This is another wonderful book by Joanna Weaver. I just love her writing style - she is so easy to read! Her transparency is refreshing! This book has been a wonderful source of encouragement and conviction. Joanna starts off the book with a very serious prayers asking God to change us to be more like Him. And that is exactly her goal as you read the pages you can tell that the prayer of her heart is to help others become more like Christ.

In order to be more like Christ we must be changed from the inside. Deep inside. Things must be faced that we have repressed and stuffed deep down, thinking we would never have to deal with them again. Once we start to change the hidden places of our heart our actions follow. People can't help but see Christ in our lives.

I highly recommend this book as a great resource for those who are seeking a closer walk with God. In my opinion this book is best read before her first book. Once you have taken care of your heart you are more likely to have the desire for the living room intimacy she speaks of in her first book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.


Back of the Book:
"Lord whatever it takes, make me like You!"
You long to serve God with grace and strength, to reflect Christ in every word and action. Yet you find yourself continually struggling to bring that vision to life in your daily walk.

At our very core, every one of us is a 'twisted sister' within whom the flesh and spirit battle constantly for control. We are afflicted with spiritual schizophrenia, the disconnect between our good-girl desire to put Jesus first and our bad-girl realities that crowd our thoughts and push him out of the way.

In this life-changing book, Joanna Weaver, author of the perennial bestseller, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, directs your gaze past your own shortcomings to the God who stands ready, willing, and able to make a new woman out of you. She equips you with biblical insights and practical tools to partner with Christ, inviting him into the hidden places of your soul and giving him full permission to redeem and renovate.

Drawing on the stories of the biblical Mary's (Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary, sister of Martha; Mary Magdalene) and others whose experience with God transformed their lives, Joanna shows you how you can find what you long for: hope, healing, wholeness, and joy. Having a Mary Spirit will launch you toward lasting personal transformation: soul-deep change that results in a complete makeover - from the inside out.

This prayer was in my Bible study book this week. The 3rd paragraph really spoke to me as I have been consumed lately with some pain that I have been feeling. God is in control of that situation no matter what the outcome is and if you would, please pray for me tomorrow at 11 while I am at the doctor. If there is someone reading this with some pain of your own, I would be happy to pray for you and lift you up to Jehovah-Rapha (also spelled Rophi and Rophe ~ God who heals). Just leave me a comment.

We all have someone we admire who has an exceptionally sweet spirit. Let's pray for the Lord to use us in that way to others.

-Written by an anonymouse seventeenth-century nun

This is a really long passage to post with some mixed commentary, but its something that's been on my heart for a while, so please read.

James 4

"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?" So often our own selfishness gets in the way of our relationships with other Christians. Too often with those that love and care about us the most (and vise versa). Don't look to the problems in others to solve a conflict - examine your own heart. Make sure you are right with God and let Him take care of everyone else.

"You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask." Keep reading - this isn't some magical sentence that gives us a big Santa in the sky. Our heart must be in the right place in order for what we ask to be part of God's plan, not our selfish desires. It is very sad to hear so many Christians take this out of context.

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." Always keep in mind the simple children's acronym - JOY: Jesus, others, you - in that order.

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." If you find yourself wanting to be more and more like the people you know that don't have God, you're in trouble. We all need to examine our hearts constantly and constantly check our motives for what we want and what we want to do. The more we look like the world the more our hearts change to be like the world. BE CAREFUL!

"Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?" God is a jealous and according to the Bible He always wins. Personally, I would not want to be on the losing side of that battle.

"But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.""

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom." Repentance. Praise the Lord for his unfailing, always available, forgiveness! When we put ourselves under God's authority and turn away from the lies Satan feeds us, we can such an amazing peace in our lives. God blesses those who obey Him. Resisting the devil is not something we can do on our own. We need God's help. Memorize scripture in areas that you struggle with; read God's Word everyday; pray for His help to resist the temptations you easily succumb to; be careful with what you watch/listen to and make sure it is pleasing to God. It all must be genuine. God will punish those who don't keep their hearts pure before Him.

"Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." As there is punishment/consequences for wrong-doing there are also rewards for right behavior. Not always getting something you want, but blessings.

"Do not speak against one another, brethren He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" We are never to play God. We are just as sinful as the next person. Who are we to put someone down b/c of their sin when we all sin every day? And our sins don't have levels in God's eyes. My disobedience is just as bad as someone who has committed murder. Don't put yourself on a pedestal and certainly be careful of saying that you would never do something. That is a vulnerable area that Satan is sure to attack. "Guard your heart with all diligence" (Proverbs 4:23)

"Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." Take advantage of every moment God gives you. I am the world's worst procrastinator and am trying to work on that. Make the most of life - I've heard many times, "Live each day like it is your last". If we all did that we would be much more prepared to meet the Lord than most of us are today. (I hope that makes sense)

But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Not much more to add to that. Don't put yourself on a pedestal for anything.

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. The Holy Spirit convicts all of us of different things along our walk. Follow the Holy Spirits prompting and only worry about yourself.

I know this ended up being a running commentary, but I hope it was an encouragement to those who read it. God's Word is the best place to go - not man's words.

Have a great day!!

Last year she wasn't so interested in the whole cake thing. She screamed and screamed during the whole song and didn't want to get her hands dirty at all. I don't think she even took a bite of the cake. She was not happy again until she was back to sitting in the chair her grandparents gave her.





This year, however, she really enjoyed being the center of attention except when being sung to. She was a little overwhelmed with that, but otherwise she loved it!! She ate some of her cupcake and cookie and is really liking the whole idea of 'pesents'. She has something to get today, but after that I think she will be seriously not happy that they don't happen to come to her every day.




In the busyness of getting ready for parties I was reminded of what a blessing children are and that she is our little gift from God. Children are definitely a great responsibility, but such a joy! I love watching her discover new things. God is so gracious to give us these little blessings to raise for His glory. Yes, it gets overwhelming at times and is a great responsibility, but it is so much fun!! Babies are very cute, but it is a lot more fun when you can interact and do things with them. I am loving getting to know this little person with a very big personality.

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Finances.

What first pops into your mind? . . . Numbers? Security? Fear? Trust?

My guess is that especially in today's economic times most of us immediately think fear. My husband and I have been struggling a bit for the last 2 years. Until recently fear is exactly what I thought of. After losing a total of 3 jobs and some bad decisions in between, along with having a baby, we have definitely been thinking fear.

We recently started the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and are in the process of getting Baby Step 1 accomplished.

Let me start by saying that my husband has been a Dave Ramsey fan for a couple of years, but I was hesitant to jump on board. Mostly because I manage the finances and who was he to try to tell me how to do it? So, I never listened. I never read the book. I realize he was trying to help and appreciate the effort, I really do (especially now). I also didn't do it because from what he showed me it was way too complicated and I had my system (I still kinda think that, but know it is going to be well worth the effort).

Now my system is in the process of transforming to Dave's system. I am budgeting and somewhat using the envelope system and most importantly I am starting to change from thinking fear to secure. The more money that gets saved, the more secure I feel. Amazing, huh?

The change that is taking place is not just in our bank account, but also in my heart. I am learning more about trusting the Lord. He truly meant what He said about "supply[ing] all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19) The key phrase in that verse is 'according to His'. So often we take verses like this out of context and assume that whatever we think we need we will have - like the Prayer of Jabez fad. That is not the case.

God knows what we need. Sometimes we need a big fat 'NO!'.

Paul says earlier in that passage that he "know[s] how to get along with humble means, and [he] also know[s] how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance [he has] learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (vv.12-13) God was with him in all of those circumstances. He didn't leave him when he had humble means - He taught him lessons and grew Paul's faith.

We need to learn to do the same thing. After a time of abundance are we truly thankful when a time of 'humble means' comes along? When we are 'suffering need'? We need to be.

Take the opportunity to open your eyes and learn what God has for you to learn. Pray about just what he would have you do with your finances right now and take the opportunity to grow closer to your God and your family.


You can purchase the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Kit here.