I know I have already posted for the evening, but I came across the following passage and had to share. This is so how I feel these days and how I hope to change those feelings. I'm going to get off the computer and go pick up my Bible! The following is from a site entitled "In Courage; A Home for the Hearts of Women". Check them out at incourage.me.

"The Need to Fill Up"

An inspirational entry about taking time with God

Major confession: My time with the Lord lately is thin and flimsy.

Problem #1: I’ve distracted myself with shopping, crafting, reading, writing and just about anything besides sitting quietly and spending time with God.

Problem #2: Because of Problem #1, I’ve filled up my life with things — things that don’t fulfill the deep desires of my heart. I’m running on empty and I continuously turn to these things to attempt to fill my “cup.” Yet, these things drain out of said cup faster than I can keep up with.

I’m in a crazy cycle that has lasted about three weeks, and my life is a bit off kilter. This is what happens when my time with the Lord is replaced with other things. I’m hoping to get back on track with a strategy, and if you find yourself in the same boat as I’ve put myself in, I would love for you to join me.

Step 1: Evaluate my time spent online. This is a tough one, and it is my biggest drain of energy and minutes in the day. Click after click I spin farther away from my absolute priority: time with God. I know that there are meaningful things to do on the Internet, but I want God to know that He is more important. “Liking” a page on FB or tweeting about my latest shopping excursion to Target can wait. With that thought in mind, I’ve determined that I must not open my laptop in the morning until I have opened my Bible and opened my heart to what God wants me to hear for that day.

Step 2: Get out my journal and a pen when I open my Bible. By writing out a Bible verse or journaling my prayers, this keeps me engaged with the words in the Word. Asking myself, what am I going to do differently today based on the scripture I just studied is what keeps things real and actionable in my life and holds me accountable for what the Lord is teaching me. Though it is not easy to actually do something after my time with the Lord, I’m convinced that God blesses those who put to action the commands from His word.

Step 3: Scripture memory –– a tough one for me. Memorizing Bible verses and Bible passages is a tried and true way to replace the junk in my mind with words that are meaningful and lasting. Every time I’m tempted during the day, I can refer to my Bible verses to replace those unproductive thoughts with time-tested scripture. I’ve been so resistant for so long to memorize scripture, but this empty cup of mine and my efforts to fill it up with shopping or Facebook is just no longer cutting it. So it is time to get down to business.

This week, will you join me in my three steps to getting back on track with God? Will you join me in the tough step 3, memorizing at least one key verse from a passage of Scripture that always touches my heart, Psalm 84? I think it will solidify our need to make Jesus the priority over every part of our life. Here it is, in the NLT version:

Psalm 84:1-4, 9-10
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!

9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.

Great Weekend

I just finished a difficult month (well, 2 difficult weeks) and was so thankful to be home with Matthew and Ryan for the last 48hrs. Yesterday we spent the afternoon with some of our BEST friends, the Gambrells. We visited their parent's pool. It was so much fun! We just love being with them. They have a son, Truitt, who is about 7months younger than Ryan. He is so precious!

We have been to the pool twice. The first time was about a month ago. It was Ry's first trip to a pool and the water was a little chilly :-). She cried most of the time she was in the water, haha! This time, she hadn't had a nap....AT ALL! She fell asleep on our way there and woke up as we pulled in the driveway (about 20mins total). She was EXHAUSTED! She loved the water (warm) but then after about 10mins realized how tired she was and fussed the rest of the time. Our friends are so sweet, they didn't even say a thing!

Today, we went to church then shopping for Ry's first birthday. SO MUCH FUN!!! I can't believe she will turn one in less than 2 weeks.

This weekend I realized how thankful I am for family and friends. I have an amazing husband and daughter. I also have wonderful friends who I love spending/experiencing life with. God has been way too good to me!

Blessings to all as you start the week! I pray you all feel His presence and experience His unending love!!

Bethany

Idols...Sneaky and Easy to Have

So, this will be a stream of thoughts I am sure. Nothing about Ryan other than she is such a piece of work right now, gotta love the beginning of those toddler years! (did you really think I could blog and entire post without talking about her :-).

This is more from my heart. I learned, no learn is no the right word. I finally realized a horrible and somewhat embarrasing thing about myself today....I have idols, big idols that are suffocating my time, mind and heart. Matthew and I love to look at houses. At first, this was simply fun but as we are closer to finishing up our training (finally) we realized that one day we might actually be able to get another home - larger, nicer, better location, etc. Somewhere over the last few months this fun hobby has become an obession to us. We look EVERYDAY. We find ones, talk about how we could afford it, would we like it, etc. A few days ago we found what looks like a dream home to us. It is older, with lots of charm but has been completely renovated and is in a wonderful location. AND, it is in a price range we most definitely will be able to afford (when we both are out and working, but not quite yet). However, because it was so perfect, we decided to go look at it this morning. BIG MISTAKE!!!!! We loved it, of course. We knew we would. We also knew it would be completely and utterly insane for us to even think about purchasing it right now. But, we went any ways.

It was after we had seen the house that my/our obession hit me in the face full force. This is consuming most of our waking ours, together and apart. It is an idol and I am so ashamed and heartbroken we have let it come this far. Matthew and I both realized it at the same time and were completely humbled. Our God has blessed us in so many ways, yet we are alwasy looking for more. Always wanting bigger, prettier things. Don't get me wrong...wanting and new, bigger house is completely fine, as long as it doesn't consume who you are. I praise Him so much that he protected us and opened our eyes and hearts to where we were headed if we didn't take a good look at what we have become.

So, Matthew and Ryan, this is my committment: I promise from now on to take better notice of my priorities. I promise to daily strive to always keep them in this order: God, Matthew, Ryan and then everything else. I promise to no longer look at houses until God shows me it is time and ok for my mind and heart to go there again. I love you both so much and am so enormously thankful for the life God has given us a family. I am so excited for what is in store for us!!

Bethany
(I couldn't resist....I had to post a pic of the munchkin)

Finally, Another Post!

I'm so sorry it has been SOOOO long since I have posted. I promised that wouldn't happen but life became too hectic, as always :-)

Ryan is absolutely amazing! She has grown and changed so much over the last 5 months. She talks, ALL OF THE TIME (no one understands it but her of course). She is starting to put together that Matthew and I are "mama and dada" though, I'm sure of it. She really knows and remembers people. She is pulling up, almost cruising. She loves to dance and ADORES music. She is one fast woman crawling around. Today, she somehow manuevered herself underneath one of the kitchen chairs and then couldn't figure out how to get out, hilarious. She knows paddy cake, high-five and touchdown (just in time for football season). She is such a joy. She makes us smile and laugh so much everyday.

I will admit, I am starting to struggle with her growing though. I mean, of course I'm excited for her to develop and turn into the beautiful girl God designed but it seems to happen so fast. I just don't want to miss or look back regretting time lost. I want her to stay sweet, innocent, fun-loving although intermittently dramatic and only kind of mobile :-) I don't know if I will be able to keep up with her when she can run around, haha.

Matthew and I are doing well too. Work is busy (for me any ways) Matthew is loving his rotations now and trying to prepare/decide future plans. Prayers for him and us as we begin making these decisions is very much appreciated!

Hope everyone is well! I will not let so much time pass between posts next time!