The Sock Bowl

One day last week I was doing my (almost) daily routine of laundry and I stumbled across our infamous "sock bowl." You know what I'm talking about, right? No? Well at our house, the sock bowl is the little blue bowl sitting on top of the dryer that holds all the miscellaneous socks that have lost their matches.

These poor little guys have been piling up for weeks due to my obvious procrastination in dealing with them. Anyway, as I looked at the bowl and set it aside, a thought occurred to me. "Thank goodness God does not just toss us aside like these seemingly forgotten socks."

No, it is just the opposite. The bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committted to him." (NIV)

Ironically, a few days after I was thinking about this, I heard Lysa Terkeurst speak at the She Speaks Conference and she talked about the same thing. She mentioned how David in the bible was a simple shepherd boy, tending his sheep. There was nothing special about him at all but he was made king. He was overlooked by everyone else BUT hand-picked by God. (So are we!) She also mentioned the same verse in Chronicles- wow! I felt a warmth and a confirmation from God. He was definitely speaking to me and letting me know I was meant to be at that conference this weekend. (I'm seeing more and more how God talks to me in these little ways during the mundane activities in my life, very powerful.)

I met so many amazing women this weekend at She Speaks. There were over 560 of us there from all over the US and four countries all in all. Some wanting to become writers, some wanting to become speakers. As for me, I am asking God to show me direction. But most importantly, I am asking God to just reveal Himself to me. I would love to be published but I need to be walking with God closely before I try to plan things on my own. I just went to the conference to "take it all in." And maybe next year for She Speaks I will have a book proposal ready? Who knows.

Tonight, I was reading some things Lysa Terkeurst says about hearing from God.

She mentioned that Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." She said God does not call us to be perfect but to long for Him and He will bless us for that. And He will reveal Himself to us. (I'm paraphrasing here.)

Anyway, like the old childhood song we sang in preschool goes, "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be, It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and jupiter and mars, how loving and patient he must be- He's still working on me."

I am blessed God listens to me. (Maybe I'll match those socks this week.)

Renee

"Basking in the Son"

As I was floating in my mother-in-law's new pool yesterday, a phrase popped in my head and I decided it would be this week's blog title. I really was basking in the sun and enjoying the beautiful (and hot) weather God has blessed us with lately. This phrase came to me and I thought, "Now this is what it is all about." God really wants us to live happy lives and sometimes that means we need times to relax and just "be". It is then, when we are quiet that we can really hear from Him. In the bible there is a verse that says draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (paraphrased) When we are really intent on hearing from Him, He will reveal Himself to us. It might be in a beautiful sunset, the lyrics of an inspirational song, the laughter of our children, or the relaxing new pool we are blessed to share in. But rest assured, if you are tuned in to the source, He will whisper in your ear. And when He does we are so blessed.

PS: We are leaving for the beach today and will be back Monday. Pray for us to have a safe trip. (And hooray, more basking in the sun/son.)

Be Strong and Courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

My dear friend Emily (check out her new business at www.empoweredfitness.net )and I are doing a bible study this summer by Mindy Ferguson called Walking With God, From Slavery to Freedom. This was our verse from our previous lesson and it has encouraged me so much. As you may recall from my last blog entry, I am really praying God will speak to me about writing and that He and I can take our relationship to a new level (meaning becoming closer through my quiet times and prayer). Several wonderful things have been happening in my life lately that I feel are confirmations from God. First of all I signed up for the She Speaks conference coming up in a few weeks and I did not really have the money to pay for that since Wayne and I are supposed to be saving money for a new house. Well, this week God blessed us financially and Wayne received a raise that will cover the cost. I had been praying for God to show me a way to work that out. ( I even thought about ebaying some personal items!) Anyway, then yesterday I was at my son's End of the Year party and ended up speaking with another stay-at-home mom that owns her own newspaper that covers the kids' news of local schools and she not only asked me to do some freelance writing for her but she also referred me to her friend that runs a local newspaper here in Concord who is looking for freelance writers. So I am sharing all of this to say that God is real and He is working in my life (as He always has) and I know this is all from Him because I told God that the writing would be something that would only come in His timing and direction.

I am asking that you pray for me that God will continue to answer prayers about my writing. I feel so alive when I write and I know it is my passion because I've been doing it since I was a little girl and I know it is my passion because I never grow weary in doing it. I get excited when I read a good book or hear new words, silly but profound examples of how I know this is my calling....

I also want to encourage other people with my writing and work for God through my writing as well.

I hope anyone who read this post is truly blessed today.

Love to you all,

Renee Motley