Today I've got a devotion running over at P31. This one's called Stir It Up and it's about the time I forgot to stir my sweetener into my coffee and then wondered what happened when I took a sip and it wasn't sweet. Yes, everything is fodder for writing! Even goof-ups! (Especially goof-ups!)
In honor of today's devotion I'm offering a ten dollar Starbucks gift card to one winner. Leave a comment here and share how God's stirring you up right now for your chance to win.
I'll start. God's stirring me up with my writing. And learning to balance it all. And dealing with this passle of kids we've got. Oh, and with trusting Him with our financial future. As we face having two in college next year I can start hyperventilating when I try to control it all. He's teaching me to let go, and-- sorry for the cliche-- let Him.
Your turn!
30 comments:
As I sat down to take my first sip of coffee with my bible, this morning I had added a bit of sugar - which I never do on a normal basis - and so I loved that God had just had me prepare for your devotional! I also love that you equate being "stirred up" with "sweetness" because often the words "stirred up" find their energy in dischord or anxiousness or some other negative swirl of activity! The next time I start feeling "stirred up", I pray I'll go to the "bottom of my cup" and find His love to so dissolve in every area that all may "taste and see" how good He is!!!!! Thanks for the post! Japhia Scott
Good morning! Ahhh. . . how refreshing to start of the morning with this devotion (and a cup of coffee). It seems like lately God has been doing a little stirring each day in my cup of life. A year ago, I was going through one of those swirling cyclone type stirring. No matter how vigorous the stir (or how big the trial), I know that God is with me. He is not letting me "settle" for anything short of His will and His desire for who He wants me to be. I needed reminided of this especially this morning, since sometimes it is easier to see God's hand in things when we are going through the swirling cyclone and we are leaning on Him the most. My hope is that I will always lean on Him with that same enthusiasm, even when my world is not spinning totally out of control.
Letting go and not having "fear of man."
Janet
Figuring out where we go from here. Next year my youngest will start school and I have to decide - to find a job, what kind of job, do something from home, what? Scary to have both be so big and not to know what to do!
God is stirring up my comfort zone and showing me how totally rely on Him, as my husband is battling a serious illness, I am trying to work full-time and take care of 4 kids, and go back and forth to the doctor and hospital. I am so used to things going smoothly, and relying on my husband, rather than on God. A lesson I am quickly learning!
Marybeth, I get the devotion emails and LOVE yours today. Oh my goodness. Thank you.
Hope you are doing so well.
Love,
Steph
P.S. I think God's stirring me up with family and friends and a new church and being a better witness. Crazy situations are going on with people close to me and it's being handed to me on a platter to show them God's love all the while during a very chaotic time.
Steph
Wow...this was for me today. God is definitely stirring as I notice I've allowed my feelings and insecurities hinder my responsibilities and friendships at church. Its always my prayer for God to "prune" me...shape me and mold me. At the time I felt discouraged, but now I have a spirit of thanksgiving. Thanks for the confirmation. Be encouraged.
~Monique
Marybeth,
Yes, the Lord is stirring me up. As I read the devotion, I realized how much He is really stirring me up;gently nudging me out of my comfort zones to have a deeper relationship with Him.
The scripture you quoted, is the one I remember when I'm feeling down about myself. I realize the Lord is continually at work in my life, even though sometimes I can't see it.
Your words are always encouraging and God sent straight to my heart,
Your Sis in Christ,
Grace
I read your devotional today and I was inspired! My life is stirred every day by my son. He's 8 years old and autistic. Every day there is a new challenge, and some days it starts feeling overwhelming. It takes a lot some days to remind myself that God is in control no matter how out of control the situation seems.
Thanks for writing to remind us all that God's hand is in the pot...just stirring us closer to him!
Please don't include me in the drawing (no Starbuck's here) but I wanted to thank you for your devotional this morning. I've been having a hard time with some things in my personal life and things were definitely "stirred up" for a bit, and reading this I can see a bit more of what God has intended for me through going through the experience itself. Thank you for soothing my heart a bit this morning with this beautiful reminder.
Love you, lady! Today's devo was encouraging. Suzie
Marybeth, you have beautifully captured and expressed what feels like is happening in my life at the moment. God is stretching me in leadership to shepherd others and so many areas of my life. It does feel like a cyclone as there are so many other facets of my life that are swirling in my cup - international adoption, my marriage, loosening the reigns of our business that has been like a baby for years now. Everything seems topsy turvy - things that I think are meant to be a certain way appear upside down and it is scary - just like seeing treasured stuff being tossed around in cyclonic winds. The old doubt and fear has surfaced, but I believe God wants me to respond in a new way and trust Him more and more.
