Kingdom Calling Blog…

 

It’s the first Monday of 2017 and my word for the year is devoted!

As you may know if you have been reading my blog this year or if you follow me on Insta, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest I have had a monthly theme and a ‘Daily Choice’ linked to the monthly theme.

Joy January

Hope February (whoops I don’t think I wrote about hope!!!)

Encouragement March

Gratitude April

Courage May

Generosity June

Patience July

Rest August

Love September

Daily Declarations October

Kindness November

Community December

I started the daily posts after spending some time soaking with God. I felt him prompt me about the word Joy and I loved exploring joy in January. He told me it would be a year of making choices and he was so right (as always). As the end of each month drew near I would ask him what next and a word would drop into my head. During November I had a dream about community and that is why the last month’s theme was based on what community is and what it isn’t.

I have been very encouraged by people reading the posts and responding and I have had lots of feedback from different places over the year and opportunities that have come from it. The words of John Wimber (a hero of the faith and founding leader of the Vineyard movement) comes to mind…

“I’ll take the encouragement, but I’ll pass the glory on”.

In all things, when God is involved his favour is upon them and I have really felt that in my writing this year. I didn’t even realise I had a passion for writing until I started writing my book reports for TSM. I was so encouraged in it by my courage group leader that it released something in me that had previously felt like a failure when it came to writing. A word of timely encouragement is an incredible gift and can propel you forward and give you courage.

I have found in writing, as with all things with God, that he honours obedience and when he has asked me to write on something, even when I haven’t been sure I have gone for it and they have often been the posts that have received the most feedback. The post on grief was very tricky and I debated whether to publish it or not but felt God in it and had permission from the Lovely Mr B (as it was about his dad) too, so I went ahead and have had so much response from it, where it has been an encouragement to others and that is why I write.

As the year has come to an end I know that I have really enjoyed the themed months and writing weekly on my blog about my God adventures. So, as the New Year approached I was reflecting and started dreaming with God about what next?….

He reminded me about Mary and Martha AGAIN (as I talked about in my last blog-That’s a Wrap). I felt him challenge me AGAIN about who I was in the story and remind me that I so easily fall into the Martha trap of running around, often like a headless chicken, trying to get things ‘ready’, when there is only one thing required of me…to sit at his feet.

^{Luke 10 :38-42 38} As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

As I was fretting about whether to carry on doing daily encouragement posts I just felt him say “Everything flows out of your time with me. You don’t need to worry about those things, it will be quite natural and you will write and encourage after you spend time with me. It will all become apparent what you need to write about, leave it to me”.

I literally felt a weight lift off me and realised I was fretting and trying to organise things under my own strength instead of resting in his presence.

Prov 3:5-6 ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. ⁶ Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

Not striving but abiding!

And all of a sudden I don’t mind about not being super organised about posting daily and in actual fact the pressure is off. I will post when I feel prompted and I will continue to blog weekly.

Do you find yourself rushing around, worrying about everything that needs doing, let’s face it the list never gets shorter, does it?

Maybe 2017 will be the year you choose to stop rushing around like Martha worrying about all the details and choose instead to become a Mary and sit at his feet and be devoted, knowing that everything flows out of that intimate relationship with your heavenly father.

I invite you to come on a journey this year of being devoted and let’s see where it takes us.