My nutrition from Proverbs 1-4

Something I found very interesting in these verses is the emphasis on the word heart. Now when we think of wisdom and understanding and commands we think of storing them in our~ head, that is where knowledge goes isn't it???? Well ladies, I learned that what we receive from God needs to be stored in your heart. Wow, what a concept!!!! Look at all these verses I found in Proverbs 1-4 that refer to the heart:

Proverbs 2:1-2
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding...

Proverbs 2 9:-10
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Proverbs 3: 1
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart...
Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:5 ( a favorite of many)
Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 4:4
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live..."

Proverbs 4:20-21
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart...

Proverbs 4:23 ( This kind of ties it all together)
Above all else, guard you heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

This truly got me thinking, if I am to store all these gifts from God in my heart, then surely I must guard my heart and make it precious and have no change of heart. You often hear the saying that people feel with their hearts, speak from their heart, wear their heart on their sleeve, pour their heart out, etc. I think these are positive attributes really. If I store wisdom, God's commands, understanding, God's word, love, faithfulness then I guess I would want to put them where others can see to be an example and bring Him glory. A true mark of being God's child. I feel great knowing that my heart has a lot of worth because God made it so!

Blessings to all, Angie

Good Morning Girls Group

I have started my second week of being a part of a group called the Good Morning Girls . It is an opportunity I am so excited about. I yearn for closer connections to other women of faith and having a daily Monday through Friday connection through email is just amazing.

In short it is a group of ladies that email each other about what they learned in their daily bible reading. Encouragement, prayers and learning from others has been the bountiful blessings I have received in just my first week. It is such a great idea for sure, we all need accountability and wisdom in the word and what better way to do it than with some other ladies.

My group is from all over the United States which is awesome. Do you have a bible study you meet with or an online bible study you take part in? I highly encourage you do to so! It is life changing and what I enjoy most about it is that you get more than your once a week fill up at church service. Fuel for the soul they say and I truly believe your soul needs fed just as much as your tummy! You can never over feed your soul. Who ever heard I need to go on a soul diet??? Does my soul make my butt look big???? ( sorry if this offends anyone) You know you've said it a time or two or thought it. (wink, wink)

I think I will start sharing my "Aha" moments from my scripture reading like I do with my Good Morning Girls group. What a better way to pound it in my head more, lol. Don't we all need that good swift kick once in awhile from the word? Amen to that!

Until next time,
blessings to all~ Angie

Why the Birds Sing when it Rains

After a couple days of rain, I watched a robin in its happy moment feeding on worm after worm. It got me thinking~ I often hear the birds sing more when it is raining. Now to us in our lives when it "rains" in our lives we grumble, stress out and worry if we can handle it all.

The birds know that with rain, worms come from the ground! A sure blessing for them. So I thought "Are they singing their praises to the Lord for the blessing they are about to receive?" What a concept!

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in
barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more
valuable than they?

The birds sing praises to God because they are thanking him for providing for them. So when it rains in your life you can know that God will provide all you need to get through what ever it is you need. You will find strength in the worms God gives you after the rain, it will surely feed your soul for sure. So remember to praise God during the storm in your life because you know God brings good out of even the worst of circumstances.

Blessings, Angie

My theme for my life is now....

I have never thought of having a theme for my life before. I was just here for the ride, but don't give me any surprises, I like to know what is going on at all times. ( Am I sounding familiar to anyone) Since being a part of iThrive , I have started to evaluate my life more and how I react to circumstances and how that not only changes the kind of life I live but the theme in which I chose to live at the time. It is kind of like a mission statement for your life.

On this journey through iChoose a question was asked what would my theme for my life be right now? Well let me tell you I came up with so many words that flashed before me. Not only am I trying to figure out my calling ( waiting for God's timing and voice to tell me), I am also trying to better my marriage and make it more Christ centered, be a mom that God wants me to be for my daughters, etc. etc..... I knew a written memorized paragraph for a theme was down right silly and much too cluttered for my mind. I needed to see the similarities with all my desires of my heart. After some thought, the word that floated down on my nose like a feather, I came up with SURRENDER.

