Wisdom for life

I am reading through Proverbs again as I have for several years.  Today is the 20th of January, so I turned to Proverbs 20. Just in the first few verses, I found so many applications to my life and things I have been learning as I have been reading A Certain Risk by Paul Richardson.
     The verse that really caught my attention today was Proverbs 20:5. It says "A plan in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out." I think this verse really applies to what I am reading in A Certain Risk. It encourages people to take the risk to be creative and do what the Lord has placed in our heart in order to serve Him. We all have something down deep in our heart that we can do, to express who we are in order to serve the Lord in some way. Writing is a good example of  having a plan in our heart, then drawing it out by getting it in written form.  Sometimes we  have things we don't ever pull out and use for God's glory! Another example is art or photography. It does take time, but if we use our gifts, we will be blessed, so will other people! The second part of this verse says that a man of understanding draws it out. Drawing out what we have deep down demonstrates that we understand what the Lord desires from us, to use the gifts He has given each of us. An act of obedience results when we truly understand His word!
     In Ephesians chapter 4 where Paul the apostle writes about us using our gifts that we should pull out and use. He says in verse 7," But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. He goes on to say in verse 12, these gifts are "for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." Verse 16 says  in the second part"...according to the proper working of each individual part, CAUSES the GROWTH  of the body for the BUILDING UP OF ITSELF IN LOVE!" So drawing out what we have deep down, causes growth, builds the body of Christ in love! I hope this can inspire those who read my blog to be creative, use your gifts and love what you do, love to build the body of Christ!
Have a great day!

Quiet Days

I miss the days when I enjoyed simple things like going outside and seeing the beauty God has created. I am now appreciating some of these things again because I can't be as busy as I was for so many years.  Sometimes I believe God allows things to come into our lives so we can stop and rest in Him! There is so much beauty, so many precious memories we can make if we stop long enough to enjoy what we have and not look for things we don't have yet. I was looking through pictures of my niece in beautiful red leaves, I don't remember how long its been how long it's been since I have seen red leaves! I was talking to the girls about going to the park, I'm going to have to do that soon and bring the camera!

Getting ready for 5 day EEG

This morning I contacted my doctor's office and then insurance about details so I can go have my 5 day EEG done to check my brain, watch for things happening inside so they can evaluate my epilepsy and hopefully come up with a better idea of how I can better manage my epilepsy. Sounds like a dirty disease, but really is not. Just found out yesterday in the book I am reading called A Certain Risk by Paul Richardson, an incredible book by the way, that Vincent Van Goh, the artist, cut his ear off while having an epileptic seizure. That's pretty rough. Someone should have been watching him, making sure he didn't have anything dangerous around him. Later I want to post some quotes from this book. It is so worth reading!  Well, I have to write back later. I've got to prepare for going to Venice tomorrow! Hope it is a special time with family!

Hosanna w/ Paul Baloche

New Year

I can go on for quite some time on this blog, but I will start with just saying that God is gracious, loving, Real! It seems unfair sometimes because I don't like all the effects my seizures have on me, but I will say that God makes himself so real to me in the times that I struggle and hurt the most! I know He has given me this "thorn in the flesh" for a reason.  He allowed me to go into this new year with seizures.  They seem to linger longer these days. I want them gone, but I know that He has a purpose for me and the situations He has placed in my life to give Him glory! This week I go to my Nana's Memorial service. I miss her, but I know she taught me in the end especially to thank God for each day I am given. Many people go on throughout their life not really understanding, having a strong reason to give Him thanks. He has definitely given me several reasons. For this reason, in this new year I have a great reason to start it giving Him glory and using my life to give Him praise! Thank you God!