Setting Vision

 

Setting Vision was the theme of this week's Bible study for me and the topic of an inspired speech Friday morning by the owner of Jason's Deli, and I have to share what I received from God's Word about the importance of vision in your life to be successful!

In Genesis 30, Jacob begins to amass his wealth and fortune by what I find to be a supernatural means of influence. He took a poplar branch or almond branch and peeled back the bark so that it created a striped look and set those branches in front of the watering trough where the sheep came to drink because that is where they mated. By seeing the branches, they then produced offspring that were striped, speckled or black and he took those sheep as his payment.

Then I remembered in 2008 when God gave me a word about building the house on Woodside that I had put a picture of the house just printed out from the plans and posted it on my wall in my office that I saw everyday and by the end of 2008 the vision came to pass. You can read about that here if you'd like.

http://leaannemccrorywood.blogspot.com/2008/08/building-of-4109-woodside.html

And then in 2010 God spoke again and set us on a new path with a new vision that I didn't quite understand. In fact I may have missed it at first but the vision stood for over two years before it was understood. I wish I would have written it on the blog to be able to refer back to it, but the new word spoken to my heart was Isaiah 58:12

 

Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.

Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls

and a restorer of homes.

 

This has since led me into the new career path of Real Estate. Even though it took two years to understand it, I'm walking it out and the vision is just starting to reproduce in my life and I'll continue to walk in this new vision until God says "It's Finished".

 

Oh what a difference a picture makes, what a great visual display through the sheep and the rememberance of my picture on the wall to remind me how important it is to keep the vision in front of us. God saw it already and is leading me to it. (I'm going to find a picture that clearly defines this new vision in my life and place it in my office so I can see it everyday!)

 

And the words of the owner of Jason's Deli, said that in order to be successful we need to Set Vision, Get Buy-In and Remove obstacles... this was so relevant to my life and it's what I'm striving to do.

 

I hope this gives someone hope to start looking for the vision that the Lord has for you and to set that vision in front of you always...Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18)
 

 

I'll leave you with this scripture that I saw this morning in my bible study preparation...
2 Thessalonians 1:11b... May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do...Then the Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

Seeking Him,

Lea Anne

 

 

My word for 2013

As I began praying about my word for 2013 I was reading my devotional calendar and it talked about us needing to be spiritually anchored and focused on the One true God. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and I didn't think that I put anything ahead of Him, but in just the few short days of this new year, I've found myself pulled and stretched in so many different directions that it has taken a toll on my health, and mental state. I'm not handling things like I use to, I'm irritated too easily, and mostly, I'm just a little unsettled by all the changes taking place around me.

I've decided that my word is ONE.

I'll be more focused on ONE thing at a time...ONE job...ONE person at a time...more time with the ONE who gives life more abundantly. And certainly about the only ONE I can do anything about and that is me.

My devotional thought for today is very appropriate as I write these words...

We don't want to be women who hear the truth but seldom act in faith to appropriate it for our lives. We don't want to be forever grappling with doubt, fear, insecurity, and uncertainty. We want to live life on purpose and with purpose.

I choose ONE...

Happy New Year!

Lea Anne

Imagine... What do you see?

What a great way to start a Monday. A good devotional thought that goes along with what I've been meditating on for over a week.

Dear God, There are so many vocations in this world. There are so many ministry opportunities in this world too, in the workplace, home, neighborhood, church... Help me to see my special mission field. Where do You want me to serve? Am I in the right place? Am I taking advantage of every opportunity You have for me? Is there somewhere else You want me to exercise the spiritual gifts, natural talents, and heartfelt desires You have given me? Please open my eyes that I may see; speak to my heart that I may know. Thank You for guiding me and blessing me according to Your will. In Jesus' name I come to You, amen.

I have been thinking about change. Or at least a way to make a little extra money. Of course it involves sales because that is the area in which I've been gifted by God, but it also involves people and my passion for houses. I love looking at houses and magazines and pictures... It's my escape from the real world... to imagine a beautiful landscaped yard, a crystal clear swimming pool, nice wood decks and flowers... Lots of flowers... It has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I have magazines from back in the 1990's that I've kept as inspiration pages. (My children have TRIED to throw them away, but I keep them hidden so they can't)

Anyway, the thing I love the most about how God reveals a path to me is in the still small voice that prompts me to check things out. Things I didn't even know that I wanted, but I believe with all that is in me was put there by God so that He could work it out in my life. The things that are always with you, yet you don't realize until they lay out like domino's and lead you to the next thing in God's plan for you.

