Ob Portu

I am really getting into the shorter devotionals- the 21 day devotionals. They are packed with more content in the day... but are shorter in overall time length. I am currently enjoying this one about Unquestionable Character, check it out:

http://preview.youversion.com/reading-plans/151-unquestionable-character

Anyway, Stole this from my devotional today... good stuff though

Pastor and generosity consultant Brian Kluth makes this point in a brief
discussion of the etymology of the English word opportunity:

Hundreds of years ago when people lived near the oceans the word
opportunity was coined.

It came from the time when ships needed to wait until
the tide was in before heading out to sea, otherwise the ship would run aground.

In the Latin language, the words 'ob portu' describe the perfect moment when
time and tide converged for a ship to get underway.

Into every person's life come some God-ordained opportunities.

You'll know it's the right time when an urgent, life changing need - something that has
eternal significant value - converges with your ability. At just the right
moment, urgency and ability come together. And at that exact moment, you have
the opportunity to fulfill a divine purpose God intended for you.



I need to make the most of the opportunities God is sending my way. I need to be ready for that moment, that perfect moment for my ship to sail.

What about those mistakes? Those journeys were I take off too early.. too late... the ship may get tossed around a little, scratched from rocks or shore, but the lessons are learned and taken to heart. God has been whispering to me about His next journey for me... I am so excited for Ob Portu... I am so ready for His blessing.

TAG

Tag I'm It! I was surprised to see my name tagged over on my friend Kim's blog and not only surprised but annoyed lol... but I am one who participates soooo here it goes...
and I don't have 11 blogging friends SO if you see this and you have a blog ... then you are it ... aha and if you do have a blog start following me darn it... duh!

The Rules:
You must post the rules
Post 11 fun facts about yourself
Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you;
then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
Tag 11 people and link them in your postLet them know you have tagged them!

My 11 Fun Facts
I once said I wanted to have 10 kids... and I wanted four-5 of my own and then adopt all different nationalities... I'm pretty sure Angelina Jolie overheard my discussion with Joe about this in high school.... now that I have kids of my own... I still think about it and maybe if we had more income I would consider it. I think it's very admirable of families to welcome more into their home.

I am super addicted to Fruit Ninja- I had a 706 the other night which is AWESOME.... (it's xbox 360 kinect)

Everyone and their brother had told me I should write a book... it's kinda getting annoying. Thinking about writing a book about how annoying it really is ;)

I was pretty athletic growing up. I enjoyed and participated in almost all the sports offered: swimming, softball, track, volleyball, basketball... I'd go golfing with my dad and boyfriend.. etc. I would always play sports at recess (football, kick ball, knock out) and in PE when we had free time I would always play dodge ball with the boys... but when it came to bowling. I absolutely hated it... and sucked at it. It was one of those things I never enjoyed because I wasn't good at it and I am uber competitive. SO... now I bowl as a substitute in a bowling league and every stinking night that I have to bowl I get a little nervous... and it bothers me that I suck ... I am gradually getting better but I still suck.

I always wanted a brother! I never got one... and I have 4 girls... how odd is that. But I always wanted one :(

I love reading... I could read all the time if I had the time... which I don't... but I get addicted to it where I cant't stop and won't stop... Pretty sure I got that from my mom and Bay got it from me.

I am seriously addicted to tv series on netflix.
I think the first one I rewatched was Grey's Anatomy EVERY episode... then Son's of Anarchy... then Gossip Girl... I got half way through Felicity I may go back to it...now One Tree Hill... when 1TH is done I might go to Dawson's Creek not sure tho but it's an ADDICTION (ridiculous) I know...

I also love sunflower seeds... something I could eat forever and ever and ever and live on a deserted island with. No doubt...

I am young at heart with an old soul... that's the best way I could describe myself...

I absolutely love working with kids... it's weird because I never would have considered myself a kid person but I love the feeling I get when I know I helped shape some kids life. Again I was NEVER a kid person.... it's weird just thinking about it for me.

