Experiencing God

For the past 4 weeks, Jay and I have been going through the Bible study Experiencing God with our small group.  God has used this study in my life in so many ways and it has become so applicable to my daily life.  It has answered many prayers in my personal life as well as things that Jay and I were praying through together.  It has altered my views of God and  how to truly do His will and how to truly experience Him in a real and personal way.  I have always thought that if you obey Him, then you ultimately experience Him.  I found out in my very first week that this is not the case.  
According to the study, you experience God in this order:

1. God is always at work around you.  (Find where He is at work and JOIN HIM!)
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.  (We don't do the pursuing, HE PURSUES US.)
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways. (Be alert to where He may be speaking to you because it may be ALL around you!)
5. God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that REQUIRES FAITH AND ACTION.
6. You MUST MAKE MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS IN YOUR LIFE TO JOIN GOD IN WHAT HE IS DOING.
7. You come to know God by experience as YOU OBEY HIM,  and He accomplishes His work through you.

There is so much I could share about what this study has done in my life, but one of the most important things for you to know and realize is that YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM is the most important part of knowing and doing God's will.  Without an intimate relationship with Him, you will miss what He wants to do in and through your life.  Something I have come to know and realize is that when God gives you instructions to obey Him, He never gives you the full plan.  He gives you the next step and when you obey that, He will give you the next one.  It requires that you step out on faith, even not knowing the hows, whens and wheres, and putting your "YES" on the table.  He requires of us obedience and He provides the rest.  As you follow Him one day at a time, one step at a time, He will keep you in the center of His will.  

I have always asked God, "What is your will for my life?"  This study is very clear that is a very selfish viewpoint.  Instead, we should ask, "God, what is your will?"  And whenever we find out what that is, join Him there.  His will is much bigger than me and He definitely doesn't need me, however because He is a kind and loving God and He desires a relationship with us, He gives us the PRIVILEGE of being involved with Him in His work.

I have heard this quote multiple times in the last several months and not sure where it came from but it's been so relevant to some things we have seeking God about and it continues to pop up in various ways.  It states, "The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not sustain you." WOW. If you remain in the center of His will, He promises to take care of you and provide along the way.  Again, he just wants our yes on the table.

If you truly desire to experience God, it requires that you die to your own selfish ambitions, wants, desires etc. and obey Him one step at a time.  An intimate relationship with Him is necessary and key to making that happen. Henry Blackaby says, "Everything in your Christian life, everything about knowing Him and experiencing Him, everything about knowing His will depends on the quality of your love relationship with God.  If that is not settled, nothing else in your life will be right."

Is your "YES" on the table?  If so, strap your seatbelt on and get ready for the ride of your life.

Happy Birthday Allen!

Since Allen's 22nd birthday was this week, we got together as a family to celebrate it!  It is always a good time when the whole family gets together.    I am very close to my family and love them so much!  This is our last time to get together before the wedding festivities begin in less than 2 weeks! Yippee!

Me and the birthday boy

(Yea excuse my pasty white skin...I need a tan bad!)

       

This will be Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Nason in 13 days!  

Me and my handsome man!

My sweet momma and daddy

Happy Bday Allen!  We love you!

Karis and Mari-Morgan's Sleepover

Karis' BFF spent the night Friday night and of course Karis counted down the hours until she got here.  They played so hard and even included Brayden (which was so sweet) and they did a fashion show for us.  They would get dressed up in some dress or costume and came down and strutted and then went and changed their outfits and did it again (multiple times!).  Here are some of the pics....

        

I didn't go upstairs for a while but when I did, I realized that a tornado had hit the upstairs!  Isn't that odd?

So glad she got to come play and Happy Birthday to her brother Nathan who turns 9 today!

Sharing Cheerios...

I had no idea that eating cheerios could be so entertaining!  With lots of toddlers around my house each day, it is fun to see the "lightbulb" come on sometimes.  They are all starting to really learn, comprehend, and communicate with me and each other in their own little ways.  This afternoon we were having snack time which consisted of juice and cheerios and they put on quite the show.  Lucy and Landon have a love/hate relationship here!

        

She is SOOOOO guilty!!!

(Oh and notice she is standing up by the way!!!)

"I think I'll have some of your cheerios...thanks!"

"Cheeeeeese!"

While all the drama went on, Axton sat and enjoyed his own snack....

"Ok,  I'll share with you Lucy!"

"Oh wait a minute I want it back!"

Landon is showing Lucy how it's done and she is watching intently...

"Wait a minute...you can't have ALL my cheerios!"

(Notice Lucy is hiking her leg trying to climb in the chair with him!)

"That's enough Mister!"

"Hey!!! Those are MINE!"

"Hehehe"

"I'll take matters into my OWN hands!"

(Be nice Lucy!!!)

They are all learning to take up for themselves and food is DEFINITELY worth fighting for!  

Happy Birthday Allen!

Today is my dear sweet brother's birthday (Uncle Allen) and we are so thrilled to celebrate with him.  Those of you that don't know our story, Allen was a foster baby of ours when he was born and my parents decided to adopt him.  Therefore he has been in our home since birth and I will say that he has been an irreplaceable addition to our family.  He is such a caring, giving, hilarious, fun person to be around.  When I need a good laugh, I long to hang out with him.  It is contagious and makes me laugh just thinking about it.  Despite our age difference (almost 10 years) we have always been very close. Not only is he my brother, but a very good friend!

We LOVE Uncle Allen at our house and want to wish him a FABULOUS BIRTHDAY!  Can't wait to see you soon...hope it is a fun day for you!

We'll be your practice!

My brother Jonathan is in training to be a photographer from the best in Memphis....Todd and Tara Fleming Photography.  We asked him to come out and "practice" on us and he did a phenomenal job!  He is still in college and getting married in TWO WEEKS!  He didn't have his flash that night and it suddenly was cold, cloudy and rainy so some of them were a little dark but he did a fabulous job!  These were some of my favs...