Live in Faith Everyday

Canva Design/De Anna Morris

 
 
A few years ago, my friend, Donna, introduced me to the concept of ONE WORD as a focus for an entire year! 

I was not in a good place at the time. I wanted my One Word to be

"Lord, I am sick of this season and I need you to change something before I loose my mind and do something weird!" 

Not really ONE WORD, I know, but life can be challenging at times.  I was over my challenge limit, or so I thought... until the Lord began to slowly and surely lead me through a valley of the shadow until I could lift my head on the other side of despair. 
 
Maybe you've been there too? 
 
The first ONE WORD that the Lord led me to during the season of darkness was COMPLETE. 

 

 Let perseverance finish its work so that

you may be

mature and complete,

not lacking anything.

James 1:4

 
I wanted a quick fix, however, I realized perseverance was the key and faith was at stake... I pressed on and into the Word of God and cannot tell you how amazing and tender He was to me during that time.  At the end of the year, Mike and I attended a Christmas service and the Lord whispered to my heart.
 

So you also are complete

through your union with Christ,

who is the head over every ruler and authority 

Colossians 2:10

 

Don't you love How gentle the Lord is? Even though He was reminding me that He was in charge and I am not, that I am called to trust His authority over me, He has already made me complete in Christ.

One Word themes of the last few years:

Complete

Chosen

Rest

Trust

This year, 2016, my ONE WORD is LIFE.  The Lord kept bringing the word LIFE to me during the last few months of 2015.  I have been asking Him to renew my soul and spirit along with a desire to be healthy and well.  Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. 

I want to live well while living.

This will come as I allow His word at work in me to restore, heal and mend the broken places.  A work that will not be always pleasant but will be for my good in order to Complete the work  am Chosen to accomplish. As I Rest in His Word and Trust in His plan, true health and wellness will come and my LIFE will be abundant and vibrant.

The plan is simple. 

Live in Faith Everyday. 

Oh, how easily I complicate things! 

What is your ONE WORD this year?

 

 

You can join me and a group of bloggers over at The Loft to find courage, inspiration and hope. Please stop by and say hello!

{BEST Vacation EVER!!!} A Link Up with THE LOFT

Today I am joining my friends over at The Loft to share with you my Best Vacation Ever!!!

Todays Topic:  BEST VACATION
It's a LINK Party!

September 16, 2014, Mike and I celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  Wow!  Time has passed like sand in a whirl of wind, yet stood still at times.  I still can't believe that after all this time, he still puts up with me!! Mike Morris is a man of great grace and patience.  

To celebrate our accomplishment of staying together and doing life even when it got really hard, we planned a trip to Costa Rica.  We went in May of 2014 and stayed in Playa Flamingo at a privately owned villa that a friend had recommended to me.  The owners names are Babe and Don Hopkins and you definitely want to stay in their property if you plan to go... Tell them I said hello!!

Casa de Serenidad

The country is beautiful and lush!  When we were there, it was the end of the "Dry Season" and all of the foliage was not yet in bloom, but it was still the most gorgeous landscape I have ever seen. No.  I haven't traveled all that much, but still... The place is breathtaking!!

Our hosts were able to arrange our adventures and outings and provided an environment of hospitality that was not intrusive either.  I felt like we were staying with friends and as it turned out... we were!!!  

One of the things I loved about Costa Rica was the sky.  Morning and Evening the colors painted on the horizon over the sea were glorious and inspiring.  Of course, the sun rose at like 5 am and set at 6, but it was so worth getting up to see each day.  Our view from the balcony provided the perfect spot to take in the wonder and beauty of God's Faithfulness each day.  OH, and we also had this GREAT!!!! wade pool under a cabana to relax in hammocks too!  Tropical Breezes, good book, cool drink... perfect!

Here are some of our pictures from this vacation.  Please.  If you decide to go to Costa Rica, consider checking with our friends to book your stay!  You will not be disappointed!

Hidden Waterfall

Sunset Catamaran Tour/Snorkeling

After our Sunset Tour/Snorkeling adventure... so tired, and thankful!

Not a great pic... White faced Monkey... so cute!

We went on a Volcano Rain Forest Tour, Rode Horses, splashed down the side of the mountain on a natural water slide, bathed in the Hot Springs, saw white faced monkeys that threw things at Mike, and - my favorite adventure- 

ZIP LINE!! 

Pic taken after our longest zip... I wanted to worship!  The beauty and majesty of God's creation was breathtaking!

This look is fear, wonder, awe... learning to trust.

My man!

Join us over at THE LOFT for more Best Vacation Ever posts to consider for your next adventure!

Hebrews a Better Blend_Meet the Author

Hebrews a Better Blend

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

One of my favorite- and least favorite- verses in the New Testament.  Favorite because God's Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE.  Least favorite because God's Word GETS IN MY BUSINESS!!! 

but that is also a good thing.