I love bubble baths.... but I never get to take them anymore... they are usually a pregnancy must have like 2-3 times a day when I was pregnant!


Answering my questions from Kim:

1) You have just been given a very large sum of money (we're talking millions)... what do you do with it? I would pay off all my debts... I would secure my children had enough money to last them (and invest that) then I would give the rest away to deserving charities and churches! (definatly fund our own Morrison Crossroads building)
2)If you could change careers and be anything (without having to go through training, education, etc.), what would you do? Definatly a veterinarian oooh or a midwife
3)What is the best vacation you've ever been on? San Diego! Went there BY MYSELF :) when Joe was graduating from bootcamp. I went there about 4 days before his family got there. I got to tour the city and learn how to surf... it was so freeing

4) What is your favorite movie? P.S. I love you....

5) If you could have dinner with three people, who would you choose and why? Haha... that sounds like a college essay question, doesn't it? Is this Dead or Alive? ok so if they can be dead or alive... of course Jesus, my grandfather (just one more time), and Amanda Beard
6) What's is the most favorite thing (or outfit) you've ever worn? I used to love my promise ring from Joe that I got in high school

7) What is your most vivid childhood memory? Anything involving swim meets or softball tournaments... I always remember what I did where and how well I did it.
8) If an actress was to play you in a movie, who would it be? ooooh Julia Stiles... very sarcastic
9) What is the best thing that you know how to cook or bake? Chelsea Chicken
10) What are three things on your bucket list? I would love to swim with dolphins.... go to Disneyworld.... do a backpacking trip when I'm in my 40's
11) Do you have a go-to Starbucks order? If so, what is it? If not, what is your guilty pleasure? Grande Caramel Macchiato (I can't spell it but I can say it)





Now my questions:

1) If you had to watch one kids movie non-stop for the rest of your life what would it be...

2) What's the soundtrack to your life like? (name a few songs that would be on it)

3) What is one thing you want me to know about you?

4) What is your favorite word and why?

5) If you could be anything in the world what would you be.... (family, money, education not in the picture)

6) What is your favorite childhood memory?

7) If you could eat dinner with three people (alive or dead) who would they be?

8) Who was the most influential person in your life?

9) If you had to kareoke what would your song be?

10) What's your favorite meal?

Let's not get tired of doing what is good

Galatians 6:9: "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up" (NLT)."

A LOT of people ask me... how do you have the energy to do all the things you do??? Or... don't you have enough on your plate????

Well.. yah. I do have enough on my plate. BUT... there's never TOO much, and what's enough anyway?!

I am 27..
I am a military wife to the heart
I am a Christian Woman
I am a mom to four beautiful girls
I am the Girl Scout leader to a Daisy troop of 21 amazing girls
I am the Head Coach to a swim team of 35 awesome swimmers
I am a Crave leader to a mass of pretty remarkable kids
I am planning our class reunion of 10 years (what ten?!)
I am a surrogate mother in waiting... patiently waiting
I am a leader at our church and assist in several areas (basically wherever needed and when)
I am a child of God.... and with Him I am able to do anything

To be honest... I am going through a FUNK... a season in my life where I am being a luke-warm Christian. Every DAY I have a choice to live for Him or live for me... and I've been choosing the wrong option. Now I'm not being a crappy person, I'm not doing horrible things... don't get me wrong I'm being a good person- just not a GOOD GODLY PERSON. I am not putting God first, I am not putting my relationship with Him above all, I am not living for Him... I am not taking the time I need... I'm giving it away to other things. All of them are good things, but not good enough.

Every day we have that choice- do we give our time to God or to worldly things. Do I choose to seek and pursue Him and live my life for Him or not? I have been doing horribly for the last maybe two months. I KNOW is the worst part... I KNOW He wants me... I am His child and he is waiting for me. This is how the past two months have kinda been going I mean not really but this is sorta what it's been like.

