Distractions.

This is the pile of books that has been collecting on my nightstand over the past 6-8 months. I'm reading all of them. I've only completely finished one of them & then immediately put it back in the pile because when I read a really good book I like to read it 2-3 more times to make sure I didn't miss anything. My reading pile continues to build & my reading time has become less & less. This is kind of funny to me because I don't have cable TV or Internet in my apartment and even without those two time wasters (because really, that's what I'd do if I had them). I am still able to distract myself enough with the 6 basic TV channels I do get & my iPhone.

I've been distracted and I've been busy. Like 12-hour work day a couple times a week busy.

Today is Ash Wednesday and it's time for me to slow down a little. It's time for me to put some of these distractions to the side and focus in on my relationship with Jesus, because at the end of this 40 days comes the greatest sacrifice & celebration the world has ever know--the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And when I'm honest with myself, I know that a lot of days I don't live like I really get that. I become wrapped up in my own stuff...my own distractions and I don't bask in living in the freedom that comes in knowing and worshipping a living King.

So, I'm thankful that the calendar has come to these 40 days of Lent again. I'm doing some things very differently than my "norm" these next 40 days. I'm going to take more time to be still. I'm going to spend more time with my Savior and I’m going to attempt to tackle that stack of books that have been waiting for me on my nightstand.

Spreading the love.

Just wanted to share with ya'll a short post highlighting three ministries that I love. I know that there are probably thousands of organizations that spread love & truth in the world by being the hands and feet of Jesus. These just happen to be three that I follow & support. So, if you're looking for a different way to spread the love this Valentine's Day, there are many ways to support these ministries whether through prayers or financially. This is where my Valentine card money went this year. Happy Valentine's Day!

1. http://amazima.org
Check out what Katie Davis & the Amazima ministry team is doing to share the love of Jesus in Uganda. There are awesome ways to be get plugged in stateside as well! Katie's story has had a huge impact on my heart & life...not because she claims to be anything spectacular but because she claims Jesus and His calling for her in everything she has done & continues to do. She is constantly giving God the glory for the amazing ways He is using her in Uganda. Katie's example of faith has opened my eyes and heart in new ways to Christ's calling for my own life.

2.http://www.startwithonekenya.org
Start with One Kenya is one of the ministries I was blessed with the opportunity to be apart of during my time in Kenya last summer. The passion of this ministry is so incredible that it can only be the work of Christ fueling the fire and light of the Start with One team to the people of Kenya. One life at a time they are sharing the love of Christ by helping widows & orphans, distrbuting water filters, holding medical clinics, etc. I look forward to the day that I can go back and work with this awesome team!

3. http://inumc.org/pages/detail/185
As a part of the United Methodist Church is exciting to see what our denomination is doing in the US & around the world to share Jesus through meeting the needs of those with so much less or who are facing hard times. Check out what the United Methodist Church is doing through missions in Indiana.

Timing.

Well, I've been a bit of a blogging slacker. I've been thinking about a blog post ever since we hit 2012 over a month ago but haven't taken the time to sit down and write one & then today my co-director, Joe posts on his blog that it's 100th post & I really start to feel like a slacker...so here it is, my first post of 2012.

I mentioned in my very first post on this blog a couple months ago that I'm not a fan of change. I struggle with it--but time and time again when I have given my fears and worries to God in the changes I'm facing He never fails to remind me of His greatness & His control. I should know by now how perfect His timing is for me but there are instances where yet again I get caught up in inpatience, worry and fear. I'm thankful that God's Word is available to us because I know without it I get so bent out of shape and am continually needing it to draw me back in and remind me of the freedom I have through trusting God with the changes in my life that are out of my control & that His timing for me is best.

Last night at Bible study, I was reminded of that once again when we were looking at the passage in Luke 9 when Jesus feeds the 5,000 that were gathered to hear him teach. I love this passage because I can picture myself in this crowd being someone there who would be stressing out how to feed everyone...thinking it would be impossible. And in this story there is the reminder of how nothing is impossible to Christ. That He provides for us & gives us more than we need. I love verse 17: "And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces." There were baskets of leftovers after thousands of people had eaten so much that they were satisifed! That is the greatness of Jesus--He knows our every need & wants to satsify it for us with more than we can imagine.

Recently, God has been reminding me the beauty of His timing for me and let me say, I haven't been the model example of patience. It's been heart wrenching at times. I can think of time spent on my knees in surrender for His timing for my life & the glimpses He is giving me recently of the bigger picture have been a great reminder of His provision. That what He has instore for me is always worth the wait and maybe it's just around the corner and maybe it's a little further down the road. The peace I've had in the past couple of weeks is that knowing what that next step holds-- is worth the wait.

"But do not overlook this fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you..." 2 Peter 3:8-9a