As I think this thing through, I'll be looking, no EXPECTING, God to show up in a mighy way to blow me over and affirm the decisions He planting in my heart. I love when he does that and I want that all the time, but if we had everything we wanted immediately, then where would our Hope be? How would we learn to depend on His leading and Guiding... If we could do it on our own, why would we need a Savior who wants to walk in relationship and trust with us? I much prefer doing it with God as my lead.

Pray with me please as I seek the set-up that I know is coming. As I take a step of faith that brings me down a path of His choosing.

I love this life of mine and I will follow you Lord...

Walking in His abundant joy!!
Lea Anne

The Way He Wants You to Live

I've been meditating on a scripture a lot these last two weeks and it has come up in conversation a couple of times. I need to hear "Well, done... good and faithful servant," and I'm sure that other people in leadership need to hear it as well. However, a lot of the time we seem to only tell them about the bad stuff they are doing. This scripture spoke volumes to me and as I meditate on a few of the points of interest I hope it speaks to you as well.

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is
that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers,
and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with
each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on
each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each
other, and always do your best to bring it out.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's
good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don't leave anyone out.

The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! 1 Thessalonians 12-28

How do you overwhelm someone with appreciation and love? Is it just telling them you appreciate them or is it writing a note?

How do you get along with others? How do you do your part? These are serious questions that need to be answered as we each try to spur the others along in the Christian walk and faith.

Thank God for everything... even the people that get on your nerves. Always praying for others and asking God for guidance. Completely surrender to the Lord in every path you walk on. Knowing that you don't have to fix anything or that you aren't in control of anything. Just be thankful, prayerful and cheerful.

This next part is the part that I'm meditating on... How do you know if something is good or not? How can you discern the good from the bad? The spirit is alive within us and it speaks to us and it protects us and it tells us things we could not possibly know on our own. So don't quench that spirit... Don't put out the spark of fire that ignites within us when there are red flags flying around.. test everything and see what is good... It says to throw out all the evil. If you have a red flag then address it... test it, ask questions... seek the answer then dig it out and throw it out...Not the person, but the thing that is evil. Sometimes we have answers from people who are gifted in discerning right from wrong... seek out good counsel. Don't try to be an island and do things on your own. Ask for help from others who walk with the Lord and seek his counsel.

This book of Thessalonians was a letter written to the church of Thessalonica... It was asked that the letter be read and passed along to the members of the church... It was passed down for 2 thousand years...

Test and approve everthing and keep only what is good... Ask the spirit to help you discern what is good today.

Lea Anne

A little bit of a pity party...

I have to say that I was in a bit of a pit last week... doing a little self-pitying... and I allowed myself to go there for a day or so before I pulled myself out of it. The whole time I was in it, I kept saying that I know better... I kept telling myself to get over it... I knew better... But I can't deny that I was in it.

Well, I have to say that when I began to feel my emotions and feelings trying to control me, that I go to the source of all my strength. I went to the Bible to hear what God had to say about it and I found him to be faithful, as He always is. I recognized that He cares about our feelings and I know that even if it's a self-imposed feeling of pit dwelling, not necessarily something someone does to you, He can pull us out of it if we let him.

I came across the passage from Jeremiah where he is lamenting that he was ever born. He spoke about how everyone was against him, how he didn't have any friends, how he should never have been born, and it made me realize that I felt somewhat similar. The passage I'm referring to is Jeremiah 20:7-18.

What stands out the most to me in this passage is the way that Jeremiah flips between the reason why he is the way he is and the feelings that he feels because of the way he is. What he knows to be true contradicts how he feels about it. This was a little confusing to me and the fact that the Lord didn't respond to him says a lot too. He basically overcame the issue of self-pity by realizing he was responsible for what he was called to do and by giving voice to how he felt about it, didn't change his feelings, but he understood that the Lord would take care of him.

