What is the Lord calling you to do?

"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, 

This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left."

Isaiah 30:21

You might think it's strange that I've started this blog post with a scripture instead of words leading up to it, but I felt that the scripture leading into what I was planning to say was more appropriate. 

I've felt for probably 3 years that I was to start a ladies Bible study, but I've always felt very inadequate to do it. Three years ago, I was going through a deep dark depression and I got onto using Bible study books for my devotions and one that I used that was called "A Woman after God's Heart" (you can purchase it here) God really began to use it to speak to me about how I could become a woman after His own heart. He began to impress on my mind and heart the thought of starting a ladies Bible study, even though I have never done something like that before in my life. I'm used to doing children's church and talking to children about the Bible, not so much adults. It just seems that I keep coming back to that and remembering where I was when that was impressed on my heart. So after these past 3 years, I've finally decided that I would take the leap of faith and put the feelers out there to start a ladies Bible study in my home one night a week. 

I do not claim to have all the answers, I'm still searching for answers myself. But I do want to be faithful to where God is leading me. I want to do His will. So, hopefully in next few weeks I'm going to be preparing my mind and heart and home to welcome some ladies into it and study God's word together. I would appreciate prayer for this venture that the Lord would bless it and use it for His glory. It's not about me and what I have felt that God wants me to do, it's about learning about God and what He wants for each of our lives. I don't in any way want to draw attention to myself as anyone great, all that needs to point to Christ. 

So what is God asking you to do today? Is there something that you've been putting off? Is there something that God has been asking you to do? Maybe you don't feel qualified (neither do I), the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." So if you're willing to do what He's asked you to, He will give you the strength to complete the task ahead of you. Don't wait like I have, take the leap of faith and make the move that God is asking you to. It will be worth it all in the end! 

The Paths that we take

This evening as I was scrolling through my facebook newsfeed I came across a friends post that really got me to thinking. There was a picture posted with this saying on it that came from www.faith.com

"Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us

 directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us."

After thinking a bit on that and writing this post:

How true this is. I've heard my husband Bud Kuhn say several times that if some of the awful things that have happened in his life (like losing his parents at a young age) hadn't happened, there's no telling where he would be today. In fact our paths may have never crossed and we may not have ever been able to share the love we have for each other and the love we share for our daughters. I know in my own life that if things hadn't happened the way they did especially with my gun accident, I doubt I would be where I am today. At that point in my life I was not a Christian, but I believe that God used that accident to shake me awake and make me realize just how fragile life is and how quickly things can change from one minute/second to the next. I'm also not saying that I've stayed on the right path since that time in my life. I don't believe I really got things settled that I was going to go with God until I was at least 19 and I struggled even after that. But I am determined, 10 years later, that I am still going through and that my path will be the one that God determines and He will be the one that guides me and holds my hand through the foggy times and the dark times and those thick forests that sometimes line the pathway of life.
Those are the things that are important to think about in your life. I would challenge each of my friends to look at the things that they've come through in their lives and mental make a path to see where it has put them today. I believe that God uses both circumstances and humans to alter the paths that we take and it's important to put/keep the right people in our lives that will put each of us on a path that would draw us closer to Him. I also do not believe that just because we've made bad choices or taken the wrong path that God just lets us go, there are constant turn offs or turn arounds that He uses to try to get us back on the right road and one that will offer us so much more happiness.

I just have to say that the paths that we choose in life do have an impact on not only us but those around us. If I had never become a Christian I would probably have never met my husband and definitely wouldn't be in ministry today and if his parents wouldn't have passed away and him go through what he did, he wouldn't have ever turned to God from the path that he was on. So today there might not be the Kuhn family that there is, yes there may have been a Kuhn family somewhere, but that family probably wouldn't not be in the ministry and trying their best to serve God. It's really amazing to me what God has to use to reach through to our dense heads sometimes. It took me losing a part of my finger, when I could quite possibly have even lost my life, in order to get me to think about where I would have ended up if I had died from that gun accident. Some might think something like that is very insignificant compared to what could have happened to me, but to a 15 year old girl, it was a very eye opening, scary experience.

Sharing some Praises!

Just wanted to share a few praises. I've been going through a deep valley recently and yesterday it kept coming to me why don't you just go and pray and so I did. I didn't spend a very long time just a few minutes and I asked God to seal to my heart that I was still His child and the verse came to me that "I'll never leave you nor forsake you." also earlier before I knelt and prayed the song "I would not be denied" came to my mind (that's one I wouldn't normally think of) especially the verse that says "Ole Satan said my Lord was gone and would not hear my prayer: but praise the Lord the work is done and Christ the Lord is here!" and God seemed to be whispering to me that, that was exactly what the devil was trying to do is get me to believe God wasn't hearing my prayers and wasn't with me!
   This morning during the service we had a family in from out of state (their son and daughter-in-law live here and attend our church and run our church school) and they sang the song "Just Ask" and it was hard for me to keep my seat without getting up and praising the Lord (I'm kind of shy in church or in a crowd, I'm that way at school too so it's not just church), I sat crying quietly in my seat thanking God for once again visiting my heart! It's wonderful to know that I'm a child of the King and an heir to Heaven and robe, crown and mansion someday. And again tonight He came and helped our Pastor deliver a much needed sermon on how we should be like Daniel and the way that He purposed in his heart to get home at any cost, praying 3 times a day even when there was a decree out that sent him to the lion's den, even not bowing before an idol and being thrown into a fiery furnace. God is bigger than all that stuff anyhow and if we'll just set our minds and hearts on Heaven, and pray humbly, and seek God's face (seek how He wants us to live our lives) then we'll be living like Daniel. What are you wanting God to do for you today?
   God has been working on my heart and drawing me into a deeper relationship with Him, and I'm doing my very best to live out what He's asking me to do. There have been somethings that's He's laid a finger on that have been hard to do but I'm setting my goals and sites on Heaven, this here is not my home, I'm just a passing through. Someday I'll be where the trivial things of this life will not matter anymore and I don't want to miss that day for anything this world has to offer. Lord, Search me and draw me, help me to seek your face in all that I do. I truly want to be a Proverbs 31 woman. And a woman after God's own heart.
 

