Wishing versus Doing

But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22, NLT)

Last year, one of my friends told me she does two miles on the elliptical every morning at the gym. My first thought was, I wish I could do two miles on the elliptical every morning at the gym. Who am I kidding? At that point, (after a brief, meaningless affair with refined sugar) I was wishing I could do any time on the elliptical every morning at the gym!

I did a reality check and realized, two miles on the elliptical doesn't come by wishing. Change comes by doing. This year, I’ve desperately wanted to improve my life…in every area of my life.

So, on 1/1/14, I made (accepted and committed to) a list of personal challenges. I set some personal goals. One of which was, two miles on the elliptical…four to five days per week. The first day, I was able to do fifteen minutes. Which I was actually happy with because the elliptical was once my nemesis and I could only accomplish five minutes. I strongly wanted to overcome in the area of the elliptical. I wanted to sincerely like the elliptical. I pressed on. Within two weeks, I was able to do one mile. I pressed on. When I didn't feel like pressing on, I pressed on. When my flesh screamed, I pressed on. Within six weeks of the day I set my goal, I accomplished over two miles!

Everybody sing! “Oh happy day! Oh happy-happy day!"

Here is the thing. Had I stayed in my wishing…two months later, I’d still be sitting at my “hearing” and not “doing”.

Was the elliptical challenge easy? Nope. Shoots no. My flesh screamed the first two weeks. But as I set my mind against my flesh, I not only achieved my goal, I also experienced life and peace! (Romans 8:6)

We were created to progress in every area of our lives! We were created to be better next week than this week! We were created for vision! We were created to press on! (Proverbs 29:18, Philippians 3:14) When we have no vision and are not pressing on, we are going against our genetic makeup.

How is the best way for us to press on and have vision? By hearing and doing God’s Word! (James 1:22) Renewing our minds daily and utterly refusing to conform! (Romans 12:2)

I encourage you today, improve at least one thing in your life. Find something you really like to do and set a goal. Or, find something you really dislike and set a goal. Either way, overcome!

As for me and my elliptical, it is time to increase our vision.

Hello elliptical, come to me friend! 

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader right now to awaken to You! Open the eyes of their understanding in all areas of their lives! Build a fire in them, a fire than can never die! A fire for vision, for themselves, their family, their church and their community! Please continue to teach us and please continue to order our steps straight into Your perfect plan for us! Thank You Father! Thank You for Your unfailing love and thank You for creating us in Your image! All glory and honor to You LORD!

Moving On

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23, NLT)

Earlier this year and quite out of the blue...I kept "seeing" Oahu. I would be busy about my day and the picture would pop up in my spirit. It was a picture of the map of Oahu.

Right after I started consistently "seeing" Oahu, my oldest child started talking about and listing all the reasons we should move to Oahu. It was mostly said in jest with a little bit of seriousness. I didn't share with her, or anyone else, what I had been seeing.

Several weeks later, and almost last minute (I believe it was about three days prior) I received notification about a special healing service being held on Oahu by an evangelist. My spirit jumped and I knew I needed to be there. Initially I had a concern about being able to make late travel arrangements and inter-island airfare had been between $100.00 and $300.00 but discovered online flights were only $69.00. I called Mike, asked his opinion, and he immediately told me to go.

While researching travel arrangements (air, car, etc), my nine year old woke up and told me she had a dream. She said she dreamed, "we moved to Oahu". I found the dream and the timing very interesting.

I went to the service and it was a very powerful service. A man who could hardly walk with his cane, stood upright and walked very quickly across the platform without the cane! A little ten year old girl who had been deaf from birth, received her hearing!

A pastor prophesied over me that we would return to Oahu. That I have "radical faith", Mike and I are "pillars, and God was bringing us full circle, back to Oahu."

A couple months later, Mike started tossing around the idea of us going to Oahu to work. I told him we would do whatever we needed to do and I knew he would make the best decision for our family.

