I’ve missed blogging on here the last few days because I have been busy, very busy writing a powerful study for the month of February on God’s love! It will be a one click download for all 4 weeks!  I can not wait to get it uploaded and available right here TOMORROW! It will be available for download for $10, but I will gift it to anyone whom that would prevent joining us.  

 

Although I’ve been focused on what’s to come, my heart has been overwhelmed with God’s goodness as I have heard from some of you about the way He has spoken to you through his Word as we have walked through #Refocused together.  I am seriously blown away at the fact that I had so many sisters to re-fix our eyes on Jesus together for the new year.

This week’s projects will be year long tasks for me.  I have many things I want to do in my home that I feel like I never get around to! Who’s with me on that?  However, I knew that we had to, I mean had to study this passage to end our week on home and as a farewell passage to this whole bible study.

Luke 10

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I have studied this verse many times.  Because I am a Mary.  Yes, I have found that sitting still and worshipping Jesus is my ONE THING.  But what I have had to learn through the years is how to stay in a position of worship and fellowship of my sweet Jesus in my heart and mind as my hands and feet work hard in my home and in every good work he sets before me.

Jesus knew all that frettin’ Martha was doing was not necessary. Can you hear him gently, lovingly confront her:

“All those are details Martha! I’m what’s important, and you are loosing sight of it!”

How often  I do get sidetracked, worried over all the little details that will not matter for eternity as I push my Savior aside and try to do it all.  Be it all.  Have it all perfect.

Especially during this season where I have starting writing daily.  Everyday I must refocus on Him and make sure I know He is my ONE THING.

What easily sidetracks you from Jesus being your ONE THING?

I pray that we will all remember his sweet, FREEDOM FILLING reply to Martha:

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be take from her.” verse 42

Mary is awestruck at Jesus’ feet.  This is it girls.  The only thing that is necessary.  The better portion.  Don’t miss it.  Don’t miss his mesmerizing  LOVE!

The way we fall more in love with Jesus is by greater understanding his love for us.  So check back tomorrow and get this study to equip you to do just that through his Word.

The upcoming study will lead you to sit at his feet everyday and drink in a new dimension of his love.  By Valentine’s Day, you will be so full of his love, you will be about ready to explode multicolored heart confetti!

I have a little parting download to help you continue to put into place the principles we have learned in #Refocused.  #Refocused Prayer Journal & Goals Template

I’ll see you here TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parting with a prayer:

As we come before Our ONE THING,

I pray over all your daughters who have participated in #Refocused during the month of January.  We close our binders asking you to help us walk with you daily to put these truths into practice, to help us refocus our eyes daily on YOU, everyday in 2016 and everyday until we see your eyes in clear sight.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

 

I love all the rocks in this picture.  They lay on top of the concrete foundation of the house I had the honor to help construct a few weeks ago in Jamaica.  Like I wrote about in the study guide, the foundation had been laid before we started our work. This picture was taken after we framed the house.  We wrote scripture under what would hold up her flooring.  She is LITERALLY walking around on her firm foundation of Christ’s Word now in her new home!  THIS thought makes me want to do cartwheels!

Not only is this woman walking on his Word, she is walking IN his Word.  The lady who received this home is a daughter of God.  When we handed her the keys, we gathered around inside her home, and God released a flood of his Spirit through her as she blessed us with her heartfelt thanks and a charge to continue to love others with the love of Christ.  It was amazing!  It was a sacred moment that could only be captured in the hearts of those standing upon those freshly cut and hammered boards.  She laid her foundation that day for serving the Lord in the home she had been given.  We prayed over her and this shelter the Lord had so richly blessed her with.  We prayed for the physical elements of wind and rain that would no doubt be brought in by the Caribbean Sea that sets a beautiful backdrop outside her window.

Today I asked you to examine what your foundation was.  To revisit the reasons you work so hard in your homes for your families.  It is so easy to forget the solid Rock of Christ that we stand on as believers.

I urge all of us to ask Jesus daily to refine our purpose for all this work it takes to make a house a home.  To throw off the reasons that will leave us frustrated and tired.  It’s not for our pride, for measuring up to others, for approval of our husbands, or for our obsessive compulsiveness that we are to tend to these temporary shelters.

