MyDivineJourney

My Word for 2014 – do Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the  Lord  everything you do. Then your plans will succeed. Two months – poof – gone. I’m pleased to report that my word do keeps me doing.  I've  done.  I did February rather well. My relationship with the Lord is at a new level since I committed to spending quality time in silence, listening and practicing contemplative player.  I’ll write more when I process it. My writing is doing well. But I’m in a season of reading, studying and allowing the word of God to soak into my soul, thus  I've  only taken notes that are not yet blog posts. They are churning in my soul. I do want to intentionally keep God at the center of my life. I added several books to my Kindle this month. I recently discovered Henri Nouwen and I can’t get enough of his writing and sermons.  I do love reading. This month I returned to my ministry with the ill. Can’t even begin...

Matthew 9:13   Go and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6)   I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.” Good sermons have a way of piercing hearts.  Andy Stanley’s   Follow, Pt.1 Jesus Says   sermon made me examine my heart in a big way. I suggest that you listen to the podcast because the message is good for nonbelievers, but especially amazing for those of us who love the Lord. Andy’s key points: ü Being a sinner is a prerequisite.  The o nly people who resist Jesus are those who "think" they are fine. Be careful! There’s no sin, addiction, illness or sin situation that puts you outside the Lord’s circle. ü Being an unbeliever doesn't disqualify you.  None of the Lord’s followers believed for several years. He chastised them several times. ü Following Jesus is purely an invitation to relationship. Rules don’t ma...

1 John 2:17 And this world is fading away, and these evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever.  What we say or don't say has eternal signification to those around us. Sure it's easier to be quiet...to ignore or turn a deaf ear to popular culture. When we don't take a stand again forbidden "things" we basically go along.  God is holy. He doesn't change his mind. You and I will see His face someday.  I want to live forever. The most powerful way you can influence people is to lead them closer to Jesus.       ~ Dr. Charles Stanley

My one word for 2014: do. Proverbs 16:3 Whatever you do, do it as service to Him, and He will guarantee your success.  I decided to challenge myself this year to get things done that matter to me. To achieve the things that are important to me. I needed a word that would motivate me to get life done.  It didn't take long to find my significant word: DO. Do has been powerful so far in January. I've been blogging consistently because - well - I do. If there's something to write. Then I do. And I have! I'm also on a downsizing kick. Decluttering needs action. Do does the job.  I joined a group that encourages 52 weeks of consistent but not complicated decluttering. Do has worked wonders! I can do it, if I want. I also want to do more reading. I joined an online book club to do that. Not only have I read the selection, but I'm enjoying the books already on my Kindle app.  I've spent time with those I hold dear to my heart this month. I took ...

  Proverbs 16:9 The human mind plans the way,  but the Lord directs the steps. Goal setting should be a big part of living on purpose - God's purpose for our lives. But I have not previously looked at goal setting as something to do in front of God.  Sure. I pray over my goals, but can you imagine if I gave them over to God before I ever committed to them? Don't let unimportant things take on a life of their own.        --   Chip Brogden I enjoy listening to Chip Brogden's CrossWind podcast. So when I learned that he put together a teaching on living a balanced life, which includes goal setting - well - it wowed me!  I took these notes from Chip's message on why goals are important.  - goals bring our purpose to pass. - goals give us ability to make choices. - goals help us make best use of our time, energy and money - goals help us decide what is important each day; don't let unimportant things ta...

Proverbs 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.  If we don't put effort into actively planning and making things happen in our lives, what we really want will never happen.   Believers often say, "If God wills ..."  The Lord gave us brains and the capacity to make decisions. But we'll never have the pleasures of achieving goals if we make God responsible for action instead of ourselves.   God actively participates when we step out to do. In my case, God has pulled people and circumstances together for my benefit in big and small ways while I've been actively pursuing my goals - professional, personal and in ministry. But I had to DO ! There was action on my part!  We either become better or bitter.  We make it difficult for God to use our gifting when we are lazy, lack goals or motivation. We won't be successful in any area of our life if we make others or circumstances responsibl...

How do 17 days zip by so fast? The first two weeks of 2014 are history. What have I done? I've been fighting flu complications for the past four weeks, but that hasn't stopped goal planning. I wrote down 3 professional goals and 3 personal goals in December. I also pulled together resources and ideas to help me achieve the things I'm planning. But at the end of day, the only thing that matters is to DO what I say I'm going to do.  I can make all the to-do lists, plans and preparations, but will I do what say I'm going to do?  Joining a group of like-minded people is what I needed. So I joined the OneWord365.com community by choosing one word for 2014. I've chosen a word before, but I had never chosen a verb like DO . Do requires action. Action accomplishes what I want to DO!