Making God Chuckle

My "new" Loaner tiller 

God is so funny. 

Don’t believe me? Then you should have listened to the conversation He and I had earlier. He has a great sense of humor. 

Thankfully He also has patience with me.

Recently I have been showered with some amazing little gifts from God.

1. Our fridge was too small and turned everything to ice, so God gave me a larger newer one for free.

2. Our washer and dryer decided to go out, we were given new ones, $150 to be paid when we can….whenever… how cool is that?

3. I love to garden, but had no tiller to prepare the soil. God gave me a loaner tiller for as long as I wanted one.

I am grateful for every single gift. I have celebrated God’s faithfulness at every turn. He is awesome the way He gives. Sometimes He is funny too.

While moving in the fridge my husband tore a hole in the flooring. Twice. The whole “hole” experience showed me I have some work to do on my attitude and on patience. When I mentioned it to my husband as I apologized for losing my temper, he was pleasantly surprised I noticed my issue. He had been living 18 years with my inability to stay calm and not blow my top when things went sideways. Poor guy. His patience and mercy are just two of the reasons why I love him.

The tiller, well the tiller is so big and powerful that I have no idea what I am going to do with it. I tried to use it today and I nearly ran into a wall, (it is self-propelled) and could not figure out how to make that thing do what I know it can. My small patch of garden is only 10’x11’ and the tiller from front to back is nearly five feet long! Making rows is harder than it sounds. For those of you who have no idea how to run a tiller, do not judge me and for those of you who do, I will take your help anytime.

I may not know how to handle it yet, but I will figure it out. Why? Because I want to be a faithful steward of what God gives me and I have plants coming that have to go into the ground ASAP!

But right now, as I stare a half done till job in my front garden, I feel like Adam when God found them in the garden after the fall. I want to pout and blame Him for my inability to do the job. I want to say “It’s the tiller you gave me Lord”

In reality, it is me. I am the issue. God is using tillers and refrigerators to show me more about myself and what I need to work on. I just wish I was quicker on the uptake so I could learn what I need to and move forward. 

So while I struggle to learn to use a tiller and whatever lesson there is here, I am sure there is a bit of chuckling in heaven going on as my Father looks on in amused fashion with "Oh Dayna...." on His lips. 

I have a long way to go, but patience is definitely on the list….

Has God ever used blessings to teach you a lesson?

Floored

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

A Little Humility

I am simply floored by God's goodness and all of your generosity.

I am so humbled by the outpouring of support and the in-pouring of great art pieces submitted for the Cover Art Contest I am holding. The extended deadline ends today at noon. 

I have had some amazing pieces show up and these works are so inspiring that I want to encourage you to go and vote.

 

Voting starts today at 5 p.m. (CST) 

I will place all the art side by side for you to compare and contrast. You will be able to comment and choose which ones you like best. 

To vote, just go to my Facebook page: A Year in the Spiritual Life. 

The Book

I have to say that I am so excited about my new book, The Purpose of Chosen. 

This book is a look at who we are in Christ, what God can do in our lives if we let Him, and how to overcome those "giants" in our lives that stand between us and our dreams. 

It is not a long book. It won't cost much, and it will probably be released for sale on Amazon.com by the end of the month. My hope is that it will touch people in a visceral way and begin to challenge the way they see themselves and their lives in Christ. 

I also hope that you will buy one (or two, I won't stop you *smile*). 

The book will be available in paperback or in Kindle format. The cool thing about Amazon now is that you do not have to have an eReader to buy and read an eBook anymore. You can read it straight on your computer, your smartphone, or your tablet. No eReader required.  

Of course as soon as I know the "date" of the launch you will too....promise! 

More News

There are a lot of changes coming to A Year in the Spiritual Life soon. One of those changes will be a new website. 

That's right, we will be moving. I am not sure what the new domain name (website) will be, but I am stoked to know that soon you will be able to come to a site that has more to offer, looks more professional and has more flexibility. 

