"ME Time"

ME TIME 

What is it that YOU love to do? 

          Or do you even know what you love to do? 

In our world today it is often looked at as selfish to do things for ourSELF. BUT is it truly selfish, or are we called to do it? 

I think we could all answer that, yes we are supposed to take care of ourselves. Our bodies are the temple of God. Love others just as you love yourselves... we can quote off scriptures that signify that we are supposed to do this. 

THEN why is it so hard for us to take time for "ME time?" 

Let me take a step back, and tell you where I am coming from. I am finally at a place in my life that I have realized that I have to take care of me. I need to do things that refresh me, I need to do things that I enjoy. Today I was asked, "Stephanie, what do you love to do? What do you enjoy" as I tried to muster up an answer, just to answer the question, I realized that I do not do things often enough that I simply ENJOY, nor do I fully know what it is that I REALLY enjoy. 

Naturally, I would say that a lot of the time I do things for others, because it refreshes and rejuvenates me, the FACT is.. IT DOES! I am so filled up by doing things that I am inspired to do,for OTHERS.

However, I have been told many times in the past month "You need to do what's best for you. You need to take care of yourself" I was having a conversation and was told "sometimes, I get mad because I wish that you were more SELFISH, because you are always giving, giving, giving to others, but what about Stephanie?" 

As much of a compliment that was, I realized something within me needed to change. There was a new level that I discovered of making sure that I am taking care of myself, SO THAT I can be there for others. 

I was talking with a friend while I was at home, and she told me that in a conference Pastor Wayne talked about how most of the time people think it goes "God, Family, Church, Friends" but really it goes "God, SELF, Family, Church, Friends" because if we are not taking care of ourselves, then we will have nothing to GIVE to our family, church, and friends, because we will have nothing in us. 

Why am I writing this blog? One.. I think I am just blog happy right now, because the juices are already flowing for my next blog.. Secondly, to be transparent with what I am learning right now. Thirdly, because we are stepping into a place that who we are is going to be pulled on, what we want to do, compared to what we ought to do is going to be challenged, and we are going to be POURING out like crazy. 

What is it that YOU love to do? 

           How are you going to make room for "ME Time" this summer and into this next season? 

We're All in This Together

Each one of us come from a different background. We have learned "life" different ways. There may even be things that cause us to disagree. We grew up in different homes. Some with siblings, some with none. Some raised with two parents, others with one. We are each on a journey, and every step we take is forming and shaping us into who we are.

We are now stepping into a new season. This is a season that we are all walking into together. With our different backgrounds, coming from our separate ways, for this season we are on the same path.






Each of us has something unique to offer to the group. Our gifts can never be replicated exactly, so it is best if we are the ones that are functioning out of our God given gifts. They are not about talent, they are not about success, or even style. Its who we are. Who God has created to be. It is the things inside of us that make our hearts pound, and the things we cant get off our mind. It is the thing that when we are functioning in who God has called us to be, all others know what to say is "You are crazy".


Lets be CRAZY... together. 

Struggling with Prayer

Prayer.

I've had some trouble doing this lately.

Last night, as I laid on my bed, I knew I should say a few words before drifting off to sleep, but I realized I was fighting against heavy restraint; a very argumentative battle.

SIDE #1:
Why do I need to pray before bed? Didn't I already pray throughout the day? I went to church, didn't I? Isn't that enough for one day? And come on - praying before bedtime is one of the lowest ways of honoring God. It's like saying, "God, there's something within me that recognizes you deserve praise, so, after a full day of doing whatever it is that I want, I'll finally pray to you and say how great you are, but only after lifting myself up before you. I'll finally give you the last 10 minutes of the 1,440 minutes I had today."

SIDE #2:
Yes, so you spent a good portion of the day hanging out with friends and not thinking so much about God, about the Creator of everything in existence, and now you're feeling guilty about not praying more like you said you would. But please, let go of your selfish pride and just open your mouth. Take a stand against the evil there is in this world that doesn't want you to pray and just do it! Be stronger than him! You can do it, just start praying! Don't you think I want to hear your voice? Don't you think I will except even the tiniest portion you're willing to give me? Even if it is the last 10 minutes of your day, that is better than nothing at all. I will at least have a foot in the door. Strip off your pride and SPEAK!

So, I spoke. I prayed. I opened my mouth and began to pray. I confessed that I didn't want to pray and I didn't want to go to the Mission the next day. I didn't want to do anything but sleep. "God, you're going to have to get me through tomorrow, 'cause I can't do it. Please, help me."