Sitting here quietly, the word just so smoothly comes out of my mouth. I find peace in my spirit about the word SURRENDER. Isn't that what Jesus wants from all of us? To SURRENDER our burdens, wants, desires, hurts, pains, and allow our yoke to be taken by him? Let us look in Matthew~

Matthew 11:29-30

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.

What I read here that I see so clearly now is that when I take the yoke of Jesus instead of my own, I feel a great weight lifted AND Jesus clearly says here to LEARN from him because he is gentle and humble in heart and through that learning I will find rest for my soul. I don't know about you but this is exactly what God's word does for me. I find rest, clarity and peace in my heart through the clutter of my life I couldn't see before I surrendered my yoke for Jesus'. My heart is so glad in this SURRENDER.

Will you take a chance and just reflect on your life with prayer? Give God everything you have and let him hand you a new yoke, his yoke, a yoke that you feel less burden and more rest. You can now walk through life uplifted instead of weighed down by your troubles, worries, fears and sins. I pray you can find a new sense of who God is in your life. Feel him close today by drawing nearer to him.

My surrender isn't easy and I still work on it every day because it is hard, but I know it will get easier because I chose to come to the Lord every day with this faint and sinful heart "work on me God, mold me, just like an iron smith".

I am so glad you stopped by today I pray your theme will come clear to you, and that your walk with God is something you look forward to everyday you awaken!

Blessings, Angie

Exciting FREE new journey from iBloom

I have been an iBloom Website fan for a few months now. I absolutely love their iBloom Radio program. They offer so much inspiration for your Christ centered life. I just recently won the drawing for a one year membership to their iThrive life coaching program. I absolutely love it!

iBloom now offers a completely free life changing 40 day journey called iChoose2. iChoose2 is a "40 day journey, you'll receive a daily email with your iChoose2 Statement for the day and a corresponding challenge. This is an opportunity for YOU to focus on yourself and become the woman you long to be." ~Founder Kelly Thorne. I encourage you to take this challenge and step out into faith and join this free oppertunity to see a glimpse what iBloom is all about. I promise you won't be dissapointed at all. Who doesn't want to improve their life?
On the side bar to the right are many different programs that iBloom offers for life coaching. I will share from time to time my journey through the iThrive program. I know my life is going to change. My life coach Betsy Ringer is incredible and has so much passion when working with women and helping them find thier life purpose and so much more. I look forward to the year ahead on my journey.

May your day be blessed!
Angie

Exemplify Online Magazine

If you are like me, you love to read, and there is nothing better to read that encouragement in your walk with God. The 1st online conference I attended through A Woman Inspired ( you can find the link to the right) was so wonderful. I was so motivated to draw deeper in my relationship with the Lord and it was incredible how those speakers spoke of many facets of your life that was so spiritually meaningful. I learned so much about understanding how to apply scripture in my daily life and uncovering the meaning and impact it can make.

It was through this online conference that the speaker Kristen Schiffman spoke about being a weary woman. If you visit her site Exemplify Online you will find a wealth of great articles that can be sent to you everyday. They create an online magazine once a month that is absolutely wonderful. The May issue just came out and you can find it HERE . You can read previous months as well. Exemplify Onlines' mission is "to encourage women to live lives to Glorify Christ" it can't get any better than that! She has also spoke more on weariness on AWI radio show that you can download available on the site as well and you can find them HERE . These are one of the many shows that I listen to on my ipod when I am multitasking around the house.

I encourage you today to visit this great site, put it in your favorites, maybe even sign up for the newsletter on articles that are life changing. The more resources in our lives that point us to the word of God, the better.

May your day be filled with encouragement, love and joy!
Blessings, Angie