Heart Reflections

  • Born for This (Esther) by Mandisa

    Feels like I’ve been holding my breath, trying to still my restless heart
    Everything hangs on my next step, finding my nerve, playing my part
    I found shelter underneath His crown, found favor inside His eyes
    Rock this boat, and I just might drown, honesty seems to come with a price
    There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
    There’s a time but it’s not now

    Sometimes you gotta go, uninvited
    Sometimes you gotta speak when you don’t have the floor
    Sometimes you gotta move, when everybody else says you should stay
    No way, no, not today
    You gotta ask, if you want an answer
    Sometimes you gotta stand apart from the crowd
    Long before your heart could run the risk
    You were born for this
    You were born for this

    I’m leaning on the ones before me, my father’s father’s dreams
    I’m standing on the top of their shoulders calling the One delivering me
    There’s a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down
    There’s a time but it’s not now

    One step, one move.
    Born to trust You.
    Made to lay my
    Life before You

  • Heart Reflections: His Will or Ours?

    I shared this quote awhile back with some friends and thought it may be something that would encourage you as well.

    God doesn’t reveal His will for our consideration. He reveals it for our participation. – Andy Stanley

    Often I find myself praying or asking God for what I “think” would be the best for my life instead of letting Him reveal it to me and being joyful in what He wants for me. Or worse when He reveals His will and I don’t like some of the stipulations because I want the ability to negotiate the terms instead of just doing what He asks of me.

    I am grateful when He does make His will clear for us even if that means it will not always be smooth sailing. Thankfully we serve a merciful, gracious, forgiving, and loving God because I feel like I stumble and make mistakes more often then I should.

    Hope everyone is having a great week. Praying for you, I know it is difficult doing everything that is set out before us each day. Before long the kids will be grown.  I pray that we will be able to look back on these days rejoicing in the time we spent investing in their hearts and lives.

  • Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin

    You hear me when I call
    You are my morning song
    Though darkness fills the night
    It cannot hide the light
    Whom shall I fear?

    I know who goes before me
    I know who stands behind
    The God of angel armies is always by my side
    The One who reigns forever
    He is a friend of mine
    The God of angel armies is always by my side

    My strength is in Your name
    For You alone can save
    You will deliver me
    Yours is the victory
    Whom shall I fear?
    Whom shall I fear?

  • Let Mercy Hold You by Jason Crabb

    When the road is winding through the darkness,
    And the load is heavy as your heart is now,
    And you’re full of doubt,

    Every night is holding back a sunrise,
    Every storm, shadowing a blue sky,
    I know it’s hard,
    When there’s nothing else you can do,
    So let mercy hold you,

    So let the valley teach you how to sing,
    And still believe, grace is everything you need,
    It’s only here you’ll see,

    Joy is coming with the morning,
    You just gotta wait for the dawn to break,
    Joy is coming with the morning,
    Don’t lose hope…

  • Stronger by Mandisa

    Hey, heard you were up all night
    Thinking about how your world ain’t right
    And you wonder if things will ever get better
    And you’re asking why is it always raining on you
    When all you want is just a little good news
    Instead of standing there stuck out in the weather

    Oh, don’t hang your head
    It’s gonna end
    God’s right there
    Even if it’s hard to see Him
    I promise you that He still cares

    When the waves are taking you under
    Hold on just a little bit longer
    He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
    The pain ain’t gonna last forever
    And things can only get better
    Believe me
    This is gonna make you stronger
    Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger

    Try and do the best you can
    Hold on and let Him hold your hand
    And go on and fall into the arms of Jesus
    Oh, lift your head it’s gonna end
    God’s right there
    Even when you just can’t feel Him
    I promise you that He still cares

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    I am getting back in the swing of things now that schedule is returning to the somewhat normal.  One kid is in school and the other one is home recovering from surgery.   Last week my goals were pretty basic.  I did get a lot of items done and I am hoping to make some big headway this week (fingers-crossed).

    Last week’s goals

    • Bring in the 2013 New Year – Celebrating with Family and Friends
    • Spend some one-on-one time with my man
    • Spend Quality time with the girls
    • Daughter’s Surgery
    • Go over our goals for 2013 – started, but with a little one recovering from surgery and Jake having to work extra this weekend we were not able to get it completely done

    There were a few more noteworthy ones on the list that I didn’t write out that I was able to do as well:

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Take care of the little one recovering from surgery
    7. Write Thank You Notes
    8. Finish going over our 2013 goals

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Start with my new YouVersion plan(s)
    4. Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Finish Wrapping & Prepping for the Christmas Events
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Complete a current client work project

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Email a meeting reminder to the Alms & Legs Ministry Team

    Financial Goals

    1. For my January Grocery Budget I am replacing my typical Groceries $40 for 4 with my Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping in order to use up some extra items in my fridge, freezer, and pantry.
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.