I woke up refreshed, full of energy, and a new love in my heart for the women of the Mission. Before, I kept to myself and didn't talk very much. Today, I found myself laughing with them, smiling, and praying as I pulled out each weed I dug out of the mud for 2 hours in the morning. I thanked God for answering my prayer, no matter how pathetic it was. I thought about how God hears the tiniest of prayers, even the ones we think don't matter to Him - the ones that are shamefully spoken out of humiliation and regret for not doing it earlier.

But God hears them. God listens; He bends His ears to even the lowest and softest of pleas, especially if they are covered in shame.

What a fool I am! How stupid I am to believe that I am so great I can go a few hours without drinking in God's life-giving water! God deserves every part of our day and every ounce of it we can muster! Yet why do we feel so prideful in ourselves that we go even minutes without thinking about God? I could not have survived this far in life if He wasn't giving me the energy to go thus far; if He didn't have His hand in my life. How could I ever not give Him my time, my words, my breath, my life in every second of the day?

Prayer.

I've had some trouble doing this lately.

But God is utterly worthy of even the tiniest prayers; and even if I think it's shameful to give Him my smallest prayers, I'm at least going to do that. Does that mean that that is all I'm going to give Him? Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no. But it's a foot in the door.

I'm making it my goal to pray continually throughout the day and stick to my daily devotions. This has always been my goal, but these passed few days, it seems as though I've had to do a refresher course. :o)


What is this rant about? Beets me. You get from it what you will, but I feel as though that we all need to be open and honest with each other, ESPECIALLY ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES, if we are going to dedicate this coming year to Christ and His glory, not our own. We can't hide behind our dorm doors or a smiling, responsible face. We need to be real, open, and honest with each other. So, here's a start. Here's my start. This is what I've been thinking of lately and here's how you can pray for me. These are my struggles, please join with me in prayer, help me in my weaknesses, so that we can be one Body that works perfectly in Christ's name together.

There. Open honesty and vulnerability. This is my prayer for us.

Love to you all!

Beautiful

My prayer is one of beauty-

I pray not of vain, conceited beauty, or of selfish gain, but I lift a prayer of beauty to the Lord.
I am continually reminded of how beautiful the Word of God is, how beautiful creation is, how beautiful the name of the Lord is on the lips of the righteous.

Every moment spent in creation- outdoor, indoor- it doesn't matter. The pure beauty and magnificence of what God has made gives me chills.

Lord Jesus-
I pray not for myself to acquire some great outward beauty, nor do I pray the traditional prayer of inward beauty for any of these girls. Lord, I pray that we may be a reflection of YOUR beauty, because there is nothing else that is truly beautiful in comparison. As you are clothed with splendor, and as creation sings glorious praise, may we be a reflection of the beautiful essence of your presence. Like a sweet aroma, may our lives give total and complete credit to YOUR majesty, worthiness, and honor. Like light in a dark room, may we emanate a pure beauty that comes only from the Holy Spirit.
~Amen

"Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD
or fully declare his praise?" Ps. 106:2

Our Team

Jesus,
I pray for one mind heart and soul as we are spiritually gearing up for this year. As we plan and do all the tedious things for the dorms, I pray that you would spark in each of us creativity and ultimately what you want for this year. God I pray for each of the ITL's and their summers that you would bless and grow each of them and challenge them in their weaknesses to prepare us for the future. Speak to them daily Jesus. Give them insight and understanding into peoples lives in order to help them serve best! Bless this week for all of us!

Amen!

About this Blog!

Hello Wonderful ITL's!

I hope your summers are going well! As I was sitting doing devotions today, I was struck by something I feel was directly at me, and could be for you guys as well. In 1 Chronicles 28:9-10, David is giving his successor Solomon a charge: "Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work." I especially feel as though this is for all of us, because God has graciously given us positions of authority over peoples spiritual walks. He could have chosen any one else, but for some reason, he chose us. So why would we ever neglect God's opinion over our own?

This blog is for all of us. If there is one thing you should know about me, it is that I write down almost EVERYTHING! I love seeing prayers get answered and it would be great to encourage one another before this year starts. What I believe made this last year so wonderful in the dorms, was that it was coasting on the prayers of those who desired God first. So, post a prayer! As you listen to God and hear what he wants, share it! We are all in this together for this next year and the best thing we can possibly do is pray. And don't be afraid to be specific! This blog is private and won't be shared with anyone else but ourselves.

Blessings!
Emilie