With everything that is going on I feel a little like a prize fighter that has taken one too many to the head: punch drunk. Yet I know my Father is faithful and He has me and this ministry through what is coming. 

Call To Action

Can you join me in praying for this endeavor? Can you go to the Facebook Page and vote for your choice for the cover of my new book? Once you go onto vote can you "share" the contest with your friends and family? 

I know I am asking a lot, but this is my first foray into publishing and I need all the help I can get. You are my faithful, and I know that your help is invaluable. 

Thank you for reading this blog. Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for letting me speak into your lives. Thank you for joining me on this journey. 

Join the Conversation

I have asked you to do so much I want to help you too. How can I pray for you? 

My Moving Story: Dealing with a Bad Temper

Yes, this is my floor. Arrrggggh! 

I hate moving things. 

Furniture, boxes, and carting back and forth is annoying to me. I especially hate moving large things like refrigerators, washers and dryers. 

Then, in one month we get a new refrigerator and a new washer and dryer. (New for us anyway.) 

Thank you Lord for providing such wonderful gifts. 

Yet, they sat in the garage for a few weeks, because getting them in and out of the house required rearranging and cleaning and Randy and I were being lazy. 

The truth is, my family hates having me move things too. I get cranky. No, I get down right irritable. I grumble, I gripe, I sometimes (often) yell. 

I do not know why I am that way. I get frustrated with the "a little more to your right" and "I think I can make it fit" statements that usually end up with someone being slightly injured or some giant whole created where there should never be one. Case in point: my floor this weekend. 

I was not a happy camper. Yep, that is my laminate floor with a giant rip in it right by the front door. Since this runs through my whole house, it would be almost impossible to match (since it is years old) and expensive to replace. I can honestly say I was angry. 

So angry I almost said a naughty word. 

I didn't. Barely. 

My Issue 

Everyone has their issues, and one of mine is a temper. I admit it. Feeling anger is okay. There is a way to feel angry and not loose it. Right now I can honestly say, I do not always win the battle when it comes to emotions. 

We all are human. We all have emotions. I know how hard it is to rein in those feelings, but if we do not control them, they end up controlling us. 

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:25-27

Unchecked anger leads to strife and where there is strife, the Bible says "there is every evil work". We cannot expect our lives to be bastions of Christian tranquility when inside we seethe in anger. 

I had to take a break from the moving in order to get myself under control. Then I had to apologize to my husband, who witnessed my "venting" of emotion. Let's face it, he was not the witness, he was the target of my anger. That was not right. That is why he deserved an apology. 

When I asked him to forgive me and apologized for acting so poorly, he said "At least you recognize you do it now. For years you did not even know you did this, and it made things difficult."  

For years...translation: my whole marriage. More than 18 years Randy has put up with my fly off the handle temper. Wow..... 

In the scheme of all things eternal: in matters of life and death, this whole in my flooring does not matter. It will not keep anyone from hearing the Gospel and it will not save anyone's soul. When I think of it this way, I see that it is just a temporal thing and I can let go of the anger I felt without thinking twice. 

God is changing me. Bit by bit. He can change you too. Just yield to Him. Ask Him to show you the things that are holding you back, and making your life harder than it needs to be. It isn't easy looking into God's mirror. It shows us exactly where we fall short. That is why grace is so amazing. It fills in the gap and makes a way for love to work in us until we are perfected. (I will let you know if I ever get there.....but you will be waiting a LONG time.) 

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Like what you read here? More great content is available several times a week, but I understand how busy you are. That is why I offer a free newsletter that sends you an email of the same great content straight to your inbox! You won't have to worry about missing a thing. I will never share your information with anyone, and if you sign up today, you can get a free copy of my children's eBook The Gardener and the Sapling: A Modern Parable. Click the link below and subscribe now!

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Do you struggle with your emotions? Share your thoughts below.  

Moved by God

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

An Epiphany 

Writing for me is more than a job, or a hobby. It is an expression of who I am, and my heart. I often wonder, and sometimes lament here, if there is any point to what I do.