I also like a really good, smooth cup of coffee.  So, when my Facebook Friend, Leah Adams, announced that she was launching a new Bible Study this summer, I was interested.  

Little did I know how delightful it would be to interact with Leah and to read her study in order to review the content as plans are made to host this study in my community this fall.  

Before I introduce you to Leah, I want to tell you a little about her writing style. To read her insight into the Scriptures and personal stories is like having a long cup of coffee with your good friend that you haven't seen in a while-like you've known her so long, yet you've just met-like you want to hear everything she says, still she wants to listen to you too.

Leah is the kind of writer that will draw each seeker of Truth into a Friendship of Grace, one that embraces the reader and wraps her in the warmth of Jesus Christ who proves to be the Better Blend of Love, Hope, Rest, and Peace.

Meet the Author: Leah Adams


· Leah, I may have readers who have not met you online. What would you like for my readers to know about you? 

I am a North Georgia girl who loves Jesus—A LOT. I asked Jesus to come into my heart at the age of 15. Within a few years, I made some horrible moral choices that drew me away from Him. I spent the better part of my 20s walking far from Jesus, and God let me go my own way until I was sick of it. Then, just like the prodigal son’s father, God welcomed me back, and overwhelmed me with a desire for His Word and His presence. He made it clear that nothing I had done, no sin I had committed, changed how He felt about me. God loved me with a ridiculous love. He lavished grace on the heart of His daughter, and ultimately called me into ministry in 2007.

My passion is teaching God’s Word, and He allows me to do that through two avenues: speaking and writing.

What is the back story behind HeBrews?

I began writing HeBrews: A Better Blend purely out of obedience to the Lord. Several years prior to writing the study, I had done a pretty intense self-study of the book of Hebrews. It was my hope that the Lord might allow me to write something out of that time of study, but I wasn’t sure. Perhaps it had just been for my edification. In 2012, I sensed the Lord giving me the go-ahead to write a Bible study from the book of Hebrews. I’ve learned that when God says do something, the best response is ‘Yes sir’. So, write I did. I had no intention of publishing HeBrews, thinking it would just be an act of obedience, and perhaps a study that my Tuesday morning small group would do. God had other plans. When I was about halfway through the writing, my friend, Brooke, introduced me to the wonderful woman who is now my Editor at Warner Press. One thing led to another and before I knew it, God had opened the door for HeBrews to be published. It was totally a God-thing, and I often tell Him that this is His doings, and the responsibility is on Him to place HeBrews into the hands of the people who need to read it.



 Share with us a bit about your book.

HeBrews: A Better Blend is an eight-week Bible study that takes the student through the entire book of Hebrews. The Old Testament constructs that were so important to the Israelites, i.e. Old Testament tabernacle, priest, sacrifice, and covenant, are examined alongside the New Testament parallels that we find in Jesus.

Jesus was the BETTER priest, administering a BETTER covenant, offering a BETTER sacrifice, and ultimately bringing us into a BETTER tabernacle. 

There are five days of homework each week, and most days the student studies from both the Old and New Testaments. HeBrews: A Better Blend can be done by individuals, and in group settings. At the beginning of each week of study, I offer a dessert recipe taken from my collection, or from the collections of some of my friends and family. Dessert definitely makes Bible study richer. No pun intended!

 Why should someone read HeBrews: A Better Blend?

What does it offer them personally? The study of Scripture, God’s Love Letter to humankind, is as important to me as taking my next breath. Without it, I would be right back in the ditch of sin that I crawled out of 20 years ago. HeBrews: A Better Blend offers the reader a guided study of the book of Hebrews, as well as opportunities to apply faith principles to their own life, and grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.

· How can my readers find you? Blog? Social media? 

They can find me at my website and blog, The Point, at http://www.leahadams.org. I am also on several social media platforms: 
Facebook Ministry page 
HeBrews Facebook page 
Twitter 
Pinterest

 · When and where will HeBrews: A Better Blend be available to the public? The release date for the Bible study is July 1st. It should be available at major e-tailers, as well as Christian bookstores.

 · What final thoughts would you like to share with my readers? I want to encourage your readers to fix their eyes on Jesus. My prayer is that they will raise their eyes above the horizon of their circumstances (good or bad), and look to Jesus for their strength and hope. He is everything we need. EVERYTHING! Developing an intimate relationship with Jesus will not happen accidently. It requires intentionality, perseverance, and lots of time allowing Scripture to speak to the heart. Once a heart gets a taste of walking in intimacy with Christ, there is no going back. I want that for your readers, because I know what a thrill it is to me.

I hope you will join me for this new study by Leah Adams.  Plan to purchase your copy of the study at her website or via Warner Press or Amazon.