It’s for Jesus.

It’s for his glory.

It’s through his Spirit, pouring out of us.

It’s going to bless our families.

I’m praying we will be WISE women who build their homes,

not foolish ones who tear them down, unsatisfied because we’ve built our homes on sand.

 

 As your feet walk around your homes working today, remember the foundation of Christ they tred upon! Put his word into practice and your homes will stand firm. ❤️

**Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about an upcoming bible study for the month of February!**

 

 

 

 

 
Here is week 4 of the Bible Study Series,

#Refocused: Fixing our Eyes on Jesus for the year ahead!

I am so excited about this week. Powerful passages and applications to fill our homes with rare and beautiful treasures! Discussion and sharing start here Monday, so print it out and get your beautiful “Write It Out” utensils ready! There are some “Draw it Outs” too!!!

Let’s gain knowledge this week from God’s Word about how to fill our home with these rare and beautiful treasures in a fun, creative way.

We will be making:

**A blueprint for projects that bring peace**

**A daily housework maintenance routine filled with sacrifices of Thanksgiving**

**Plans for decorating from wisdom, knowledge, and understanding**

It’s going to be the best week of #Refocused yet!

Don’t miss out!

<<<Invite some friends!  They will love it!!

<<<CLICK the FACEBOOK and TWITTER buttons to share the love! ❤

 

Excerpt from Day 5:

“When God reminded me of this passage, all my immediate responsibilities of the moment grew dim in light of His responsibilities at that moment in time. I mean, Jesus was sustaining the whole world, here on a mission of salvation of all his people, healing people with time sensitive illnesses, imparting spiritual truths, and many more “important” activities at the very moment these children were brought to him. And he STOPPED. He praised their faith. He blessed them. I tear up thinking of the times I have failed to stop and snuggle and bless my children when I have thought myself too busy. But His mercies are new every morning, and I am so thankful he brought this passage to my attention to apply it to my mothering. I pray he does the same in your mothering.”

My “Write it Out” from today in the study guide:

Jesus Blesses the Children

13One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them.

The parents brought their children to Jesus.  

But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

The world tells us children aren’t important.  

14When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples.

Words in other translations:

IRATE.

INDIGNANT.

MUCH DISPLEASED.

FURIOUS.

IRRITATED.

Jesus was hot about this! How dare they scold the parents and not allow the children to

come to Him!

He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

The disciples had it all wrong.  Jesus saw the children not as a distraction from the important things, but AS THE IMPORTANT THINGS.

15I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.

Here is where the term “childlike faith’ comes from.  We can learn so much from them!

16Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Our application:  TAKE YOUR CHILDREN IN YOUR ARMS.  Put down the seemingly important things, and pick up THE IMPORTANT THINGS.

Put your hands on them before they eat their meals at the table, and bless them in the name of Jesus.

Follow His example, and let his Words ring in your ears the next time your heart forgets.

Ask Him to help you see your beautiful children through his eyes.

I pray that this week has been a blessing to you as we’ve #REFOCUSED ON PARENTING!

Tomorrow I will upload the last week of #REFOCUSED–Refocused on Home.

Here’s an encouraging parting word for this week!If you have 3 minutes, watch this video where I “keep it real” about how this day of bible study came about. My kids were driving me bonkers and I couldn’t get anything accomplished. I think I probably yelled that day. And then I had a come to Jesus meeting with Him and myself. That’s when he reminded me of this story:

 Have fun with your kids in Winter storm Jonas!  We are inside snuggling today but tomorrow we may go out and play!  Enjoy your best gifts ever.

 

I have 10 ways to get more bible into your kid’s hearts!

These are some real life ideas to help you drench your sweet babies with the life-giving word of God in 2016. Check it out on the video! Make Deuteronomy 6:7 a reality in your parenting.

My “Write It Out” from the study guide today

 
“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”

Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:6-9‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Tomorrow is the last day of Refocused on Parenting, then it’s on to Refocused on Home next week.   Praying for you all!