Today

Today work has been very slow. Not a good thing. I like it when I am busy and have a lot to do. The time goes much faster and I feel like I am accomplishing something. I prayed this morning that God would fill me with his Spirit and anoint me to do what he needs me to do today. Sometimes I wonder if he is using me at all. In my head I know that God can use us even if we don't see it but my heart says "where is the fruit". Did I impact my workplace or the people around me in any way today? Are their lives any different because we came in contact? Do they see Jesus in me or do they just see Joan?

I went to a Joyce Meyer conference this weekend. Of course it was exciting and fun and impacted us spiritually. We all came home wanting to hold onto the words and the encouragement to press on and to be passionate about being about our Father's business. All of us wanted to do more and be more passionate about serving Jesus and advancing the Kingdom of God. Funny how it begins to fade. TD Jakes warned us it would. But he also said God wants to do a "thing" in our life. Something so "God" that others will stand back and be amazed. Somethng so profound that it is just a "thing" and it can't be described. It's a God thing, built on God's will and his heart for his people. I want to determine to find that one thing to be passionate about and go at it with all my heart. I will share what He's talking to be about later when he gives me a bigger picture. I hope you will join me and that we can make it our adventure together.

Run The Race Together

Earlier in the year I started sending out letters to my daughters-in-law and my nieces. Since we all live so far apart, I thought it would be a good way to stay in touch and pass on to them some of the things God has taught me throughout my life. I believe God wants us to live life together in community, praying for each other, and helping and encouraging each other along the way. For instance, when Bethany says she is sick I want to be there for her. I know that I can't always do that, but I can pray and I can encourage her and hopefully another part of the body can be there instead. This of course requires that we reach out to each other. Bethany has to let us know she's sick and we have to be willing to call, to go over, bring a meal or to pray. Community takes time and it takes a willingness on our part to be open to each other and at times vunerable.

My meager attempts to send out those letter didn't last long and I got busy and stopped doing it. So much for commitment. I am hoping this will work out better and I hope some of you will find a bit of encouragement to continue in the race and not give up. Like any of us I need encouragement. So let me know if you are reading and let me know your thoughts. Let's run the race together and keep our eyes on the prize that God has set before us. We each are responsible for our own race and in the end we will stand alone before God but in the mean time let's be each others best cheerleaders and be willing to offer a cup of cold water along the way.
Be blessed today and run hard.

Running the Race

Months ago I started sending out a letter to my nieces in an effort to share with them some of the things God has