So when we find ourselves in a bit of a pity party, do we sit around and complain about it?

Or do we withdraw into isolation and mope about it?

What should we do to overcome it?

How do we get over it?

These are just a few of the questions I have for you. I know that for myself, I allowed myself to feel a little pity, but then I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and got over it. I can honestly say that I am over it and I hope to have a better understanding of who I am for having gone through it. I hope that I can always go to the source of all knowledge when faced with honest feelings of self-loathing or self-pity.

I know who I am in Christ and will continue along the path that is laid out for me. I will be faithful to stay the course. I will press on. In the process, I hope to encounter little things about myself that will make me a better person when I incorporate them into my behavior modification plan. The only evidence that we are a living, walking-in-relationship-with-Jesus person, is a changed life.

Is my life different than it was a year ago?

Am I seeing things a little differently?

We must always be evolving in our relationships, growing in our spiritual development, and loving just a little bit deeper as we allow Christ to work in our lives.

So don't be embarrassed about having gone on a pity party trip. Embrace it and allow the Lord to heal you and grow you up.

Love to you all,
Lea Anne

Stop speaking worthless words and start speaking Good ones

Have you ever felt like you were treated badly and because of all the work you've done for the Lord, that it shouldn't have happened to you the way it did. Did your feelings get hurt so bad that you wanted to quit what you know God has called you to do? Maybe you have quit but the pain of the insult is so bitter in your mouth that you spew forth poison every time you have the opportunity to "tell" someone what happened to you... Well this is an interesting passage from my study in Jeremiah where God honestly tells Jeremiah to stop his whining and complaining and just get about doing what He told him to do. If this is you and you are currently stuck in an offense, I pray that you receive this as it is meant. As a way out of the depression and insult and into forgiveness and full living.

Jeremiah 15:15-18
You know where I am, God! Remember what I'm doing here!
Take my side against my detractors.
Don't stand back while they ruin me.
Just look at the abuse I'm taking!
When your words showed up, I ate
them—
swallowed them whole. What a feast!
What delight I took in being
yours,
O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I never joined the party crowd
in their laughter and their fun.
Led by you, I went off by myself.
You'd filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething.
But why,
why this chronic pain,
this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight?
You're nothing, God, but a mirage,
a lovely oasis in the distance—and
then nothing!

19-21This is how God answered me:

"Take back those
words, and I'll take you back.
Then you'll stand tall before me.
Use
words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then,
you'll speak for me.
Let your words change them.
Don't change your words
to suit them.
I'll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall,
impregnable.
They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you
because I'm
at your side, defending and delivering."
God's Decree.
"I'll deliver you
from the grip of the wicked.
I'll get you out of the clutch of the
ruthless."

The NLT version says:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!

God doesn't mean to discount your feelings or to make light of your offense. He just wants you to continue serving him whatever happens. Even if no one ever receives. Even if no one ever changes. He can't use you when you live in unforgiveness. He just can't.

God gives us an important responsibility in the ministry and that is to keep on keeping on even when it gets hard. Even when there is an offense...

Be the one to share about what Christ went through... How he suffered and was beaten, and how he was crucified and how he died that we may all have life. He did it willingly... he knew when he came to this earth that he would suffer injustice and that he would lay down his life for all of us who are so imperfect, but he put aside his rights to not be hurt. So why can't you. This is all about bringing glory and honor to the Lord... Not about your hurt feelings...

I hope that this speaks to someone today that is holding on to a little injustice and offense today. Just lay it down and Get over it... God says to put away all that worthless talk and start talking good things today.

Lea Anne

A Blessed Life

I wanted to stop and take a minute to offer a little gratitude to the Lord for where I am in life. I have been very blessed and I want to express my joy for life out loud.

Lord,

I wanted to stop and say "Thank You" for all that You have brought about in my life and allowed to happen.

I wanted to give credit where credit is due...

I wanted to inspire hope in someone today that is feeling a little depressed or is waiting for an answered prayer.

I wanted to remind myself and others that our hope is in the You, Lord.

Rejoice and Be glad...
Lea Anne