My musings on the Christmas Story.

I find myself praising my Savior even more at this time of year. I've been becoming more aware of His life and the things He gave up to come to earth. A song I heard the other day said that the Lord of all creation lowered Himself to be born in a humble stable and in a feeding manger. I find myself thinking what was going through Mary's mind as she sang lullaby's to her little baby and kissed him. I can't imagine actually kissing the face of God. Such great responsibility rested on this girl (she was very young I'm sure), yet she was highly favored of God. The relationship she must've had with her Creator is one which I long to mimic. I'm not trying to idolize Mary just some musings I've had over the past several days. The fear that was hers in the beginning knowing that once people knew she was with child, she could be stoned and possibly lose Joseph her espoused husband.
       Joseph too had much to think of, confusing, conflicting even fearful thoughts I'm sure gripped his mind much of the time. Then the angel appearing in a dream confirming the news his dear Mary had told him, I'm sure this both gave him a little peace but yet even made his heart more fearful. The responsibility that Joseph had to his dear sweet Mary yet the responsibility of raising God's only Son must've been terribly stressful. If I could I'd love to imagine that night in the stable, Joseph pacing the floor worrying about the place his dear sweet Mary was giving birth, A STABLE, of all places. Yet he had tried every inn every place in town and hadn't been able to find a room. Mary's groans increasing with the pain of delivery and his worries about helping her with the delivery being a man and not knowing much about those things. I'm sure many questions went through his mind. Yet through it all this gentle peace that stole over him as the miracle of birth happened there in a lowly cattle stable, he at once truly knew this was the Son of God. As Joseph held this most precious baby in his arms and lifted his heart to God in prayer asking for His wisdom to guide the upbringing of this child. And as Mary lifted her song to God of praise knowing who this child was and yet sorrowing at how it all would end. 
      Then those lowly shepherds sitting round their fire visiting in the wee hours of the night startled by a dazzling light and such beautiful music. If I could I'd love to tell their story as well. There were several shepherds, Eliab, Caleb, Aaron, and Jacob along with Eliab's son Daniel, all watching sheep that night and discussing the current affairs of their country.  Eliab talked about the Roman army and how it seemed to occupy every part of their affairs making things so difficult, and then in a heartfelt prayer he said "Lord please send us the Messiah." Caleb, Aaron and Jacob were admiring the night sky when suddenly their faces changed to that of fright. Eliab looked up to see a whole host of angels in the night sky lifting their voices in praises to the Messiah. Then the angel messenger told them where they could find this baby and worship Him themselves. They hurried along even little Daniel leading his precious little lamb Snowflake. Daniel was excited to be able to see the One they had waited so long for and whom he'd heard of since the day he was born. After arriving at the humble stable the shepherds knelt in worship to their King! Then little Daniel looking fondly at his lamb in his heart knowing that he wanted to give Snowflake to this newborn King of Kings, turned and whispered to his father his wishes. His father after trying to persuade his son otherwise and making no headway decided that he would offer the lamb. And so the shepherds gave their humble gifts to the family. And went away praising God for His answer to prayer. 
      Just some things I've been thinking during this Christmas Season. 

Back to School with a vengence! :)

Well today was our second day back to school, and frankly I'm bored in the sociology class and I hope I do okay! I spent several hours trying to read and study the first chapter for class tomorrow! At least our teacher is funny but it's a long 2 1/2 hours!

I miss Mar and Connie our Education professors classes went by so quickly when we were in their classes!

However some new things coming on the horizon like a possible position in a Christian School come fall! I'm excited about what God is doing for our valley in ways of leading us to go deeper with him and also to start somethings to try and draw our sister churches together!

Well I must get going must get to sleep earlier tonight since we're now getting up at 7:30 AM which really isn't too bad except I'm just not used to it! Good practice for later!

Healing

Our Puppy has been sick since Sunday night and we haven't had the money to take him to the vet so last night I decided before church that we would annoint him and pray over him. I believed God could do it because it says in His word cares for the sparrows so why wouldn't he care about another of His creatures. And He's worked in that way before, I had a dog several years ago that got Parvovirus, which severely dehydrates and will kill them pretty quickly and again I didn't have alot of money but I did do the at home IV solution but even that didn't seem to help so it gots so bad I finally just put him back out on the porch (I had, had my church family praying for him as well) and the next morning he scarfed down his food! So I believe in the power of prayer even for your pets!
Last night was a wonderful service at SEO Youth Camp! People shouting praises and walking the aisles several were saved or recieved help at the altar. I've really been enjoying as much of camp as we've been able to get into! We are to sing tonight since last night we didn't get the chance which is perfectly all right by me, God was there and it's up to God how he directs the service.