Thank-you and may God bless you. H.
Your analogy was a perfect description of my life over the last year. My husband and I packed up our 3 kids and moved 500 miles away from friends and family for my career. During the past year, I've been stirred from my comfort zone spiritually and grown closer to Jesus than I could have imagined. Thanks for sharing! Your message spoke to me today.
Kayla
Yes, God is stirring me in every area. My life is like a cyclone leaving me unsettled and unstable. This devotional really helps me to know God is in control especially when I feel out of control. Thank you for this. It helps more than you know !
Thank you for a simple reminder, "Stir it Up", Gotta stir God's word in thruugh out the day.
I am stirring it up (my homemade hamburger soup on the stove, that is!)
Seriously, He is stirring me up by breaking my heart with the things that break His. I have been convicted lately how self-absorbed I become when all around me--in my neighborhood, at my kid's school, at church, even online-- are women for whom life is painful, not pleasant.
Loved your devo & love you!
I am being stirred up with our family finances and my son's marriage falling apart. God has shown me so many things and blessed me in so many ways through all of this. I really needed that reminder from you today.
I've been being stirred for what seems like my whole life. Most recently, it is God's prompting to be careful worship the Lord in my reactions and words to my kids. (My patience has not grown at the same rate as my kids.) Every time I'm tempted to react badly or impatiently in a heated moment, that still, small voice whispers, "You have an opportunity to worship Me here..."
Hmmm . . . where do I feel like God is stirring up things for me? Oh where to begin! :-)
It seems like it's in three main areas right now -- finances, family, and faith. I just need to keep trusting in Him!
Natalie :o)
I would say I am being stirred with parenting 6 children. Two who have special needs and challenge me to start from scratch. Also, in the area of writing myself. And in it all to do it with HONOR as stated in Romans 12:10.
Being stirred up right now with some things and makes it hard to keep my focus where it needs to be...on Jesus. Thanks for the reminder that He is in control.
God is stirring me up with doing the busy work of the Lord and just sitting at His feet. I feel stretched so thin at the moment between my children, husband, and stuff at church.
When I reflect on "God's stirring" in my life, I am relieved. I have felt very down lately because of struggles with being a Mom, loneliness, feeling that I will never measure up, struggling financially, etc. Yet God keeps teaching me His truths in many different ways. He tells me that He is God Almighty, that He loves me and it is His favor that I should focus on. He makes a way of escape from sinful habits. And many other truths. I am so thankful for Proverbs 31 ministries, because God uses them to encourage me, remind me, & teach me His truth. Thank You LORD for loving me & never giving up on me!
Mary Beth,
I can tell you that having two kids in college at the same time will definitely stir you up, but God will get your through it. I have two daughters in college right now (a freshman and a sophomore, so 2 1/2 more years to go). I also have a son in law school who is mostly self-supporting. Other than financially my life is fairly settled at the moment. My husband and I are enjoying our "empty nest" but we're always happy when the kids come home.
Loved your devo and this post!! There's a little stirring going on here too!! Today as I attempted to care for our 5 children, the oldest two who we homeschool, deliver meals to my tractor driving husband and do the endless other things a Mom does I was reminded of your devo from awhile back. The one all about God setting the lonely in families...let's say I can relate, and pretty sure in this house the stirring will never end. I know that's a good thing, but sure doesn't mean it is an easy thing!! Thanks again!! Jill
Love your devotionals, Marybeth, as well as all at P31. Each one seems to be for me, myself and i. i want to let God stir me up in my relationships with those i love. Thank you for reminding me that the stirring does not have to be turmoil.
Right now I am stirred up as my husband is about to leave for a 5 day business trip... I am just so sad about it but thankful that God has blessed us with his job. My three kids and I will miss him so much and cant wait for his safe return....Christinemlark@aol.com
I AM SO STIRRED UP. God has stirred me up that my husband is home from prison and can help me with these 4 kids. I'm stirred up because I know God has favor on us and he will be finding a job soon. But at the same time I have some business ventures that I see coming into place, and at the same time GOD IS STILL MY PROVIDER.
Thanks,
Dawn
God is stirring me up with my alone time at home ALWAYS NOW.(I'm disabled since 2007) I'm learning to balance my thinking & feelings. And dealing with trusting God with our finances as well.
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