Then last night I got to chat with a friend, She has been through some extraordinary stuff. Born and raised a Texas girl, God uprooted her and her family last year and sent them to the hills of Virginia. There was no beach in sight, the closest stores were thirty minutes away, and the culture was completely different. Her journey was filled with plenty of "Huh?" moments, but as she began to trust God and really give into obedience, God began to move in some really amazing ways.

Now, after about a year there, and really settling in, God is moving them back to Texas. Her friends here in Texas could not be more excited, but there is sadness in Virginia. Her friends there will miss her and her family. Together with her husband she ministered to the youth and they will be missed most decidedly there.

When I heard about this last night the first thing I thought of was Paul. The Apostle Paul went to other  churches, and stayed for a year or two at a time.Then he would leave. That is what happened with my friend.

Now this church in Virginia has experienced real love and relationship. They have experienced an awakening and walls have come down that they did not even know were there because of my friend and her family. Now, as the church moves forward it will be with the understanding that there is more to be had in their lives with Christ, and they are hungry enough to begin to search and grow on their own.

Most of the New Testament is made up of Paul's letters. After I signed off talking to my friend, I began to think about what I do. These are my letters. I am not saying I am equal to Paul, but I am similar. I may not be chained in the natural to a soldier, but my heart is chained to this blog. I feel constrained if I do not write, even when I do not know what to write.

  It is what God has called me to, and I need to stop doubting it. 

As more and more people read my words around the world, I see this as an opportunity to spread the Gospel, to minister to the broken and to set free the captive hearts. Just as surely as I know that God has a call on your life, I know that He has a call on mine.

So I will write. I will also pray. I will pray for you to gain confidence in God and who He designed you to be. I will pray that you would begin to grow in compassion and love for people because that is the only reason God does anything in our lives: He loves people. I will pray that He will grab you by the belt like Peter and begin to lead you where He wants you to go, and  like my friend, you will obey even in the "Huh?" moments.

May God bless you above all you can ask or think, may He love you in a way that is as unique as you are and may your heart be soft enough to receive it.

Subscribe!

Like what you read here? More great content is available several times a week, but I understand how busy you are. That is why I offer a free newsletter that sends you an email of the same great content straight to your inbox! You won't have to worry about missing a thing. I will never share your information with anyone, and if you sign up today, you can get a free copy of my children's eBook The Gardener and the Sapling: A Modern Parable. Click the link below and subscribe now!

Join the Conversation: 

Have you ever had a "move" or change in your life that changed everything?

Do we Really Appreciate God's Word?

This ten minute video brought me to tears, and it is a few years old, but I had to share it. This made me wonder, do we take advantage of the grace God has so richly bestowed on us by making His word so readily available? I do not think we do.

The word is a weapon, the Sword of Truth. We have not wielded it well. We must treasure it, must get it inside us like the Living Bread it is. It needs to be our substance.

We need to believe that it is full of God's words, and since God is not man that He can lie, we must believe every word that has proceeded out of His mouth and been written within it.

Believe it and act on it. Take it in like air and breathe it out like unbridled fire, passionate, alive, glowing, life sustaining fire.

John 1 says in the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD! Jesus is the embodiment of the Word of God, and now we have the WORD of GOD in our hands, in our homes, in the back window of our car, in our bedrooms, and our living rooms, in the drawers of our hotel room bedside tables and we do not read it. We do not see it. We pass over it with our eyes and ignore it with our hearts.

How can we cry out to God, but deny that His word is true? How can we separate who He is from what He said?

We cannot!

I see this video and I cry out to God to forgive me. To give me this kind of passion for His word. To eat of His table, and to share the word with all men, that they might come to know the love of God and all He has to say about them.

It is for this time, this day, this moment that you see this video and read these words. We are called to pray, we are called to give, we are called to go. To find out more about the organization that made this possible, go to http://www.worldteam.org/.

Have you read the word today? If you get God's words inside you, you get God's Life inside you!


This video is available in Spanish and in German