I didn't share any of this with anyone except my spiritual mom. I told her because I wanted prayer agreement. I didn't discuss it with Mike because I didn't want to influence him one way or another. I simply wanted God to work on our behalf. It is my heart's desire to be exactly where God wants us to be and when He wants us to be there. I trust His timing to be perfect. I wanted this move (or the decision not to move) to be all of God and none of me.

Last month, the final decision was made and everything is in place. We depart very soon and will be posting Bible Studies from Oahu! Currently, we are unsure if this is a permanent move or only for a season. We wait on Him! (Psalm 27:14)

Please continue to pray for us and Key Tov Blog as we embrace this wonderful and exciting adventure as He directs our steps!

If only I had Listened...

But He said, “ More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
(Luke 11:28, NKJV)

Last Friday my oldest child, Cortni, came for a weekend visit. We hadn't seen each other for over six weeks because I was on the mainland for a month and then on Kauai for two weeks. For us, six weeks is a very long time. We were really looking forward to our visit.

I was tired and preoccupied from flying alone with my youngest two girls, working off island, etc. Once we landed, instead of coming home, I went into town to run errands which only increased the fatigue and preoccupation.

Once Cortni arrived, we took my dog for a walk. I was wearing a pair of worn out flip flops. They were a little hard to walk in because the toe part was stretched out. God said, "Change your shoes." it wasn't an audible voice. More of a "sensing", a leading of the Holy Spirit to change my shoes. I thought, "My walking shoes are packed, the dog is already on the leash, and Cortni is already waiting for me outside."

Yes, I walked out the door failing to heed God's voice.

About 20 minutes into our walk, I "heard" God again say, "Go change your shoes." Again, I reasoned/whined, "We aren't going to walk long. I'd have to go all the way back home to change shoes. Why do I need to change shoes anyway...their just shoes!"

I didn't really intend to be outright disobedient to God, I wasn't breaking one of the ten commandments! I wasn't arguing with God. It was more of a ever so slightly prodding that I ignored.

Cortni and I were both tired from the week's events and didn't intend to walk long but it took longer for us to catch up than we thought so we kept walking...and walking...and walking. We ended up walking for several hours.

I was too tired and too preoccupied to stop long enough to do one simple thing, simply obey the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, my reasoning and excuses completely drowned out His voice.

Later that night, it occurred to me why God had told me to change shoes. My ankles and knees were aching so badly, it took several hours to go to sleep. Having to pinch the shoes with my toes to keep them on while I walked had tweaked my ankles. The next morning, I could hardly walk.

We hosted a party on Sunday. Instead of enjoying our guests, I was in a lot of pain. I also had a photo shoot, which was done...in pain.

Simple math: Failure to listen = PAIN!

Today is Monday, I'm currently laying on the couch with taped ankles doing the ice-heat-ice-heat routine.

As I sat here wishing I were walking the beach waiting for the sun to set instead of laying on my couch with my ice pack and heating pad, I thought, "If only I had listened..."

As soon as that thought popped into my head, this one followed, "How many times have I thought, if only I had listened..."

God is always with us. (Hebrews 13:5)
He tells us what we don't know. (Jeremiah 33:3)
He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

Since God cared enough about the shoes I was wearing, how much more does He care about the more significant and more permanent areas of our lives?

Who we seek counsel from. (Psalm 1:1)
Who we marry. (Matthew 19:6)
Who our friends are. (Proverbs 13:20)

What could have been a three minute task has turned into a three day task. All I had to do was dig my shoes out of my suitcase but instead, through disobedience, I am dealing with taped ankles and the ice-heat-ice-heat routine. In other words, PAIN!

GRRRRRR!

Lessons learned:

When He speaks to me about change, just shut up, and change. (James 1:22)
Hear, listen, then immediately do. (John 10:27)
Changing from my ways to His ways result in being blessed. (Luke 11:28)

My prayer for every reader today is to hear and do!