intentional – Oh Lord Help Us

God is all around us, every second of every day. Search for Him. Being intentional in this effort will help us build a deeper relationship.

This week I was totally rejuvenated. We went to the beach with my parents for the week and had an amazing time. The Outer Banks is my favorite place on earth. It is the spot that makes me slow down, listen, and feel. I love the sun on my face, the sand under my feet and the sound of the waves as they roll up to shore. It centers me and reminds me that our Creator is always present.

Searching for Him

Have you ever looked for God? I never looked for God until a few years ago. I read a devotional that talked about seeing God in the everyday. I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember more than that, but it did catch my attention. The idea of looking for God.

Some mornings I wake up and it is so easy to see and hear. My little boy’s laughter, my husband’s smiling face, my daughter’s big life plans, warm sun, blooming flowers, a big ripe strawberry bursting with flavor. It’s so easy to see God in these things.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17, NIV

Finding Him

I have a prayer journal that I write in most days. It is a collection of letters I write to God about my hopes, fears, short comings, and my love for Him. When I look back over them I often see how he has moved through my life, even when I didn’t know He was there. (Yes, He is always there but sometimes in the middle of a storm you forget you aren’t in it alone.) I also make a list of all the people, situations, and circumstances I want to pray about. I circle the big ones that seem most pressing at the moment. It’s been a good reflective tool. And it helps keep my mind centered and less likely to wander off as I’m speaking to God.

I think I’m going to try to start adding a section to my journal weekly where I list all the places I have seen God. This week alone I know I have seen Him in my family, laughing together I feel the love He brings. I have felt His power in the sun, wind, waves and sifting sand. I know there is science behind all that, but if you really want to blow someone’s mind, ask them how it all started. The Big Bang? How did that happen? Random? But what is the science behind the beginning of everything? I can answer in three little letters G-O-D!

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1: 1, NIV

Deepening Our Relationship

We went to see the “Lost Colony” and the sunset over the water as we watched was magical. The colors of the sky spoke to me. It was so beautiful. My son watched the play on the edge of his seat. He was so caught up in the story of starting a new life in a foreign place where nothing was the same as home. His face full of awe and wonder was definitely my favorite part of the evening. God is so present in those moments.

I know God calls us to look for Him. Jesus was clear about this when He included it in two of the Beatitudes:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matthew 5:6, 8, NIV

Friends, go and search for Our Father daily. He is there, and finding Him is joy!

Dear God,

Thank You for Your presence. I am so proud and honored and humbled that You surround me in all that I do. Please keep my eyes clear and my heart open so that I can see all of You in my daily walk. Bless all those who are searching for You that Your light may blind them with it’s beauty and save them for eternity.

love,

Taking the month of December “off” was such a good thing. I was able to focus on things that I had been neglecting, and gain clarity on things I had been struggling with. I relaxed and enjoyed plentiful time with my family both near and far. I was present, and calm, and it was just plain wonderful. And now begins the journey of 2017!

I love the New Year. It is actually my favorite holiday. Not because of wild New Years Eve parties, though. Last year I didn’t even stay awake to midnight. No, I love New Years because of the promise of hope. I love being able to look out at the year and imagine good things. I imagine the year filled with excitement, and peace, and challenges. I don’t want an easy year. I want a year that will leave me being a better person than when I began it.

I may write down some goals, but I don’t let them control me. I don’t get upset if they are not achieved, or make myself miserable trying to accomplish them. I see goals like I see life. They are taking me on a journey. Some years are more difficult than others never knowing what obstacle is going to pop up next, and other years are slow and tedious and mundane. This is why we need to be flexible when setting goals. Having goals simply helps me to be intentional in knowing what is worth pursuing.

My Goals…

Spiritual I’m not going to tell you that I need to spend more time reading my Bible, or go to church more consistently. I have no time for “Sunday School” answers. These are great things of course, but what matters is my heart. Do I desire to know Jesus more? Or am I fine going along and doing my own thing. Do I long for His peace? Or do tend to worry and try to solve problems myself. My goal is to focus on him more and stop focusing on the messes in my life. Yes, he knows about my mess, and yes he cares. In times of chaos, it may be that all I can do is curl up in a ball and let him hold me. I will aim to be still, and let him comfort me. In my stillness, I will focus on his strength, not my weakness.

Health Healthy to me means being able to be active and do the things I enjoy doing. Healthy is not a number! I want to have energy, and not have aches and pains. Being healthy includes both exercise and nutrition. There is no simple, quick solution to being in optimal health. This may mean adding some things, and eliminating others. And it may require some trial and error, but that’s alright as long as I’m making progress.

Social I know this may sound silly, but one of my goals this year is to be better about acknowledging birthdays. See, I have this issue with my birthday. I’m afraid that it won’t be remembered or acknowledged. So, in order to “protect” myself I don’t acknowledge birthdays of other people. That way I have no reason to be upset. Twisted, right? The deeper goal here is to make myself more vulnerable.

Business I have big dreams and a vision for what I want to see happen with Oh Lord Help Us. This goal I have to hold with open hands. I will be sharing more about this in the upcoming weeks.

Your turn…

What do you want?

What are your goals?

What dreams do you have?

I want to hear about them!