Silence is golden

How many of you know people or have known people who always want to tell you all that is on their mind. They complain, they argue, they look for the negative and before you know it you are feeling like they are and you walk away defeated and drained? I read a passage in 2 Chronicles this morning about the Queen of Sheba and it says at the end of verse 1 "she told him all that was on her mind" . I laughed because I could totally picture this woman standing before Solomon in all his wisdom and splendor bobbing her head and pointing her finger at him. I also imagine him with a small but present smile on his face as she questions him to death.  Our responses and reactions to people like this are so vital. When we participate we enable. When we respond we fuel. When we speak only in truth we silence them. After Solomon answered every question it says in at the end of verse 4 "there was no more breath in her". What a funny picture she had nothing to say.  I believe that when we are in check with our own obedience and pursuit of the Lord we respond accordingly. Solomon had been blessed from his hard  work and from His obedience. We often stop working on what God has called us to do simply because we don't like or think we can do better in other people's lives. Today I encourage you to walk in tune to the heart of God and keep your eyes and ears on His truth alone so when people come at you there is no room for defeat because silence (on their part)  is simply golden.  

To live fully in Him

It has been such a long time since I have sat down and poured out my thoughts. I stopped at the end of the school year because I really wanted to soak up the fullness of my kids. I have had the best time with them by the pool and trips to carowinds among other stops along the way. I have heard them laugh until they have cried, argue until one of them apologized and I have watched each of them bloom into a new season. Rachel is wearing a little make up and obsessively dresses to impress as she moves closer to starting middle school while Rebekah is moving into a season of becoming even more of a leader. She is about to be a junior in high school and is turning 16. She is seeing friendships differently, and soaking up Jesus like never before. I am watching them step into to their callings without even being able to verbalize it just yet.  I believe God called me to step away from the computer and ease up on social media this summer because yes He wanted me to see my girls but He also wanted to remind me of what it looks like to live fully in His presence. To see Him even among the chaos. To rest in His presence when things are seemingly out of my control. To see the sky and immediately begin to thank Him.   I have experienced a renewal deep within my soul like never before in my life.  I believe that walking in the fullness of God allows our lives to to change, renew, get rid of, add to and so on because He truly wants our lives to be fully positioned to embrace the fullness of abundant living.  He is fully in love with you and He just wants you to surrender everything and fully live in Him!!! I am learning to NOT question His plan but to fully live day to day in thankfulness! The girls start back to school in just a few weeks and that means its back to writing for me. God prepare my heart<3 

Ephesians 3:19 says this "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with ALL the FULLNESS of God."