up on the promises He has made. I simply quit opening my bible.
I guess I figured that reading the Love Dare, and other books that talked about God's Word would provide me with enough "Word" as I did this Love Dare. Even as I write those words it sounds ridiculous, for I know better. Truth be told, it was kind of nice knowing exactly what I was going to be writing about each day. It was nice to have versus provided for me to simply choose from. It was nice to "have a break". But really, what did I think I was taking a break from? I love my time in the Word. I am always preaching to you Girls to get in to the Word. Yet here I've been.....everywhere but in the Word.
So, is God disappointed with me? No. Is He withholding blessings? NO. Is He angry? No. Is He going to let bad things happen to me? NO. That is not that God we serve, though others may have told you differently. If anything I believe He is anxiously waiting for me to "log-on" and check His mail so I can receive the special messages He has for me. I believe He is wishing He wouldn't get a busy signal every time He tries to call me. I believe He has some special secrets He is waiting to share and is bouncing off the walls in a good way just like we do when we have something exciting to tell a girlfriend.
This weekend I had bought a little gift for a friend. It was something small, but I was still really excited to give it to her. I looked for her at church on Sunday and didn't see her. I carried this gift around with me the whole time, hoping I would bump into her. I was excited, and a little bummed when I didn't see her. I knew however that I would see her on Tuesday, so I knew she would get her gift soon. She had no idea I had something for her, and no idea I was looking for her. I picture God to be like I was on Sunday.....I picture Him holding a "gift" for me, excited and a little bummed when I don't "show up" to receive it. Not bummed at me, but bummed because it is so fun to bless someone you love. He is waiting for me....He knows I'll be there on "Tuesday".
Well Girls, my "Tuesday" came today. I got back in the Word for myself. It's funny, I sat down in my special chair and prayed "Lord, I kind of feel like I am starting all over again. Please show me where to start. Please show me what to read." I sat for a moment and thought about how I have been feeling like my purpose is all foggy when just a few months ago it was so clear. I went to the index. I looked up the word "purpose". I picked the subtitle "how we lose sight of ours". It brought me to the book of Joshua. In the end, this is where I was led:
Joshua 1:8 Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
what do you know........He confirmed what I knew in my heart. He confirmed that this foggy feeling was in fact because I had not been meditating on His Word for myself. I had been relying on other people to feed me His Word!
Now will you listen to me when I urge you to dig in for yourself?!
Love you all-
Jen
This morning I woke up at 6am. I didn't have to get up early today. I knew I was going to be writing about Day 34. I knew I was going to work out at the gym this afternoon. I had a lazy morning planned. So when I woke up at 6am I said "Lord, did you wake me up? I'm not sure so I will lie in bed for a few minutes, if I am still awake I will get up". Well, I dozed on and off for almost two more hours.
So, some of you are thinking "So, it obviously wasn't the Lord who woke you up." Well, let me tell you another thing. The two hours I dozed off and on I had dreams and thoughts intertwined about how unmotivated I have felt lately. How I feel like I am going through the motions in most areas of my life. How I don't have much on my plate right now, which is good, because the few things I do have, I just can't seem to commit to or be excited about. I also kept thinking about how I missed the Lord.
"Missed the Lord...what does that mean?" To be honest with you, even though God is proving himself faithful once again as He works miracles in my marriage, I feel further from Him than I have in a long time. "How can this be?" you are asking. It's simple, I strayed away from His personal love letter to us. I strayed away from his Word. No, I have not backslidden and returned to old behaviors. I have not given up on the promises He has made. I simply quit opening my bible.
I guess I figured that reading the Love Dare, and other books that talked about God's Word would provide me with enough "Word" as I did this Love Dare. Even as I write those words it sounds ridiculous, for I know better. Truth be told, it was kind of nice knowing exactly what I was going to be writing about each day. It was nice to have versus provided for me to simply choose from. It was nice to "have a break". But really, what did I think I was taking a break from? I love my time in the Word. I am always preaching to you Girls to get in to the Word. Yet here I've been.....everywhere but in the Word.
So, is God disappointed with me? No. Is He withholding blessings? NO. Is He angry? No. Is He going to let bad things happen to me? NO. That is not that God we serve, though others may have told you differently. If anything I believe He is anxiously waiting for me to "log-on" and check His mail so I can receive the special messages He has for me. I believe He is wishing He wouldn't get a busy signal every time He tries to call me. I believe He has some special secrets He is waiting to share and is bouncing off the walls in a good way just like we do when we have something exciting to tell a girlfriend.
This weekend I had bought a little gift for a friend. It was something small, but I was still really excited to give it to her. I looked for her at church on Sunday and didn't see her. I carried this gift around with me the whole time, hoping I would bump into her. I was excited, and a little bummed when I didn't see her. I knew however that I would see her on Tuesday, so I knew she would get her gift soon. She had no idea I had something for her, and no idea I was looking for her. I picture God to be like I was on Sunday.....I picture Him holding a "gift" for me, excited and a little bummed when I don't "show up" to receive it. Not bummed at me, but bummed because it is so fun to bless someone you love. He is waiting for me....He knows I'll be there on "Tuesday".
Well Girls, my "Tuesday" came today. I got back in the Word for myself. It's funny, I sat down in my special chair and prayed "Lord, I kind of feel like I am starting all over again. Please show me where to start. Please show me what to read." I sat for a moment and thought about how I have been feeling like my purpose is all foggy when just a few months ago it was so clear. I went to the index. I looked up the word "purpose". I picked the subtitle "how we lose sight of ours". It brought me to the book of Joshua. In the end, this is where I was led:
Joshua 1:8 Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
what do you know........He confirmed what I knew in my heart. He confirmed that this foggy feeling was in fact because I had not been meditating on His Word for myself. I had been relying on other people to feed me His Word!
Now will you listen to me when I urge you to dig in for yourself?!
Love you all-
Jen
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