I wake up and God is there
"Good Morning... do you have a moment to talk?"
and I rub my eyes and look at the clock and say.... "Not now.. I have to get the girls up and make sure they don't have any homework and have their lunches and ugh! sounds like Ollie is up already wonder what she has gotten into... can you wait until they are off to school??? That'd be great..." and I'm off and running and God is standing there... waiting
they go off to school...
"Now do you have a moment to talk, there are a few things I need to..."
before He can finish, I interrupt.
"I have a newsletter to write for the swim club, there is Girl Scouts tonight that I have to finish planning the meeting for... let me just get those two things done.. get the little girls fed and dressed and ready for their day.."
But... He is there pursuing me and I am off on another thing...
I get done with my to do list or as much as I want to... and it's lunch time
"Really God... I have to feed the little girls and spend some time loving on them and playing... during nap time... I will talk to you during nap time.."
Naptime comes... and instead of taking the time for Him I take time for me... I am on facebook... oh sure I am doing stuff for girl scouts and swim club and myself.... but I am NOT doing it for Him..
and then the little girls are up, and we are playing, and we are out the door to swim practice and then it's home after swim practice and supper needs to be cooked or girls off to dance or something and then I have my husband home...
by the time I know it it's 9:30 and everyone is in bed and I am in bed sitting there thinking where has my day gone... and God calls
"Your day is almost done.. there is still something I need.."
Yawn.... "I know... I know... but I really am tired... I have a lot on my mind I just want to watch a show and fall asleep God...."
2:00 in the morning He's waking me up....

I am pushing HIM off.. who am I to say not now.... who am I to say I don't have time or energy... really. He sent His only son to the cross for my stupidity and selfishness..

I don't have time NOT to give it to Him. I can't afford to... I NEED Him in my life and I need His strength and energy. The past weekend I was really convicted. I mean I KNEW this... I was convicted of this but not doing anything about it... every day I would feel it in my heart and be lazy. EVERY day for the past month or so. What am I stupid? yes I am but He loves me anyway! What a crazy love that is.

I am back. I am back and my focus is back on God. Every day I try to live for him... some days I fail MISERABLY. Some days better than others... every day I have a choice to make. I can choose to put Him first... or myself. Putting my time with Him back at the beginning of my day- giving Him the BEST of me... before I'm tired and weary... I make that choice daily. He loves me on the days I do my best.. .He loves me on the days I do my worst.

anyway... back to Galatians...


So let's not get tired of doing what is good.... (or right, or meaningful, or inspirational, or influential, or beautiful) At just the right time we will reap the harvest (I will REACH that kid who is struggling, I will PROVIDE a safe relationship to that kid who doesn't have one, I will IMPACT that one life that needed it on that one day when all is lost)

Just one soul? If I could save just one soul than all my time is not wasted.... if I can impact and help shape the characters of our youth, build their courage and confidence... yup that's worth it not crazy....

God is going to bless me... As I continue to pursuit Him and put Him first through my days and continue to love like the perfect example Jesus Christ showed us, then God is going to bless me. Maybe not in the ways some would like.. but He is going to bless me by letting me witness transformation in our youth...

I love my swimmers and my daisies... I love their little personalities, I love with my back turned out of all 50-60 of those kids I can tell you who said what at the sound and volume of their voice. I love watching them GROW... in skill, courage, confidence, and socially. I love watching girls that at the beginning of the Fall season wouldn't do a sitting dive into the pool now do a start off the starting blocks... I love watching kids who say I can't do that! do it... and amaze themselves in the process. I love watching those shy Daisies blossom into girls who stand boldly in front of 40-50 people and give a presentation they thought of all by themselves. I love watching our youth accept Christ into their hearts and lives... I love getting to hear their stories and drama and I love just being a friend to them.

If you ask me... I'm already reaping! and yes I may be short of energy on some days. I may feel a little ragged or like the world is spinning so quickly around me that if I don't sit down for one moment I might fall..... but those days are few and far between.. the reward is totally worth it.

My kids love our busy lifestyle- they are given the choice to participate in whatever they want to participate in because I want to give them a chance to find their place in this world.