HelloMornings - What is My "Why?"

I've been following this blog, Keeper of the Home, for a long while now.  Stephanie blogs about natural living for the Christian mom.  I love her site for recipes and encouragement.  About a year ago, while reading her blog, I came across this Maximize Your Mornings Challenge.  Her question then was this: 

"So, Mornings... 

How Are They Going For You?"

At that time, we were at the beginning of our paperchase for our adoption, and my morning devotional time was regular and fruitful.  When I read her post though, I felt that my entire day could be better by changing my focus a bit - well, really, adding to my devotional time, and getting up earlier.

Basically, Kat (writer of Maximize Your Mornings ebook, and blogger at Inspired to Action) challenges you to Maximize Your Mornings by encouraging "...Christian women toward the life-giving habit of waking up early."  So we say, "HelloMornings!"

There are 4 main focuses for the morning:

1. Get up.  Early.  Give yourself time for your HelloMornings.
2. God.  There's a Bible study that accompanies these challenges, or you can do your own.
3. Plan.  Plan out your day.  Intentionally.
4. Move.  Daily exercise.  It really helps with having energy throughout the day and keeping it.

The beauty of all this, is that you are not alone in this challenge.  The whole thing is done in groups for accountability and encouragement.  

Now, do I accomplish all 4 steps consistently?  Well I have been doing these challenges for a year now, but the answer is NO.

His mercies are new every morning

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

Thankfully, there is grace and encouragement to begin again every day of the challenge.  It really is a beautiful community.  I have met some pretty amazing women through HelloMornings over the last year.

So, what is my "Why?"

I want a peaceful day.  For homeschooling.

For my husband.  For my family.  For me.

I want to be intentional in my Bible reading and prayer time.

Ultimately, my reason for HelloMornings is to draw nearer my Father in Heaven, Almighty God.

Interested in HelloMornings for yourself?

Click the HelloMornings button on the side bar to get started.  -------------->

The next challenge is August 20th - November 16th

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.  Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

April 2012 - One Month DTE

As promised, another full month update -- better late than never (*ahem).

One Month DTE... I forgot to post some pics of our completed dossier and its send-off...

Signing the final paperwork & having it notarized

See my "baby-bump?" I'm officially in the "2nd trimester" of this pregnancy ;-)

Dossier tucked away and ready to mail it off.

Postage paid and off to America World and then Ethiopia!

April turned out to be pretty busy...just like March (= We had more twice-weekly rehearsals for the homeschool play, a couple of birthdays, hair appointments, homeschooling and a ladies retreat -- Whew!



Lily turned 10 this year, and Reese turned 8.  Both being April birthdays, and considering the busyness of our lives this year, we opted to do a "together party."

Decadent chocolate cake with
raspberry icing - yum!

The happy birthday boy and girl

My small business doing hair fares well.  I still have a steady stream of clients, and everything I earn once my product cost is covered goes toward our adoption expenses.  April being a busy month, I socked away a decent chunk of change for the adoption--

I love what I do and how 
God provides through it.

Throughout the month, I had additional rehearsals to prepare for a Ladies Retreat later in the month where I was asked to lead worship.  I had led worship at this particular retreat a couple times in the past, but this was the first time I was bringing a background vocalist with me.  The Stockport Mill and the surrounding area were beautiful and the Holy Spirit, present.  The entire weekend was like a sweet embrace from the Father. 

My oldest daughter joined me for her first ever Ladies Retreat.  Isn't she beautiful? <3

My Seester and niece joined us for their first retreat together too
(btw, all retreat pics were taken by Seester)

BOTH my sisters were with me on this retreat. 
On the far right is Khris' sister, Jo <3

Our wonderful, Spirit-filled speaker: Kathy Peters out of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

My pal Brittany and I singing unto the Lord
Sing praise to the LORD, ...And give thanks to His holy name. (Psalm 30:4)

The whole group -- the one waving is my sweet sister in the Lord who
put this retreat together.  Thanks Becky -- we all had a great time!

There you have it.  Hopefully I'll be able to update May before the summer's over ;-)

Grace & Peace to you and yours ~Michelle

What is My Heart-Soil Like Today?

As I sat to dwell in God's Word this morning, I was taken back to the discussion of last night's bible study in the Gospel of Matthew.

Khris taught on the parable of the sower:

Matthew 13: 1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. 

3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower wento out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no rood, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear." (NASB)

So What is my heart-soil like as I sit to abide in the Word of God for my devotions in the morning?  Or in the corporate setting for Sunday and Wednesday sermons? Or listening to teaching on the radio?

Khris posed these two questions in the study:  How much time have you spent in the Word, or listening to sermons throughout the duration of your walk with Christ?  Considering that time, how much of it has taken root in you to produce fruit?

In light of this parable what is my heart-soil like?

Is my heart-soil hardened like the side of the road?

Does that gospel-seed just get

gobbled up by the enemy?

Is my heart-soil shallow & rocky?

When trials or persecution come,

does that sprouted gospel-seed burn up and die,

rendering me useless?

Is my heart-soil longing for the things of this world?

Does the Word, that gospel-seed, sprout up

among worldly desires and choke out

my fruitfulness?

Or is my heart-soil tended, cultivated

and ready to receive that gospel-seed?

Am I receiving from God's Word in every

opportunity, watering and tending to the

weeds and thorns, so I can bear good fruit

despite the enemy's thievery, 

trials and persecution,

or the Word-choking world?

Father, I pray I would continue to seek Your face as I approach Your Word, in my quiet time or in corporate worship, that my heart would be tender and ready to receive what You would speak in me.  May I bear much fruit for Your glory ~Amen

What is your heart-soil like today? 

I would  love to hear what the Lord has

laid on your heart.

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