Rowdy with Four: January 2016

Seeking God with My Whole Heart

7:27 AM

It's no secret I struggle with OCD…Obsessive Chicken Disorder. I love my 'girls'! I greet them in the mornings with a sing song voice. I simply can't understand why people don't want them or how they could be terrified of them. They are part of our family. When something happens to one, I cry!

A few weeks ago a sweet, godly man in our church asked me if I could spare six of my chickens. In my heart, I thought NO WAY! But did I really need 20 hens and the 20 eggs a day? Something possessed me to say yes! Then he asked me for 10….OH WOW!!! GOD JUST REVEALED SOMETHING TO ME AS I'M WRITING THIS!!!

So he asked me for 10. I felt like God wanted me to give him 10, and I said sure. But, when he came to pick them up I only gave him 6. I went against what I said I would do, and what I thought God wanted me to do because I began to doubt. I got greedy. I didn't want to let go my girls. And, a lot of what ifs entered my heart.

Friends, I didn't give 10 hens away, but God took 10 away. That same evening I gave 6 of my girls away, I discovered 1 of my girls had been devoured by our farm dog. A week later 2 more devoured by our farm dog. I cried so many tears. I began to tuck my girls in the coop at night to make sure they didn't free range until I put our farm dog up.

Saturday evening one of the girls didn't go to the coop. She was locked out all night. Sunday morning we found her frozen. This made 4 hens. 6 + 4 = 10.

When God tells us to do something, we need to do it! God wants us to seek Him with our WHOLE heart. He wants us to live a faithful-obedient life. Seeking Him in truth. Blessed!

The enemy on the other hand tempts us with a faithless-rebellious life. Devoured by His lies. Not seeing the consequences of our disobedience. Defeated!

This morning I was seeking God in Psalm 119:9-16. The word guides us to His truth. It leads us away from destruction.

These are some verses that really stood out to me…

I will seek you with all my heart…vs. 10

I have hidden your word in my heart…vs. 11

Teach me…vs. 12

I meditate…vs. 15

I consider…vs. 15

I will NOT neglect your word…vs. 16

That last verse…WOW! Are you neglecting God's word? I've been there. Friends, today is the day! Seek God in the word with all your heart. Hide it in your heart. Ask him to teach you. Meditate on it. Consider it. Most importantly, don't neglect the importance of God's word.

What's Cooking in Your Kitchen?

9:00 AM

It's no secret I'm new to the kitchen. It's been a year of trial and error, however, I can now make a mean meatloaf and sausage and gravy that is to die for! My cooking skills have improved GREATLY in just a year. Why? Because I didn't quit when I didn't know how. I just kept at it.

Now my baking skills…not so great. Sure there are instructions and recipes, but that doesn't mean much if you've really never been in the kitchen. Some of the terminology and the number of ingredients can be quite overwhelming. For example 'soften butter'. What does that even mean? Well it doesn't mean melt. Let's just say I had some very sticky cookie dough on my hands.

My grandmothers were simply AMAZING in the kitchen. They could cook or bake anything and It was always delicious! I'm sure they had their days of trial and error too, but because they were in their kitchens daily they grew and learned along the way.

That's how it is with our spiritual walk. Do you want to grow in your relationship with God? Well then you need to enter your spiritual kitchen. Open the your Bible and pray. Yes, it is overwhelming at times and can even be confusing, but we must keep going back daily. We must not give up! That is what the enemy wants.

I prayed this prayer on November 21, 2005

Lord, it has been too long since I've wrote you last, and so many things have changed. I'm like the Israelites when they were wandering through the wilderness. You would answer their prayers, but then they would soon forget and go right back into the same old sin, doing the same old thing over and over until another problem came along. Then once again you would step in and help.

Oh God, that's me…I found my journal Saturday while cleaning out our temporary room. I packed it away and left it there. Tonight as I read through it, I see I've been wandering through the wilderness, too. I've forgotten all the prayers you have answered. Forgive me for being forgetful, selfish, and living day to day without you. I'm so sorry.

Why is this so hard? How come I can't stay faithful? Why do I quit so easily? I want to be a warrior and overcome the enemy. Why did you give me so many gifts and talents? Why? I don't deserve all that you have given me. I'm so unworthy. Thank you!

Thank you for not giving up on me. You are my ROCK. I want to be like you - solid - I no longer want to live in defeat, but each day in victory living with you by my side. I need your help. Here I am again. Crying out to you like the Israelites…want, want, want.

Lord, I don't want to get to heaven and discover what I missed here, on earth, with you.

I love you! Amen.

It's never too late to begin seeking a love relationship with God. One that is simply amazing because of the time you spend in your kitchen with God.

I'd like to leave you with a few recipes for Seeking God in His word and prayer.