
Today I received my copy of Stephanie Ackermanās latest book Faith Journaling for the Inspired Artist. Did I need another book on Journaling or Art? Well, apparently I did! Not five pages in, the photo to the left smacked me upside the head…kinda crazy, right? Stephanie, among other wonderful women, have encouraged me from afar with their zest for art, an insane love for God, and the desire to intertwine the two.
For the past month, God has really been working on me & my obedience factor… at the forefront has been a host of new cancer challenges…. but those challenges have been the catalyst to realizing I havenāt consistently been giving God my best. Ā Iāve been giving whatās easyĀ and through numerous experiences… sermons especially ….(thanks Pastor Jim!), Iāve been convicted as to how Iām living my life Iām for God.
Stage IV Cancer, like so many other chronic diseases, is HARD. Ā It doesnāt go away.period. and more often than not, you get new challenges… like wonky lungs, blood clots, and such. Ā I am very thankful though – just think if God allowed cancer to hit you with everything all at once? No bueno!
While I thought Iād learned my new normal, I was still entirely too focused holding tightly onto the things I could still do. Ā Like grocery shopping, housekeeping, or walking the dog… yeah, call it what it is….PRIDE. Ā Donāt get me wrong, staying active is essential, but holding too tightly onto things is a slippery slope and sets you…me… up for missing great God opportunities.
As it is today, Iām in a season where those types of activities arenāt necessarilyĀ addingĀ value to my days. Instead, little things, like going out to the grocery store, have the potential to set me back vs propel me forward. Ā So Iām learning to choose more wisely and itās definitely a process!
My 2018 goal (starting now!) is to be more mindful and dig deeper in my relationship with God. Ā While cancer isnāt exactly what I may have chosen, it has given me the opportunity to focus more time on Him by not trying to balance a demanding and stressful full time job….HE is my full time job…and that is pretty darn amazing – not many get that opportunity!
If youāve read my blog, the consistent thread has been my lack of consistency in writing. And writing is a big part of my relationship with God…to be vulnerable and transparent, and to share how He leads me daily to walk closer with Him.
If I had to choose ONE thing that propelled me into deepening my relationship with God, it was a little book you may be familiar with called The Love Dare byĀ Alex and Stephen Kendrick. It is a 40-day Christian devotional designed to strengthen marriages. Ā No, Iām not married – Iām not even dating or in a relationship. Ā God brought me the book as a dare to strengthen my relationship with Him. Ā Weird? Odd? Perhaps. Ā But I hope you will follow me as I share, and possibly help, Ā precious readers do the same… coming soon… My Love Dare with God.

SaveSave
SaveSave
Like this:
Like Loading...